Saratoga Picks for June 6:
HORSING AROUND WITH MR. ED: It was another hot day at the Saratoga windows yesterday as the average $2 Win ticket spread over 14 first-class races returned $17.07. Many jockeys and trainers recorded multiple-win days, among them Flavien Prat, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Luis Saez, Junior Alvarado, Brian Cox, Bill Mott and Chad Brown. Turning the page to Saturday, there are 14 races on tap, highlighted by Race 13, The $2M G1 BELMONT STAKES for 3YOs going 1¼ miles. First Race post time is an early 11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. PT. Unfortunately, the weatherman is calling for rain with a high in the upper-70s. Here are Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Belmont at Saratoga Picks for Saturday, 6/06
Race 1 — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes either of these to begin a DD: It’s hard to get by the 97 speed rating posted in losing effort debut by #4 COLD SPELL (3-5 morning line). She’s trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Johnny Velazquez. Should the favorite falter, #6 NAKOMA (10-1) is a legitimate longshot for trainer Jena Antonucci and ridden by Edgard Zayas.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,6/3,9. ($20)
Race 2 (11:37 a.m. ET/8:37 a.m. PT) — $125K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
To complete the DD, Mr. Ed likes either #3 LIFE AND TIMES (9-5 morning line) for P&P (Pletcher & Prat), or #9 SENIOR OFFICER (2-1) for the Brad Cox barn with top rider Irad Ortiz on board.
Race 4 (12:53 p.m. ET/9:53 a.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #2 NAIVE MELODY with Dylan Davis riding for Wesley Ward; #3 STEER CLEAR (7-2) for trainer Todd Pletcher with top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., and #6 CHATTER (4-1) for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. with Ortiz brother Jose up. Mr. Ed needs two of three for the money.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 7 (2:47 p.m. ET/11:47 a.m. PT) — $500K G1 JUST A GAME STAKES for fillies and mares, 4 YOs & up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s pick is favorite #3 SEGESTA (7-5 morning line), winner in excess of $1.4 million while facing the best in her class. Chad Brown trains, Flavien Prat rides. Tough customer.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win.
Race 8 (3:25 p.m. ET/12:25 p.m. PT) — $400K G3 TRUE NORTH STAKES for 4YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed’s betting on outstanding 5YO gelding #6 BOOK’EM DANNO (2-1 morning line), whose 4 of 5 at the Spa, to crush the field under Paco Lopez. Derek Ryan trains.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (4:13 p.m. ET/1:13 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 JAIPUR STAKES for 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed likes a jockey play with #4 WORKS FOR ME (6-1 morning line) for low-key trainer, Lee Joseph, with blazing hot rider Flavien Prat. Oh yeah, it works for Mr. Ed.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 10 (4:52 p.m. ET/1:52 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 WOOD STEPHENS STAKES for 3YOs going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is Bob Baffert’s undefeated (3-3) West Coast-based speedy sprinter #6 CRUDE VELOCITY (9-5 morning line) with Florent Geroux at controls. Guy has never been headed — and won’t be today.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $30 to Win. ($30)
Race 11 (5:32 p.m. ET/2:32 p.m. PT) — $1M G1 METROPOLITAN HANDICAP for 3YOs & up going a mile
Mr. Ed likes the super-tough field in one of his favorite races. He’s betting on three: #1 NYSOS (9-5 morning line) for Bob Baffert and Flavien Prat; #4 SAUDI CROWN (8-1) for Brad Cox barn with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding, and talented 4YO #7 JOURNALISM (5-2) with Bro Jose aboard for Mike McCarthy.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 13 (7:04 p.m. ET/4:04 p.m. PT) — $2M G1 BELMONT STAKES for 3YOs going 1¼ mile
Mr. Ed’s betting #7 COMMANDMENT (6-1 morning line) will Win mainly due to the jockey change to HOFer Johnny Velazquez. Hesitation at the gate under Luis Saez in the Kentucky Derby could very well have cost him any chance. Trainer Brad Cox will make sure he’s alert at the start today. Look for him flying down the stretch under Johnny V. Thou Shalt Win the Belmont.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $30 to Win. ($30)
Race 14 (8:02 p.m. ET/5:02 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s upset pick in nightcap is #11 RAMBLIN’ WRECK (12-1 morning line) for savvy conditioner Danny Gargan with smart jock Kendrick Carmouche. He’s a wreck, but what the heck?
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
TOTAL WAGERS: $200
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