Derby Hopefuls Lineup in Saratoga Opening Day Card

Today, Saratoga will race without regular fans, as they continue to fight the ongoing threat of Covid-19. Regardless, races will be run with reduced purses. In the opening day card at Saratoga, there will be the Peter Pan (G3), which will give Kentucky Derby points. Inside of the race is Risen Star winner Modernist, Graded placed, Candy Tycoon, and the promising, but still unproven favorite, Mystic Guide. In the other stakes race of the day, the Schuylerville (G3), Beautiful Memories, the very short favorite will look to improve her dominance over a light field, with her 75 Beyer, only matched by Hopeful Princess. As we go into the first day of racing at Saratoga, here are some light bets that I will be making on the race, and potentially a little explanation on my thought process for each of the races. 

Race 1: 6-1-5

Race 2: 1-5

Race 3: Pass, small field with short prices, a lot of confusion on the pace of the race, with unpredictable thought processes of each of these horses. 

Race 4: 7-2

Race 5: 4-5, 4 has the Beyers and the results to contend in this race, and is a good price at 8-1 ML. This race seems to short for 8, The Care Taker to win, but I could be proven wrong.

Race 6: 5-9

Race 7: 9, good pace setup potential for Summer At the Spa to get a good run in. 

Race 8: 8 or 3, no way to tell which one is better since they have better speed figures, but 3 might have put in less of an effort at the end to win by 10, I would just choose the better price as Beautiful Memories is probably going to get bet to even or under.

Race 9: 5, Candy Tycoon has run decently in the past and is getting a good pace, this whole field seems a bit unpredictable, and I can not really see an honest pace being set up for this race. 

Race 10: Pass.