Saratoga Picks for Sunday, August 24:
TRACKING MR. ED: All hail, King Sovereignty, winner of the 2025 Travers Stakes! The 1-5 favorite left little doubt Saturday he was and is the nation’s dominant Thoroughbred racehorse. The winner was trained by Bill Mott and ridden by journeyman Junior Alvarado. Other winners, mostly heavy favorites, on the card included Thorpedo Anna, Patch Adams, Hope Road and Book’em Dano. They all added up to a rather chalky day at the windows, with the average $2 Win ticket returning less than $10. In the race for leading rider, each Ortiz brother had three wins, leaving the race in a dead heat with 52 wins apiece. With Jose electing to ride at Kentucky Downs by the end of this week, Mr. Ed’s unofficial Spa contest will conclude at the end of racing today. First post for Sunday’s 10-race card is 1:10. Here are Mr. Ed’s selections.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Sunday (8/24)
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile on the grass
Mr. Ed’s betting on two to kick off a DD: #3 OFF SCRIPT (7-2 morning line) for young trainer Will Walden with leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. Coed packs a late punch. And #7 AMAZING GRACER (8-1), trained by young Kevin Bond, ridden by always-smilin’ Katie Davis.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double 3,7/1,7. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $50K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the turfTo close out the DD, Mr. Ed likes #1 HUE (3-1 morning line) with Manny Franco riding for Brad Cox barn and #7 SPEED OF SOUND (4-1) for George Weaver with rider switch to Irad Ortiz, Jr. Sounds like a winner to me.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/11:18 a.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for NY-bred 3YOs going 6½ furlongs
With Kendrick Carmouche riding like a fireball and Danny Gargan training like he owns the Spa, Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #6 MAN IN FINANCE (6-5 morning line.)
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1⅜-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #1 ALIMARA (4-1 morning line) for tough-to-beat combo of Chad Brown with Flavien Prat returning to ride; #4 NATIONAL ARCHIVE (6-1) for Miguel Clement, who recruits Irad Ortiz to ride, and #5 FLEETINGLY (3-1) also for Chad Brown, who makes huge rider upgrade to brother Jose Ortiz.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed is willing to take a shot and key #4 FILOSO (10-1 morning line) top and bottom with #1 FORT NELSON (2-1), #2 V CRUIZER (6-1) and #5 VOILA MAGIC (9-2). It’s Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 7 (4:36 p.m. ET/1:36 p.m. PT) — $55K MAIDEN CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile
My bet is on three: #4 NEW ISSUE (9-2 morning line) for young trainer Amelia Green with Flavien Prat riding; #8 ARTELLA (9-2) for trainer Whit Beckman with Jose Lezcano in irons, and #9 UNLIMITED SPENDING (7-2), Japanese import for Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz, Jr.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Races 7-10 (4:36 p.m. ET/1:36 p.m. PT) — $.50 Pick 4*
R7: 4,8,9
R8: 6
R9: 1,4,8
R10: 1,3,8,10 ($18)
* In the event of a scratch, the post-time favorite is the substitute pick.
TOTAL WAGERS: $148
PLAYS OF THE DAY: (21 bets): -$183.50
BEST BETS OF THE DAY: (21 bets): -$123.50
FAMILY FEUD: With seven of the 2025 Saratoga meet remaining, Mr. Ed continues tracking the leading rider duel between brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz. Each had three wins on Travers Day. According to NYRA, Jose will not complete the Spa meet in favor of riding in Kentucky. Number of wins for each rider at the beginning of Sunday’s 14-race card as follows:IRAD: 52
JOSE: 52
