Saratoga Picks for Wednesday, August 27:
HORSING AROUND: Mr. Ed’s mythical Family Feud leading rider at Saratoga competition between the Ortiz bros., Irad and Jose, comes to an early end with the final score of 51-50 in favor of Irad. While six days of racing remain at Saratoga, Jose has chosen to ride at the simultaneous Kentucky Downs meet, which starts on Thursday. As for equine stars, Travers champ Sovereignty will train up to the Breeders’ Cup, passing up on prestigious, lucrative preps in New York, Kentucky and California. Meanwhile, Mike Repole’s Fierceness and Journalism are set to run in Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar. And his stablemate, Mindframe, will remain in the east to compete in Saratoga’s Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday. The two horses are expected to meet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
WEDNESDAY AT SARATOGA: Mr. Ed enters the final six days of the meet full of optimism, but short on cash. As the numbers below attest, his POD and BB results are disappointing. If not for a few missteps, a big DQ, and several bad beats—the old woulda, coulda, shoulda—he’d be posting positive results. There’s still time to balance the books! Post time for today’s nine-race program is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Sunny skies and high temperatures in the low 70s are expected. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s selections.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Wednesday (8/27)
Race 3 (2:20 p.m. ET/11:20 a.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the turf
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY is a trio: #3 BOSUN (2-1 morning line) for trainer Joe Sharp, having his best Spa meet ever, with rider Kendrick Carmouche, also having excellent meet; #4 CLANCY FANCY (9-2) for upstate NY trainer Chris Englehart, who hires Joel Rosario to ride, #5 VACATION DANCE (5-2) for overdue Brad Cox and top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $68K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
My money is on #3 IRWIN (4-1), Irish-bred gelding for trainer Philip Antonacci, who has five wins at the meet. Joel Rosario picks up the mount.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 5 (3:26 p.m. ET/12:26 p.m. PT) — $72K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YOs going 6½ furlongs
In Bill Mott I trust with FTS #2 GRAND GESTURE (7-2 morning line) and Sovereignty’s rider Junior Alvarado. Backstretch word is this late bloomer will win at first asking. Watch for odds to drop before post time.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT) — $55K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed plays a twofer: #2 EXTRASENSORY & #2A COMPLEX AGENDA (both 3-1 morning line). Extrasensorry rides for the meet’s top trainer Chad Brown with Dylan Davis in the irons. Complex Agenda rides for Todd Pletcher with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. A powerful combo for the price of one.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 7 (4:34 p.m. ET/1:34 p.m. PT) — $38K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going a mile
Yet another two-for-one bargain for Mr. Ed: #1 BARON OF SEALAND for favorite conditioner Danny Gargan with Kendrick Carmouche and #1A FREEDOM TRAIL for trainer John Terranova with Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard (both at 2-1 morning line). Pair prepared for maximum effort. BEST BET OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $30 to Win. ($30)
Race 8 (5:07 p.m. ET/2:07 p.m. PT) — $150K P. G. JOHNSON STAKES for 2YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
One of Mr. Ed’s favorite plays is betting on a maiden in a stakes race, like #1 BLANCHETT (7-2 morning line) going up against winners. When top turf trainer Graham Motion is confident enough in the second-time starter to retain Manny Franco and stretch the filly out, I climb aboard.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 9 (5:44 p.m. ET/2:44 p.m. PT) — $80K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO maiden fillies going 5½ furlongs on the grass
My final bet on the card is #6 REVEL TOAST (7-2 morning line) for meet’s star trainer Tom Amoss, who gives Lane Luzzi a leg up for the coed’s second start after being nipped by a nose.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $140
PLAYS OF THE DAY: (22 bets): -$223.50
BEST BETS OF THE DAY: (22 bets): -$143.50
MR. ED ADDS KENTUCKY DOWNS: VSiN’s veteran handicapper plans to be in two places at the same time Thursday as he adds Kentucky Downs picks to his Saratoga selections. Ah, the wonders of modern horseplaying. Until then, remember that a bad day at the track beats a good day anywhere else.
