Saratoga Picks for July 5:
HORSING AROUND AT THE SPA: Mr. Ed NEVER bets on the hurdles (R1). He has enough to worry about handicapping and predicting results of the other eight contests, including R8 HARVEY PACK STAKES. Later in the meet, Mr. Ed will have more to say about NY racing icon Pack and his decades of devotion to Saratoga and its fans. As for the race named in his honor, the best Mr. Ed could do was pick five and hope for the best (see Pick 4 below).
SATURDAY RESULTS & SUNDAY SELECTIONS: The July 4th results resembled two entirely different race cards. The average $2 win ticket for Races 1-5 was a modest $5.00. In contrast, the same average win ticket for R6-11 paid $29.90. Unfortunately, Mr. Ed and his followers only had a pair of chalky winners, the 4/4 Daily Double ($23 on a $10 wager). It was nearly enough to make an aging horseplayer cry. The lone jockey or trainer to record multiple winners was Joel Rosario with a pair. Looking ahead to Sunday’s nine-race card, Mr. Ed found several opportunities where he could recoup his holiday losses. First post (hurdles) is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 p.m. ET. Weather Forecast: High in the ‘80s with a 50% chance of showers.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Selections for Sunday, 7/05
Race 2 (1:48 p.m. ET/10:48 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred, 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a pair: #3 HAPPY GO MORE (3-1 morning line) for sneaky-good trainer Jena Antonucci who recruits veteran rider Javier Castellano for debut of speedy colt; and #4 ONEBIGBEAUTFULBILL (5-2) for Brad Cox barn with Flavien Prat riding.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 3,4/2,3. ($20)
Race 3 (2:22 p.m. ET/11:22 a.m. PT) — $52K CLAIMING for fillies, 4YOs & up going a mile
To complete the DD, Mr. Ed bets on #2 PENS STREET (3-1 morning line) for owner-trainer Linda Rice with Ricardo Santana returning to ride, and #3 KYLE’S MOM (9-2) for sharp upstate-NY trainer Jeremiah Englehart and regular rider Jose Lezcano in the saddle.
Race 4 (2:56 p.m. ET/11:56 a.m. PT) — $115K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #4 IMPLACABLE (10-1 morning line) returning to dirt for trainer Chad Summers with huge rider switch to Tyler Gaffalione; #6 PARTY ANIMAL (7-2) for Jena Antonucci with jockey upgrade to Edgard Zayas, and high-priced #7 HOLY SEVEN (2-1) for all-time winningest trainer Steve Asmussen with Jose Ortiz up.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (4:04 p.m. ET/1:04 p.m. PT) — $225K G3 KELSO STAKES for 4YOs & up going a mile on the turf
The great Kelso helped launch Mr. Ed’s love of handicapping by winning Horse of the Year honors five consecutive times (1960-64). This race looks like strictly a two-horse affair between a pair of millionaires, #1 ZULU KINGDOM (5-2 morning line) for Chad Brown, and #3 MY BOY PRINCE (9-2) for Mark Casse. The jockey advantage goes to Flavien Prat aboard the former.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 Exacta Box. ($20)
Races 6-9 — $1 Pick 4*
R6: 1,3
R7: 8
R8: 1,2,3,4,7
R9: 4,9,10,11 ($40)
*In case of scratch, post-time favorite is substitute selection
Race 8 (5:12 p.m. ET/2:12 p.m. PT) — $200K HARVEY PACK STAKES for 4YOs & up going 5½-furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #1 BRING THEBAND HOME (7-2 morning line) for HoF combo of trainer Mark Casse and jockey Javier Castellano; #3 POSSIBLEMENTE (3-1) for improving trainer Joe Sharp with Jose Ortiz, and #4 TWENTY SIX BLACK for Horacio De Paz with Manny Franco back in the saddle.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 9 (5:46 p.m. ET/2:46 p.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs going 1½-mile
Mr. Ed’s pick is deep closer #10 NOBLE DYNASTY (5-2 morning line) for Bill Mott barn with jockey Junior Alvarado returning. Begs for marathon distance — finally gets it.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
TOTAL WAGERS: $150
CORRECTION: In Race 10 on Friday, Mr. Ed’s VALUE PLAY selection paid $9.90 on a $2 bet to Place. Therefore, his $10 wager returned $49.50.
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