Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Wednesday, July 16:
IT RAINED ALL OVER MY SPA PARADE: I expected public handicapping to be easy. When first approached with the idea, it sounded simple: After all, I was a retired, recovering journalist and avid horseplayer looking for something useful to do instead of crossword puzzles, not just for myself but for horseracing fans as well. It hasn’t worked out quite as I expected. Let’s just say Mr. Ed is south of breaking even. However, the writing part has been a breeze. The picking winners part, not so easy. No tout should have to endure what I and all other Saratoga players suffered through last week. OFF THE TURF is akin to my wife having the carpeted floors replaced with pricy synthetic wood planking by an army of strangers (that story can wait for another wet day). I just checked the Saratoga weather forecast for this week: Chance of rain most days. But, I’ll quit my bitching and get back to public handicapping. The bottom line: Mr. Ed loves nearly every minute he spends picking ponies for VSiN, rain or shine.
TRACKING MR. ED: Day 5 of the current Saratoga meet offers a challenging nine-race card, headlined by the $150K SUZIE O’CAIN STAKES for fillies on the turf. Elsewhere on the card, you’ll find the usual assortment of allowance and claiming contests. More stakes are coming on Saturday, I assure you. Before getting to Mr. Ed’s selections, you should know that the Spa’s leading trainers thus far are Linda Rice with four wins and Chad Brown, George Weaver and Todd Pletcher with three each. Irad Ortiz, Jr. leads jockeys with nine wins, closely followed by brother Jose with eight and Flavien Prat with six. With sunny skies predicted, racing resumes today at 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Here are Mr. Ed’s selections.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks for Wednesday (07/16)
Race 2 (1:48 p.m. ET/10:48 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes these three: #2 MAKI MONARCHY (8-1 morning line) for promising, under-the-radar conditioner Beck Whitman, who gets top jock Irad Ortiz, Jr. to jump aboard; #5 IRRELEVANT (4-1) for youthful trainer Joe Sharp and Kendrick Carmouche in irons, and #7 DONTWORRYBOUTNOTHN (7-2 morning line) with HOF rider Victor Espinoza.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box ($30)
Race 3 (2:23 p.m. ET/11:23 a.m. PT) — $47K for 3YOs going 6 furlongs
My choice is #1 MILES AND MILES (2-1 morning line) for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox, who hires NY-based excellent rider Manny Franco. Drops in class, shortens up following claim. Smiles and smiles.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:58 p.m. ET/11:58 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL for NY-bred 3YOs & up going 1⅛-mile
Here’s my BEST BET OF THE DAY: Super expensive #5 IRON DOME (8-5 morning line) for super trainer Steve Asmussen with Jose Ortiz riding. Added distance + dry track = winning combination.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 6 (4:08 p.m. ET/1:08 p.m. PT) — $.50 Pick 4
R6: 8,10,11
R7: 1,2,3,6
R8: 1,4,9
R9: 2,5 ($36)
Race 9 (5:42 p.m. ET/2:42 p.m. PT) — $150K SUZIE O’CAIN STAKES for NY-bred 3YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY: #5 CHARLOTTE’S HEART (9-2 morning line), who has faced much tougher than this gang. HOFer Javier Castellano returns to ride for hot HOF trainer Mark Casse, who is closing in on 4,000 wins. Gal should appreciate the added distance and surface switch.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $116
PLAYS OF THE DAY (4 days): -$20
BEST BETS OF THE DAY (4 days): +$27
THURSDAY AT THE SPA: The $150K Rick Violette Stakes for 3YOs on the turf, named for the popular late trainer, headlines the 10-race card. In case you are hungry for more first-class racing, Mr. Ed says there are 21 Grade 1 stakes remaining between now and the meet’s conclusion on Labor Day.
