Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: The highlight on Friday’s 12-race card was the “match race” between Idiomatic and Randomized in Race 11, The G1 Personal Ensign Stakes. It didn’t work out that way as the two stars burned each other out, allowing Raging Sea for Chad Brown and Flavien Prat to get up to score the upset at the wire. He paid $14.40. Other notables include Brown having three wins, while Prat, Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione each had a pair. The average $2 Win ticket returned $11.52. Let’s look at Mr. Ed’s Saturday Saratoga picks.
THE VERY BEST DAY AT THE SPA: Travers Day is the day all serious horseplayers have been anticipating since the Belmont Stakes here in early June. In addition to the Race 13 G1 $1.25 million Travers, four more G1 stakes (Races 9-12) will set the table for the extraordinary “Mid-Summer Derby,” featuring the very best 3YOs in racing, including one very fast filly, Thorpedo Anna. Gates to the track open at 7 a.m. ET with the first race post at 11:20.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga Mr. Ed for Saturday, August 24
Race 9 (3:44 p.m. ET/12:44 p.m. PT)— G1 $750K SWORD DANCER STAKES for 4YOs & up going 1 ½-mile on turf
Looks like strictly a two-horse race to Mr. Ed. I like both British-born 4YOs for superb overseas horseman Charlie Appleby. First, #2 MEASURED TIME (7-5 morning line) has won 8 of 10 starts, including the G1 Manhattan Stakes here in June with regular rider William Buick. Appleby knows how to have them ready off a rest — and this colt is no exception. Second, front-running 4 SILVER KNOTT (1-1) has won his last three while posting formidable back-to-back speed figures of 106 & 103. Both have banked more than $1 million in earnings. Looks like an ice-cold play to Mr. Ed.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 Exacta Box of 2,4 ($20)
Race 10 (4:20 p.m. ET/1:20 p.m. PT) — G1 $500K BALLERINA HANDICAP for 3YO fillies and mares going 7 furlongs
Very competitive sprint for the very best ladies in training. Off her last four stellar efforts vs. tough fields, Mr. Ed likes #5 SCYLLA (7-2 morning line) for HOF conditioner Bill Mott. No trainer spots his horses for maximum return better than Mott, who shipped this gal all the way to Del Mar earlier in the month to collect a sizable Place check. HOF regular rider Javier Castellano gets back aboard. In addition to betting her to Win, I’ll package her with two other fast ladies, #3 VAHVA (1-1) and #4 SOCIETY (4-1).
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win on 5 and $5 Exacta Box of 3,4,5. ($40)
Race 11 (4:55 p.m. ET/1:55 p.m. PT) — G1 $500K FOREGO STAKES for 4YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes outsider #8 CAGLIOSTRO (9-2 morning line) for hot KY-based trainer Cherie Devaux, who is having an outstanding Spa meet. There may be faster horses in here, but 4YO son of Upstart is tenacious in the stretch, having won two of his last three at Churchill Downs. Sharp Jose Ortiz gets the ride back as Prat goes elsewhere. I love the cut back to sprint. Once a few of the other speedballs wear one another out, look for CAGLIOSTRO at the wire.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win & $20 to Place on 8. ($30)
Race 12 (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT) — G1 $500K H. ALLEN JERKENS MEMORIAL for 3YOs going 7 furlongs
Before sharing my pick, a short story. When researching an article for Horseplayer magazine all those years ago, I had the opportunity to visit on the backstretch with “The Chief,” for whom this race is named. Before the interview, I was told by another trainer to be sure to take a 16 oz. beer along “like a sacrifice” to racing royalty. I did. He drank. I got my story. As for today’s Jerkens’ wager, I’m putting my money on super trainer Chad Brown’s #3 DOMESTIC PRODUCT (9-2 morning line). This guy gets better with every start. Flavien Prat rides as the colt steps back up into Grade 1 company. Mr. Ed is investing in this product. And, here’s to The Chief!
SARATOGA PICK: $20 to Win on 3 & $5 Exacta Box of 3,5,8 and $10 Daily Double of 3&2. ($60)
Race 13 (6:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. PT) — G1 $1.25M TRAVERS STAKES for 3YOs going 1 ¼ -mile
After at least an hour of handicapping, scratching my head and sipping a bit of bourbon, this extremely competitive contest comes down to class. At least five of the runners are classy enough to Win, but my pick is the ultra-consistent #2 SIERRA LEONE (7-2 morning line) for superior trainer Chad Brown and the best jockey on the grounds, Flavien Prat. I have the pair capturing the star-studded Jerkens-Travers daily double.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $50 to Win on 2. ($50)
TOTAL WAGERS: $200
ONLY FOR DEEP-POCKETED, ALL-STAKES, MULTI-RACE PUNTERS:
Races 10-13 $1 Pick 4
R10: 3,4,5
R11: 6,7,8
R12: 3,5,8
R13: 2,7,8 ($81)
