Off the turf for races 3, 4 and 6 today at Saratoga. 'Good' on the main track to start the day and 'good' on the turf, where only the steeplechase (race 1), the race 8 allowance and the John's Call (race 9) remain on the grass. 

There is a carryover in excess of $166k in the pick six, which begins in race 5. A quick rundown:

Race 5: My top two picks in the race were Broadway Bay and Testosterstone. They have both been scratched. Of the remaining six, only Cause I'm Alex, Blugrascat's Smile and Holy Week are particularly adept over this kind of distance, though they are not necessarily the 'best' horses in the race. Mr. Buff is a quality speed, but one who has not been in top form lately and this distance presents a problem for him even at the best of times. All About Ashley returned to NY in good form for trainer Tom Amoss last month, entered a far tougher race, and was eased and vanned off. He's better than that, but he never wanted to go this far back when he was a regular on this circuit. Ostrolenka has done very little routing over the past couple of years, but he actually can get this far. His recent form leaves something to be desired but I would use him somewhere at a price. 

Race 6: Off the turf. To be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Admiral Blue is back quickly as a MTO after finishing a tiring 5th at this level and over this track and trip six days ago. He hasn't been in the best form of his career since being taken over by Rudy this year, but he is the horse to beat in this spot. I also like Trustworthy, who dropped in class and wired a field over this distance last time. He was claimed out of that race by Asmussen and is entered in a logical spot as the other MTO in his first start for new connections.

Race 7: Mrs. Orb is the horse to beat cutting back in distance with the top two figures in the field in this MSW for NY-bred 3yo fillies. I wouldn't just lean on her and want to use second-time starting Makin' Out as well. In Denile is starting to give the impression that she just may not be that talented, but she is well bred and she did have a bit of an excuse first time out before returning to do no running over a mile last time. She cuts back for this and if she is going to run it has to be today.  

Race 8: Vortex Road has returned to NY in good form this year for Bruce Levine and I prefer her in this race, which brings together a solid field for the level. Broken Border is the ML favorite exiting a disappointing loss at Suffolk. The problem with being too strongly against her, at least in my opinion, is that she ran an excellent race two back at Monmouth after a very tough trip. I'm trying to beat her, but she's difficult to just leave out of the pick six. Conquest Hardcandy and Bareeqa both fit well here with their best race. 

Race 9: An excellent running of the John's Call goes with a field of nine with the scratches of Mr Maybe, Highland Sky and Not in Charge. I have liked the form Focus Group has returned in following the layoff and am sticking with him in this race. He was strong winning over a tough distance right off the layoff at Keeneland and he was badly compromised while trying to close from last in a race that was holding together up front in his second start. He steps up at the right time here following another strong stretch run last time in a race that set up better for him. Patterson Cross and Rocketry are the other horses for me. 

Race 10: Wild Type figures tough dropping in class in the finale after losing all chance up here on opening day when shuffled back out of position in early traffic. The other horse for me in the pick six is Flion Lynn Lion, also dropping in class, with a trainer change to Wesley Ward.