While Saratoga is known more as a dirt track I love the turf racing here. Saturday they will run a marathon, The Bowling Green, normally a Belmont race but it’s go round we are at Saratoga.

I see two primary contenders and two secondary contenders. The first two are obvious and the first and second choices. Now as someone who gravitates towards European bred and raced turf horses I thought I’d land in the likely favorite and for me hopefully heavy favorite, Fort George. This gelding held his own against Ombudsman who is probably the best turf horse in training today and Rebel’s Romance a Breeders’ Cup winning war horse who would be odds on in here. He makes all the sense in the world and as I will bet against him despite my affinity for this type horse, I hope his odds are an underlay and he gets pounded.

I like Minaret Station despite the new distance. This colt comes in here on the upswing and off a wide no chance trip last out where he finished strong. He had a setback heading into this year but looks ready to peak, and I think the distance will help him do that and leave him closer with not as much to do pace wise, without diminishing his late kick. He gets Jose Ortiz who is rising lights out and I actually think he can drift up from his second choice morning line of 2-1 which is rather short. 5-2 or even 3-1 would feel much closer to right for me but it is what it is.

Ole Crazy Bone is worth a long look as Mike Maker wins so many stakes with this type of claim. He also has Prat, an inside draw, and most importantly a pace advantage. That is a lot going for him but I am hoping Minaret Station can out kick him late. If he has a length or two into the stretch the final time we may have our hands full but we should be coming.

Carson’s Run if in the mood can make plenty of noise here and Rosario who will leave for Del Mar soon is riding like the old Joel we used to know. At 10-1 or better he can get in this race and make the exotics.

I’ll play Minaret Station on top, with Carson’s Run underneath in the second, third and fourth slots in the superfecta. I’ll also use Minaret Station in the multi race wagers.

Let’s hope it works out just that way.