Race 5
#3 Savvy – minimum win betting odds 1/1 (even money)
Exacta:
3 over 2, 7, 8
#2 is Samaronti, #7 is Knight’s Cross, #8 is Embellisher
Saturday, August 8, 2020
#3 - Savvy
Savvy was making his second start after being off for seven months off on July 8 and was visually impressive while earning by the best last race Equibase figure (99) in the field. In that 7/8 race at Keeneland, Savvy sat in sixth with a quarter mile to run but was completely blocked. Moving out for room with three-sixteenths of a mile to run, the gelding responded immediately to go from sixth to first in the blink of an eye and won by two lengths as he pleased. Hernandez rides back and there’s improving to do as this will be his third start off a layoff so it would take an extraordinary improvement on the part of any of the others to leap frog Savvy in terms of how fast they can run in order to win the race. The mile isn’t a concern coming off a seven furlong win because the mile at Ellis Park is almost a sprint the way the track is configured. It must also be noted Hernandez, who rode Embellisher to two straight wins, decides to stick with Savvy.
Ellis Starr
Ellis Starr, a.k.a. “Ubercapper,” has been a racing fan for 50 years and understands all aspects of handicapping as well as betting. More than 25 years ago, Ellis was one of the first handicappers to publish his selections on the Internet and to share his knowledge on a daily basis.
Ellis is the National Racing Analyst for Equibase, the Thoroughbred industry’s official source for Racing Information, writing a widely distributed “Race of the Week” story analyzing top races in North America, which also appears on the web site America’s Best Racing. Ellis also publishes insights, analysis and selections for other races around the country as blogs and as a podcast which may be found at Amwager and Keeneland Select, as well as via twitter @ubercapper and on the web sites of top racetracks such as Del Mar, Ellis Park, Keeneland, Santa Anita and Woodbine.
Ellis also participates in handicapping tournaments, winning the Belmont Shootout a few years back and the National Handicapping Championship Charity Challenge in 2017. He is among the few that participate annually in the Keeneland Tournament of Champions.