Mr. Ed’s Saratoga and Kentucky Downs Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: From all indications a wet but good time was had by all on the final Saturday of the Saratoga season. Trainers who enjoyed themselves included perennial stable leaders Chad Brown and Brad Cox, both of whom had three winners. As for jockeys, popular NY rider Manny Franco led the pack with four wins, followed by Junior Alvarado with two. A couple of longshots helped push the payoff for a $2 Win ticket to $16.15, the highest of the meet. Mr. Ed is again doing double duty with key plays at Saratoga (sunny & dry) and Kentucky Downs (50% chance of showers). Let’s look at his playable Saratoga and Kentucky Downs picks.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets for Saratoga & Kentucky Downs for Sunday, September 1
Saratoga Race 3 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed likes longshot #7 SPIRIT’S MISCHIEF (15-1 morning line) for turf master Wesley Ward, who makes wholesale changes: expensive colt now a gelding; gets Lasix for first time, and names new rider, Junior Alvarado. Hey, the changes will do him good.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)
Kentucky Downs Races 1&2 (1:25 p.m. ET/10:25 a.m. PT) — Both MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Mr. Ed likes #1 MEAN EILEEN (3-1 morning line) & #3 STUBBY (9-2) in Race 1 and #5 EVERYBREATHYOUTAKE (9-2) & #10 CORRETO (4-1) in Race 2.
KD PICK: $5 Daily Double of 1,3 & 5,10 ($20)
Saratoga Race 4 (1:43 p.m. ET/10:43 a.m. PT) — $45K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going a mile
Another longshot pick for Mr. Ed: #4 UNCLECHARLIESGIFT (10-1 morning line) for a pair of HOFers, trainer Nick Zito and jockey Javier Castellano. Stretching out to a mile suits the son of Uncle Moe’s closing style. (Disclaimer: Zito & Mr. Ed are friends).
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)
Kentucky Downs Race 5 (3:24 p.m. ET/12:24 p.m. PT) — $200K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going a mile on turf
My money is on #6 OCEAN ATLANTIQUE (5-2 morning line) for rebounding trainer Dick Dutrow, who jumps 7YO gelding up in class following closing Place finish earlier this summer. Legendary jockey Larry Dettori accepts mount.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Saratoga Race 7 (3:25 p.m. ET/12:25 p.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed is betting first-timer #3 SNOWYTE (5-2 morning line) is ready to score at first asking. Danny Gargan trains the expensive granddaughter of the great Curlin, and Luis Saez gets a leg up. An excellent pair of works attests to preparedness. Let it snow.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Kentucky Downs Race 6 (4:07 p.m. ET/1:07 p.m. PT) — $170K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going a mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #7 FLYING MOHAWK (8-1 morning line) for skillful new trainer Whit Beckworth who adds blinkers and keeps Frankie Dettori in the saddle following a so-so debut at Saratoga. Fly us non-stop to Winner’s Circle.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Win & Place. ($10)
Saratoga Race 9 (4:33 p.m. ET/1:33 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #2 MIGHTY MADISON (3-1 morning line) for red-hot trainer Phil Bauer; #4 RINGY DINGY (8-1) with Katie Davis riding, and #6 CUPID’S HEART (5-2) for sharp trainer Bruce Levine.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta Box of 2,4,6. ($30)
Kentucky Downs Race 8 (5:16 p.m. ET/2:16 p.m. PT) — $190K ALLOWANCE for KY-bred 3YOs & up going 1 5/16-mile on turf
I’m betting that the imported son of Triple Crown winner Justify, #11 CIRO DI MARZIO (4-1 morning line), has enough class to defeat this field full of also-rans. Trainer Wesley Ward flies British jockey Jamie Spencer across the Atlantic to pilot the colt, who gets Lasix for the first time. Ciro’s just all right with Mr. Ed.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Saratoga Race 11 (5:42 p.m. ET/2:42 p.m. PT) — $150K BERNARD BARUCH STAKES for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on turf
I like #4 PIONEERING SPIRIT (6-1 morning line), who picks up riding services of NYer’s new favorite jockey, Dylan Davis, from skillful horsewoman Linda Rice. Gelding has won $650K. Cutback in distance a good move.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win & Place. ($10)
Kentucky Downs Race 9 (5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT) — $500K HANDICAP for 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #1 GOLIAD (8-1 morning line) for West Coast trainer Dick Mandela; #9 FUNTASTIC AGAIN (5-1) for Wesley Ward, and #11 WEBSLINGER (5-1) for HOFer conditioner Mark Casse. Three for the money.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Exacta Box of 1,9,11. ($30)
Saratoga Race 12 (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) — G1 $1,000K JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP for 3YOs & up going 1 ¼-mile
Emerging 4YO superstar #7 ARTHUR’S RIDE (4-5 morning line) is Mr. Ed’s choice. The powerful Mott-Alvarado team is going for its fourth win in five starts. Colt crashed the excellent Whitney Stakes field earlier in the meet. He’s soon to be a millionaire.
SARATOGA BEST BET OF DAY: $40 To Win. ($40)
Kentucky Downs Race 10 (6:24 p.m. ET/3:24 p.m. PT) — $1,000K NATIONAL JUVENILE SPRINT for 2YOs going 6 ½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed closes card with #5 UNDER WHO’S RADAR (5-1 morning line) for hot trainer Mike Maker, who gets Jose Ortiz to sub for bro Irad (who opted to stay at Spa). NY-bred son of super sire Violence looks to repeat debut score.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
TOTAL SPA WAGERS: $120
TOTAL KD WAGERS: $100
CLOSING DAY (40) AT SARATOGA: Two excellent stakes races headline the Labor Day 12-race program: Race 8 — $150K HARVEY PACK turf sprint for 4YOs & up; Race 10 — G1 $300K HOPEFUL for 2YOs going 7 furlongs. The last day of any meet is often referred to as “get out of town day” by dedicated horseplayers and trackside touts alike. Translation: Keep your eye on any trainer who’s stable may have had a subpar meet and who needs a score in order to move his horses to the next racing venue. Mr. Ed can all but guarantee that there will be at least one such trip to the Winner’s Circle on Monday.
