Saratoga Picks for Wednesday, August 20:
BRING YOUR UMBRELLA: With a 90% chance of rain predicted for the Spa, and after a quick read of the Day 29 program, I seriously considered taking the day off and concentrating my handicapping efforts on Saturday’s first-class,14-race Travers Day card. But hey, into every public handicapper’s Daily Racing Form a few raindrops, in one form or another, must fall. With five of today’s nine races scheduled to be run on the turf, odds are, after scratches and changes of surface, the fields will be short and the payoffs small. After all is said and the races yet to be run, here are Mr. Ed’s few picks for Wednesday.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Wednesday (8/20)
Race 3 (2:20 p.m. ET/11:20 a.m. PT) — $80K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 2YOs going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed liked the Chalky White character in the TV drama Boardwalk Empire, and he likes his namesake in this route. Lucky #7 CHALKY WHITE (3-1) with Luis Saez returning to the saddle for up-and-coming trainer Amelia Green is my pick.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $63K OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes three: #1 ACOUSTIC AVE (9-5 morning line) for downstate NY circuit combo of Linda Rice and Dylan Davis; #4 BARKSDALE (2-1) for young Will Walden, who hires leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., and #6 AMUNDSON (5-1) for Ilkay Kantarmaci barn with Flavien Prat in the irons.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 7 (3:26 p.m. ET/12:36 p.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs going a mile on the turf
I like #1 REGISTER (6-1 morning line) for trainer David Donk, who sticks with Katie Davis following her maiden-for-meet score on Sunday. Win or lose, Katie will be smilin’ along with Mr. Ed and his PLAY OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Win, Place & Show. ($15)
Race 8 (5:07 p.m. ET/2:07 p.m. PT) — $68K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
I’ll take two for the price of one: #1 TUT’S REVENGE & #1A LOCO ABARRIO (both 6-1 morning line) for the Maker-Santana and Casse-Santana teams, respectively. #1 if by land, #2 if by sea.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
TOTAL WAGERS: $65
PLAYS OF THE DAY: (19 bets): -$263.85*
BEST BETS OF THE DAY: (19 bets): -$144.50
FAMILY FEUD: With merely a quarter of the 40-day 2025 Saratoga meet remaining, Mr. Ed is tracking the duel for leading rider between brothers Irad and Jose Ortiz. Irad had a pair of winners on Sunday, while Jose had to settle for one. The number of wins for each rider at the beginning of Wednesday’s nine-race card is as follows:
*IRAD 48
JOSE: 43
*Contrary to earlier reports, Irad DOES NOT have a suspension pending.
