Mr. Ed’s Saratoag Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: On Wednesday, it rained cats and dogs at the Spa, forcing horses to run in the slop and fans to seek shelter between downpours. Soggy conditions resulted in a mixed bag of returns, with the average $2 Win ticket paying $11.70. Looking ahead to Thursday’s 10-race card, featuring the G2 $250K Glens Fall Stakes for fillies on the turf (Race 9), will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Sunny skies are forecast. Finally, what do riders Tyler Gaffalione, Dylan Davis, and VSiN handicapper Mr. Ed have in common? (answer at the end of the column). Here are today’s Saratoga picks.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga for Thursday, August 1
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3YOs & up, 5½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed likes #3 BEER RUN (2-1 morning line). Once again, I’m counting on turf sprint conditioner Wesley Ward to have the 4YO gelding ready in the second start back from break. Jose Ortiz retains the ride. Thirsty for victory.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $100K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING, NY-bred 3YOs & up, 6 furlongs
I’m picking three for the money: #4 JAK N BURNY (3-1 morning line), ships over from Finger Lakes with regular rider; #7 KEY POINT (5-2), who has a win over the track, and #8 CALDO CANDY (3-1), for James Bond barn.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta boxes of 4,7,8. ($30)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. ET/12:27 p.m. PT) — $45K MAIDEN CLAIMING, fillies and mares, 3YOs & up, 6 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed continues his platonic infatuation with young rider Katie Davis (she had an upset winner on Wednesday). Once she proves herself at the Spa, she’ll attract better-known trainers — and her sky’s the limit! Her jockey-to-trainer dad hires her to ride #9 MARY UNION AVENUE (9-2 morning line). From the outermost post, Katie has as good a shot as any vs. weak field.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 to Win & Place. ($10)
Race 7 (4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT) — $60K STARTER ALLOWANCE, 3YOs, 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #2 COMPLETE AGENDA (7-2 morning line) for tough-luck, 0-29 trainer Rudy Rodriguez. If the son of Curlin is good enough to win for top jock Flavien Prat to ride, Mr. Ed will join him at the windows.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Races 8-11 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT)
R8: 2,3,6,7
R9: 3,5,7
R10: 3,4,9,15*
*main track only
SARATOGA PICK: $1 Pick 3 ($48)
Race 9 (5:45 p.m. ET/2:45 p.m. PT) — $250 G2 GLENS FALLS STAKES, fillies and mares, 4YOs & up, 1 ½ -mile on turf
With lifetime earnings approaching $1 million, Mr. Ed likes #3 CHOP CHOP (5-2 morning line) to top milestone for excellent trainer Brad Cox. Legendary rider Frankie Dettori joins the team.
SARATOGA BEST BET: $20 to Win & Exacta box of 3,5,7. ($50)
TOTAL WAGERS: $158
QUIZ ANSWER: All three had two winners at Saratoga on Wednesday.
