Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Friday, July 26, 2024 Meet Total ... 20-113

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Turf picks are turf only - unless otherwise indicated.

2024 Best Bets Picks/Plays archive.

Yesterday

3-10. Winners in R5 [2.90], R6 [9.20] and R8 [3.70]. R1 ... BCA x 45.40 t 145.00; R4 ... BCAD x 33.60 t 67.50 s 146.40; R8 ... ABx 3.70 x 14.40; R9 ... Cd-De-Ab x 95.50 t 447.50.

Today

FIRST RACE
Bourbon Calling...Drops third off claim after putting $$$ in the bank past two.
Mason Mania...Should class-up nicely here.
Valenzan Day...Can't fault the latest efforts.
Khafre.

SECOND RACE
Generous Luva...Eh. Irad onboard. Class move. Equipment changes. Maybe.
Inflammable...Sire is win-early. Some sibs the same. Tries grass.
Galatrona...A couple of the turf tries would contend here.
Play Free Bird.
Dirt: 7-16-8-14.

THIRD RACE - G2 $200K Amsterdam
Valentine Candy...Seemed to maybe step forward two back with the stakes win at Oaklawn. Then disappointed here. I'll look for a rebound.
Jefferson Street...Will take lots of action off the triple-digit Beyer win -- but can he repeat that? If not, he's just one of the group here.
Donegal Momentum...Stakes debut but capable.
World Record.

FOURTH RACE
Chi Town Lady...Coming out of a couple salty CD stakes (both won by the talented Vavha).
Occult...Third start back and might be primed for Chad/Irad.
Stonewall Star...NY-bred probably needs to step it up vs top two - but wouldn't be a total shock.
Tough Street.

FIFTH RACE
Judge Rules...Another on the card that has just enough to tilt towards in a modest field.
Royal Browne...Class dip. Turf try. Stretches in third start after two sprints - often an interesting move.
Fluorescent BayRecent Beyers compare here.
Tony O.
Dirt: same.

SIXTH RACE
Miss Welch...Worked 10.1 before sale. Sire good with firsters. Lone sib -- Downtown Mischief -- won first three starts and four of first five, including two stakes.
Selectively Sweet...She was our Dark Horse Play of the Day on OTB TV on Opening Day. Showed some punch and ran fourth of nine at 42-1. Might benefit from the epxerience.
Accelerating...Worked 10.0 before auction - and then attracted $325K.
Off Script.

SEVENTH RACE
Vesting...Stretched out successfully last time with a start under the belt.
Be Like Clint...Should be in the hunt.
Better Bet...Early stumble last time might explain dud effort.
Anthem King.
11-8-9-10.

EIGHTH RACE
Surveillance...Mostly dirt but has won on turf. Owner likes to win at the Spa -- and picked up a couple W's on Wednesday -- so the class move might be well-meant.
Run Curitis Run...Beaten fave with some trouble last time - altho it didn't seem enough to really hinder the effirt.
Runningwscissors...Still running well at age 8.
Mid Day Image.
Fauci.
Dirt: 6-10-12-13.

NINTH RACE
Scotland...A little bit disappointing after flashing early promise but might be rounding back to the better form.
Castle Chaos...Stepping out of stakes company.
General Jim...Another that flasked talent early on. Beyer last time was an improvement over the three previous tries.
Sheriff Bianco...Races on the PPs page are all good - except for the last couple. Hmm.
Accretive.

TENTH RACE
Mission Hill...Third start back. Primed.
Wind Dancer...His two starts fit with this bunch.
Hard Par...Off the latest.
Sebastianthe First.
Dirt: 5-1a-11-3.

If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

Archives of daily Best Bets picks and plays pages: 2013 ... 2012 ... 2011 ... 2010... 2009 ...2008 ... 2007 ... 2006 ... 2005 ... 2004 ... 2003

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