Saratoga Picks for Sunday, August 3:
TRACKING MR. ED: Here’s to #5 SIERRA LEONE for slamming the door on the $1M WHITNEY STAKES field with a powerful closing kick to defeat longshot #3 Highland Falls and seven others, including favorite #9 Fierceness. The winner paid $5.90 for a $2 ticket. As for the 13-race card, Flavien Prat demonstrated why he’s one of the best in a very competitive Saratoga jockey community by winning four races, followed by Bros. Ortiz (Jose & Irad) each with a pair of scores. In addition to the Whitney, trainer Chad Brown had three other wins, while Mark Casse had a pair. The average $2 Win ticket paid $9.80. On to Sunday for a 10-race card, featuring a pair of graded stakes. Sunny skies and a high near 80 are expected. First race post is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Here are Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Sunday (8/03)
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $38K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1⅛ mile
Mr. Ed jumps right into the action with a DD. In Leg 1 he likes #2 SIX KINGS (3-1 morning line) for Rob Falcone with hot jock Ricardo Santana, and #4 BARON OF SEALAND (4-5) for trainer Danny Gargan, who recruits NY jockey Kendrick Carmouche to ride.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 2,4/3,6. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $80K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 5½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes either #3 JOHNNY’S RED STORM (5-2 morning line) for excellent trainer George Weaver with Kendrick Carmouche, and #6 TWO DUCKS (4-1) for the team of Carlos Martin and top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/11:18 a.m. PT) — $60K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
I like a trio: #3 TEN CENT TOWN (5-2 morning line) for Rick Dutrow with Irad Ortiz, Jr. returning to saddle; #4 CALL ME FAST (8-1), as in Fast Eddie, for new NY trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci with rider switch to Flavien Prat, and #5 CONFABULATION (9-2) for first class NY combo of Linda Rice and Kendrick Carmouche.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $175K G3 ADIRONDACK STAKES for 2YO fillies going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #6 IRON ORCHARD (5-2 morning line) for sharp trainer Danny Gargan and rider Joel Rosario seeking to repeat easy debut score. Better than a steel magnolia.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) —$110K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes #7 WAR SIREN (6-1 morning line), French import trained by Michael Maker, gets a favorable rider change to Manny Franco. Never been worse than second in four races. Money in the bank.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Races 7-10 (4:36 p.m. ET/1:36 p.m. PT) — $.50 Pick 4*
R7: 1,2,3,8
R8: 3,5
R9: 1,6,9
R10: 4,7,9 ($36)
* In the event of a scratch, the post-time favorite becomes the substitute pick.
Race 9 (5:44 p.m. ET/2:44 p.m. PT) — $63K OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf
I like three: #1 HAMILTON’S WAY & #1A IRON MAX (entry at 2-1 morning line) both for owner Sandy Goldfarb; #6 BACK IN THE SADDLE (4-1) for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. with top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., and #9 DESPERATE PROPOSAL (7-2) for new Spa trainer Amelia Green, who goes to Manny Franco for first time.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 10 (6:19 p.m. ET/3:19 p.m. PT) — $34K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY is #9 TAKESCHARGESMILING (12-1 morning line) for a perfect 2-for-2 at Spa trainer James Begg, who taps Dylan Davis to ride. First after claim for the trainer is a positive angle. Here comes the bomb!
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)
TOTAL WAGERS: $181
PLAYS OF THE DAY (14 bets): -$159.70
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (13 bets): -$130.00
