Sunday's Best Bet: Mainstay on solid ground in Adirondack
Sunday’s 8th race from Saratoga is the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes for two-year-old fillies dashing six and one-half furlongs on the main track (Post Time 5:05 p.m. ET).
#8 MAINSTAY (3-1) was excellent in her facile front running debut as the favorite in the slop at Monmouth Park June 4. She was the favorite again in the local Schuylerville (G3) July 15, but she did not have an alert beginning from an inner post and could not catch rail speed Pretty Birdie in a clear runner-up finish. She drew a comfortable outer post in this spot and might make amends under her new rider Joel Rosario.
#7 Wicked Halo (7-2) went all the way from the rail in her Lone Star debut in the mud, and clear runner-up finisher Smash Ticket was a sharp next-out maiden winner at Del Mar and most recently finished a troubled 3rd in the Sorrento (G2). Steve Asmussen’s filly drew the rail again in the Debutante Stakes under the Twin Spires, and she carved out above par splits and was miles clear of the rest in a show finish as the chalk. This post should work better for her and the daughter of Gun Runner should make her presence felt throughout.
#2 Ontheonesandtwos (5-2) chased outside and scored in her five panel debut at Churchill Downs May 13, and the show finisher was a next-out winner. She stretched out a furlong and stalked from an outer post in a runner-up finish as the favorite in the Debutante at that same venue June 26. She will need to work out an inner trip behind the speed under her new rider Irad Ortiz Jr.
#9 Microbiome (5-1) was a sharp front running winner in her local debut July 15. She drew outside the other speed.
#4 Shesawildjoker (10-1) stalked the pace from the intimidating inside post and prevailed by a neck in her Belmont Park debut June 18, and runner-up November Rein returned to easily graduate at Saratoga July 16. The New York-bred filly lands in a tough spot but has some talent.
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta 8/2-7
Exacta 2-7/8
Trifecta 7-8/2-7-8/2-4-7-8-9
Recent Best Bet Winners
Aug. 2 - Cavalier Cupid/Rambert Exacta ($7.00), Trifecta ($22.60)
Aug. 4 - Pearl Tiara/Diamond Solitaire Exacta ($11.60)
Aug. 6 - ART COLLECTOR ($5.60), Exacta ($21.60)
Aug. 7 - Pappacap/Finneus Exacta ($27.80), Trifecta ($76.60)