Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: Travers Day lived up to its advanced billing — “the fourth best day in American racing.” The program had it all: best-in-class thoroughbreds, the most talented jockeys and trainers in the game, super-smart fans, and nothing but blue skies and sunshine all around Upstate New York. Impressive winners included Travers Champion FIERCENESS and champion sprinters Domestic Product and Mullikin. When all was said and run, races featured excellent performances by riders Flavien Prat with four trips to the Winner’s Circle, Tyler Gaffalione and Joel Rosario with three winners each, Johnny Velasquez’s thrilling Travers triumph, and conditioners Mark Casse and Todd Pletcher, each with two victories. The average $2 Win ticket paid $15.56. Let’s look at Sunday’s Saratoga picks.
SUNDAY AT THE SPA: Day 34 of the annual 40-day meet showcases the very best NY-bred thoroughbreds in stakes, allowance and claiming contests. Post time for the first of 11 races is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga Mr. Ed for Sunday, August 25
Race 3 (2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 7 furlongs
I like four for the price of three: #1 BARESE & #1A DAUFUSKIE ISLAND (both at 7-2 morning line) for Mertkan barn. NYers Manny Franco and Dylan Davis are riding, respectively. #2 ELYSIAN MEADOWS (4-1) for Bill Mott with Junior Alvarado in irons, and #3 BOURBON CHASE (2-1) with Luis Saez aboard.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (3:53 p.m. ET/12:53 p.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO NY-bred fillies going 5 ½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed’s pick is #4 CHARLOTTE’S HEART (3-1 morning line), another in a string of talented youngsters for Mark Casse. Javier Castellano gets mount on first-time starter. Mr. Ed’s gotta have heart.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 7 (4:28 p.m. ET/1:28 p.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on turf
I like 4YO #9 LAKESIDE GETAWAY (7-2 morning line) for tough-luck Mike Trombetta barn. Jose Lezcano gets aboard for the third consecutive time after two so-close finishes.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 8 (5:05 p.m. ET/2:05 p.m. PT) — $200K FLEET INDIAN STAKES for 3YO NY-bred fillies going 1 ⅛-mile.
Mr. Ed is betting on three fillies: #2 LANDED (5-2 morning line) for the powerful duo of Wesley Ward & Johnny Velazquez; #4 DOLOMITE (5-1) for Chad Brown, Manny Franco riding, and #8 MY MANE SQUEEZE (8-5) for strong Mike Maker stable with Luis Saez riding.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 9 (5:42 p.m. ET/2:42 p.m. PT) — $200K FUNNY SIDE STAKES for NY-bred 2YOs going 6 furlongs
My choice is #7 UNDER WHO’S RADAR (3-1 morning line) for excellent trainer Mike Maker who brings back top jock Irad Ortiz Jr. following their maiden score at the beginning of the meet. With her early speed, he should be able to overcome the outside post.
SARATOGA PICKS: $10 to Win & $5 Daily Double: 7&5. ($15)
TOTAL WAGERS: $105
