Saratoga: Sunday August 13th ** Pete's Picks **
- Little Pete
- Aug 13, 2023
- 5 min read
10 races at the Spa as the meet rolls on. TheMahoney Stakes for the three year old sprint on the grass. I will be condensing my plays down to just the number and attacking the early double (Races 1 & 2) and a spot pick 3 (Races 5-7). Big Pete will attack his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 8-10). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:
R1: 1, 5, 6, 7
R2: 2, 4, 8
Cost: $24.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R5: 1, 2, 4
R6: 1, 2, 9, 10
R7: 1, 2, 4, 7
Cost: $48.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R8: 3, 6, 8
R9: 6, 7, 8
R10: 2, 5, 6, 7
Cost: $ 36.00
Little Pete's Early Double:
Race 1:
(7) Clearly a Test is my top pick in here after a decent debut and beating Honey Dijon last time out (Who came out and won a wire-to-wire race earlier this week). Jose Ortiz is sticking with this one and should have enough left to handle this field. I also like (1) Exhilarate who ran an okay 3rd on debut and should find a rail position early with the favorable post position. (5) Genetics has been very fast in the morning and we should expect this horse to be aggressively ridden throughout, which gives this horse a shot late. (6) Wonder Ride is a daughter of Gun Runner and showing blazing speed as well, this horse should be a decent price and a good shot.
$3.00 WPS 7 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 5,7 w/ 1,5,6,7 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 1,6 w/ 1,5,6,7 Cost: $6.00
Race 2:
(2) Nikitis is my top pick in here under Irad from the Chad Brown barn. The horse should show plenty of speed late and the post position only helps with positioning to have the fastest horse down the stretch. (1) Strife is another horse that will show a ton of speed late and with a nice ride from Rosario is a strong contender. (4) Lady Blitz switches to turf and I trust Pletcher placing this horse in a winning spot. Luis Saez is red hot at the moment and I trust him to find the lane late. (8) Out Too Late is a firster that is very interesting to me in here who is showing plenty of speed in the morning and bred for grass. This could be a horse to include underneath at a decent price
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex 1,2 w/ 1,2,4,8 Cost: $18.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
Jacobson has quietly been having a meet. He claimed Float On two back and produced a sharp 2nd next time out. They ship him in and put Irad up. All good signs that this one will be live. But, it's this "other" Jacobson that catches my eye. (7) SENOR JOBIM shipped in from out West and has been improving since he arrived. His last two speed figures are right up there with this group. They gave him a race over the Spa dirt and looks primed for a big effort. His stable mate will get all the attention with irad up but Jobim will be closing in late.
I’ll use (1) Float On and (6) Nifty to grab 2nd.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 6, 7 Cost $ 18.00
We’ll also use (7) Senor Jobim in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.
(4) City Fever or (5) American Know How in the 4th.
$ 7.00 Daily Double 7 w/ 4, 5 Cost $ 14.00
Race 5:
I am leaning on (1A) Activist Investing and (4) Operation Torch for this one. I think that Irad will have this horse well positioned throughout and perform well facing winners for the first time. (4) Operation Touch has been executing well each time out and just may be too much out there.
$5.00 WPS 1 Cost: $15.00
$3.00 Ex 1,4 w/ 1,2,4 Cost: $12.00
Race 6:
My top pick in here is (10) Extra Dirty who should enjoy some moisture in the ground and be able to eat up ground late under Manny Franco. (1) Crazy Cami has a decent debut at a price and should benefit in this one with some more stamina to close. (2) Zadorsky is improving each time out that she steps on the course and just too dangerous to leave off the ticket. My last play will be (9) Lady Prospect who is running very well in the morning and should shoot from the gate to find the early lead. I trust Luis Saez to give this horse a great race throughout.
$3.00 WPS 10 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 1,10 w/ 1,2,9,10 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 2,9 w/ 1,2,9,10 Cost: $6.00
Race 7:
My top pick in here is (2) Guntown who just missed on his last two out there and is poised to run a winning effort from the favorable post position. This horse should stalk throughout and be ready to run his best race late. (1) Vittorio is going to be either on the lead or sitting on the rail waiting to roll. Irad will be involved throughout in this race and that aggressive style will make a difference late. (4) Saint Tapit is coming off a long layoff and sticks in an allowance field and should be poised to run a great race in here under Luis Saez; worth the investment. (7) Secret Rules is going to shoot from the gate early and look to find the lead. This horse has some staying power at this distance and will be a decent price.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$1.00 Ex Box 1,2,4,7 Cost: $12.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 8:
(3) DREAMLIKE is one I would consider for a single if you want to lower your ticket total. This Gun Runner returned after the G2 Wood run and dominated maidens. He did it on this surface and looked to have plenty left. Some speed to his outside will develop and set this guy up for another run. I'll lean heavy on this one but include a savor. We are talking about Saratoga so we'll also use (6) TAPIT SHOE. Saez will likely try to steal this up front. If they leave him alone, they may not catch him.
$ 7.00 WPS 3 Cost $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Ex 3 w/ 6, 8 Cost $ 14.00
Race 9:
(7) HE'SMYHONEYBADGER has speed and they will have to catch him. (8) CANDY TYCOON also has speed and both should be aggressive up front. This may work out well for (1) SHOOTERS SHOOT. He has the option to sit just off the speed or engage early. The break will likely determine that. My guess is Saez perches just off and closes in late. He'll need both of them to back up and it looks likely that they will.
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 6, 8 w/ 6, 7, 8 Cost $ 12.00
Race 10:
(7) PRIVITE CREED reunites with Rosario and they will just go and try to bottom out this field. This guy usually runs for Joel and is a generous 10:1ML. (2) GASLIGHT DANCER is in great form right now. He may have needed a race or two and comes in here with some strong bullets. Should save some ground and finish strong. (5) NO NAY HUDSON will try to beat them again. He closed well to get the W at Churchill and seems to like the Spa treatment as he was best of 54 the other day. He'll sit chilly in the early part of the race and try to pass them all late.
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