Handicapper's Corner: 2023 Salvator Mile (G3)

 Older stakes winners vie in Salvator Mile

By: John Caro, S. Florida ThoroFan Handicapper

Monmouth Park’s $150,000 Grade 3 Salvator Mile attracted a well-matched field of ten older horses with combined earnings of over $4 million, including six stakes winners.

Thunderstorms may be the name of the game Saturday during this contest.

Let’s take a look at the field.

One of the things that struck me as odd was that only one runner has a race over the Monmouth track, #2 - Ridin With Biden. He also has some of the best off-track numbers and gets Paco Lopez in the saddle.

#6 – Octane has a similar record on wet tracks and comes off a win at Gulfstream.

#8 – Nimitz Class is the talk of the town, with five straight victories under Jevian Toledo generally going longer, and won two back in the mud at Laurel. Hard to deny him as a top pick.

Other standouts are:

#1 – Petulante, with a great record for being in the exacta in every race, a son of Arrogate who we know can give a good performance over off tracks and with an inside post and Luis Saez up might surprise.

#3 – Empty Tomb gets Sammy Camacho, perpetual winner at Monmouth (26%), and trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. who's 40%. The horse is a four-time winner at the distance with good off-track records.

#5 – Bourbon Calling is a distance specialist with good off-track numbers and local jockey, Jorge Vargas, Jr.

The others don't stick out, although #9 – Artorius has been on an extended break with excellent credentials from his win in the Curlin Stakes last summer. Chad Brown restarted his training in March at Payson Park, and he's worked well. Another son of Arrogate, so there is little doubt that he will handle an off-track.

Tracks that are sealed can play to the strengths of speed horses. Based strictly on what I see on the PPs, the winner should be Nimitz Class. He might face stiff competition from Petulante, Empty Tomb, and Bourbon Calling near the front, and the others noted will be mid-pack and make a move in the stretch.

Handigambling:

$2 Trifecta – 8 with 1,3,5 with 1,2,3,5,6,9   = $30

Longshot play - $5 win on 1,3 and a $2 exacta box 1,2,3