8/9 - Kevin "Brooklyn Cowboy" Cox Saratoga Selections

Mess of a day yesterday.

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Today's Beatable Favorite(s): Race 10 - #11 Big Prankster

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I'd like to leave this bit of info here for y'all. When we're using the DRF Formulator platform while writing our columns, if we say "Sprints", for the most part we mean any one turn race, and when we say "Routes", we mean any TWO turn race. ( For example, we consider a 1 1/8th mile race at Belmont an elongated sprint, and a 6 1/2 furlong race at a Charles Town a route. ) We feel this way, because in our eyes, it's the number of turns that necessitate more energy than being relaxed on a straightaway. Sometimes the sample size for our study can be too large to manually break down, so there may be a few from one category in another, but usually the end result is pretty much the same. Additionally, when it comes to layoffs, we consider more than 50 days in a dirt to dirt scenario a layoff, more than 58 days in D to T or T to D a layoff, and more than 67 days in a turf to turf deal a L/O. Furthermore, if we amend our selections for a wet track, and the track becomes fast, our original selections are in play.

#7 APPELALATE improved from a Beyer standpoint in the first three starts of her career, and then was sent to the sidelines for quite some time after finishing off the board in a Grade Two event. Gal returned this annum to improve from her first start to the next, and that includes a career best effort in the most recent. If she was to keep that similar cycle going, well, then today's offering would be mighty generous. #5 DAZZLING CRUISER outran her odds quite nicely when completing the triple at 25 to 1 down in Ozone Park seven weeks ago, and from a DRF Formulator standpoint, Mott is a tight two of three with second time routers on the turf who hit the board 41 to 67 days back, that are receiving the wonder drug. Logical favorite. #2 SILVOLOGY flopped in the followup to the nifty bow, and has decent pedigree for the green stuff, but 6-1 seems just a little bit short. Tossing in  nonetheless.  OFF TURF: 4-2-5-1-10(MTO)

We're not really feeling the love here, so tread lightly. #3 DRAKE'S PASSAGE didn't show his usual zip after breaking a little slow last time out, but had done excellent work in eight of nine stops just prior to that, and we have no problems with giving this horse for the course a chance to make amends. #5 MAKER'S CANDY has been freshened up a touch, and found the line first the only time he returned off a sabbatical. The four for eight mark at today's distance of ground stands out quite favorably against the one for seven ledger otherwise. Sensible. #4 BANK FRENZY has done decent work at the trip, and is as good as any for the show dough.

#4 DONEGAL FOREVER has won three of four to date, and is led over by a shotcaller who is three or four with optional sand stayers ridden by today's jock who scored 14 to 50 days back at 5-1 or less. The winners came back $8, $10, and $3, and colt looks strong once again. #6 COOKE CREEK has been a convincing victor in his last pair, and both of those tallies came beneath Jose. Threat to go all the way if able to set some easy splits. #3 POWER SEEKER is a very consistent sort who has the all important win over the track, and we wouldn't mind seeing him challenge our secondary selection early on.

#6 ADDICTED TO YOU gave his backers quite a thrill when grabbing the lead turning for home at 38-1 during opening week, and although he finished 4th that day, fell short by only a length. The speed figure posted was a lifetime best, and you're still getting double digit odds with this one. #2 KING OF COMEDY went coast to coast like butter and toast the only time he was in a third off the layoff situation, and was also a going away winner the only time he was paired up with Ortiz. Things to like for a runner who's made available for purchase for the first time. #8 YO DADDY hung up a career topping Beyer on the dirt last time, and if you want to prorate that to his best number on the verde, what you have is a # which makes him totally logical here.  OFF TURF: 1-4-9-1A-6

#1A UPSTANDING was a bit tardy to the party when getting his working papers on July 13th, but overcame that to finish an honest enough third, going one panel shorter. The pedigree says he should be able to handle today's second turn, and looms a prohibitive favorite. #6 PRAIRIE DUNES returned off a bit of a freshening to pick up 12% of the pot in this race down in Queens at the end of June, and is in a second of the layoff spot for the first time. From a DRF Formulator aspect, Mott is a saucy three of seven with maiden special weight second time routers on the sand, who hit the board 30 to 50 days in the rear, that are 20-1 or less. Additionally, there is a subcategory of two for three with Junior in the stirrups. #2 POINT CLEAR has been a might clumsy at the start in both outings to date, but could fare better with the blinker edition this afternoon.

We are not really feeling the heat from this heat, so go grab a seat and get yourself something to eat. However, for rolling bet purposes... #8 MANHATTAN TWIST is a decently bred firster, who descends from a family tree where five of six relatives found their initial score within the first three outings, with the other one having placed during that time. There's a nice gate move on tap back in late July, and this one rate a timid selection. #6 VIBRANT EXPRESS is another one who has been doing well in the mornings for today's lidlifter, and hails from the hottest sire in the game these days. #9 KEEPINITREAL rounds out our troika of firsters we'll be using, and can't fault those taking a favorable view, given the connections.

#6 URBAN LEGEND has been a part of the exacta and 4 of 5 starts to date, and we like the versatility shown and having accomplished such over three different surfaces. Flavor Flav hops in the irons for today's third off the layoff deal, and this one should be right in the thick of things late. #5 YARROW has partaken in the superfecta in all five starts on the Mellon, and also owns a nice mark at today's distance of ground. #7 ALEXIS ZORBA (GB) cuts back from two turns to one for the first time, but giving his nibbling tendencies, we will leave underneath.  OFF TURF: 9-4-6-8-7

#1 COUSIN KRISTI gets a trainer upgrade since last in action, and comes in today with a one for two mark when breaking from the pine. In a wild anomaly, this one has been smacked around at the onset in four consecutive outings, and five of six on the whole. The good news though, is that she is now in receipt of the finest rider in the game, so at least you know there's a chance this one could have a cleaner beginning. #4 LEELOO is one of two in this zip code, and has a nice declining boxscore at today's trip. Given the fact that she's only scored in one of her last dozen, we see her as a better "unders" candidate, than the top spot. #7 KANT HURRY LOVE has closed out the exacta in all four second off the bench engagements, and we like this one's ability to send, or rate just a bit. Toss in a two for two boxscore when last to load, and you have the making of a sensible addition.

#8 ALL AMERICAN BEAUTY hasn't faced the starter since the fall, but has also not missed a workout since June 1st for today's return, and is a perfect two of two when going over the blades outside of stakes company. We'll bite at a solid offering. #6 TAX IMPLICATIONS (GB) has a nice amount of back class, & was perfectly spotted in a grade three win down at the Shore back in mid June. Hard to knock, especially given the ascension of speed figs since last September. #2 ELOUNDA QUEEN (IRE) can complete the "Pizza/Tea/Soda Bread" triple based on the five length win the only time she was in a third off the bench deal, and gets some class relief this afternoon, while owning a nice declining record of 9:3-2-1 at today's dx..  OFF TURF: 1-7-11(AE)-9-4

#3 STREET ROD has been beset by back-to-back hibernations after each of his two starts, but one of them resulted in a dead game tally when showing some fine mettle after getting roughed up some. The adjusted figure from that day was an 80.2, which stands out quite nicely versus the rest of these. This gray gelding now has his third different trainer from as many starts to date, but it's his best one yet, and once again, we'll take a shot with Frankie. #5 NANO MAN put it all together when procuring the sheepskin right here 20 days in the rear, and as this fella has essentially done nothing but improve with each passing sod start, we have no reason to dismiss, especially w/ Lasix now being a part of the equation. #6 TWISTED FILIGREE returned off a calendar and a month sabbatical to finish a snazzy runnerup in this race on opening weekend, and while a bounces always possible off of something like that, we'll toss in with the miracle drug now being a part of the makeup.  OFF TURF: 4-3-2-14(AE)-13(AE)

Saratoga Summer ( Current ):   40-211  ( $489.20 ) Beatable Favorites: 2-11   18.2% ) Favorite's Win %:  72-211 ( 34.1% )( As of Saturday morning )

Aqueduct Spring/Summer ( Final ): 66-292 ( $454.70 )Beatable Favorites: 4-10 ( 40% )    Favorite's Win %: 118-292 ( 40.4% )

Saratoga Spring  ( Final ):                7-47      ( $31.20 )  Beatable Favorites: N/A                 Favorite's Win %: 19-47   ( 40.4% )

Aqueduct  Spring( Final ):                28-136 ( $278.70 ) Beatable Favorites: 1-10 ( 10% )    Favorite's Win %: 57-136 ( 41.9% ) 

Aqueduct Winter ( Final ):                85-377 ( $616.70 ) Beatable Favorites: 5-16 ( 31.3% ) Favorite's Win % 139-377 ( 36.9% )

All Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup, Selected Grade 1's and Travers full days ( These are also counted in the "Dirt Tracks" category ): (2013-2023 Final ) 83-496 ( $779.60 )

Dirt Tracks 2013-24 (All Final):4241-20632 ($34,946.80) +/-: -15.3% against a 16.1% takeout . Polytracks 2013-16 (All Final): 85-568 ( $819.20 ) 

Beatable Favorites : 474-1772( 26.8% ) Favorite's Win %: 7945-21369( 37.2% )

Cumulative Stats (All Final): 4261-21247 ( $35,897.30 ) +/-: -15.5% against a 16.6% takeout