Wednesday wagers: Picks for 5 races at Saratoga, rain or shine
Another Wednesday, another chance of rain at Saratoga. Hopefully we’ll get this nine-race program in under fast and firm conditions, but I’m here to guide you through this card, rain or shine, with a five-pack of picks.
Best bet: Virgin Colada (race 8)
Best value bet: Check Cleared (race 5)
Race 2
No. 6 Reserve Currency (3-1) turned out to be a shrewd $25,000 claim by Mike Maker, as he beat $50,000 starter allowance foes with ease last time out. The 5-year-old American Freedom gelding takes another step up the class ladder but is the one to beat on recent speed figures. No. 2 Fromanothamutha (9-2) was a solid second vs. allowance foes last time out after beating $40,000 claimers two back. He gets a tepid nod over No. 4 Sun Thunder (2-1, morning-line favorite), who is fighting a much more pronounced case of seconditis with a 6: 0-4-2 record in 2024.
How I’d bet it, based on a $100 budget: $10 exacta 6/2,4
Race 5
No. 2 Check Cleared (6-1) looks like a promising prospect with fast works under his belt on both turf and dirt for George Weaver, who's winning at a 14 percent rate with firsters and names Flavien Prat to ride. No. 8 English Castle (5-2, morning-line favorite) beat No. 10 Koru (3-1) by just a neck when they met under similar circumstances on July 25. The latter’s trainer, Chad Brown, might win the Saratoga meet title, but the former is conditioned by Saffie Joseph Jr., who has chosen his spots quite well here to win 36 percent.
How I’d bet it: $3 exacta box 2/8/10, $2 win 2
Dirt picks: 2-1-10
Race 7
No. 5 Athena Beach (3-1, morning-line favorite) acted up at the gate en route to a second-place finish behind a next-out winner when last seen at this level. The tactically versatile daughter of Bank Heist can beat this group on her best behavior. No. 9 Sue Ellen Mishkin (6-1) projects as the speed of the race in her first start since March 30 with Jose Ortiz getting a leg-up. Come catch this 10-for-21 Linda Rice trainee. No. 8 Queens Masterpiece (8-1) has hit the board in four of her last five starts and drilled a bullet for this.
How I’d bet it: $8 exacta box 5/9, $2 exacta 5,9/8
Race 8
No. 2 Virgin Colada (2-1, morning-line favorite) closed from well back into a non-existent pace at first asking for Brown, who appears to have yet another thrilling female turf prospect on his hands. Being by More Than Ready out of a Carpe Diem mare, it wouldn’t be shocking if she won the P.G. Johnson on dirt under Prat. No. 1 She’s Our Tiz (10-1) and No. 5 Second Chance (20-1) are turf sprinters trying their luck on the stretchout. The former was a bit quicker on debut, but the latter has every right to improve in her second start for Bill Mott.
How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 2/1,5
Dirt picks: 2-1-5
Race 9
No. 10 Majulu (9-2) was narrowly beaten for a diploma in her second career start. She can conquer a couple of class droppers and some uninspiring old faces at this level at a decent price. No. 5 Better Be Smart (8-1) ran a race capable of winning at this level two back before flopping vs. tougher last time out. If you can forgive that effort, you’re getting generous odds on a bounce-back vs. claimers. No. 6 Laurana (3-1, morning-line favorite) also tries a new low while scaling back in distance. She's logical but could get overbet with Florent Geroux up for Christophe Clement.
How I’d bet it: $2 exacta box 5/6/10, $2 exacta key box 10/5,6
Dirt picks: 10-12-5
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.