Free Picks For Saratoga - 7/22/20

Race 3 - Lubash Stakes (Purse -$85,000)

There are five geldings slated to go one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf in this ultra-competitive stakes race. #6 Blewitt is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Commentator Stakes. The 6-year-old horse won his only race at this distance in his career and has won four of the 11 races. John Velazquez has won 17% of his turf stakes races and has finished in the top 3 in 42% of those for his career. #1 Cross Border is the classiest of the runners, participating in four graded stakes which included finishing third. The 6-year-old Rig has finished in the top 3 in nine of his last 12 races and earned a victory in his lone race at this distance. Cross Border has one second-place finish in the four stakes race. #5 Rapt has been running pretty consistently lately, recording three top 3 finishes in his last six outings. Plus, the 7-year-old gelding put up a brisk 35.74-second going three-furlongs.

Picks: I like the #6 to win. I also like a #6, #1, #5.

Race 8 - Allowance (Purse -$74,000)

Seven male horses are set to go one and one-eighth mile on the turf. #2 Wild Medagliad’oro has shown that he is adept at running on both the dirt and grass as the 4-year-old colt has cashed seven times in nine starts which includes all three of his outings on turf, including one win. The son of Madaglia D’oro is coming off a third-place finish in the $100,000 Soldier’s Dancer Stakes after leading half the race on June 6. Additionally, Wild Medagliad’oro has two victories in four starts at this distance. #5 Gaugguin has hit paydirt in 11 of 14 starts in his starts in the U.S., with all 11 of those being second or third-place finishes. The German horse moved up two spots down the stretch as a result of a solid close in his last outing which went this distance in an allowance race at Belmont on June 28. #3 Colonel Liam, who is running on the grass for the first time, and #6 La Hara, who is making his 2020 debut, are young horses to keep an eye on.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #2. I also like a show bet on the #5.

Race 9 - Allowance (Purse - $74,000)

Eight fillies and mares are expected to be at the starting gate for this one and one-eighth mile race on the dirt. #8 Singular Sensation will look for improvement in his second start following a long layoff after being no match for Makingcents and finishing second while holding off of #6 Princess Pinky in a mile allowance race at Belmont Park on June 25 -- her initial start in 2020. The daughter of Mineshaft has run well in her two starts at this distance and has finished in the money in half of her six career starts overall which includes one win. #7 Eloquent Speaker is stepping up in class and distance after breaking her maiden in her last outing in a special weight race and at seven furlongs. #3 Sharp Star and Princess Pinky deserve serious consideration to fill out your ticket.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #8. I also like an exacta box #8 #7.