Saratoga 7/17 Pick 3 Plays

Little Pete
Jul 17, 2020
5 min read

After an exciting opening day we are heading in to the weekend with some stacked cards and money to be made. As everyone can attest to, it was very strange to have an empty paddock and grand stand. BUT, the only thing we can do is enjoy the sport for exactly what it is; the greatest two minutes or less in sports. We are going to stick with our pick 3 plays for today. I will be focusing in on races 5-7, and Big Pete will close the card with races 8-10. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter by submitting your email to receive notification of new blog posts and a weekly blog sent directly to your email. GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10

R6: 2, 3, 7, 8

R7: 1, 2, 3

Cost: $60.00

Big Pete's $1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 2, 3

R9: 2, 5, 9, 10

R10: 5, 6, 9, 14

Cost: $32.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 5:

This race has been taken off of the grass and moved to the dirt to be run at 1 mile 1/8th. We are left with a short field and I think this race is screaming for an all play. The track is designated as fast, so my top selection is going to be the horse that I think possesses the most speed in (2) Voliero. Manny will be able to set this horse right in to the pocket from the break and have a horse that has plenty of late speed to chase down the leaders in this one. The other horses in this races are (4) Open Lengths; who is a firster from the George Weaver barn who has a nice workout on 7/5 and sticking around for this MSW which makes me think this horse will be ready for the distance first time out. (5) Too Early ran his best race to date on dirt last time out at a mile, and this is similar field. (7) Scuttlebuzz attracts Castellano again for this stretch out and has the class to handle this field. This horse just has not lived up to the pedigree, but that ability could present itself in this one to take this field down. (10) Sandro The Great has the combo of Rosario/Clement in this one and hasn't shown me enough for me to fall in love, but with the surface change and shortened field it is tough to leave any off the ticket.

$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00

$3.00 Ex 2 w/ 4,5,7,10 Cost: $12.00

$2.00 Ex 4,5,7,10 w/ 2 Cost: $8.00

Race 6:

I landed on four in this one as I want horses that are going to be used early for speed, and then battle down the stretch in this 7 furlongs race to see who has the most left. (3) Mission WrapItUp is going to be my top selection in this one, with his class drop in to this one and the late speed this horse possesses. I think that this horse will sit in the pocket around the turn and have a convincing charge down the stretch at this one. (8) Big Thicket has the aggressive Irad Ortiz aboard and the outside post should suit this horse well. He will shoot from the gate and be right on the lead throughout, and is a must play here. (7) Vintage Hollywood is a horse that I am giving another chance and hoping the last race was a fluke and this horse should also be forwardly placed. (2) Coach Villa is my price horse here as I am hoping he is cold on the board. This horse possesses a closing speed that I like if this race is too fast early on and I think Junior Alvarado is a great jockey to close well on dirt.

$3.00 WPS 3 Cost: $9.00

$1.00 Ex Box 2,3,7,8 Cost: $12.00

Race 7:

We remain on the turf in the De La Rose at the mile sprint and Chad Brown has almost half the field here. I love (1) Catch a Bid with Gaffalione aboard to get sent right to the lead and let the horse show off the speed. (2) Noor Sahara is another Chad Brown horse who is what seems to be the perfect fit for Irad's racing style. This horse should sit in the pocket from the break and then get outside on the stretch and have a great closing drive. My last play is going to be the hot jockey of Jose Ortiz aboard the (3) Passing Out. The mile distance seems to be the preferred length for this horse and the tactical speed this horse has will allow Jose to be aggressive throughout the race, and that is a winning combination.

$4.00 WPS 1 Cost: $12.00

$2.00 Ex Box 1,2,3 Cost: $12.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

(3) LADY LAWYER ran hard ever step last and just got beat. That came after a 9 Mo layoff and guessing Brown will have her sharp and ready to go. Rosario may move first to control right from the start. (2) OLENDON is the other Brown who has exact workout tab as stable mate. It most likely comes down to the two to kick off this late Pk3. (6) TURF WAR will try to come and get both Brown runners. Jr will need to stay close and not let the two favorites get away.

$5.00 Ex 2,3 w/ 2,3,6 Cost: $20.00

Race 9:

I’ll try to beat Brown in the Shine Again. (5) INDIAN PRIDE will take lots of money but the 7F is a question mark for me. (2) RISKY MANDATE made a nice run to get 2nd after a 9Mo break. She has two races that were faster than this group. The 7F fits this Strong Mandate filly. (9) BLAMED gets Irad and I like the cut back here. Mott has been winning lately so she is a must use. (10) PLEASE FLATTER ME was fast last year and most likely needed her last. Connections win a lot of races together so this one will not be a surprise here.

$7.00 WPS 2 Cost: $21.00

$3.00 Ex 2,9 w/ 2,5,9,10 Cost: $18.00

Race 10:

The switch to the dirt is just what (14) COLD HARD CASH was looking for. He has a trip over this surface, drops and Jose makes this guy his first choice. A lot of positives to finish off this Pk3. (6) OPERATIVE is the other runner dropping from to MSW to MCL. He’s run fast enough against better turf runners but there is dirt in his blood to handle the surface switch. I’ll key these two and look for both (5) DIANNESIMPAZIBLE and (9) GOLCONDA to close from far back for a piece.