Saratoga Picks for August 29:
HORSING AROUND WITH MR. ED: Having grown weary from a steady diet of unmediocre racing programs at Saratoga, Mr. Ed went AWOL from VSiN for a week to recharge his handicapping chops with an eye toward finishing the current meet in the money.
THE ALIVE FIVE: A look at Saratoga’s Top 5 winningest jockeys through August 28, 2026: 1. J. Ortiz (65) 2. M. Franco (56) 3. F. Prat (55) 4. I. Ortiz, Jr. (30) and 5. R. Santana (30). Hell bent for leather, leader Jose Ortiz is having the best year of his career.
TOP TRAINERS: Leading trainer standings up until Travers Day are: 1. C. Brown (31) 2. L. Rice (29) 3. B. Cox (20) 4. T. Pletcher (18) 5. S. Asmussen (18). Continue to watch Linda Rice. Her barn is locked and loaded and fully capable of catching fire before or on closing day (Sept. 7). And expect Asmussen’s stable to move up in the standings. He knows how to play the meet-long standings game.
TRAVERS DAY AT THE SPA: The 15-race program features seven stakes, headlined by Race 13 G1 $1.125 million TRAVERS for 3YOs going 1¼-mile. Mr. Ed’s top stakes selections in ascending order:
Race 8 (3:19 p.m. ET/12:19 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 JERKENS MEMORIAL for 3YOs (no Lasix) going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #4 ENGLISHMAN (3-5 morning line) for trainer Cherie DeVaux and leading jockey Jose Ortiz team up, #3 SOLITUDE DUDE (6-1) with Tyler Gaffalione, and #5 LOCAL KNOWLEDGE (4-1), ridden by Johnny Velazquez.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 3,4,5. ($30)
Race 9 (3:55 p.m. ET/12:55 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 PERSONAL ENSIGN going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s picks: #2 FULLY SUBSCRIBED (6-5 morning line) for Chad Brown with Flavien Prat; #4 SCOTTISH LASSIE (7-5) with Jose Ortiz riding, and #7 SNOWYTE (8-1) for Danny Gargan barn.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 10 (4:33 p.m. ET/1:33 p.m. PT) —$400K G2 LAKE PLACID for 3YO fillies (no Lasix) going a mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY is #5 NAOMIS (3-1 morning line) for trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Prat. A sleeper.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 11 (5:11 p.m. ET/2:11 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 FOREGO STAKES for 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes three for the money: #1 TIP TOP THOMAS (5-1 morning line), a late bloomer for Pletcher-Prat combo; #5 BOOK ‘EM DANNO (1-1) for trainer Derek Ryan, and #6 SENIOR OFFICER (7-2) for Brad Cox and Luis Saez.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 1,5,6. ($30)
Race 12 (5:49 p.m. ET/2:49 p.m. PT) $500K G1 BALLERINA STAKES for fillies & mares, 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s pick is #7 WAYS AND MEANS (8-5 morning line).
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 13 (6:35 p.m. ET/3:35 p.m. PT) — $1.125 million G1 TRAVERS STAKES for 3YOs going 1 1/4-mile
Mr. Ed’s pick is #5 RENEGADE (3-1 morning line) for trainer Todd Pletcher, with a rider switch to Tyler Gaffalione. He’ll need to overcome the slow start, but more than capable of doing so.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $40 to Win, $20 to Place. ($60)
SATURDAY’S TOTAL WAGERS: $120
MR. ED’S MONEY MACHINE
(through Thursday, August 28, 2026)
TOTAL BETS: (after scratches): $1,315.00
TICKETS CASHED: $1,335.89
PR0FIT/LOSS: +$20.89
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