Saratoga Best Bets:
TIME TO REGROUP: After his lackluster performance at the windows last week, Mr. Ed did penance by studying (not betting) races at Parx, handicapping a card streaming after midnight from Australia and binge-rewatching The Last of Us. Cruel and unusual punishment. And his reward? Being greeted by arguably the weakest Spa card thus far. In an effort to recoup some of his losses, Mr. Ed sharpened his pencil and approached Day 5, searching for winners with renewed diligence. Let’s look at Wednesday’s Saratoga best bets.
WHO’S HOT: Jockey Flavien Prat with seven winners, followed by the brothers Ortiz with five each. As for trainers, four have saddled three apiece: Chad Brown, Cherri DeVaux, Mark Casse, and Bill Mott.
SARATOGA DAY 5 OF 40: Race 8 $150K Stallion Stakes for NY-breds highlights 9-race card. Post time for Race 1, a huddles handicap, is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Rain possible.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga for Wednesday, July 17
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) —$100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHTS — for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up at 1 ⅛-mile
Mr. Ed likes three: #2 SAVE TIME (7-5 morning line) for the powerful Brown-Irad Ortiz team; #5 REFUSE TO LOSE (4-1), off two excellent efforts; and #6 FAZOOLS (2-1) for Brown and Favien Prat.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $5 Exacta Box of 2,5,6. ($30)
Race 3 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHTS — for 2YO New York-breds at 5 ½ furlongs
I like first-time starter #6 PRACTICALLY SUMMER (7-2 morning line). Daughter of Practical Joke, sports steady string of good works over Spa Oklahoma Training Track for HOF trainer Bill Mott, who hires his go-to rider Junior Alvarado. The heat is on.
SARATOGA BEST BEST: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $35K CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YO & up at 7 furlongs
I like # 5 SHARPER GAL (5-2 morning line) for talented young trainer Joe Sharp. A drop in class following two recent races as favorite at Churchill Downs, Gal can get extra furlong. Tyler Gaffalione returns to ride. She’s sharp.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (3:26 p.m. ET/12:26 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares 3YOs & up at 1 1/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes #2 BE YOUR BEST (7-2 morning line); Irish-bred gets a sizable class drop and regains riding services of Irad Ortiz Jr. Capable Horacio De Paz trains. Her best is yet to come.
SARATOGA BEST BET OF DAY: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT) — $57K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YO fillies and mares, 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Let me make this abundantly clear: I like #4 PRECISELY for the king of turf sprints Wesley Ward, who adds Lasix, takes class drop and adds blinkers. I failed to mention Frankie Dettori rides — precisely why she wins.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $10 to Win.
Races 8-9 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT) — $150K N.Y. STALLION STAKES for 3YOs at a mile on turf
I like #2 SOHANA (6-1 morning line) & #5 CAP FERRAT (9-2) in Race 8 and #1 TRUE MYTH (9-2), #9 COQUITO (8-1) & #11 BLIND SPEED (20-1) in Race 9.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $5 DAILY DOUBLES OF 2,5/1,9,11. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $110
OPEN SELECTION: Cam Smith (45-1)
