Saratoga Picks for Saturday, August 2:
TRACKING MR. ED: Friday at the Spa, when all was said by Mr. Ed and run, three jockeys: both Ortiz Bros., Irad Jr. and Jose, along with Joel Rosario, each won a pair. No trainer made more than one trip to the Winner’s Circle. On to tomorrow. Once again, the average $2 Win ticket returned within a dime of $10.
IT’S WHITNEY DAY AT THE SPA: … and the gang’s all there. Take a look around. Among the approximately 140 horses entered to run, 14 are winners of more than $1,000,000 each. In the clubhouse, there are more millionaires per box than anywhere north of West Palm Beach. A score of jockeys, dozens of trainers, more than 40,000 fans, tons of touts (many friends of Mr. Ed), thousands of families around crowded picnic tables, fast food, gourmet meals, beer by the barrel, big winners, sore losers, more than a few celebrities, many more wannabes,13 challenging first-class races, millions in purse money. The national anthem. Mr. Ed could go on all day capturing the excitement that is a very big race day at the nation’s premier race track. If you are there, you are among the fortunate few thousand who are experiencing Saratoga on a sunny Summer day. Many more are watching on TV or at a casino race book or an OTB. Mr. Ed, a Whitney Day veteran, is armed with a fistful of internet dollars and playing the ponies from the comfort of his home, surrounded by two cats and his copy editor. But, no doubt, he’s in a New York State of Mind. Race 1 goes to the post at 12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT. Race 11, the $1,000,000 G1 Whitney, goes at 5:41 p.m. ET/2:41 p.m. PT. Let’s go to the races! Here are Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN selections.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Saturday (8/02)
Race 1 — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2 YOs going 6½ furlongs
Never too early for a double shot. Mr. Ed likes entry of #1 ABRIGADO & #1A TED NOFFEY (both at 3-1 morning line), for Brad Cox and Todd Pletcher, respectively, and #4 AMBASSADOR BLUE (15-1), longshot for Danny Gargan.
SARATOGA SELECTIONS: $5 Daily Doubles of 1,4/5,6. ($20)
Race 2 (12:37 p.m. ET/9:37 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed will take another couple of shots with #5 CAPITAL PARTNER (7-2 morning line) FTS for Chad Brown & #6 BRITISH INVASION (8-1) for rookie trainer Miguel Clement.
Race 3 (1:09 p.m. ET/10:09 a.m. PT) — $200K G2 SARATOGA SPECIAL for 2YOs going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #6 OBLITERATION (7-5 morning line), for HOF trainer Steve Asmussen, who retains top jockey Flavien Prat, looking for a repeat of a 10-length score in the Sanford Stakes. The youngster seeks the total destruction of the strong field.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 4 (1:41 p.m. ET/10:41 a.m. PT) — $115 ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the turf
They’re worth an exotic wager: #1 TWISTED FILIGREE (3-1 morning line) for sneaky good trainer George Weaver, who hires top NY rider Manny Franco; #5 RUN CURTIS RUN (5-1) with Flavien Prat onboard for first time, and #10 FINAL VERDICT (9-2) for NY-circuit conditioner Eddie Barker with big rider upgrade to Jose Ortiz.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Races 6-9 (2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT) — $.50 Pick 4
R6: 1,2,4,8
R7: 3,5,11,13
R8: 3,4,8
R10: 1,3 ($48)
Race 8 (3:52 p.m. ET/12:48 p.m. PT) —$750K G1 FOURSTARDAVE STAKES for 4YOs going a mile on the turf
Three tower over the others: #3 JOHANNES (5-2 morning line), California invader with jockey Umberto Rispoli, has won 8 of 13; #4 THINK BIG (6-1) for sharp trainer Michael Stidham, and #8 DETERMINISTIC (9-2) for Miguel Clement. Mr. Ed is thinking BIG 3.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 10 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 TEST STAKES for 3YO fillies going 7 furlongs
Trainer Bill Mott has a coed named #1 RAGTIME (4-1 morning line) who is talented enough to run with the boys. That makes her a winner vs. this so-so field. Mr. Ed can hear the music.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win & $10 Daily Double 1,9. ($30)
Race 11 (5:41 p.m. ET/2:41 p.m. PT) — $1M G1 WHITNEY STAKES for 4YOs & up going 1⅛-mile
Mr. Ed is convinced #9 FIERCENESS (9-5 morning line) is the fastest horse on the Saratoga grounds. If he can be defeated, it likely will be #5 SIERRA LEONE (2-1) or #7 WHITE ABARRIO (4-1). Crown the Repole-Pletcher-Velasquez team as Whitney champions. Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $208
PLAYS OF THE DAY (14 bets): -$129.70
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (13 bets): -$110.00
SUNDAY AT THE SPA: On the day after The Whitney festivities, racegoers will be treated to a pair of stakes, The $300K G2 Troy and The $175K G3 Adirondack, as well as several allowance and claiming contests. Post time for the first race is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Mr. Ed, always the optimist, will return with his selections, including his BEST BET OF THE DAY and PLAY OF THE DAY.
