Saratoga Picks for August 9:
HORSING AROUND WITH MR. ED: After all was said, written and run, Mr. Ed’s pick, #8 BAEZA, did just what fans feared as he failed to break from the starting gate. And another horse, fan favorite #6 SOVEREIGNTY, regained his 2025 reputation as the “best of the best” by capturing the $1M G2 Whitney Stakes. As for jockeys and trainers, Junior Alvarado, who was aboard Sovereignty, had a second win, as did Tyler Gaffalione, Flavien Prat, and Luis Saez. Not to be outdone, Jose Ortiz had three wins. Unfortunately, his brother Irad Ortiz Jr., was injured. No word on his condition. Trainers Steve Asmussen and Miguel Clement each had a pair of winners. The average $2 Win ticket returned $10.40.
SUNDAY AT THE SPA: Now that the dirt & grass have settled after Saturday’s 14-race Whitney Day festival, it’s time to return to a merely better-than-average race card. Sunday’s program is highlighted by R8 $300K G2 TROY, a turf sprint for NY-bred 3YOs & up with #2 TWENTY SIX BLACK the morning line favorite. First race post time is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m PT. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s selections.
Saratoga Selections for Sunday, 8/09
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes either of two to win first leg of DD: #1 GLOW OF A ROSE (2-1 morning line) for speedy team of trainer Wesley Ward with switch to leading jockey Flavien Prat, or #2 FROLICKING (9-5) for Brad Cox barn with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. Both fillies adding Lasix.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 1,2/3,9. ($20)
Race 2 (1:43 p.m. ET/10:43 a.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs and up, going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes either of these to complete DD: #3 PAY THE PIPER (3-1 morning line) for Chad Brown barn and super-hot jock Manny Franco, and #9 COMMITMENT FUND (8-5), also for Brown with Flavien Prat up. These two are locked & loaded.
Race 4 (2:50 p.m. ET/11:50 a.m. PT) — $52K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6 ½-furlongs
Mr. Ed’s betting #7 CAPT FLUFF N STUFF (9-2 morning line) for sharp trainer Danny Gargan, who adds blinkers, hires popular NY jockey Kendrick Carmouche and drops gelding in class. Changes will do him good.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (3:24 p.m. ET/12:24 p.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred 2YOs going 5½-furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed’s VALUE PLAY OF THE DAY is #2 KINBOSHI (15-1 morning line) for trainer Ray Handal, who knows how to get ‘em ready for debut. Dylan Davis rides.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)
Race 7 (4:34 p.m. ET/1:34 p.m. PT) — $71K MAIDEN CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 6½-furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio (any two will do): #1 IMMACULATE MOON (5-2 morning line) for Gargan barn with Irad Ortiz on board; #5 ROSE TO RICHES (3-1) for Chad Brown with Flavien Prat riding, and #7 LIL TIPSY (3-1).
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 8 (5:09 p.m. ET/2:09 p.m. PT) — $1 Pick 4*
R8: 2,6,7
R9: 3,4
R10: 2,5,8
R11: 6,9,10 ($54)
*In event of a scratch, post time favorite is substitute pick.
Race 10 (6:19 p.m. ET/3:19 p.m. PT) — $78K STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs
Mr. Ed likes three: #2 GUN BARREL CITY (6-1 morning line) for HoF trainer Todd Pletcher with hot jock Manny Franco seeking to repeat; #5 CIAO CHUCK (7-2) for trainer Fernando Abreu with big rider change to Irad Ortiz, Jr., and #8 HARD CIRCLE (9-2) with top-jock Flavien Prat.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 2,5,8. ($30)
TODAY’S WAGERS: $159
Mr. Ed’s MONEY MACHINE
(through Saturday, August 8, 2026)
TOTAL BETS (after scratches): $530.00
WON/LOSS: -$271.79
TOTAL RETURN: -$356.10
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VSiN: This is historic! 19-2 start to his WNBA Career. AUGUST YOUNG from Doc’s Sports has now delivered 14 straight premium WNBA winners! His complete record stands at 19-2—a 91% win rate—for +6,730 in documented profit.
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