Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
WHITNEY STAKES DAY OUTLOOK: Saturday, Day 19 of the 40-day Spa meet, offers arguably the second most-popular race card of the season. In addition to the $1 million Grade 1 Whitney Stakes, the 13-race card features four other stakes and four, always-exciting maiden special weight contests for the “stars of tomorrow.” Mr. Ed plans to concentrate his Saratoga picks on the stakes and leave the rest of the card to more astute handicappers to decipher. With showers in the forecast, come rain or come shine, the first race will go off at 12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT.
TRACKING MR. ED: Fans enjoyed sunny skies and inside-bias racing on Day 17 of the Spa meet. Several races were won by front runners, wire-to-wire. The average $2 Win ticket returned $10.20. Rudy Rodriquez’ barn, winless until Thursday, celebrated a pair of victories. Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Manny Franco also had two winners apiece. Post time for Friday’s 10-race card is 1:10 p.m. ET/9:10 a.m. PT. There is a 35% chance of showers. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga for Friday, August 2
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, fillies and mares, 3YOs & up, 6 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed picks a Daily Double to get things rolling. He likes #2 LADY PINK (3-1 morning line) with leading rider Flavien Prat for Chad Brown, and #4 TWO SHARP (7-5) for Kentucky trainer Phil Bauer and Junior Alvarado in the saddle.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 DAILY DOUBLE: 2,4/6,9. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $60K MAIDEN CLAIMING, 3YOs & up, 1 1/16-mile on the turf
To complete the DD, Mr. Ed likes #6 SIX KINGS (9/2 morning line) for trainer Joe Sharp and jockey Tyler Gaffalione (duo had a winner on Wednesday), and #9 SANDBORN (8-1) for Cherie DeVaux and Flavien Prat.
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for NY-bred fillies and mares, 3YOs & up, six furlongs
My choice is #2 GONE AND FORGOTTEN (5-2 morning line) for trainer Dick Dutrow and legendary rider Frankie Dettori. Gal enters race off three consecutive in-the-money efforts.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. ET/12:27 p.m. PT) — $55K MAIDEN CLAIMING, fillies and mares, 3YOs & up at 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes four: #1 Z TRAIN and #1A PURRFECT GIRL (4-1 morning line), both trained by Tony Dutrow, ridden by Frankie Dettori and Jose Antonio Gomez, respectively; #5 AMERICAN KESTREL (5-1) trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by Katie Davis (team had upset winner on Wednesday), and #7 PAY THE BILLS (5-2) for trainer Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat. Any two of the four will score.
SARATOGA BET: $5 Exacta box of 1,5,7. ($30)
Race 6 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) — $70K STARTER CLAIMING, 3YOs & up at 1 mile on turf
My choice is #5 UNLEASH THE POWER (5-1 morning line) for one of my favorite trainers, Al Stall, who ships the son of Curlin up from Churchill Downs. The last two efforts in Kentucky, with today’s rider Joel Rosario on board, were sharp. Powerful combination.
SARATOGA PICJ: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 8 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT) — $400K G2 SARATOGA OAKS, 3YO fillies, 1 3/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes chalky #1 CINDERELLA’S DREAM (6-5 morning line) for excellent British horseman Charles Appleby, who won a lone U.S. start at BAQ with sharp jockey William Buick, who rides today. The wetter the better.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $20 to Win and $5 Daily Doubles of 1,2,4 with 1,5,8 Race 9. ($35)
Race 9 (5:45 p.m. ET/2:45 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 HALL OF FAME STAKES, 3YOs, 1 mile on turf
My choice, in a highly competitive turf test, is the well-seasoned #5 LAGYNOS (9-2 morning line) for Steve Asmussen’s barn. The main thing a sophomore has over his rivals is experience, having run in four graded stakes vs. tough fields. Regular rider Cristian Torres stays aboard.
SARATOGA PICK: $20 to Win. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $135
MR. ED’S TIP OF THE DAY: If you go to Saratoga Race Course, get up early and visit the Oklahoma Training Track. Once you do, you’ll be sure to return—and it’s free!
