Free Picks For Saratoga - 8/22/20
Race - Maiden Special Weight (Purse - $72,000)
Seven 2-year-olds, including one filly (Takeaway), will go five and one-half furlongs on the turf. Five of the runners are first-time starters. I believe that this race is ripe for a freshman runner but I’ going with #7 My Sea Cottage as the Irish colt is bound to improve after showing a little ability before tiring and finishing last in a six pony field in his debut. Irish horses are known for being turf savants and he is under the direction of trainer Mark Casse, who has a 16% strike rate as well as 45% WPS percentage. While I like #1 Foliage,an offspring of Speightstown, better overall but I will give #3 After Five the edge here. After Five is not on the rail in his debut and the Maryland colt has been training on the dirt as well as the grass recently and has done a good job training. Trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Irad Ortiz has won 35% of their races together #2 Explain showed plenty of ability in his debut on the grass, at the beginning of the month, as he set the pace and led most of the way before tiring down the stretch and finishing seventh in a one and one-sixteenth mile race. Explain, a Mike Maker horse, is making his second appearance at Saratoga and gets a second try at the current distance -- finishing fifth in his initial start.
Picks: I like a winning bet on the #7. I also like a show bet on #3 and #2.
Race 3 - Allowance (Purse -$74,000)
Six fantastic male horses are slated to go five and one-half furlongs on the turf. #1 Fast Getaway is making his third start following the layoff and he has run well throughout his career, reaching the podium in 10 of 12 races on the grass which includes a strike rate of 25%. The 5-year-old gelded son of Into Mischief set the pace in his last race, which was at this level and distance, but ended up being out-finished at the wire and ended up third. Fast Getaway runs well at the distance and has gotten a “share of the money” in three of four career allowance races.#7 American Mandate has run very well over the last seven meets, all allowance races, recording five top 3 finishes in eight starts. The 4-year-old colt also has fared well at this distance earning his only victory and posted his career-high ESpeed (101) at five and one-half furlongs three starts back. #6 Cryogenic is running the best of his career and is coming off a strong second-place finish at this level and distance, besting both Fast Getaway and American Mandate, in his last outing.
Picks: I like a winning bet on the #1. I also like an exacta box of #1, #7. #6.
Race 5- Maiden Special Weight (Purse - $72,000)
10 2-year-old colts, with four first-timers, will go one and one-sixteenth miles on the grass. #6 Nautilus looks to continue to run well in his second appearance on the turf and at Saratoga after moving up from Churchills Downs. The son of Cairo Prince is coming off a strong second-place finish going this distance and at this level, even leading late in the meet, in his inaugural race on the turf and in New York on July 18. Trainer Brad Cox has fantastic success with 2-year-old runners, posting a career win rate of 25% and a 57% WPS percentage. #2 Lease is in prime position to improve his debut where he made no impact after stumbling out of the gate at this level and distance at the beginning of the month. However, Lease had a strong four-furlong workout on August 13 for trainer William Mott. .#3 Sifting Sands and #4 Whatmakessammyrun appeal to be the most interesting of the freshman runners.
Picks: I like a win be on the #1.