Saratoga Picks for Friday, August 1:
TRACKING MR. ED: The rains came and the mud flew. As of post time for the 10-race card at 1:00 ET, it had been raining at the track for more than 10 hours. All five races scheduled to be run on the turf were moved to the main oval. By the time all had been said and run, nearly 50 entrants were scratched. As for the results of the 10-race card, upstart jockey Ricardo Santana led all riders with three wins, while trainer Michelle Nevin had a pair of scores. At the windows, the average $2 Win ticket returned $11.25. Turning to Friday, the weatherman calls for cooler temperatures in the mid-70s with a chance of showers. Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Friday (8/01)
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $47K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 2YOs going 6 furlongs
Starting the day off with a Double, Mr. Ed likes two: #1 ONE MORE FREUD (9-5 morning line), for trainer/TV analyst Tom Amoss with Jose Ortiz in the irons, and #3 WHATAREWEDOING (2-1) for up-and-coming conditioner Brittany Russell, who teams with rider Manny Franco. One will break their maiden today. Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Doubles of 1,3/2,4. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $125K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 3/16-mile on the grass
To complete the DD, Mr. Ed likes either of two: #2 MONEY SUPPLY (9-2 morning line), and #4 WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST (4-5) for trainer Jonathan Thomas with a big rider upgrade to HOFer Johnny Velazquez. Double your money.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/11:18 a.m. PT) — $40K STARTER ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares going 1 mile
I like a trio: #1 GONE AND FORGOTTEN (2-1 morning line) for new Spa trainer Ilkay Kantamaci with Flavien Prat in irons seeking repeat win; #4 SPEAK SOFTLY (9-2) from hot Joe Sharp barn with Jose Ortiz in saddle, and #5 MERCY WARREN (9-5) also for Sharp with Spa top rider Irad Ortiz Jr.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $50K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #11 SO VAIN (5-2 morning line), main track only, for Danny Gargan, who enlists top rider Joel Rosario. String of fast works indicates the young coed is ready for excellent effort.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win($20)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. PT/12:27 p.m. PT) — $50K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #6 KADENA (2-1 morning line) for Chad Brown-Manny Franco team. Return to dirt points to victory for first-class connections.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 7 (4:36 p.m. ET/1:36 p.m. PT) — $400K G2 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HALL OF FAME for 3YOs & up going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #7 ZULU KINGDOM (6-5 morning line) for top trainer Chad Brown with go-to rider Flavien Prat. Pick seeking fourth straight trip to Winner’s Circle. It’s his kingdom; Mr. Ed is only betting on him.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (5:44 p.m. ET/2:44 p.m. PT) — $68K OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 5½-furlongs on the turf
Two for the price of one. Mr.Ed likes entry of #1 SHEFFLIN & #1A CHESS MASTER (both at 8-5 morning line) for trainers Michael Maker and Jorge Abreu, respectively, too good a pair to pass up.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 Daily Double of 1&1A/5,7,11. ($30)
Race 10 (6:19 p.m. ET/3:19 p.m. PT) — $63K OPTIONAL CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
To close out the card, Mr. Ed likes three: #5 COMPETITIVE THREAT (3-1 morning line) for Chad Brown and Flavien Prat; #7 LESLIE’S STAR (5-2) for Linda Rice and Irad Ortiz, Jr., and #11 BEST IMPRESSION (7-2) for Linda Rice and Jose Lezcano. May the best gal win—and another run second.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $170
PLAYS OF THE DAY (13 bets): -$109.70
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (12 bets): -$90.00
SATURDAY AT THE SPA: Whitney Stakes Day (No.18 of the 40-day Summer 2025 meet) is one of Mr. Ed’s Top 10 days on the thoroughbred racing calendar, preceded only by the two Breeders’ Cup days, the Triple Crown races, and Travers day. Rounding out the list are Florida Derby day, Spring and Fall opening days at Keeneland, and any day of the annual Kentucky Downs meet. I have been fortunate enough to attend all of these special days on numerous occasions. Mr. Ed’s list has a distinct East Coast-Kentucky bias, but regrettably, I’ve never had a chance to attend the Santa Anita Derby, the Pacific Classic or opening day at Del Mar. Unfortunately, my bucket list is now too short to permit any travel west of Las Vegas. While he won’t be at Spa on Saturday, here is Mr. Ed’s abbreviated rundown of the Whitney card stakes at Saratoga.
SATURDAY’S GRADED STAKES
Race 3: THE $200K G2 SARATOGA SPECIAL, featuring #6 OBLITERATION (7-5 morning line), winner of his lone two starts. Very fast.
Race 8: $750K G1 FOURSTARDAVE with #8 DETERMINISTIC (9-2), lifetime earnings of more than $1.5 million. Never looks back.
Race 9: $750K G1 SARATOGA DERBY INVITATIONAL, with powerful turfer #7 HOTAZHELL (7-5) from England. Longer the better.
Race 10: $500K G1 TEST STAKES for youngsters. #6 ECHO SOUND (9-5). Never out of the money.
Race 11: $1M WHITNEY STAKES with several superstars, including #5 SIERRA LEONE (2-1), #7 WHITE ABARRIO (4-1) and #9 FIERCENESS (9-5). Anyone’s race.
Mr. Ed will post his Whitney Day selections here on Friday.
