Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Saturday, August 3, 2024 Meet Total ... 34-173

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Merrow's picks can also be found on most Saratoga racing says at the Capital OTB Handicappers' Report. Also throughout the Saratoga meet in the hard copy of the Albany Times-Union.

Turf picks are turf only - unless otherwise indicated.

2024 Best Bets Picks/Plays archive.

Yesterday

3-10 . more to follow

Today

FIRST RACE
Assertiveness...Sibling Otello won first two - including a stake.
Ashbury Park...Win-early team and breeding.
Clock Tower...Also win-early breeding and should benefit from the debut.
Reach for the Rose.

SECOND RACE
Probability...Only two sibling both won in their third start.
The Toner...Experience counts.
Corvus...Also has some experience to build on.
Friend Ofthe Devil.

THIRD RACE
Batucada...Rebound to starts 2 and 3 back will be good enough.
Deck of Cards...On a roll.
Movie Moxy...Expect better than latest.
Cinderella's Cause.

FOURTH RACE
Bossy Jeans...Seems to have returned improved.
Midnight Concerto...Beyer improved on the turf and closed nicely -- but from way back, so might have work to do late.
Elliptic...Interesting on return to turf.
Silent Melody.
Red Burgundy/Gram.
Dirt: 7-12-3-11.

FIFTH RACE
Uncaged....Pletcher trainee with Irad onboard has a little bit of win-early breeding.
Classicist...Sib Jouster won three of first six.
Sea Vista...Plenty of win-early sibs.
CK Wonder.

SIXTH RACE
Antietam...Four sibs have gotten first win in start 1, 2 or 3.
Contrabandist...Also win-early siblings.
Praetor...Expensive buy for potent trainer.
Math Tutor.

SEVENTH RACE - G1 $600K Saratoga Derby Invy
White Palomino...Broke maiden three back and has just missed in two stakes since.
Royal Majesty...Improving Beyers.
~~Cugino~~.
Deterministic.
Dirt: same.

EIGHTH RACE - G1 $500K Test
Ways and Means...Last had the look of a confidence builder -- mission accomplished.
Denim and Pearls...Dangerous.
Emery...Hard to fault the record so far.
My Mane Squeeze.

NINTH RACE - $135K Lure
Smokin T...A couple of the others in here projected to mayne have some early speed that will perhaps help this one to close similarly to the win three back.
Big Everest...If speed doesn't duel perhaps this one sneaks away.
Forever Souper...Off the latest.
More Than Looks.
Dirt 10-3-6-7.

TENTH RACE - G2 $300K Troy
Cogburn...Yikes!
Big Invasion...Runs well here -- although lone Spa dud was behind the top pick.
Grooms All Bizness...Solid this season.
Witty.
Dirt 6-12-11-10.

ELEVENTH RACE - G1 $1mil Whitney

National Treasure...Not invincible but returns from SoCal after winning here in early June.
Disarm...ML price: 15-1. Sign me up! Third start back and might be primed to hit a solid Beyer here.
Bright Future...Seasonal debut was a good-looking effort.
First Mission.

TWELFTH RACE
Striker Has Dial...Slight cutback might help.
St Benedicts Prep...4YO faces mostly 3YOs. Likely to contend.
Audacious...Won debut.
Miss Enchanted.

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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