Friday's Best Bet: Risky Mandate commands respect in Shine Again

Friday’s 9th race from Saratoga is the $85,000 Shine Again Stakes for fillies and mares dashing seven furlongs on the main track (Post Time 5:46 p.m. ET).

Click here for Saratoga Entries, Results

#2 RISKY MANDATE (9-2) fired in all four outings including a course/distance allowance victory last summer. She earned a decent number in a runner-up finish in her Churchill return June 28.

#5 Indian Pride (6-5) is a lightly raced filly with speed, and she owns solid numbers. Chad Brown’s filly cruised in her local debut last summer, and returned with a sharp allowance win at Belmont June 20.

#10 Please Flatter Me (8-1) has had success at this specialty distance. She fits with these and can spice up the exotics.

#9 Blamed (7-2) has been an all or nothing sort recently. She either wins easily or finishes up the track. Based on her recent zigzag pattern, she should run well today.

Wagers:

#2 to win

Exacta 2-5/2-5-10

Trifecta 2-5-9/ALL/10

July 2020 Best Bet Winners

July 4 - GUFO ($3.20), Trifecta ($34.30)
July 5 - NIGHT OPS ($4.90), Exacta ($18.40)
July 9 - Dos Vinos/Club Car Exacta ($14.80)
July 13 - MONACO PRINCESS ($5.00), Exacta ($16.40)
July 14 - Blue Buff/Deal Driven Exacta ($7.20), Trifecta ($10.00)

Playing the horses can be a rewarding but tough game. Exacta, trifectas, superfectas, Pick 4s, Pick 5s -- there are so many wagers to play, it can get overly confusing. How do you know how much to play or which wagers to try? Unfortunately, part of the learning process can include losing money. But we would like to help you shortcut that process by learning some of the most common mistakes that horseplayers make on a daily basis. Take a look at Horse Racing Nation’s newest eBook -- “Top 10 Mistakes Horseplayers Make” -- and see if it helps you avoid some common mistakes and win more playing the races!