Saratoga Picks for June 5:
HORSING AROUND WITH MR. ED: Race results as well as temperatures began to heat up at Saratoga on Thursday — for jockeys Manny Franco and Flavien Prat each with four wins — and Mr. Ed, whose dogged support of winner TAWNEY PORT of Race was generously rewarded. At the windows, the average $2 Win ticket again paid in double figures, $10.27. On to Friday’s 14-race program, which goes to post at 11:45 a.m. ET/8:45 a.m. PT. The weatherman calls for cloudy skies with a high in the mid-80s. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s exclusive selections for Friday.
Mr. Ed’s Belmont at Saratoga Picks for Friday, 6/05
Race 1 — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 1⅛-mile
Mr. Ed likes a pair: #1 STORMING (6-1 morning line) for trainer Danny Gargan, who won the first race on opening day, with top
rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.; #8 HADRIAN’S WALL (7-5) for homeboy Chad Brown, as always-tough Flavien Prat takes the reins. Either one is just all right with Mr. Ed.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double: 1,8/2,4. ($20)
Race 2 (12:19 p.m. ET/9:19 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s betting on either of two: #2 ELYSIAN MEADOWS (9-2 morning line) for HOF trainer Bill Mott with go-to rider Junior Alvarado, who shortens up a furlong; #4 KENNY BE (3-1) for David Duggan with Ricardo Santana riding.
Race 3 (12:54 p.m. ET/9:54 a.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 3YOs & Up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes three: #1 HERO DECLARED (4-1 morning line) for trainer-to-watch Whit Beckman with rider change to Luis Saez; #3 TAB AT ZANZIBAR (5-1) for Brad Cox barn with Manny Franco riding after strong second in debut, and #6 CRITERIA (7-2) for Chad Brown with Flavien Prat returning in saddle. Any two for the money.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Boxes. ($30)
Race 4 (1:29 p.m. ET/10:29 a.m. PT) — $300K G2 BED O’ROSES STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed is betting on a pair: #1 GRAND JOB (6-5 morning line) for Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado, and #3 WAYS AND MEANS (1-1) for Chad Brown and Flavien Prat. Nothing but 1&3.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 Exacta Box. ($20)
Race 5 (2:04 p.m. ET/11:04 a.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed’s pick is #7 DI NATALE (2-1 morning line) for top horseman Wesley Ward with Javier Castellano riding. Look for the Chilean-born choice to be rock ‘n rollin’ in the stretch. Sports 16-6-5-3 record.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to WIN. ($10)
Race 7 (3:16 p.m. ET/12:16 p.m. PT) — $130K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 4YOs going 1⅛ mile
Any two of these three together is a winner: #1 FULL SCREEN (3-1 morning line) for talented team of Brad Cox and Manny Franco; #7 BENDOOG (7-2), winner of more than $1 million, trained by Bill Mott with regular jock Junior Alvarado up, and #8 MONEY GAME (9-2), also for Cox, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Boxes of 1,7,8. ($30)
Race 9 (4:28 p.m. ET/1:28 p.m. PT) — $300K G2 WONDER AGAIN STAKES for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16 mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY is out-of-towner #3 COACH MAZZULA (6-1 morning line) for savvy Maryland-based trainer Brittany Russell with Manny Franco on board. Sports 7-3-2-2 record, but needs to step up to the SPA plate. The right horse. The right trainer. The right rider. Right on!
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 10 (5:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 ACORN STAKES for 3YO fillies going 1⅛ mile
#5 ALWAYS A RUNNER(4-5 morning line) is Mr. Ed’s pick. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz, fast coed is perfect 3 for 3. Win today puts her over the $1 million earnings mark. She can flat-out run.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 11 (5:46 p.m. ET/2:46 p.m. PT) — $750K G1 NEW YORK STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 1 3/16 mile on the turf
Mr. Ed really likes French-invader #9 GEZORA (3-1 morning line), trained by Bill Mott and ridden by HOFer Johnny Velazquez. Winner of more than $2 million, gal knows how to close. Capable of going last to first in lane.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 12 (6:25 p.m. ET/3:25 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 OGDEN PHIPPS STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 1⅛ mile
Mr. Ed’s last play of the day is a trio: #1 FULLY SUBSCRIBED (5-2 morning line) for the team of Chad Brown and Flavien Prat; #2 REGALED (5-1) for trainer Whit Beckman, and #3 ALPINE PRINCESS (4-1). It’s as easy as 1,2,3.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 1,2,3. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $180
SATURDAY AT SARATOGA: The pinnacle day of the Belmont Festival of Racing at Saratoga is highlighted by the running of the final race of the Triple Crown, Race 13 $2M G1 BELMONT STAKES for 3 YOs going 1¼-mile. Many fans consider it a match race between Kentucky Derby winner #9 GOLDEN TEMPO (9-2 morning line) and fast-closing 2nd Place finisher #4 RENEGADE (2-1). Also on the rich 14-race card are six first-class stakes. Be sure to check here tomorrow for Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN selections, including his surprise Belmont pick. The forecast calls for a 50% chance of showers with a high temperature in the low-80s.
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