Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Sunday, July 20:
TRACKING MR. ED: Veteran jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. led the way with three winners on the 12-race card. Other repeat winners were Joel Rosario and out-of-towner Paco Lopez, each with two apiece. As for trainers, twelve races and twelve different conditioners had a win. At the windows, the average $2 Win ticket returned just shy of $10. In the feature race at the Spa, SCOTTISH LASIE ($6.70) upset odds-on favorite Immersive. Meanwhile, at Monmouth on the New Jersey shore, post-time favorite JOURNALISM got up the final strides to capture the Haskell Stakes, paying $2.80 to win. Word on the backstretch is that he will duck a rematch with Sovereignty in the Travers at the end of the month at Saratoga and head out to the West Coast to run in the Pacific Classic as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup in November. As for today, Day 9 of the 40-day meet, features a 10-race card with Race 9, the $200K G2 HONORABLE MISS STAKES in the spotlight. Unfortunately, the weather forecast calls for a 70% chance of rain, so be prepared for multiple scratches. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s plays.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Sunday (7/20)
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $55K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed picks two: #4 CINISTER CIX (8-1 morning line), trained by Rudy Brisset with leading jockey Flavien Prat, and #6 MAKES SENSE (8-5), for HOFer Todd Pletcher and rider change to Luis Saez. My Cix Sense points to Winner’s Circle.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 4,6/2,6. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the grass
To complete the DD, Mr. Ed likes #2 PANACHE (7-2 morning line) for top trainer Cherie DeVaux, with Jose Ortiz returning to ride, and #6 TATER TOT (8-1) for Miguel Clement and popular NY jockey Manny Franco.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/10:18 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 1⅛ mile on the turf
Two for the price of one: #1 DEBT LIMIT (6-5 morning line) and #1A MOVE TO GOLD (6-5), both for Chad Brown; #5 RAMBLIN’ WRECK (6-1), for a favorite trainer of Mr. Ed’s, Danny Gargan, and #7 BE OF COURAGE (9-2) for low-profile trainer John Pregman.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. ET/12:27 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1⅛ mile
I like three: #5 CATHERINE WHEEL (8-5 morning line) for top trainer Chad Brown, who hires Manny Franco to ride #6 CASSIAR (6-1) for Shug McGaughey; and #7 INTO AMORE (4-1), returning after break.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16 mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is #2 MIZTERTONIC (8-5 morning line) for Keri Brion, who recruits Flavien Prat to ride. Owns a win over the surface. Third start in form cycle. Ready to run.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 7 (4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT) — $68K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16 mile on the turf
#1 BELOUNI (5-2 morning line) is Mr. Ed’s choice. Trainer Chad Brown rehires popular Manny Franco. Impressive Win two back in Tampa. French-bred poised to score.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & $5 Daily Double with #4 in Race 8.. ($15)
Race 8 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT) — $63K STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YO fillies going 6 furlongs
I like #4 THEPRINCESSFACTOR (4-1 morning line) for hot KY-circuit trainer Joe Sharp, who retains top-jock Jose Ortiz. Repeat of Churchill effort within reach. Love this gal.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 9 (5:44 p.m. ET/2:44 p.m. PT) — $200K G2 HONORABLE MISS STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY: #3 ZADORSKY (15-1 morning line), longshot for young trainer Whit Beckman; #4 SCYLLA (2-1), favorite for Bill Mott with Joel Rosario returning to ride, and #9 JODY’S PRIDE (4-1) with Flavien Prat back in the saddle.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 10 (6:19 p.m. ET/3:19 p.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the grass
Mr. Ed closes out Sunday card with #11 GEOPOLITICS (5-2 morning line) for the top team of Bill Mott and Joel Rosario. Shows an excellent string of works. It’s just politics, nothing personal.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
TOTAL WAGERS: $165
PLAYS OF THE DAY (7 bets): -$98.20
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (7 bets): -$37.00
LESSON LEARNED: When Mr. Ed was still a juvenile horseplayer, upon studying the PPs of an upcoming race at Finger Lakes, he said to his seasoned mentor, “Look at this. The #1 horse shipping in from the Saratoga has the same rider he had there. That obviously means the connections are well-intended.” Upon which he replied, “Someone had to drive the van.”
