Saratoga Picks for July 18:
HORSING AROUND: When all was said and run, Mr. Ed couldn’t tell the difference between smoke from the Canadian wildfires or chalk dust from the low payoffs. Through all the smoke and chalk, stars for the day included jockey Irad Ortiz with four winners, already playing catch-up with his colleagues, brother Jose with a pair along with Flavien Prat, and trainers Linda Rice and Mark Casse with two scores apiece. Only a pair of winners returned more than $10 while the average win ticket returned less than $9.
SATURDAY AT SARATOGA: Five of the top Spa riders (Johnny V., Luis Saez, Jose Ortiz, Flavien Prat and Tyler Gaffalione are in NJ for the Haskell Stakes). Keep an eye on those staying home at the Spa hoping to benefit from the absence of others. Excellent 12-race program spotlights a pair of graded stakes for the ladies. R5 G1 $500K DIANA goes at 2:46 p.m. ET/11:46 a.m. PT, and R8 G3 $225K CORONATION CUP earlier on the card. As for Saturday, weather conditions call for potentially smoky skies with a high in the 80s. Tracks should be FAST & FIRM with first race at 12:45 p.m. ET/9:45 a.m. PT. Here are Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN picks for the day and his special Bonus Play on the Haskell. Skakes.
Mr. Ed’s Selections for Saturday, July 18
Race 1 (12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs going 6 furlongs
Either of these two for Mr. Ed: #4 POWERLINE (8-5 morning line), $1 million baby, son of Flightline for Asmussen and red-hot Santana; #6 LET EM KNOW (15-1) for Mr. Ed’s favorite low-key trainer Whit Beckman with Johnny V. up.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,6/4,5. ($20)
Race 2 (1:07 p.m. ET/10:07 a.m. PT) — $65K CLAIMING for 4YOs & up going 1 ⅛-mile
To complete the Daily Double, Mr. Ed likes #4 SPOILER (3-1 morning line) for Michael Maker with Ricardo Santana in the saddle, and #6 SWEETTALKINGBOURBON (10-1) for Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux with Edgard Zayas. Mr. Ed’s always looking for a spoiler with an assist from some bourbon.
Race 4 (2:13 p.m. ET/11:13 a.m. PT) — $125K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 5½-furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed’s betting on #7 ATTFIELD (6-1 morning line) as he returns to sprint and adds Lasix following questionable efforts going long. Upstate NY trainer, Tom Morley, switches riders to Edgard Zayas. Much to prove.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (2:46 p.m. ET/11:46 a.m. PT) — $500K G1 DUNKIN’ DIANA for fillies & mares, 4 YOs & Up going 1 18-mile on the inner turf
Mr. Ed likes the Brown barn: #3 KATHYNMARISSA (2-1 morning line) with Jose Ortiz up, #4 PORTFOLIO DURATION (5-2); another Brown trainee with Manny Franco, and #6 SEGESTA (3-1), third of three for Brown with Dylan Davis up.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 3,4,6. ($30)
Race 6 (3:21 p.m. ET/12:21 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed remains confident in young trainer Whit Beckman with #6 AGOO (7-2 morning line). Latest drill says gelding is ready for comeback score ridden by Johnny V.
SARATOGA SELECTION. $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 7 (3:54 p.m. ET/12:54 p.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed selects #2 ENERGY FLOWS (6-1 morning line) for hot-shot trainer Kinnon LaRose with replacement rider Ricardo Santana, Jr.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 8 (4:29 p.m. ET/1:29 p.m. PT) — $225K G3 CORONATION CUP for 3YO fillies going 5½ furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF DAY is #2 CY FAIR (3-5 morning line). Top-notch sprinter is trained by George Weaver and ridden by Johnny V. Four of six lifetime is too good for weak field.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going a mile
Mr. Ed takes a shot with trainer Al Stall and a rider switch to Ricardo Santana on #9 GADGET PLAY (7-2 morning line). Gets better after finishing third in debut vs. tough bunch.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 10 (5:39 p.m. ET/2:39 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going a mile
Mr. Ed likes a pair for late DD wager: #3 ANNEXPERIENCE (8-5 morning line) for top Upstate NY trainer Jeremiah Englehart and regular jockey Kendrick Carmouche aboard; or #5 WHITTINGTON PARK (3-1 morning line) for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci with Manny Franco returning.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 3,5/7,10. ($20)
SATURDAY BONUS PLAY
$1 Million G1 HASKELL STAKES 3YOs going 1⅛-mile
Monmouth Park, NJ
Race 12 — 5:47 p.m. ET/2:47 p.m. PT
Mr. Ed’s TOP 3
#7 OCELLI (6-1) … Perfect time to break maiden. Can run with the best
#2 FURTHER ADO (5-2) … Forgive him for Derby; he’ll be up close at the wire
#6 NAPOLEON SOLO (2-1) … Fired his best in winning the Preakness
Race 11 (6:14 p.m. ET/3:14 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes #7 IRON MAX (3-1 morning line) for Brad Cox barn with Jaime Rodriguez back in the saddle after a Place finish, and #10 SMOOTH BREEZE (10-1) with hot jock Jose Ortiz picking up the mount for Jorge Abreu.
TOTAL SPA WAGERS: $140
SPONSORED
🤖 Robert Ferringo Is Heating Up
Robert Ferringo is 80-42 (65%) on his highest-rated plays, producing +14,020 units.
Over the past three weeks alone, he’s up +8,435 units across MLB, WNBA and World Cup wagers.
