Saratoga and Kentucky Downs Picks for Saturday, August 31

Mr. Ed’s Saratoga and Kentucky Downs Picks:

TRACKING MR. ED: I have a parade of picks prepared for Saturday (see below). Unfortunately, the racing gods are threatening to rain on my parade, with a 50% chance of rain at the Spa. To compound my woes, precipitation is also expected at Kentucky Downs. (Note: All my selections were made for fast track & firm turf courses.)  As for Friday at Saratoga, the results were on the chalky side, with the average $2 Win ticket returning $9.08. Riders Ricardo Santana, Dylan Davis and leader Irad Ortiz Jr. each had two winners. Trainers Jorge Abreu and Brad Cox also had two winners. Today, first post at Saratoga is 12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT.  And they’re off at 1:25 p.m. ET/10:25 a.m. PT in Kentucky. Let’s look at Mr. Ed’s Saratoga and Kentucky Downs selections.

Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga & Kentucky Downs for Saturday, August 31

Kentucky Downs Races 1&2 (1:25 p.m. ET/10:25 a.m. PT) — Both $170K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Jumping right in, Mr. Ed likes a pair in each race. In Race 1, I like #2 SMARTEST (6-1 morning line) and #5 WONDERLAND (4-1). In Race 2, I like #5 BEER RUN (4-1) and #7 IT’S MY LIFE (9-2).
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Daily Double. ($20)

Saratoga Race 5 (2:14 p.m. ET/11:14 a.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #2 TOP GUNNER (6-1 morning line) for excellent trainer Brad Cox, who claimed the pricy son of Into Mischief from his last start. A pair of good works and the hiring of local favorite Eric Cancel to ride point in the right direction. Go gunner.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win & Place. ($10)

Kentucky Downs Race 3 (2:29 p.m. ET/11:29 a.m. PT) — $220K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs going 6 ½ furlongs on the turf
Mr. Ed is betting on three: #1 CALL ME FAST (10-1 morning line) for Joe Sharp & Flavien Prat; #4 ARREST ME RED (7-2) for Wesley Ward and Frankie Dettori, and #7 ONE TIMER (2-1) for Larry Rivelli & Jareth Loveberry.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)

Kentucky Downs Race 4 (3:01 p.m. ET/12:01 p.m. PT) — $190K ALLOWANCE for KY-bred 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs on turf
I like #5 ROI SOLEIL (9-2 morning line). Comes to Kentucky off a Place finish in Monmouth stakes. Low-profile trainer Steve Chircop hires top jockey Tyler Gaffalione to guide son of More Than Ready to finish line.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)

Saratoga Race 7 (3:21 p.m. ET/12:21 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
I’m betting on three: #1 THERESASILVERLININ (9-2 morning line) gets favorable post, new rider Roman Vazquez; #4 ZADORSKY (5-2) for promising young trainer Whit Beckman, and #7 CATCHING HEAT (8-1) for Chad Brown who hires Dylan Davis to ride.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)

Kentucky Downs Race 8 (5:16 p.m. ET/2:16 p.m. PT) — G3 $3.1M NASHVILLE DERBY for KY-bred 3YOs going 1 5/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #8 CARSON’S RUN (9-2 morning line) for trainer Christophe Clement and jockey Joel Rosario after capturing G1 Saratoga Derby earlier this month. Winner of more than $700K, sophomore improving with every race. Another forward move wins this Derby. Run, Carson, Run.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)

Saratoga Race 9 (4:29 p.m. ET/1:29 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed will take a shot with #3 RAMBLIN’ WRECK (4-1 morning line) for one of his go-to trainers, Danny Gargan, who brings Kendrick Caramouche back to ride. Recent efforts are good enough to beat this crew. Let’s go ramblin’.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win & Place. ($10)

Saratoga Race 10 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — G3 $200K PRIORESS STAKES for 3YO fillies going 6 furlongs
I like a trio: #3 TRICKY TEMPER (7-2 morning line) for Jeremiah Englehart and Dylan Davis; #7 TWO SHARP (7-5) for sharp Phil Bauer and Junior Alvarado; and #9 BRIGHTWORK (9-2) for John Ortiz barn and Luis Saez. Sharp combination.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)

Saratoga Races 10-13 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT)
R10: 3,7,9
R11: 2,8,9,11
R12: 1
R:13: 6,9,12
SARATOGA PICK 4 for $1 ($36)

Kentucky Downs Race 9 (5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT) — G2 $1.5M LADIES TURF SPRINT for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 6 ½ furlongs
My selection is #11 DANSE MACABRE (6-1 morning line) for accomplished trainer Kelsey Danner, who sticks with promising young rider Adam Beschizza to get fillie over $1 million in earnings.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 to Win & Place. ($10)

Saratoga Race 12 (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) — G2 $500K FLOWER BOWL STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 1 ⅜-mile on turf
Mr Ed likes #1 WAR LIKE GODDESS (7-5 morning line). Trained by HOFer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, 7YO mare’s lifetime earnings will exceed $3 million with win No. 13. One tough customer.
SARATOGA BEST PICK OF DAY: $40 to Win. ($40)

Kentucky Downs Race 10 (6:24 p.m. ET/3:24 p.m. PT) — G3 $1.5 Million LADIES TURF for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 1 mile
For his final play of the day Mr. Ed likes a trio: #3 FLUFFY SOCKS  (9-2 morning line) for strong Chad Brown barn and returning jockey Joel Rosario; #10 MISSION OF JOY (4-1) for trainer Graham Motion and HOF rider Johnny Velazquez, and #11 EVVIE JETS (12-1), trained by Mertkan Kantarmaci with Flavien Prat.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)

TOTAL SARATOGA WAGERS: $156

TOTAL KENTUCKY DOWNS WAGERS: $110

MR. ED ON SUNDAY: Right back with another two-a-day with an 11-race card at Kentucky Downs and and a baker’s dozen more for the penultimate program at Saratoga, where the G1 $1M Jockey Club Gold Cup highlights the program. The G1 $1M Juvenile Turf Sprint tops the KD action. Welcome to September!