3 minute read

Starting on the West Coast there's the Bing Crosby Gr.1.

Before that the San Diego Handicap is Gr 2 over 1700m with 9 starters.  Defunded has being doing his best to defund us so with a bit of luck he can reverse that trend and win here for Baffert-Hernandez – they are on 8/5.  Slow Down Andy and Missed the Cut are on 5/1.

The Bing Crosby honours one of the people who put this track on the map and the race in the crooner's name is over 1200m with 12 starters. Dr Schivel is on top on 7/2 with three on 4/1 – Spirit of Markana, The Chosen Vron and Anarchist – we are leaning towards the latter.

At Saratoga the Alfred G Vanderbilt is Gr1 over 1200m with 7 runners.  Elite Power is on 4/5 for Mott-I Ortiz, and Gunite 8/5 for Asmussen-Gaffalione.

The Jim Dandy Gr 2 is over 1800m with 5 runners and a chance to watch the splendid Forte – Pletcher saddles and I. Ortiz rides.

Lots of tracks have cancelled or re-arranged their meetings for the latter part of the week owing to extreme heat conditions.