Saratoga Track Trends

The rail was an advantage. How extreme is open to debate as we saw horses run effectively outside, but it definitely seemed to help. Worth following.

In all likelihood, the Main Track played fairly, though through the first part of the card, it seemed like the best running in the stretch was done at least a path off the rail. Given the 8th and 9th races, however, it's hard to say the rail was bad in the stretch. Worth following. The rail was a slight advantage on the Mellon Turf while the Inner Turf played fairly.

It's hard to be sure, but there is a fair argument that you did not want to be on the rail in the stretch. Worth following. Otherwise the track played fairly, as did the turf courses, with dynamics playing the biggest role in the race flows.

All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly. 

The rail was good on the Main Track but not a clear advantage as overall it played fairly, as did the turf courses. The rails were out 27 feet on the Inner and 12 on the Mellon. 

All surfaces, dirt and turf, appeared to play fairly.

While it is arguable that the rail and speed were an advantage on the Main Track, how much had to do with fairly logical results is worth considering. The final race collapsed but there was also a very fast relative pace. There was one turf race on each course, and while listed as Yielding, the Inner was probably closer to Good and the Mellon closer to Firm. We needed the rain!

Overall, the Main Track played fairly. Slight chance the rail was an advantage on the Mellon Turf but likely both courses played relatively fairly.

Speed was dominant on the Main Track. Worth following. The rails were at zero on the Mellon and 18 feet on the Inner Turf. Both courses appeared to play fairly.

All courses, dirt and turf, played fairly.

The Main Track was likely fair though outside closers did well. Likely more situational than a bias but could be worth following. The Mellon Turf played fairly. All three races on the Inner Turf were won on the front end, but all three were also favored, though it's also possible the rail was an advantage.

All surfaces, turf and dirt, played fairly.

The Main Track played fairly as did the turf courses. The rails were moved to 9 feet on the Inner and 18 feet on the Mellon.

The Main Track played fairly, as did the Mellon ( Outer ) Turf. The rail may still be a slight advantage on the Inner. The rails will be out 9 feet on the Inner starting on 7/9.

While there were races on the Main Track that looked like the rail continued to be a significant advantage, there were enough races where outside closers, as well as outside runners, were effective that it's questionable there was a significant bias. Worth following. The turf courses played fairly. 

Speed, and particularly the rail, were big advantages on the Main Track. The rails were at zero on the Inner Turf and 12 feet on the Mellon. Overall, both courses played fairly.

The Main Track seemed to play relatively fairly. It was sealed for the 9^th race, and that race completely collapsed, but that could have had more to do with the pace than the track condition. The rail was good on both turf courses, but they played fairly overall. 

The rail continued to be an advantage in one turn races on the Main Track, though there was enough movement both outside and from behind to suggest that the track was at least closer to fair. The Belmont Stakes was the only two turn dirt race, and it played out at least fairly, as outside closers ultimately dominated. The rails were at zero on both turf courses and arguably saving ground was an advantage. Hard to know if it was an extreme bias but perhaps worth following.

The rail didn't seem to be a major advantage on the Main Track but it was still good. In sprints, speed seemed to be an advantage while the two turn races appeared to play fairly. The rails were at zero on the Inner Turf, while remaining at 18 on he Mellon, and they played fairly. Given the times, the courses were very Firm.

The rail continues to be an advantage on the Main Track though perhaps slightly less than 6/3. The turf courses were very firm, and producing extremely quick times, where arguably the rail was probably a bit of an advantage on both courses, though not clear how significant.

There was a dramatic gold rail on the Main Track. The rails were at 18 feet on both turf courses which were extremely Firm. Forwardly placed horses dominated but it may have been more about pace and quality. No clear bias.