Pete's Picks Saratoga 8/28 Plays - Traver's Day!!
- Little Pete
- Aug 28, 2021
- 8 min read
Traver's Day at Saratoga and we have a loaded (13) race card; which includes 7 STAKE RACES!! We are going to look to cover as much as the action as we can today on this fantastic day of racing. To start, I will be focusing in on the early double at the early post time of 11:35 am, so make sure to get the plays in early. I also will have some "Bankroll Boosting" plays earlier in the card to try and build some money to play on the BIG BOY races later in the card. I also will be attacking a pick 3 that starts the pick 6 sequence (Races 8-10). Big Pete will have some of his "Plays of the Day" sprinkled in and attack the late pick 3 in here (Races 11-13). Big Pete will have the Traver's race covered with some of his opinions. We appreciate you taking the time to read this write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $ 2.00 Early Double:
R1: 1, 3, 7, 10
R2: 1, 3, 5, 7
Cost: $32.00
Little Pete's $0.50 Early Pick 5:
R1: 1, 3, 7, 10
R2: 1, 3, 5, 7
R3: 2, 3, 8
R4: 3, 6
R5: 4, 6, 9
Cost: $144.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R8: 1, 4, 7
R9: 2, 5, 6
R10: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
Cost: $45.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R11: 1, 2, 7
R12: 2, 4, 5
R13: 1, 2, 6, 10
Cost: $36.00
Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:
Race 1:
(10) Sweeping Giant is my top pick in here coming in after a good perfromance last time out and should be able to improve from that effort. Joel has some speed to his inside and will be able to navigate a ground saving trip until it comes to the stretch drive. I think this horse will kick into a second gear and run fast down the stretch. (1) Royal Spirit has the inside post position and I think Irad will be a bit aggressive from the gate. This horse has been training long and getting positioned well early really makes me a big fan of this horse. (3) Electability is a Chad Brown horse who is going to be extremely strong late, as all Brown horse's are, and will have a say late. (7) Doctor Davis switches to Jose Ortiz in here and I think a second time out with a firmer surface makes a big difference. Jose will be able to find a position behind the pace and I trust him to find the lane to run down the field late.
$3.00 Ex 1,10 w/ 1,3,7,10 Cost: $18.00
$2.00 Ex 3,7 w/ 1,3,7,10 Cost: $12.00
Race 2:
(1) Back to Normal is my top pick in here and I think will make a big impression this time out. I love the rail position and this horse is training well coming into this one. I think Tyler is a bit aggressive from the break and finds the position to save the most ground and that pays off late against this inexperienced bunch. (3) Be Better is an Uncle Mo firster from the Pletcher barn that cannot be left off the ticket. Pletcher has a bunch of two year olds that are very impressive and this horse looks to be nothing different. (5) Jack Christopher is an inclusion in here that I just can't leave off. This horse is training lights out and may be good enough to wire the field first time out. (7) Steinback is the other Pletcher who gets the outside post and if the race breaks down late, then I like Luis Saez to bring this horse home strong.
$3.00 WPS 1 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 1,3 w/ 1,3,5,7 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 5,7 w/ 1,3,5,7 Cost: $6.00
Little Pete's "Bankroll Boosters":
Race 3:
(8) Love and Thunder is going to be a tough beat in here and is a must play. I think Jose will allow this horse to find the rail early and wait for the opportunity to close. This horse has shown that she does love to place, but I think this horse is primed for a win in here. (3) Golden Plum is facing winner's for the first time and I am playing for the Flavien Plat grass bump. This horse is a good looking horse on paper and coming in strong. I just can't leave Plat off a ticket when he is on grass; he has a strong closing ability. (2) Vividly is my last play in here in case there is an early battle on the lead. This horse loves closing strongly and I trust Rosario to find the trip that gives this horse the best chance at winning this one.
$3.00 Ex Box 2,3,8 Cost: $18.00
Race 4:
I thought about singling (3) Viadera in here who looks much the best, but I like the other Chad Brown horse to the outside in (6) Kalifornia Queen. I think there is plenty of pace in here to set both of these horses for a competitive stretch drive. I am going to go two deep in here and leave the other Chad Brown horse, (2) Tamahere, off the ticket even though this horse has the ability to take this one as well.
$10.00 Ex Box 3,6 Cost: $20.00
Race 5:
(4) Whittington Park looks to be the horse to beat in here after the impressive debut. I will include, but cover with two others I like in here. (6) Brady's Legacy is a firster from the Jeremiah Englehart barn who looks to be a must play in here. The Englehart barn had a big win yesterday and looks to keep that momentum rolling picking up Jose Ortiz in this one. (9) BoinTheBack from the outside has some experience and ascending at the moment. The workout coming in here and with a better trip from Cancel I think this horse is a big time threat late.
$3.00 WPS 6 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex Box 4,6,9 Cost: $18.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 6:
(6) CHARMED didn’t get away that well in his last and it cost him. I think Santana guns him to the lead today or close to it. With a lack of speed entered, he figures to get a breather and kick clear mid stretch to hold off the closers. coming out party.
We’ll use him on top with (10) Christopher and (11) Big Package underneath.
$ 10.00 Exacta 6 w/ 10, 11 Cost $ 20.00
We’ll also use Charmed in R6 and try to crash in on a DAILY DOUBLE play.
Both (1) Gamine and (2) Lake Avenue look solid in the 7th
$ 7.00 Double 11 w/ 6, 8 Cost $ 14.00
Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:
Race 8:
(1) Mischevious Alex gets the inside post and won't be as far back this time out. Irad is going to be instructed to get into the action and I expect a big performance from this proven winner. (4) Mind Control is a horse I really like in here ascending at the moment and will be on the lead or pressuring the leader. I trust Johnny V to find the rail and bully foes late. (7) Yaupon gets the speed rider Santana, Jr. and I expect this horse to be involved throughout. I like the thought of this horse getting loose late and running a strong stretch drive with a head start against the closers.
$3.00 Ex Box 1,4,7 Cost: $18.00
Race 9:
(6) Life is Good is my top pick with Money Mike Smith aboard. This horse looks extremely impressive and a must play on all tickets. (2) Jackie's Warrior will be the other favorite that is a must play as these two on paper look too tough to beat. The horse I like to benefit the most from a battle of the favorites is (5) Judge N Jury who is finding his footing and should be able to eat up ground late with Saez aboard in here.
$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex Box 2,5,6 Cost: $18.00
Race 10:
This is going to be an extremely entertaining race with a ton of horses that I can make the case for; which is why I am spreading. (2) As Time Goes By is getting shipped in from the West coast and gets the preferable post position and will show speed throughout from the Baffert barn. (4) Swiss Skydiver is one of my favorite horses and Jose Ortiz is going to put this horse up on the lead and see if he can wire a field with an impressive horse. (5) Royal Flag is coming in after a win and loves to close late. If there is a battle up front, then I trust this horse to be really strong late. (6) Letruska is a must play in here and will also be in the front throughout. This horse is consistently impressive and just may be too good for the field. (9) Graceful Princess is my last play from the outside who is going to benefit from the outside position to find the lane late to run down tiring horses. I think the Johnny V/Pletcher connection is a must play in big time races.
$2.00 Ex 4,9 w/ 2,4,5,6,9 Cost: $16.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 11:
I can’t get past the three favorites in this G1 Sword Dancer. (1) TRIBHUVAN will likely have the front all to himself. He’ll gun to the lead right out of the gate and set his own pace. The extra furlong is the only concern so we’ll land on (2) GUFO to wear him down. Rosario might need to keep him close in this short field to give him a chance to reel them in. The NY Bred (7) CROSS BOARDER is consistent and likes it up here at the Sap. Back to back runs with Saez in the saddle have been his best this year as he appears to be in career form at 7yrs old.
$ 7.00 WPS 2 Cost $ 21.00
$ 5.00 Ex 1, 2 w/ 1, 2, 7 Cost $ 20.00
Race 12:
A field of 7 for the 2021 Travers and all eyes will be on (2) ESSENTIAL QUALITY. He was wide and against the track (inside is where you wanted to be), but still managed to show his class and grind out the Jim Dandy. A cozy draw inside will allow Saez to save some ground and go when he wants to. A must use in the Pk3. I am looking for an upset today. (5) MILES D went two turns for the first time in the Curlin and ran big. The extra furlong probably will only help this Curlin/Bernardini. Prat take over and this guy will get overlooked at the windows. There will be enough pace for this guy to set him up and I’m guessing they’ll try to get a jump on Essential and hold him off. (4) DYNAMIC ONE got the ultimate perfect trip to run down Miles D last time. I think he can climb into the exacta with a similar trip.
$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost $ 21.00
$ 5.00 Ex 2, 5 w/ 2, 4, 5 Cost $ 20.00
Race 13:
Even though the elite jockeys are entered here, they are most likely thinking about dinner plans and evening parties after the Travers. A perfect opportunity for the young jocks to get their first Saratoga win. That jock is Castro on (6) CONSTITUTIONALRAGE. He will clearly get overlooked at the windows but this filly has a shot. If one of the big boys were named on her, she would be one of the favorites. She ran well when she faced this level back in June and finally gets back on the grass. (10) HOME FOR CHRISTMAS will be the danger. She too moves back to the turf after a solid 3rd in the slop at this level. (1) DANCING FIREFLY is your favorite, the speed and the one to beat. (2) GRACE IN MOTION is an interesting long shot. She wasn’t far from EscapewithFriends who ran well yesterday and Grace gets L1 and more distance for this.
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