Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Saturday, July 5:
TRACKING MR. ED: A good time was had by many on the second day of the Saratoga racing festival. The biggest July 4th winners on the ovals were ZULU KINGDOM, who captured the G3 Manila Stakes, and TEST SCORE, who won the G1 Belmont Derby. While no one trainer won more than a single race, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. scored the hat trick, winning races 3,4, and 5. Flavien Prat had a pair of wins. The biggest score at the windows was the 7-8 Exacta in Race 8, which paid $67.50 for a dollar and $337.50 for Mr. Ed’s $5 posted selection. The average $2 Win ticket returned just under $9. Saturday, the third day of the festivities, will go to the post at 12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT. Here are Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Saturday, July 5
Races 1 — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 5 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a pair to begin Daily Double: #4 SHE’S ON A ROLL (7-2 morning line) for top sprint trainer Wesley Ward, who gives once-great, aging rider Victor Espinoza a comeback mount. Sizzling works say #5 EMPIRES KING (6-1) is ready to roll as well. Colt is trained by veteran conditioner Gregory Sacco, who recruits Manny Franco to climb aboard for the ride.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,5/1,6. ($20)
Race 2 (1:07 p.m. ET/10:07 a.m. PT) — $60K CLAIMING for 3YOs going 1 ⅛-mile
I like either #1 LEADING CONTENDER (8-5 morning line) for the superior Chad Brown barn with Manny Franco riding, or #6 CALL ME FAST (2-1) for the hot Joe Sharp outfit with Jose Ortiz in the saddle. I’m willing to eat some chalk.
Race 3 (1:40 p.m. ET/10:40 a.m. PT) — $175K G3 SANDFORD STAKES for 2YOs going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed bets that #2 OBLITERATION (7-5 morning line), son of Violence, for all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen with Flavien Prat aboard, will extinguish the inexperienced field of youngsters. After all, it runs in his family.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & $10 Daily Double with #5 in Race 5. ($20)
Race 5 (2:46 p.m. ET/11:46 a.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up, going 1 3/16-mile on the turf
I’m betting if #5 ALYESKA (3-1 morning line), relocating from Casse to Brown barn, can repeat her debut victory with new rider Flavien Prat in irons, she’ll crush this field.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 6 (3:20 p.m. ET/12:20 p.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going a mile on the turf
For #4 STARLIT SKY, Mr. Ed is counting on a new rider (Manny Franco), the addition of blinkers, turf debut, and longer distance adding up to score for George Weaver’s barn. The changes will do her good.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 7 (3:54 p.m. ET/12:54 p.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3 YOs & up going 6½ furlongs
I like three for the money: #3 SYNCORO (6-1 morning line) for trainer Whit Beckman after speedy drill; #4 FILLY FREEDOM (8-5), making second start for Chad Brown with new rider, Flavien Prat aboard, and #7 CELESTIAL SPEED (9-2) for Danny Gargan, who had standout maiden win on opening day.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Races 9-12 (5:04 p.m. ET/ 2:04 p.m. PT) — $1 Pick 4
SARATOGA SELECTION:
R9: 4,7
R10: 2,3,4
R11: 7
R12: 6,10,11 ($18)
Race 9 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed picks #7 RUSSIAN REALM (7-2 morning line) for a highly likable combo of trainer Danny Gargan and jockey Katie Davis. Look for the Russian to be coming in the stretch.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 10 (5:38 p.m. ET/2:38 p.m. PT) — $175K G3 KELSO STAKES for 4YOs & up going a mile on the turf
I’m betting on a trio: #2 INTELLECT (3-1 morning line), French-bred with French rider Prat; #3 THINK BIG (7-2) for the Michael Stidham barn with Jose Ortiz, and #4 DONEGAL MOMENTUM (5-2), speedball for Tom Morley with Javier Castellano on board.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box ($30)
Race 11: (6:13 p.m. ET/3:13 p.m. PT) — $500K G1 BELMONT OAKS for 3YO fillies going 1⅛-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s VERY BEST BET OF THE DAY is #7 NITROGEN (4-5 morning line), going for a sixth consecutive win, all with Jose Ortiz along for the ride. Skillful Mark Casse trains. She gets better with every start.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $168
SUNDAY AT THE SPA: After a first glance at the 10-race card, I set my priorities for the afternoon: (1) Scoop the cat boxes, (2) Clean out the garage, (3) Go clothes shopping at Walmart, (4) Take a nap, and (5) Bet the races. Speaking of which, the headline event is Race 3, a $115K Allowance Optional Claimer marathon for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile and a half on the Inner Turf. Look for my exclusive picks here on VSiN.com. Note to the NYRA: Next time, make it a three-day racing festival.
