Two-year-olds on Friday at the Spa

Three very interesting two-year-old races dot the Saratoga card Friday, and for those playing multi-race wagers the good news is that each of the pick four and pick six sequences begins with one of the two-year-old races. The bad news concerning that scenario is that the early pick four begins and ends with a two-year-old race since the second of three juvenile races on the day begins the pick six as race five.

Race 2 is a $75k maiden claimer for males, and #5 Trickle Trickle figures to be the favorite based off his speed-and-fade debut in MSW company, and his two-year-old pedigree on both the top and bottom doesn't hurt either. If the toteboard and/or the post parade dictates a play against Trickle Trickle, then I expect either #1 Show the Way J or #4 Idol Image to be the likely plays. Both are first-time starters and look fast enough to contend at this level based on their works. I'm a bit concerned with the break in works on Show the Way J, but he's been at Saratoga since May, so that's OK. Idol Image has been working steady since late June and the pedigree fits.

Race 5 is a $50k maiden claimer for females, and a friend already had mentioned #6 Uvada earlier this week. I wouldn't pin all my pick N hopes on her, but she's a must use at the likely price (15-1 ML and likely higher?). New trainer Rafael Ramos adds lasix, and his top jock ships in from Suffolk where this one fired a bullet two weeks after a debut in which she took some money. #8 Kaffie's Doll has a ton of two-year-old form in her pedigree and obscure connections should keep the price right. The horse I like the most of those I expect to take money is #5 Lucy N Thunder, who headed north after two bullets in Queens. The trainer isn't win early, but the sire is, and she looks capable.

Race 7 is a maiden special weight for females and nothing really jumps out on pedigree. It seems like I find more reasons to knock the horses in here than boost them. #2 Heirness has a dynamite pedigree and is by a win-early sire. The knock here is the price as this is the one horse I can't imagine anyone completely dismissing. #3 Flower Exchange comes from Churchill where it seems all the two-year-old winners at the Spa have hailed from so far, but she'll definitely be bet, and this isn't a win early pedigree to me. Maybe going 7f at Keeneland (Exchange Rate on Poly, hello!). I'll try to beat her. #8 Restless Song should be ready to roll given the pedigree and trainer, but the latter is the thing: Lukas isn't shy about cranking them up, and the works here aren't blazing. #9 Encore Saritta is owned by West Point, who likes to win at Saratoga. Consolidator is slow to go so far, but the female pedigree looks quick, so maybe this one will jump start things for my 2005 Derby pick (before he scratched).

As for my Saratoga contest selection, I'll probably shy away from choosing a horse from one of the above races because the price is such a big question. I'm likely to take either #1 Bella Attrice in race 1 or #2 Loxy Lady in race 4.