Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Sunday, August 17, 2025 Meet Total ...update pending

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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.

2025 Best Bets Picks/Plays archive.

Yesterday

Update pending.

Today

FIRST RACE
Abundant Love...Improving.
Dimensionality...Also coming in with improving Beyers.
Pemaquid...Seems a likely contender.
Ready for Candy.
Dirt 8-3-1.

SECOND RACE
Daisy Duke...Off the last pair.
Moon Cache...Steps out of stakes company.
Kadena...Rice off the claim -- albeit from Chad.
Fortuna Mia.

THIRD RACE
Kairyu.
Cara's Time...Seems logical despite the ML price.
Sol Hope... Clunked and claimed but seems better than that.
Obstreperous.
Dirt: 8-7-4-2.

FOURTH RACE
Valentinian...Off the near-miss.
Frizzante... Seems closer in talent to top pick than ML indicates.
Trident Hill...On best effort.
New Magic.
Wise Up.

FIFTH RACE
Three Bs.
Plausible Denile/Zippy Mark...Zippy preferred but both can contend.
Typhoon Fury...Third start back off of nice improvement last time.
Trust Issue.

SIXTH RACE
Teleport... Sibling Juweller 4,1 to start career.
Woodster.
Guitarist...Can't ignore the connections.
Honey's to Blame.
Dirt: 8-4-3-7-6.

SEVENTH RACE
Problematica...Speed pop?
Irish Jackson.
Jackson's Dixie.
Spiritual KLady.

EIGHTH RACE - $150K Bolton Landing
Cy Fair...Big debut win.
Snow Face Princess...Took to the turf last time and interesting becuase there might be some value if you want to beat the short-priced fave.
Bramble Blast...Maiden in from Monmouth for Dini.
My Sweetheart.
Dirt: 4-3-8-2-5.

NINTH RACE
Annexperience...Improving Beyers.
Sounds Like a Plan...One of those that seems perhaps better than the record - but will have to overcome the post.
Real Savvy...Lightly-raced but showed talent. Might be dangerous with improvement off the layoff.
Just for Luck.
Dirt: 15-1-3-16.

TENTH RACE
Secured Lender...Drops. Cuts back.
Sports Hero...Interesting with turf-to-dirt move and the drop.
Volt...Wouldn't be shocking [I had to do it].
Cocktailsnkringle.

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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