Wednesday's Best Bet: Arrest Me Red takes no prisoners in Mahony
Wednesday’s 9th race from Saratoga is the $120,000 Mahony Stakes for three-year-olds dashing five and one-half furlongs on the turf course (Post Time 5:39 p.m. ET).
#8 ARREST ME RED (9-2) moves to the Wesley Ward barn and returns to a preferred turf sprint. He stalked the pace and smartly scored in both turf sprint attempts including a stakes victory at Aqueduct last fall. His new trainer excels with long layoff runners and John Velazquez wins races with this outfit.
#7 Momos (7-2) might be the main speed for Christophe Clement. He set the pace in a couple of turf sprint stakes including a neck defeat in the My Frenchman at Monmouth Park July 11. Both of his wins were front running scores in dirt sprints.
#3 Sky’s Not Falling (9-2) exits a runner-up finish in a restricted turf sprint stakes at Colonial Downs, and he did not have the smoothest trip from the outside post that day. The consistent gelding figures to stalk the pace and is not out of this.
#4 Jaxon Traveler (5-2) is always in the mix over any footing for Steve Asmussen.The early-pressing type should make his presence felt throughout and will probably finish somewhere in the top three again.
#1 Into the Sunrise (7-2) wired the field in his last two turf sprints including a minor stakes tally at this distance at Ellis Park July 4. His new rider Irad Ortiz Jr. is probably on a send mission from the hedge.
#2 Fauci (15-1) placed in a trio of turf sprint stakes last year and won an entry level turf sprint at Monmouth Park June 20. He will probably appreciate a contested pace and firm footing.
#6 Awesome Gerry (15-1) captured his first two career starts in dirt sprints last year and has dropped eight straight vs. mostly stakes foes since. His turf pedigree is nothing special and he meets a solid cast.
#9 Rebel Posse (15-1) won a couple of turf sprints in Texas and shipped to Saratoga and finished well behind Jaxon Traveler in the Quick Call (G3) July 15. James Bond is his new trainer and he needs to show more.
#5 Fire Sword (5-2) is entered for main track only.
Wagers:
#8 to Win
Exacta Box 7-8
Trifecta 7-8/3-4-7-8/1-2-3-4-7-8
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)
Aug. 10 - LEAKY CAULDRON ($6.00), Exacta ($15.20)