Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Saturday, July 19:
TRACKING MR. ED: Day 7 at the Spa was one of highs ($35.80) and lows ($4.10) when cashing a $2 Win tickets. When all was said, written and run, the average $2 Win ticket returned $12.40. As for riders, Irad Ortiz was the lone two-race winner as no trainer was able to win a pair. Looking ahead at Saturday’s stakes-rich card, headlined by the $500,000 G1 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3YO fillies, there is an early first race post of 12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT. The weather forecast is for sunny and warm with a high in the 80s. Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Saturday (07/19)
Race 1 (12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred 2 YOs going 5½ furlongs
Here’s a Daily Double worth playing: #4 BELLORO (5-2 morning line) from hot Jeremiah Englehart barn with Manny Franco in the irons, and #8 ATENEA (3-1) for a pair of Joses, trainer D’Angelo and jockey Ortiz.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,8/2,5. ($20)
Race 2 (1:07 p.m. ET/10:07 a.m. PT) — $50K MAIDEN CLAIMING for NY-bred 4YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on turf.
To complete the DD, Linda Rice sends out #2 TRINITY RIVER (2-1 morning line) with Jose Ortiz aboard, and #5 OAT COUTOUR (8-1) for the popular NY team of Chris Englehart and Manny Franco.
Race 3 (1:40 p.m. ET/10:40 a.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed’s betting an ice-cold exacta featuring a pair of rivals from their last start: #3 NOT FOR HIRE (7-2 morning line) for hot George Weaver barn with Jose Lezcano retaining ride, and #5 BOSUN (5-2) for young Joe Sharp and returning rider Jose Ortiz.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 3&5. ($10)
Race 4 (2:13 p.m. ET/11:13 a.m. PT) — $110 ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
I like sleeper #6 STRONG STATE (9-2 morning line) for excellent trainer Al Stall Jr., who recruits local fan favorite Kendrick Carmouche to ride. Team gets the job done.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 8 (4:29 p.m. ET/1:29 p.m. PT) — $110 ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 1 ⅜ mile on turf
My pick is #7 MAYOR OF MIDNIGHT (5-1 morning line), a young gelding for Chad Brown with Manny Franco picking up the ride. A repeat of the recent winning effort would be enough to beat this field. This guy can run all day.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 9 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — $175K G3 CARESS STAKES for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY is #2 ZEITLOS (8-1 morning line), a seasoned 5YO mare, going for Steve Asmussen with Junior Alvarado picking up the mount. Winner of more than $1.1 million, moves to turf, drops in class and shortens up. Changes will do her good.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & $5 Exacta Boxes with 6,7. ($30)
Races 9-12 — $1 Pick 4*
R9: 2,6,7
R10: 1,6
R11: 1,4,5
R12: 6,9 ($36)
* in the event of a scratch, the post-time favorite becomes the substitute pick
Race 10 (5:38 p.m. ET/2:38 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 COACHING CLUB AMERICAN OAKS for 3YO fillies going 1⅛-mile
Mr. Ed likes #1 IMMERSIVE (8-5 morning line) for first-class trainer Brad Cox and regular rider Manny Franco. Winner of $1.6 million from five previous starts, she posted bullet work in preparation for today’s rematch with #4 TAKE CHARGE MILADY (9-2). Added distance suits choice. BEST BET OF THE DAY.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 11 (6:13 p.m. ET/3:13 p.m. PT) — $400K G2 ALFRED G. VANDERBILT STAKES for 4YOs & up going 6 furlongs
I like three for the money: #1 SKELLY (4-1 morning line) for Steve Asmussen and regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. Winner of nearly $2 million, speedball will play catch-me-if-you-can from inside post. Gelded son of Practical joke gets the first and last laugh. To complete the bet, Mr. Ed likes #4 MULLIKIN (7-2) with hot riding Jose Ortiz aboard, and #5 BOOK’EM DANNO, with a 102 speed figure in last.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $166
PLAYS OF THE DAY (6 bets): -$83.20
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (6 bets): -$17.00
SOUVENIR SHIRT SUNDAY AT THE SPA: It’s the first of several giveaway days of the meet. Wholesale fans love this one. The track plans to give all paying patrons a flashy, red-and-white Hawaiian shirt in exchange for their $8.50 General Admission ticket. If a fan thinks the shirt might have greater “retail” value on eBay, he pays the entrance fee and turns right around, exits the grounds and gets back in the Entrance line. Then, repeat. Once the fan has accumulated the desired number of admission tickets (depending on the presumed value on eBay, I’ve seen folks with as many as a dozen or more), he gets in line to exchange his tickets for shirts. If interested in acquiring a shirt, check out eBay sales on Sunday. Of course, there will be a few punters who go home shirtless — as in “I went to the track yesterday and lost my shirt!” Not to be outdone: Opening day General Admission ticket at Del Mar yesterday afternoon was around $80 (of course, resort fee not included — and no shirt).
