Ten races with a 1:30 EDT post.  The back half of the card is loaded with turf races.  The courses are firm.

The featured eighth is the $100k Seattle Slew (this is his Marlboro Cup win over Affirmed), for older horses on the main track.  It has, unfortunately, scratched down to a field of four, with ML favorite Far From Over among the defectors.  

Conquest Windycity becomes the horse to beat, and his speed projects to play well in this short field.  His last two efforts are not particularly compelling, but they came vs. better, and he has clearly improved since being turned over to trainer Brendan Walsh.  

Secutitiz is a contender, but an unreliable one, while Backsideofthemoon, who looked like an interesting horse to take a shot with at entry time, has lost his longshot cache with all the scratches.  

Good field of older turf horses will go 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in race 9.  

The scratch of Changewilldoyagood takes the main speed out, and does not help the chances of the closer Highland Sky, but I want to give him one more chance as he cuts back to a better distance.  He has, admittedly, been a disappointment so far at four, but his sesonal debut was strong, and I don't think the 10 and 11-furlong races he has been competing in recently bring out the best in him. 

Revved Up is the most talented horse in the race, but he, unlike Highland Sky, is better going longer.  

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Saturday Spot Plays

Race 1:  #2 My Golden Rose - 7/2 ML.

Has found success out of town so far, but she has faced better going longer in NY, and she was a clear-cut winner when dropped in class and turned back last time. Logically spotted off the maiden win.

Race 3:  #3 Carlino - 4/1 ML.

Carried his run a long way in better-than-it-looks maiden win first time on dirt, and he was unlucky not to win right back when forced wide at Saratoga, as the eventual winner got a perfect run through on the inside. 

Race 5:  #7 Scheme - 12/1 ML.

3yo filly didn't run her best when last seen back in May, but she was wide and uncovered throughout that race, and she has now had a further 122 days to progress.  Impressed in her debut win, even with that trip working out following some early trouble, and she did not have a great trip while facing stakes company in her second career start.