Wednesday's Best Bet: Nostalgic shortens up at Saratoga

Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Wednesday’s eighth race at Saratoga is an optional-claiming event for fillies and mares traveling one mile on the main track. The scheduled post time is 5:10 p.m. EDT.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

No. 3 Nostalgic (9-2) has competed mostly in stakes races since her romping debut victory at Belmont in 2021. This is her first start since November 2022 and she goes back on lasix. The only other time she had lasix, she romped in her lone optional-claiming start at Gulfstream. She followed that big effort with a victory in the Gazelle. I always have liked this filly and expect her to fire a fresh shot at a hint of a price.   

No. 2 Gerrymander (3-1) might be the one to catch under her winning pilot Joel Rosario. I thought she ran well last time. She added lasix that day and set the pace and was clearly second best. That was her first non-stakes outing since graduating on Aug. 29, 2021.  

No. 4 Sixtythreecaliber (8-5) went 5-for-7 last year and won two stakes races, but she is winless in four outings this season. She hit the board in her last two stakes starts and projects a decent stalking trip. She will probably take too much win action.

Wagers

No. 3 to win

Exacta box 2-3

Trifecta 2-3/2-3-4/2-3-4

Recent Best Bet winners

July 3 – Surly Furious ($4.20)
July 5 – Nobody Listens/Latigo exacta ($26.20)
July 6 – Katie M’lady/Trail Ridge Road exacta ($7.60)
July 7  Coastal Charm ($6.80)
July 9 – Katonah ($4.60), exacta ($13), trifecta ($111.20)
July 11 – Bengala Joy/Lovely Ever After exacta ($16.40), trifecta ($38)
Sunday - 
Clovisconnection/Lloyd’s Logic/Jin Tong trifecta ($12.40)

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