THE DIANA

Saratoga (Race 7) - Post 4:12

Grade I, $500,000, 1 1/8 mi. (turf), 3YO & up, f&m.

PP Horse JockeyOdds

1. Bit of Whimsy(Eibar Coa). . . 12-1

2. Dynaforce(Kent Desormeaux). . . 5-1

3. Bayou's Lassie(Robby Albarado). . . 8-1

4. Wait a While(Rafael Bejarano). . . 2-1

5. Vacare(Edgar Prado). . . 5-1

6. Criminologist(John Velazquez). . . 6-1

7. Rutherienne(Garrett Gomez). . . 4-1

8. Forever Together(Julien Leparoux). . . 12-1

9. Chestoria(Cornelio Velasquez). . . 20-1

10. Lady Digby(Ramon Dominguez). . . 9-2

This is a mini-Breeders' Cup at Saratoga with 2 hours of serious stakes on Channel 6. This race has very little pace. Wait a While is the most accomplished horse and may control the pace. Should be easy, but, incredibly, trainer Todd Pletcher has won just a single Grade I stake this year. And this mare has not raced since January. She is the best horse, but . . . Rutherienne did not appear to like the going in her last out at Colonial. She has won nine of 12 on grass. Vacare did not fire off a long layoff, but she is a Grade I winner clearly capable of better.

DJ's picks: 1. Wait a While. 2. Rutherienne 3. Vacare.

THE VANDERBILT

Saratoga (Race 8) - Post 4:43 p.m.

Grade II, $250,000, 6 fur., 3YO & up