Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Thursday, July 24:
HORSING AROUND: Today’s Race 9, the $135K CURLIN STAKES, features a field of eight 3YOs going 1⅛-mile. Two entrants are worth special consideration: #1 Chancer McPatrick and #3 Strategic Focus, both trained by Chad Brown. The former won his first three starts as a 2YO and appeared to be headed down the road to the Kentucky Derby. However, the wheels came off as a 3YO, losing all four starts. With two of his victories at the Spa, he’s hoping to regain his winning ways. As for the latter, Strategic Focus is the textbook slowly developing sophomore. In his only two starts, he broke his maiden in April and came back in June against elders, clocking a monster 102 speed figure, only to be disqualified and placed second.
The winner today will be seeking a shot against the big boys in The Travers. Speaking of which, word is that Journalism, coming off his thrilling win in the Haskell, will pass on Saratoga’s signature race in favor of the Pacific Classic, which will serve as his prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in early November. And finally, Journalism’s jockey in the Haskell win, Umberto Rispoli, has been fined $6K and suspended a day for excessive use of the whip in the Haskell stretch.
TRACKING MR. ED: After studying the PPs of the first four races on today’s card, Mr. Ed has hereby declared the dull quartet to be the first annual SARATOGA GRAND SLAM FESTIVAL OF MAIDENS. And to top it off, Race 7 is also a contest of losers, giving the Spa’s racing secretary a maiden-writing batting average of .500. It’s the price horseplayers must pay for several quality allowance and stakes contests later in the week. And, speaking of batting averages, Mr. Ed’s picks average had fallen beneath the Mendoza Line, until he hit closing Exacta and Trifecta on Wednesday! In other action, jockey Flavien Prat had a pair of winners, while no trainer had more than one score. The average $2 ticket returned just over $10. Post time for Thursday’s 10-race card is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Weather forecast: Sunny & hot. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s rather chalky picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Thursday (7/24)
Race 1 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $80K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies, 2YOs & up
Mr. Ed likes two for the money #1 SPARKLING MAMA (7-2 morning line) first time starter for veteran NY trainer Domenick Schettino, who hires leading rider Flavien Prat, and #6 BIRCH RUN (5-2); Antonio Sano trains with Junior Alvarado in the irons.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Daily Doubles of 1,6/3,7. ($20)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 1 3/16-mile on the turf
To complete DD, my money is on either of two: #3 ROYAL’S PRIDE (7-2 morning line) for the team of Bill Mott and Jose Lezcano, and #7 VINTAGE VINO (3-1) for track stars conditioner Linda Rice and rider Jose Ortiz.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/11:18 a.m. PT) — $80K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s choice is #5 BOBROVSKY (3-1 morning line) for veteran, Kentucky-based popular trainer Dale Romans, who hires Irad Ortiz, Jr. to ride 2YO in his second start. Last month at Churchill when he was nosed out in his debut, he was a short-priced favorite. Today’s his day to score.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. ET/12:27 p.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the turf
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET OF THE DAY is short and sweet #1 SET (7-5 morning line). Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Dylan Davis, son of Oscar Performance, the pick sports excellent speed figures and will benefit from the inner-most post. Ready, set, go to the Winner’s Circle!
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win & $10 Daily Double of 1&1. ($30)
Race 6 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) — $95K ALLOWANCE for NY-bred fillies and mares going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed is betting on #1 GEOPOLITICS (2-1 morning line) for HOF trainer Bill Mott and his go-to rider Joel Rosario. The speedy son of Central Banker should get an ideal trip from the inside post. With a fast break, he’ll go wire to wire.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. $10
Races 7-10 (4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT) — $.50 Pick 4*
R7: 1,2,5,9
R8: 2,5,7
R9: 3
R10: 6,7,8,9,12 ($30)
* In the event of a scratch, the post-time favorite becomes the substitute pick.
Race 8 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the grass
Mr. Ed likes three for the money: #2 MO FOX GIVIN (5-1 morning line) for HOF trainer Mark Casse; #5 TAX IMPLICATIONS (8-5) for the always-tough Chad Brown barn, and #7 PROCTOR STREET (2-1) for Brendan Walsh and Co.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 9 (5:44 p.m. ET/2:44 p.m. PT) — $135K CURLIN STAKES for 3YOs going 1 ⅛-mile
Mr. Ed is betting Chad Brown’s late-bloomer #3 STRATEGIC FOCUS is fully capable of running back to the 103 speed figure he earned against older opponents in June. This guy’s the real deal and will bury this rather weak field.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $150
PLAYS OF THE DAY (10 bets): -$113.20
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (9 bets): -$57.00
FRIDAY AT THE SPA: Day 11 of the 40-day meet features Race 9, the $200K AMSTERDAM STAKES for 3YOs. #1 Macho Music with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard is the 2-1 morning line choice. The rest of the 10-race card is made up of the usual weekday claiming and maiden claiming events. Mr. Ed will be back with his selections.
