Super Saturday Stateside Preview - 06/03/21

Luis Saez doesn’t ride at Tampa very often and with a nice book of rides he is expected to have a fruitful Saturday evening.

One of his best chances looks to be Untreated, who has switched from one powerhouse yard to another having joined Todd Pletcher from Chad Brown.

This 3-y-o colt was sent off 10/11 for a red hot maiden at Gulfstream in January but he failed to fire over 6f and his pedigree suggests he will take a leap forward now upped to a mile.

He does have to be taken on trust but this isn’t a strong event and he is expected to improve.

Race 11 at Gulfstream sees nine go to post in a competitive stakes race and we believe we have found one that represents each-way value.

Christophe Clement’s Shop Girl is currently priced up at 5/1 but she has some serious form in the book and we think she should and will go off shorter.

Her debut on dirt saw her finish second to Competitive Speed who finished third in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes a couple of weeks ago and she seemingly improved from that when getting the better of Pens Street next time out.

That rival also enhanced the form, finishing fourth in the same graded event, and Irad Ortiz has been booked to ride.

She is progressing with every run and should at least hit the frame despite her wide birth.

Bob Baffert has won this three times since 2015 and he won it with the Kentucky Derby winner Authentic just last season.

He is well-represented this year training the top two in the market and we feel Life Is Good will confirm the form of their meeting in the Sham Stakes.

This 3-y-o had to overcome a troublesome start that day but he still won on the bridle under a comfortable Mike Smith.

Admittedly, Medina Spirit was closing all the way to the line, and he doesn’t look a horse you would want to get into a battle with, but our selection should have too much tactical speed over the extended mile.

Our final selection is Brendan Walsh’s unbeaten 4-y-o Maxfield in the Santa Anita Handicap at 01:00.

This race looks worth staying up for with numerous top talents on show, but Maxfield has been very impressive on each start and he now looks ready for this sort of test.

Connections had options closer to home which makes it interesting they have travelled for this event and he would need to run well to have serious claims in the Breeders Cup Classic.

Stall 2, Florent Geroux rides.