Thursday's Best Bet: Masqueparade in the Alydar
Thursday’s eighth race from Saratoga is the $135,000 Alydar Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Post time is 5:05 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Saratoga entries and results
No. 6 Masqueparade (3-1) developed rapidly last year. He went from maiden winner to Ohio Derby (G3) hero in three months, and he followed that up with a solid show finish in the Jim Dandy (G2). He went to the sidelines after a disappointing effort in the Travers (G1), and he returned with two solid performances in the optional claiming ranks at Churchill Downs. He projects a nice outside pressing trip under his new pilot Joel Rosario.
No. 1 Mystic Night (5-2) is probably going to save ground stalking the pace. He won both optional claiming dirt routes this year and has stuck twice at this distance. He is a solid contender for the productive Irad Ortiz Jr./Chad Brown team.
No. 5 Art Collector (7-5) makes his first start since finishing up the track in the Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 26. He wired the field in this event last year, and early-pressing types have been dominating local nine-panel races at the current stand. He is firing bullets for this and could easily go all the way as the favorite.
No. 2 Bal Harbour (8-1) returns to the Todd Pletcher barn and gets the services of Flavien Prat. He has not won in quite some time and has yet to taste victory at this course and distance, but he likes picking up minor awards. This is his first start in more than seven months, and he might spice up the exotics.
Get my expert Del Mar full card picks for Aug. 4 (available now).
Wagers:
No. 6 to win
Exacta Box 1-6
Trifecta 1-5-6/1-5-6/2
Recent best-bet winners
July 22 - Practice Squad ($12.60), exacta ($26.20), trifecta ($31.40)
July 23 - Dolce Zel ($8.60), trifecta ($96.00)
July 24 - Bellabel ($8.00)
July 25 - Heywoods Beach ($8.20), trifecta ($70.60)
July 26 - Nice Ace ($5.00)
July 28 - Fun to Dream ($4.20), trifecta ($35.60)