Saratoga 8/8 Traver's Pick 3 Plays

Little Pete
Aug 8, 2020
6 min read

What a wonderful day to have a day at the SPA. We have a loaded card today with five graded stake races and we have all of those races covered. We are going to remain consistent and focus on taking down a pair of pick 3 plays, as well as our "Play of the Day." I am diving all in on the stake races today for races 7-9, and Big Pete will close out the card for races 10-12. Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter 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:

R7: 4, 6, 7

R8: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

R9: 1, 4, 5, 7

Cost: $60.00

Big Pete's $1.00 Late Pick 3:

R10: 5

R11: 2, 3, 4, 6

R12: 1, 2, 7, 9

Cost: $16.00

Little Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 4:

(8) Golden Spear has the speed you want in this mile race and will be forwardly placed. I think that this horse has a chance to wire this field and will be a decent price with the 7/5 morning line favorite taking money. Big day of racing always brings the best out of Johnnie V, and he will look to get the day started early.

$5.00 WPS 8 Cost: $15.00

$3.00 Ex 8 w/ 2,3,5,10 Cost: $12.00

$5.00 DOUBLE 8 w/ 6 Cost: $5.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 6:

2 Year olds on the turf and the main focus will be the rail horse as it’s Brown and Irad. I’ll look to beat them with (6) MYSTICAL MAN. Stall Jr has a limited stable here so the horses he brings are usually well meant. 7 runners so far and 5 hit the board. This guy is out of a North Light Mare so the grass runs deep. Throw in Mucho Macho Man and 8.5F on the grass seems perfect. I’ll try to grab that 8:1 ML and play some doubles and/or Pk3’s to cash in on him.

$7.00 WPS 6 Cost: $21.00

$5.00 Ex 6 w/ 4,7 Cost: $10.00

$1.00 PK3 6 w/ 4,7 w/ 4,5 Cost: $4.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 7:

The first leg of this race is the Grade 1 Ballerina, with (7) Come Dancing looking for a repeat.Here is how I think the race will play out: (1) Serengeti Empress will be sent right to the early lead to try and wire this field under a hot riding Luis Saez. I think that he is met with other early speed in (2) Cookie Dough and (5) Letruska. I think this sets up (4) Bellafina and (7) Come Dancing to have a convincing late charge to pass those early speed horses. I also have a strong opinion on (6) Pink Sands who possesses the late speed I think will be needed to win this one and gets back to the 7 furlongs. This horse had a tune up race on 6/13 and has consistently been training well leading up to this one; I think this horse will be a strong player here.

$3.00 WPS 6 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex Box 4,6,7 Cost: $12.00

Race 8:

Now for the second leg we have the Grade 3 Troy with a seven horse field running at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass. Speed is going to be dangerous in this one and I think we have to spread a bit in this leg to cover ourselves in case of poor starts or other unforeseen issues from the break. (7) Chewing Gum is my top selection in here with the recent form and the speed this horse possesses. This horse has enough early speed to stalk the early pace makers and have the Rosario bump helps this horse close on this field. (4) Shekky Shebaz has the ability to get this done, but recent form does make me worry about this horse; but will be a play for me. (1) Imprimis has raced in bigger races, but the nine month layoff does intimidate me. The horse has consistently been training fast and should be ready for this sprint first time out. (5) Pure Sensation has the speed rider of Kendrick Carmouche and you can anticipate he will have instructions to shoot to the front. This horse has the stamina to make it in this sprint and could wire the field if not challenged early. My last play is going to be a gamely (2) American Sailor. I think that Gaffalione knows what he has underneath him and will be able to track the front horses and angle out to charge late for this victory.

$3.00 WPS 7 Cost: $9.00

$1.00 Ex 1,4,7 w/ 1,2,4,5,7 Cost: $12.00

Race 9:

To close the ticket we have the Grade 3 Waya which is ran on turf at a mile 1/2 distance. We have a big scratch with the (6) Another Broad; which I think makes this (1) Mrs. Sippy's race to lose. This horse has ran well against Grade 1 company and if you throw out her last start where she hopped up on the break, then the horse has been running extremely well. With that being said, I am going to include three other horses in case another bad start hurts (1) Mrs. Sippy again this time. (2) Beau Belle is going to set the early time fractions which I think exposes this horse to tiring and being passed, so will exclude off ticket. (4) My Sister Nat has ran two good seconds the last two times out and having Jose Ortiz aboard for the third time will allow him to understand what this horse needs to get it done in here. (5) Olympic Games is a closer with Irad Ortiz aboard and should be able to stalk the lead and have a chance at running down the field. My last play is going to be a safety play in case the race blows up and leaving a Chad Brown horse off the ticket on grass is almost sacrilegious. (7) Fools Gold will be my last play here who has consistently performed well at this distance and has good enough beyer speeds in previous races to handle a fast pace.

$3.00 Ex 1 w/ 4,5,7 Cost: $9.00

$1.00 Ex 4,5,7 w/ 1,4,5,7 Cost: $9.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 10:

Nothing clever to offer in this G1 Test as (5) GAMINE looks too good. She destroyed them in the Acorn back in June and Baffert ships her in for some easy money. I can’t see any other filly in here that will beat her so a single to start the chalky pk3. (6) VENETIAN HARBOR will take some action which will allow the others to get lost in the betting. I’ll focus on two fillies to come late and past Venetian for the exacta. Both (1) UP IN SMOKE and (3) MRS DANVERS will wait it out and come with their rallies though the stretch.

$10.00 Ex 5 w/ 1,3 Cost: $20.00

Race 11:

The Travers is here a little earlier than usual but we’re ”Happy” to see them “Run”.

The main focus is (6) TIZ THE LAW as it should be. He’s the deserving favorite and I’ll include. BUT, there’s a Baffert runner that shipped in for a reason. We haven’t seen the bottom of (3) UNCLE CHUCK yet and he’s 2 for 2. Saez will grab the lead early and keep Chuck on cruise control. The 10F distance shouldn’t be a problem for several of these. I’ll use Tiz underneath but this is more than a two horse race. (4) MAX PLAYER came on late to hit the board in the Belmont and my guess is Rosario will keep him a little closer early on to make it close late. (2) COUNTRY GRAMMER will likely do the same as this Tonalist will grind it out through the stretch in hopes that the front runners back up to him.

$5.00 Ex 3 w/ 2,4,6 Cost: $15.00

Race 12:

NY Bred maidens close out Travers Day 2020 and there appears to be a lack of speed accept for (2) MONIFICENT. Look for Jose to send this Uncle Mo early and slow it down. If he can get to the top of the stretch without pressure, he should take them all the way. (9) BANKERS BEAST switches to dirt after a turf try. She was faster than these so if she takes to the dirt, she may prove to be a Beast. I’ll look for both of the Giant Surprise fillies (1) BELLA DOMENICA and (7) TINY MAGOO to come late and offer a challenge.