Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: On day 31 of the 40-day Spa meet, French import #4 BEAUTE CACHEE went wire-to-wire, defeating a trio of rivals to capture the Ballston Spa Stakes. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Frankie Dettori, the 5YO mare returned $7.10 on a $2 Win ticket. The recent Chalk Fest continued as, for the second consecutive day, no $2 Win ticket returned more than $9.90. Jockeys Dylan Davis each had two winners, as did trainer Brown. Word from the backstretch: Next year’s meet will start on Belmont Stakes Days in early June and run through Labor Day. I’ll drink to that! More good news — the forecast is sunny through Sunday. Looking ahead to Travers Day (Saturday), Mr. Ed’s selections will be confined to Races 9-12 (The Travers at 6:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. PT), all Grade 1 stakes. Let’s take a look at Mr. Ed’s Friday Saratoga picks.
Mr. Ed’s Best Bets at Saratoga Mr. Ed for Friday, August 23
Race 1 (12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT) — $100K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YO fillies going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a pair: #1 ALYESKA (9-2 morning line), daughter of popular sire Vekoma, for trainer Norm Casse and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. And, #8 STUNNER (5-2) for highly regarded Brad Cox barn. Flavien Prat rides.
SARATOGA PICK: Leg 1 of $5 Daily Double. ($20)
Race 2 (1:07 p.m. ET/10:07 a.m. PT) — $70K STARTER ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 1 mile
Mr. Ed likes two: #5 PUNCH THE CLOCK (8-1 morning line) for trainer Joe Sharp with Tyler Gaffalione riding. And, #7 ENIGMATIC (7-2) for deep Linda Rice barn with go-to jockey Jose Lezcano in the saddle.
SARATOGA PICK: Leg 2 of Daily Double.
Race 3 (1:40 p.m. ET/10:40 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 1 ⅜-mile on turf
My pick is #1 BE LIKE CLINT (3-1 morning line) for trainer Fernando Abreu, who recruits top rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to return to irons. Stalker should sit perfectly behind early speed. Go ahead, make my day.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (2:13 p.m. ET/11:13 a.m. PT) — $120K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 4YOs & up going a mile
Mr. Ed likes #2 BIG BLUE LINE (9-2 morning line) for very good conditioner Bill Walden. Recent claim cuts back and gets a new rider, Flavien Prat. Works say he’s ready to beat others to the finish line.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win & box in $5 Exacta with 1,3,7. ($40)
Race 5 (2:46 p.m. ET/11:46 a.m. PT) — $150K SMART N FANCY STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up going 5 ½ furlongs on turf
My choice is #4 ROSES FOR DEBRA (6-5 morning line) for conditioner Christophe Clement, who retains top jockey Irad Oritz Jr. Classy mare has won 8 of 13 starts and returns after a short break.
SARATOGA PICK: $30 to Win. ($30)
Race 8 (4:29 p.m. ET/1:29 p.m. PT) — $60K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16 on turf
Mr. Ed likes #8 DISSOLVED (6-1 morning line) for strong (and somewhat surprising) KY-based Michael Maker barn. Son of top sire Quality Road, Tyler Gaffalione retains ride after disappointing effort at Churchill Downs in May, Colt is rested and ready to score.
SARATOGA PICK: $10 to Win & $5 Exacta boxes with 9&12. ($30)
Race 9 (5:04 p.m. ET/2:04 p.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes three: #4 BIG CITY (9-2 morning line) turns back to sprint for the Jose D’Angelo barn. Joel Rosario, who has ridden speedy guy before, returns; #5 CLASSIFY (6-1), trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.,, ships up from Gulfstream and is ridden by Flavien Prat, and #8 EDIFIED (5-1) for duo of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana.
SARATOGA PICK: $5 Exacta box. ($30)
Races 9-12 (5:43 p.m. ET/2:43 p.m. PT)
Mr. Ed likes multi-race wager
R9: 4,5,8
R10: 4,5
R11: 5,10
R12: 1,4,11
SARATOGA PICK: $.50 Pick 4. ($18)
Race 10 (5:43 p.m. ET/2:43 p.m. PT) — G1 $500K PERSONAL ENSIGN STAKES for fillies and mares 4YOs & up going 1 ⅛-mile
Mr. Ed’s pick is #4 IDIOMATIC (6-5 morning line) for tip-top trainer Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux. Mare has won 11 of her 15 starts vs. mostly Grade 1 company. In doing so she has banked more than $3.4 million. The race will take 100 speed figure or better to defeat main rival #5 RANDOMIZED (8-5). She will do it.
SARATOGA BEST BET OF THE DAY: $40 to Win. ($40)
TOTAL WAGERS: $218
SATURDAY STAKES MENU
R9 G1 $750K Sword Dancer
3YOS & up 1 ½-mile
R10 G1 $500K Ballerina
fillies and mares
3YOs & up, 7 furlongs
R11 G1 $500K Forego
4YO & up, 7 furlongs
R12 G1 $500K H. Allen Jerkens
3YOs, 7 furlongs
R13 G1 $1.25 millions
3YOs, 1 ¼-mile
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