Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: Rain or shine, slop or mud, speedball #11 ARTHUR’S RIDE (7-1) proved much-the-best in a dazzling wire-to-wire triumph in $1 million G1 Whitney Stakes. Ridden by Junior Alvarado and trained by HOFer Bill Mott, the winner paid a generous $15.80. Earlier, as predicted, the overnight rains came. By dawn, it had become a drizzle, but it was too late to keep the popular race card intact. All of the day’s turf contests were initially moved to the dirt. Then word came that two grass stakes — Race 7 The Saratoga Derby, and Race 10 The Troy — would be postponed until next Saturday, August 10. Chalk and speed ruled the day, with the average $2 Win ticket returning $9.10. Flavien Prat led all jockeys with three wins. Irad Ortiz Jr. had two. Trainers Linda Rice and Michael each had two winners. Showers remain in the forecast for Sunday. First race post time is 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT. Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s Sunday Saratoga picks.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga for Sunday, August 4
Race 1 (1:10 p.m.ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2YOs going six furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #6 QUIETSIDE (5-1 morning line) in an attempt to add value to the chalkiest choice (#5 Next) of the day in Race 2. Trained by John Ortiz and ridden by Luis Saez, who is due to break out of a slump. String of works points to readiness.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 Daily Double of 6/5. ($10)
Race 2 (1:44 p.m. ET/10:44 a.m PT) — $150K BIRDSTONE STAKES, 4 YOs & up, 1 ¾-mile
My pick is overwhelming favorite #5 NEXT (1-9 morning line). Trained by Bill Cowans and ridden by Luan Machado, the 6YO gelded marathon specialist shoots for his fifth consecutive score. His average win margin is nearly 15 lengths. Superstar always goes far.
SARATOGA PICK: #5 to complete Daily Double.
Race 3 (2:18 p.m. ET/11:18 a.m. PT) — $60K CLAIMING, 4YOs & up going 1 ⅛-mile
I’ll take a shot on underdog #2 KAHALA (8-1 morning line) for KY-based trainer and TV analyst Tom Amos, who is having a good meet, winning three of 14 races. The gelded son of Broken Vow, stretching out. Rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione is a plus.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win.
Race 4 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $55 MILLION MAIDEN CLAIMING, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on turf
Strictly weather-related pick for Mr. Ed. If race is taken off turf, I like #14 TRUE CONNECTION (4-1 morning line) for low-key trainer Jim Ryerson. Excellent local rider Dylan Davis returns to saddle.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win (only if run on dirt). ($10)
Race 5 (3:27 p.m. ET/12:37 p.m. PT) — $70K STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING, fillies and mares, 3YOs & up, 5 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #6 IN OUR TIME (5-2 morning line) with Irad Ortiz Jr.; #9 TIFFANY GOLD (3-1) with Luis Saez, and #11 HURRICANE DEBBIE (3-1) for turf sprint specialist Wesley Ward, who hires legendary Frankie Dettori to ride. I’ll be tracking this hurricane.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta boxes 6,9,11. ($30)
Races 8-10 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT)
$1 Pick 3
R8: 5,7,8
R9: 2,8,9
R10: 1,5,8,9,10 ($45)
Race 8 (5:10 p.m. ET/2:10 p.m. PT) — $115K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING, 3YO & up going 6 furlongs
I like three for the money: #5 CAPE TRAFALGAR (4-1 morning line) for Saffie Joseph Jr. and Dylan Davis; #7 IMPLEMENTATION (3-1) also for Saffie Joseph with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, and #8 CHATTALOT (5-1) for Steve Asmussen and go-to rider Ricardo Santana Jr.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta boxes. ($30)
Race 9 (5:45 p.m. ET/2:45 p.m. PT) — G3 $200K ADIRONDACK STAKES, for 2YO fillies going 6 ½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #8 WHITE SANDS (3-1 morning line) for sprint specialist Wesley Ward with Frankie Dettori riding.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 Win & $5 Exacta boxes 8/2,9. ($20)
Race 10 (6:19 p.m. ET/3:19 p.m. PT) — $50K CLAIMING, 3YOs & up, 1 1/16-mile on turf
In the finale, I like #1 NOW AND LATER (7-2 morning line) for several reasons: drop in class; rider upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione; cutback in distance, innermost post position, and capable young Joe Sharp conditioner. Sooner the better.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 Win & Place. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $175
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