Speed the Key to Saranac Stakes

Seven sophomores are entered for the turf in Friday’s $175,000 Saranac S. (G3) at Saratoga. The 1 1/16-mile turf event looks like a fairly competitive race that lacks a superstar, although I have a good measure of confidence in my top selection. 

Saranac Wagers

• $30 win #5 The Big Torpedo ($30)
• $10 exacta 5 with 1 ($10)
• $5 exacta 5 with 3 ($5)

I favor #5 The Big Torpedo (5-2) for multiple reasons in the heat and will single him in all of my plays. 

Trained by Tom Morley, the chestnut son of Big Brown has always flashed ability and has evolved into a good one since focusing on the turf. The Empire State-bred was a strong runner-up in the Woodhaven S. versus open company at Aqueduct in April, and he followed that performance with a facile stakes triumph on the cutback to six panels on June 16.

In his local debut and second turf route, The Big Torpedo was a 4 1/2-length winner of the Cab Calloway S. when leading at every call, while the runner-up returned to win a stakes race in his next outing. He is fast, versatile, and visually impressive, and I am simply not floored by any other contender in the group, either. Eric Cancel will be on top of the swiftest horse in the group and will put him on top in the early going. He will be formidable with even slight improvement. 

Trainer Brad Cox has a pair in the group, and both have appeal for the exotics to me. 

#1 West Hollywood (2-1), a half brother to 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) queen Pizza Bianca, put in a strong late burst to beat allowance foes on the local lawn last time out. The Uncle Mo colt gets a nice inside post and the services of the excellent Flavien Prat. 

#3 Take Me To Church (7-2) has registered four morning drills in upstate New York in preparation for his stateside debut, and the chestnut could be almost any kind. The Churchill colt surely won’t be facing the likes of Rosallion, Haatem, or River Tiber as he did last time out at The Curragh, and he also gets blinkers for the initial time. Javier Castellano will be in the irons aboard the Irish-bred.