Courtesy of Mike Dempsey

The first week of the Saratoga meeting is in the books, and early indications are it is going to be a good meeting for the New York Racing Association.

Attendance was up 13.5% and on track handle was up 5%. All source handle was up 1.1% from 2008, which is a decent number considering overall handle in 2008 throughout the U.S. is down more than 10% on the year.

This week might actually be a better indicator for the meet, as last year’s opening week was hit by a deluge of rain and an abundance of races taken off the turf, leading to plenty of scratches and smaller fields.

One of the big stories in ’08 was trainer Bill Mott, who came off a huge ’07 meeting to go just 4 for 72 last year.

The trainer is back on track this summer, and he already has exceeded last year’s total for wins, picking up his fifth win of the meeting on Monday.

Jockey Alan Garcia is off to a good start as he attempts to defend the jockey title he won last year. He has picked up nine wins from 38 starters through Monday, with Ramon Dominguez and Rajiv Maragh tied for second with five wins each.

We have four maiden races on the nine race card today, but in three of the four races it looks like we can beat the favorite.

Today’s feature is the $70,000 De La Rosa Stakes, a one mile turf test for fillies and mares. Cocoa Beach, a multiple Grade 1 winner is seeking to bounce back from a disappointing effort in her last start in the Floral Park Stakes.

The Godolphin runner was scratched out of Sunday’s Go for Wand (G1) to go in this much softer spot.

Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:

SAR Race 1 Clm $20,000B (1:00 ET)
#4 Madison Avenue
#2 Sage the Rage
#8 Driven by Seattle
#3 Touchof Perfection

Analysis: #4 Madison Avenue switches back to the main track here after fading to finish eighth last out against $50K non winners of two. The filly won her previous three starts on dirt, all coming at Charles Town including beating Alw-3L foes two back at nine furlongs over the tight turns at the WV track. She finds a good spot here as she makes her third start of her current form cycle and in good hands with the Klesaris barn that is 29% winners moving runners from turf to dirt.

#2 Sage the Rage might get overlooked on the tote here as she ships in from Finger Lakes for a sharp outfit. The filly beat state bred Alw-3R company (for non winners of a state bred race other than) last out by three lengths at 4/5. She faces tougher here as she returns to the major circuit but she looks like she has enough pedigree to handle nine furlongs and we should catch a fair price. The barn is 1 for 4 at the Spa over the last five years, that winner being the ill fated Tin Cup Chalice.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 2,3,4,8
TRI: 2,4 / 2,3,4,8 / 2,3,4,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 8 De La Rose S. (4:56 ET)
#5 Modern Look 12/1
#2 Cocoa Beach / #2b Skylighter 6/5
#1 Scolara / #1a Savoir Bien 5/2
#12 Cable 5/1

Analysis: #5 Modern Look makes her third start of her current form cycle and I like the stretch back out to a mile, the distance of her last victory, which was a Group 2 at Chantilly last June. She was in too tough two back in the Just a Game (G1) and last out flattened out in the stretch over yielding footing going six furlongs in the Caress. Leading rider Garcia takes the call for Frankel and the 12/1 ML looks more than fair.

#2 Cocoa Beach is 2 for 2 in her career on turf and caught a sloppy track last out in the Floral Park, which was her first go off a seven month layoff. Everyone was certainly expecting to see more out of her last out and she just did not fire. Maybe it was the racetrack but tough to come back with her at another short price. She won the Matriarch (G1) two back on turf at Hollywood Park last November. A tough call based on class.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 6/1 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 1,2,5,12
TRI: 2,5 / 1,2,5,12 / 1,2,4,5,6,12

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Saratoga
R1: #2 Sage the Rage 15/1
R2: #7 Saratoga Tiger 8/1
R4: #3 Vamos a Ver 10/1
R6: #8 Pure Cognac 15/1
R7: #4 Princess Maura 15/1
R8: #5 Modern Look 12/1
R9: #3 Dr. Smarty Jack 12/1

Good luck today!