Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: Chalky, front-running winners ruled Day 18 at The Spa with the average $2 Win ticket returning a meet-low $7.10. Leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. led all riders with three trips to the Winner’s Circle. Joel Rosario, who was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in the morning, scored an impressive last-to-first win aboard #5 Unleash the Power in Race 6. Trainer Chad Brown had a pair of winners. Let’s look at Saturday’s Saratoga picks.
WHITNEY DAY AT THE SPA: The 13-race mid-meet (Day 19 of 40) card offers something for everyone, similar to a scrumptious Las Vegas buffet. Four maiden special weight contests for youngsters, a few claimers and allowances for their elders and five stakes (four of them graded) for fans of proven-quality, classy thoroughbred action. With the exception of the Early Daily Double (races 1&2), Mr. Ed has limited his handicapping and selections to the stakes (races 7-11), culminating with The Whitney. First race post is 12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT with 45% showers possible.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga for Saturday, August 3
Race 1 (12:05 p.m. ET/9:05 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2YOs at 1 1/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes three: #4 REACH FOR THE ROSE (3-1 morning line) for high-powered owner Ken Ramsey. No one loves to win races at the Spa more than Ken. His trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., makes a rider upgrade to Jose Ortiz and stretches the colt out. I also like #6 CLOCK TOWER (6-1) for top turf sprint trainer Wesley Ward, who hires HOFer Johnny Velazquez to ride. Chad Brown sends out promising first-time starter #9 ASBURY PARK (9-2) with Irad Ortiz Jr.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Daily Double of 4,6,9/3,10($30)
Race 2 (12:37 p.m. ET/9:27 a.m. PT — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred 2YOs, 6 furlongs
To successfully complete the Daily Double, Mr. Ed likes Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr.’s first-time starter, #3 PROBABILITY (5-2 morning line), and, to make my case, #10 SPIRIT OF THE LAW (4-1) for Barclay Tagg and Junior Alvarado.
Race 7 (3:21 p.m. ET/12:21 p.m. PT) — G1 $600K SARATOGA DERBY, 3YOs going 1 3/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed likes three: #3 LEGEND OF TIME (7-2 morning line) for leading British trainer-rider combo of Charlie Appleby and William Buick; #4 DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (2-1) for the O’Brien-Moore tandem, and #8 WHITE PALOMINO (8-1) for powerful Chad Brown-Flavien Prat duo.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta boxes 3,4,8. ($30)
Race 8 (3:54 p.m. ET/12:54 p.m. PT) — G1 $500K TEST STAKES, 3YO fillies, 7 furlongs on turf
I’ll take a legit shot on #6 BRIGHTWORK (6-1 morning line), making his first start after a disappointing sixth-place finish in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November. Works indicate he’s ready to fire off bench for trainer John Ortiz and HOFer Johnny Velazquez. Working his way back to Winner’s Circle.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 9 (4:29 p.m. ET/1:29 p.m. PT) — $135K LURE STAKES, 4YOs & up, 1 1/16-mile on turf
Mr. Ed’s pick is front-runner #5 BIG EVEREST (4-1 morning line), who is 3-for-5 this year for trainer Christophe Clement. Gelding steps up to the gate with Joel Rosario in the saddle, who is 4-for-4 when piloting speedball. Climb aboard.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win and $5 Exacta boxes of 1,5,9. ($40)
Race 10 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — G2 $300K TROY STAKES, 4YOs & up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out ultra-talented sprinter #6 COGBURN (4-5 morning line). Millionaire, who set the world record for 5 ½-furlong on turf in the last race, is chalky, but he towers over other competitors. Top jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. seeks third consecutive win for connections.
SARATOGA BEST BET OF DAY: $40 to Win. ($40)
Race 11 (5:42 p.m. ET/2:42 p.m. PT) — G1 $1 Million WHITNEY STAKES, 4 YOs & up, 1 ⅛-mile
Mr. Ed finds it hard not to bet on #3 NATIONAL TREASURE (9-5 morning line). He’s won last four Grade 1s under Flavien Prat, who’ll guide him again for West Coast wizard Bob Baffert. Sharp drills indicate he’s ready to roll again today. Big bankroll play.
SARATOGA SPECIAL BET: $50 to Win. ($50)
TOTAL WAGERS: $210
SPOT PLAYS:
GULFSTREAM PARK
R8 Miss Gracie Stakes
#5 Candy Gray (7-2)
DEL MAR
R9 California Dreamin’ Stakes
#2 Catalina Eddy (7-2)
