Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Meet Total ...update pending 24-71

Stop by the equidaily.com HOME PAGE for all the day's racing headlines from across the country and around the globe. Bookmark it and stop by regularly!

Don't forget to check out the Challenge page where we started the month with a mythical $2000 bankroll and attempt to increase that amount as the Saratoga season continues.

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
St John's...Comes out of a flat race at Laurel. Prior jump race was good. Goes for top jump trainer.
Memento...Solid seasonal debut win.
Hidden Path...Also coming out of a flat race - with prior good jump races.
Brie's Mission.

SECOND RACE
Army Gal...Might rebound on the cutback.
Stone Smuggler...Stakes winner might be the lcass here - but has to overcome layoff.
Embraceable Gal...Typically in the hunt.
True Empress.

THIRD RACE
Chocolatechocolate...Might benefit from half-furlong cut back.
Laughing Lady...MSW to mdn clm.
Sunset Sizzle...Seems a player -- BUT why the drop in only the second start after an OK debut. AND they paid $225K - but drop to $20K today. Hmm.
Stirred Up.

FOURTH RACE
Corruption...Steps out of stakes company.
Hush of a Storm...Also faced stake company last time -- albeit NY-breds.
Master Piece...Third start back and Irad hops onboard.
Bourbon Day.
Dirt: 3-1-4-5.

FIFTH RACE
Noguchi...Win-ealry connections and breeding --- but, have to note the drop in for a tag is a concern.
Fiddling Felix...Dropped in for a tag last time and ran best yet -- but that was for a lower tag.
V Cruizer...A little bit of win-early breeding and a bullet work.
Discotheque.
Career Risk.

SIXTH RACE
Snow Face Princess...Beaten fave in debut - on dirt. Irad on board. Sib Strutsherstuff won debut on turf and then won follow-up.
Santina...Trainer good with turf sprinting 2YOs.
Keto Drink...AE. Thitrd to a good-looking winner in debut. Contends if gets in.
Mackinac.
Blanchett.

SEVENTH RACE
War Officer...In the exacta more often than not.
Brigade Commander...In good form.
The Paddock Pastor...Benefits from return to turf.
Dillinger.
Dirt: 11-10-8-1.

EIGHTH RACE - $150K Johnstone
Sterling Silver...Defending champ in this race -- but was run at 1M last year.
My Mane Squeeze...Back in agaisnt NY-breds after long stretch running well in open stakes.
Dolomite... Into stakes company off a three-race win-streak.
Cupid's Heart.

NINTH RACE
Good Mission...Seemed to appreciate the return to turf.
Kyla's Kause...Another on the day that looks logical -- but has to overcome question of the drop off first two pretty good tries against better.
Gattatiz...Seems likely better than latest.
Froghollowsummer.
Dirt: 8-2-1a-4.

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

Note: Pages on this site are labelled with the equidaily.com logo. Some links are for information only and lead to pages at other sites. equidaily.com is responsible only for the pages on this site. equidaily.com assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always check with official sources to verify info.

E-mail any questions, comments, or suggestions: