Closing Day, and what's that? A carryover?!

Inconceivable! It's simply unheard of for there to be a closing day interest generating carryover at an American racetrack. Steve's key horse on Sunday in the Saranac did wonders for us C/O hounds, and while I'm sputtering from a bad (understatement) wagering meet and generally ready to put Saratoga in the rearview, it's times like these that separate the true horseplayers from the casual bettors. Which means one more excuse for me to siphon out some more money before Big Sandy bores us all to tears.

Leg A: Generally, as the meet progresses, maiden two-year-old grass races become less and less inscrutible, which unfortunately means that there's also less and less chance of catching prices in 'em. This heat could possibly beget the exception, as I see a vulnerable chalk in #2 GLOBALIZATION. While he ran well after setting a fast pace last out (69 BSF, 12 1/2 TG), he's not really bred to be a turf horse (Touch Gold is only 9% with first-time lawners), and he doesn't really run like a two-turn turf horse either, tugging up to the front and getting weary late. I'm looking elsewhere, because be forewarned, I'm going chalky late in this thing. #1 BIG BROWN has a respectable turf pedigree and has had very few hiccups in his work schedule for Pat Reynolds and Paul Pompa. The rail is no bargain and Reynolds isn't known for sucess with babies first out, but he also doesn't usually ride Prado for no reason, although with Edgar's injury, Jeremy Rose hops aboard. The angle still works. #3 INCALZANDO got a bizarre ride last out from Javier Castellano to say the least, as he made a ridiculously early move down the backside after some traffic trouble on the first turn. While I think Giant's Causeway is overrated as a sire, his horses are indisputably better on grass, so I'd give this one another shot. #4 HIDDEN GLANCE (go Corny!) and #5 DOCTOR CAL are obvious inclusions.

Leg B: Pretty straightforward $35,000 turf claimer here, as it doesn't appear to me that more than four horses (or betting interests) can bring home the bacon and fry it in the pan. #3 GRAND (go Corny!) is ultra-consistent and fits on figures, both halves of the Flying Zee entry can throw big races once in a while, #8 GROUND HERO is majorly obvious, having run a big second here last out off 470 days on the bench and #9 MILITARY MAJOR is another metronomic old knocker who's always a win candidate at this level.

Leg C: This is where it gets a little tricky, because I can justify going anywhere from 2-8 wide in this, the Weekend Madness overnight stake. #5 CLASSIC NEEL and #12 TANGUISTA appear to be SLIGHTLY faster than the other horses in here, so I'll probably cross my fingers and use those two in the pick six, then throw in some combination #2 TEARS I CRY, #4 UNSPOKEN WORD, #6 LADY DIGBY, #7 DINNER BREAK, #9 RUBAN BLEU and #10 SANS REWARD in the pick four.

Leg D: It's not an easy thing singling a lukewarm favorite in a large, classy field going 1 3/8 miles on the grass, but as hard as I try, I can't get past #3 MAKDERAH. She's an improving filly who's run two huge races in a row, doesn't have to give significant weight, and picks up John Velazquez, who GETS OFF second choice and Pletcher win machine Safari Queen to take the call. If she runs back to either of her last two efforts, she's going to be tough, and hopefully she'll get some solid pace to run at with a lot of tactically gifted horses in the field. The lone question is whether 11 furlongs will be too far, but she's my top single.

Leg E: I haven't been more impressed with a horse this summer than I was with #4 READY'S IMAGE in the Sanford, and that's saying a lot, because there have been some powerful performances these last six weeks. And this is coming from someone who bet against him that day. He was coming back relatively quickly from the Tremont, where he ran a monster race (99 BSF, 1 1/2 TG), and didn't just duplicate that run, but improved upon it, running a 104 BSF and 1 TG in the Sanford. He has to navigate another furlong in here, and even though he towers over his opponents figure-wise, this is no walkover. #2 MAIMONIDES will be winging it and may never look back, and I was wowed by #1 MAJESTIC WARRIOR's debut, in which he broke badly, rushed up on a :21 4/5 quarter and still drew off strongly. I'll single Ready's Image in the pick six, but include Majestic Warrior and Maimonides in the pick four.

Leg F: A nice little clusterfuck allowance to close out the meet, and as Matt says, this is the money leg. Do you single #5 STORM TREASURE, who appears tops on figures? Or do you try to beat him because the thing absolutely refuses to win a race. I'm doing both. I'm singling him on my budget pick six ticket, then will chuck in #1 BIGGERBADDERBETTER, #3 CHALOOK, #6 WARN and #8 KETTLE HILL in the pick four, with perhaps a saver bet on #10 SEASTATE (go Corny!) should I be alive this far in the pick four/six.

Super budget blue light special everything must go Pick Six ticket:

1,3,4,5 / 2,3,8,9 / 5,12 / 3 / 4 / 5 (4x4x2x1x1x1 x $2 = $64)

Tentative saver pick four ticket:

2,4,5,6,7,9 / 3 / 1,2,4 / 1,3,5,6,8

Go nuts, go apeshit, folks! Time to bid farewell to the Speezy!