Saratoga 8/28 Pick 3 Plays

Little Pete
Aug 28, 2020
6 min read

Weekend racing at the Spa! We have a nice ten race card; which is headlined by the Grade 3 Lake George. We are expected to be in the low 70's in Saratoga with some overcast, which is good news to hear we will most likely be back on the turf. A little disclaimer, I am typing up my plays a bit earlier today as I (Little Pete) am heading up to Saratoga today to enjoy the races. I will not disclose the location (Saratoga National) due to the massive amounts of fans that would ensue, but I will be up there! Big Pete has been put in charge of editing, so if any picks are incorrect it is on him. We are going to maintain playing our dueling pick 3 plays, as well as our "Play of the Day." Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter to receive notification of new blog posts and weekly blogs emailed to you. GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 2, 3, 4, 7

R6: 2, 3, 6, 7

R7: 2, 4, 6, 10

Cost: $64.00

Big Pete's $1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 2, 6, 7

R9: 1, 2, 8, 9

R10: 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Cost: $ 60.00

Little Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 2:

So LP left me in charge of "editing". I think he meant typing in HIS pick because he's up in Saratoga enjoying the races from Saratoga National. So here's what he texted me just now about his Play of the day.

I like (8) KEMBA in this NW2 FSTR on the turf. Shout out to the Celtics for taking the title and Kemba for taking down this 2nd Race. She has the stalking speed I like and there will be early movement to try and find the lead in this one.

$5.00 WPS 8 Cost: $ 15.00

So here's my take on what he meant by putting me in charge of "editing". He obviuosly sounds drunk already so proceed with caution. Kemba would be a toss for me as she's coming off her maiden win and facing winners for the first time. It's a big ask for a 3yr old filly but she clearly likes grass so anything can happen. I bet him a beer that if (4) Princess Fawzia loses this race OR Kemba hits the board, he wins the bet.

Luckily his Pk3 was constructed sober earlier today so I like his chances there.

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 4:

(6) MAJESTIC WEST debuted at the Spa last year and lost to a sharp firster. Returns today after running a decent 3rd at Churchill in June after being off for six months. Attracts Santana for this 6.5F sprint. There should be some early heat up front to give this Quality Road gelding a nice set up. We’ll use on top and put (2) Stage Left and (5) Mister Bobby underneath.

$ 10.00 Ex 6 w/ 2, 5 Cost $ 20.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 5:

(2) Party at Page's has everything I like in here to be a possible single, but I can't do that is this race full of firsters. The move back to dirt after this horse put up an impressive 77 beyer speed first time out at this distance. The best part of that is that this horse was just beaten and was forwardly placed throughout the sprint; I love that. She has my go to speed jockey of Luis Saez who never messes around from the gate. But with all that said I will be including three others horses.. (3) U Should B Dancing is an interesting horse here with the move to dirt. This horse out worked my top selection in here on 8/14/20 and should enjoy this surface first time out. (4) Violentiam is another horse that I like getting this surface switch and could be the horse charging late to pass tiring horses in this sprint. I think Johnny V will forwardly place, but have a ground saving trip to be the fastest late. My last play is the Asmussen/Santana Jr. combo in (7) She's a Majestic. This horse should enjoy this sprinting distance and this combo knows how to show off the speed needed to win these races.

$4.00 WPS 2 Cost: $12.00

$2.00 Ex 2,3 w/ 2,3,4,7 Cost: $12.00

Race 6:

Everything is telling me to try and beat (2) Dovima in here. This horse is changing surfaces for the first time in her career and also taking a cut back in distance to 6 1/2 furlongs. The owner, Peter Brant, is having a tough meet to date with only 1 winner out of 19 entries. I think the horse to beat her and the rest of this field is the (6) Back Channel who has put out two good efforts on dirt with beyer speeds in the 80's and will only improve with more experience. I am expecting (3) Black Magic Woman to do as she did first time out and find the early lead. I think (6) Back Channel will be able to shoot from the gate and find the pocket early and be able to save ground around the turn, which opens this horse up for a convincing stretch drive. I also like the horse to her outside in the (7) Barista Vixen. This horse is coming in without racing yet in 2020 (Do not blame her for staying away this year), but has been training quickly and consistently. I think this horse will be able to find her footing early and have a strong stretch drive as well. I will include the four horses mentioned in my ticket, but using (6) and (7) to try and beat the two morning line favorites.

$3.00 WPS 6 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 6,7 w/ 2,3,6,7 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 2,3 w/ 2,3,6,7 Cost: $6.00

Race 7:

We will be closing with four horses in here. (10) Fast Getaway should run to his name and find the early lead from the outside position. I think this horse could forget to stop running on the lead and wire the field. (6) Ghoul will have an improved trip on grass with Rosario choosing for the second time and will be driving late. (4) Honey Won't is another horse that I like closing late from the red hot Bill Mott barn. (2) Sayaaf is the class of the field and we should expect a much better trip this time out with the aggressive Jose Ortiz aboard. There are good horses in here, but these horses jumped off the page to me.

$3.00 WPS 10 Cost: $9.00

$1.00 Ex 2,4,6,10 Cost: $12.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

Pletcher will attract a lot of attention with the favorite (2) IRISH FRONT. They ran big coming off a year absence. But today they face winners for the first time and I don’t see that zip in his morning workouts. I’ll try to beat him with (7) FAMISHED. This Uncle Mo seems to like the Spa as his best races have come here. He’s coming into this race with a pair of bullets to set him up for his this 7F sprint. The other I’ll lean on is the Casse colt (6) WILD MEDAGLIAD’ORO. He moves back to the dirt and cuts back in distance. Johnny V returns

$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 6, 7 w/ 2, 6, 7 Cost $ 12.00

Race 9:

(1) SWEET MELANIA will be a short price and a must use in this G3 Lake George. She’s been a picture of consistency hitting the board in every start. Returned last month and didn’t miss a beat. The rail will only help get Jose to the front sooner than later in this 1M lap around the Spa. (8) SELFLESSLY didn’t fire in her return race but I can’t give up on the Brown runner after one sub par race. I’m expecting her to bounce back with a big run. (2) MICHELINE has a few running lines that put her in the conversation. Throw in Rosario for the ride and she will make some noise late. (9) WINDRACER didn’t face much in her US debut but she might get her soft turf that would move her up. She too will close in late in the game.

$ 3.00 Ex 1, 8 w/ 1, 2, 8, 9 Cost $ 18.00

Race 10:

We’ll close this Pk3 with (5) MADAM DEPUTY becomes the top choice with the surface switch. Rudy grabbed this one last time with a non threatening 3rd but, now stretches this Constitution out which is what she wants. (7) SPIN YOUR PARTNER was the turf pick but we’ll stick with her to handle the dirt as she drops slightly for this. (8) CANUDOTHETWIST will have to navigate a clean trip from the outside post and run a little faster. She got 2nd last time but it wasn’t that fast of a time. We’ll also include (6) BEYOND BROWN who woke up last time on the drop. Jose returns and Donk won a few this past week. Oddly (11) MIZZEN THE MARK is entered as MTO but is bred top and bottom for turf. It’s so strange that I feel I need to include defensively.