Ed's Saratoga picks:
MR. ED'S TRACK: The highlight of Friday's 12 races was Race 11, the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes, a “match race” between Idiomatic and Randomized. It didn't work out that way, with the two stars wearing each other out. Chad Brown and Flavien Pratt's Raging Sea came from behind to win at the finish line for a payout of $14.40. Other notables included Brown's three wins and Pratt, Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione's two wins each. The average payout for a $2 ticket was $11.52. So, here's Mr. Ed's predictions for Saturday at Saratoga:
Best Day at the Spa: Traverse Day is the day every avid horse racing fan has been waiting for since the Belmont Stakes was held in early June. In addition to the 13th race, the G1 Traverse with a total purse of $1.25 million, four more G1 stakes (races 9-12) will be the backdrop for a special “Midsummer Derby” featuring some of the best 3-year-olds in racing, including the extremely fast filly Soaped Anna. Gates to the track open at 7 a.m. ET with the first race post at 11:20 a.m.
Best bets for Saratoga Mister Ed on Saturday, August 24
Race 9 (3:44 p.m. ET/12:44 p.m. PT) — G1 $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes for 4-year-olds and up, 1.5 miles on turf
For Ed, it seems to be a two-horse race. I'm favoring two British-bred four-year-olds owned by the excellent overseas jockey Charlie Appleby. First, MEASURED TIME (7-5 in the morning line), who is in second place, has won eight of his last ten races, including the G1 Manhattan Stakes in June with jockey William Buick. Appleby knows how to prepare his horses after a rest, and this colt is no exception. Next, the front-runner, SILVER KNOTT (1-1), who is in fourth place, has won his last three races while recording impressive speed figures of 106 and 103 in succession. Both have won prize money of over $1 million. For Ed, this seems like a very favorable bet.
Saratoga Pick: 2.4-pack Exacta box for $10 ($20)
Race 10 (4:20 p.m. ET/1:20 p.m. PT) — G1 $500,000 Ballerina Handicap over seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies and broodmares.
A very competitive sprint with the best female jockey in training. This horse has had four great runs against tough opposition and Ed likes #5 SCYLLA (7-2 morning line) trained by HOF trainer Bill Mott. No trainer gets the most out of a horse's payoff like Mott does. He took this horse to Del Mar earlier this month and won a respectable finish. HOF regular jockey Javier Castellano will ride him again. In addition to betting on this horse to win, I'm also betting on the other two fast ladies, #3 VAHVA (1-1) and #4 SOCIETY (4-1).
Saratoga Picks: $10 for 5 consecutive wins, $5 for an Exacta box of 3, 4, or 5 consecutive wins ($40).
Race 11 (4:55 p.m. ET/1:55 p.m. PT) — G1 $500,000 Four Stakes, 7 furlongs for 4-year-olds and up
Ed likes outsider No. 8 Cagliostro (9-2 morning line) from Kentucky trainer Shelley DeVoe, who has had a great run at Spa. There may be faster horses out there, but the upstart 4-year-old has won two of his last three at Churchill Downs and is tenacious in the straight. With the sharp Jose Ortiz once again in the saddle, Pratt will head elsewhere. I love the cut back to the sprint. Once a few of the other speedballs have worn each other down, Cagliostro will come through before the finish line.
Saratoga Pick: $10 if you win at number 8, $20 if you finish at number 8. ($30)
Race 12 (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PST) — $500,000 G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds over 7 furlongs
Before I introduce my horse of choice, a little story. Many years ago while researching an article for Horseplayer magazine, I had the opportunity to visit “The Chief,” the horse for whom this race is named, on the backstretch. Before the interview, another trainer told me to make sure I brought along a 16 ounce beer “like an offering” to racing royalty. So I did. He drank it. That's the end of my story. Today's Jerkens bet is on super trainer Chad Brown's #3 domestic horse (morning line 9-2), who gets better every time he races. With Flavien Prat on board, this colt will step up to Grade 1 racing again. Mr. Ed is invested in this horse. And cheers to The Chief!
Saratoga Pick: A triple win streak of 3, 5 and 8 plus a $5 Exacta Box, plus a $10 Daily Double on a triple win streak and a double win streak. ($60)
Race 13 (6:10 p.m. ET/3:10 p.m. PT) — G1 $1.25 million Travers Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1 ¼ miles
After at least an hour of handicapping, head scratching and some bourbon, this very competitive race came down to class. At least five horses are classy enough to win, but my pick is very consistent No. 2 Sierra Leone (7-2 morning line), with excellent trainer Chad Brown and top jockey Flavien Prat, to take the star-studded Jerkens Traverse Daily Double.
Best bet at Saratoga: 2 wins for $50. ($50)
Total bet: $200
For well-funded, all-stakes, multi-race bettors only:
Race 10-13 $1 Pick 4
R10: 3,4,5
R11: 6,7,8
R12: 3,5,8
R13: 2, 7, 8 ($81)
