Pete's Picks Saratoga 8/18 Plays

Little Pete
Aug 18, 2021
5 min read

We have some rain in the forecast at Saratoga today but that does not mean we can't cash some tickets! I am looking to take down a double (Races 2 & 3) and a spot pick 3 (Races 5-7). Big Pete is locked into a "Plays of the Day" and close out the card with the late pick 3 (Races 8-10). We are looking to get some momentum into the weekend and appreciate you taking a look at this write-up. GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $ 2.00 Early Double:

R2: 6

R3: 3, 4, 7, 9 Cost: $8.00

Little Pete's $ 3.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 7

R6: 7, 8

R7: 1, 5, 7, 8 Cost: $ 24.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 1, 2, 7

R9: 3, 5, 8, 9

R10: 1, 2, 3 Cost: $ 36.00

Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:

Race 2:

I am not going to overthink this one and try and beat Chad Brown in a claiming race; which his win percentage isn't fantastic. There is rain in the forecast and (6) Free Enterprise just looks to be too much of a monster in here. This horse will be able to navigate a quick trip towards the front and be the strongest late.

$7.00 WP 6 Cost: $14.00

Race 3:

(3) Lockstep is switching surfaces and Jose Ortiz is choosing to ride. I will trust this move and take this horse at a price; plus, the bullet workouts on dirt before the debut may be a strong sign of how this horse performs this time out.. FAST. (4) Morning Matcha has closed well in both appearances on off tracks and just can't leave this horse off the ticket. (7) Call Sign Charlie is putting some nice workouts in and showing plenty of speed for Manny. (9) Monshun also has some impressive workouts coming and and Rosario will be able to navigate a rail trip to save this horse for the close.

$3.00 WPS 3 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 3,9 w/ 3,4,7,9 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 4,7 w/ 3,4,7,9 Cost: $6.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 4:

(5) KUMAR is 2 for 2 on an off track and a decent 2nd at this 9F distance last year at the Spa. Rosario returns in search of the Re-Pete. They will likely target Blewitt and take over around the turn. Both (2) Dark Storm and (6) Heavy Roller usually come late but always seem to come up short. We'll use underneath.

$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost $ 21.00

$ 7.00 Exacta 5 w/ 2, 6 Cost $ 14.00

We’ll also use (5) Kumar in R4 and try to crash in on a DAILY DOUBLE play.

We’ll use (7) Lemieux in the 5th.

$ 10.00 Double 5 w/ 7 Cost $ 10.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 5:

(7) Lemieux figures to be short odds with the switch to dirt. This Nyquist should have no problem stretching out to this 8.5F distance. She faces three other first time starters so we'll single her to get it done today.

Race 6:

There are only two in here that I like. Brown has (7) Crowding Out who just missed on the turf in her debut. Breeding suggests she won't mind dirt and she figures to take a lot of money. Hard to leave off the ticket. The other one I'll use as a savor is (8) Miss Domina. She too seems better equip to handle dirt even though she ran well on the turf against weaker. This watered down group may not be a major jump in class for her to overcome and the return of Saez will only help.

$3.00 WPS 8 Cost: $ 9.00

$2.00 Ex 7, 8 w/ 1, 7, 8, 9 Cost: $12.00

Race 7:

My top pick in here is going to be a late closing (5) Chloe Rose who should be able to run down tiring horses. This horse should be a battle up front early with (1) Bayshore Foxes having the favorable post position. (7) Before You is coming in with a couple of impressive workouts after exiting a wire to wire win and is a good play in here as well. My last play will be (8) Targeted Return who is cutting back in distance and should have a lane to run late and I trust Gaffalione to close strong.

$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 5,7 w/ 1,5,7,8 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 1,8 w/ 1,5,7,8 Cost: $6.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

Off the turf to start are late Pick3 and we have to start with MTO (2) MUSICAL AMERICA. He’s not that scary on paper but he meets a bunch of turf runners. He does however, have some decent works leading up to this race so he’s a must use. Saez will likely make Musical America earn it with (1) TAOS. He has a win on dirt and has some speed. If he can settle on the lead, Luis is strong enough to carry him a long way. Diodoro is having a meet and he leaves (7) ATTENTIVE in. He looked awful with two dirt tries but his pedigree suggest that dirt shouldn’t be an issue.

$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 1, 2 w/ 1, 2, 7 Cost $ 12.00

Race 9:

We would switch to the Ward MTO entries if this comes off the grass late but on the turf, I like the Get Stormy filly (8) FULMINATE. She made it look easy but that was against an easier bunch. Her time was fast and the W was never in doubt. There’s room to improve and they attract Saez. Ward has a turf runner in as well (9) CHI TOWN LADY. She’s out of a Harlan’s Holiday mare so the switch to turf should be fine. She’ll likely stalk the other speeds inside her and come with a nice rally. The pedigree for the other Ward turfer, (5) POPPY FLOWER is strong as well. She looks to be figuring out this game as she broke her maiden easily last time.

$ 7.00 WPS 8 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 8, 9 w/ 3, 5, 8, 9 Cost $ 18.00

Race 10:

No surprises in the finale as the two favorites figure to be difficult for this group. (1) CLEAR HUMOR will be very short after his place finish going 7F. Now cuts back and figures to be in front the whole way. (3) MULTIPLE EXPANSION cuts back and drops for Brown. He clearly is looking to unload this guy so he may have him cranked for a good performance. Neuro returned to win out of his last race so this move to the MCL ranks should be a much easier group to tackle. I’ll include the Donk runner (2) D’VINICRIS. He ran a decent 4th when he tried sprinting on the dirt two back and showed some speed last time on the turf. Jose sticks around and I’m looking for him to gun this guy to the front and hope he can last.