Saratoga: Sunday, August 20th, Petes Picks

Little Pete
Aug 20, 2023
5 min read

10 races at the Spa on this sunny Sunday. The Bolton Landing for the two year old fillies 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, 3, 5, 8

R2: 4, 6

Cost: $16.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 1, 3, 5, 6

R6: 1, 5, 6, 8

R7: 2, 4, 5, 10

Cost: $64.00

Top picks in each race in Purple

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 2, 7

R9: 12, 13, 15

R10: 7, 8, 9, 10

Cost: $ 24.00

Little Pete's Early Double:

Race 1:

(1) Fast Kimmie is my top pick in here against this claiming field. I think that Lezcano is going to find himself forwardly placed and have a rested horse late to make a convincing stretch drive. (3) My Lionis making their states debut and should be able to handle any moisture still in the grass. This horse is too dangerous to leave off the ticket. (5) Elle Est Forte is another horse getting some class relief in here and we should expect Luis Saez to be aggressive throughout. The surface may be too soft for closers to really get their footing late, so I like the thought of this horse sitting towards the front throughout. (8) Red Hot Chick is a wild card horse to me in here. I think Manny is going to be stalking the lead in here and this horse should be an interesting price coming strongly down the stretch.

$3.00 WPS 1 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 1,5 w/ 1,3,5,8 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 3,8 w/ 1,3,5,8 Cost: $6.00

Race 2:

This lower level claiming race is a two horse race to me with (4) Alpine Queen and (6) Diva Banker. I expect it to be a two horse race come stretch time and I am leaning on (4) Alpine Queen to hit the wire first. That is it, thanks for reading!

$5.00 WPS 4 Cost: $15.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

There is some speed on the inside so they must go to get position going into the first turn. That will bode well for the closer (6) CAFE FLEUR. She was far back early in her last and hesitated twice through the stretch to be clearly 2nd best. That came off a long layoff and she has breezed since. Look for her to be on her toes today and if she gets clear sailing, she wins.

I’ll use (1) Aziza, (2) Strong Oder and (3) Tass underneath.

$ 7.00 Ex 6 w/ 1, 2, 3 Cost $ 21.00

We’ll also use (6) Cafe Fluer in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.

(4) Gram or (6) Astonesthrowaway in the 4th.

$ 7.00 Daily Double 6 w/ 4, 6 Cost $ 14.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 5:

(3) Most of All is my top pick in here with the Lezcano/Mott angle. This Quality Road is training lights out and the expected speed will be to their outside. This horse is going to find a stalking position close to the rail and have a convincing kick late. (1) Catherine Wheel is going to do their best racing come around the turn and Irad is going to have plenty of horse to compete late. (5) Candied is a Pletcher horse who is going to shoot from the gate and passing Luis Saez late down the stretch is extremely difficult. (6) Munny Rockette is my last play from the Bill Mott barn as well. This horse should be middle of the pack early and then Alvarado will find a lane late to make it interesting.

$3.00 WPS 3 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 3,5 w/ 1,3,5,6 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 1,6 w/ 1,3,5,6 Cost: $6.00

Race 6:

(5) Growth Rate is my top pick in here with Jose Ortiz being aggressive enough early for positioning and then finding their best footing down the stretch. (1) Steel Lute has the dangerous Flavien Prat aboard on grass and we should find this horse towards the front and on the rail. That ground saving trip may give this horse the necessary head start on the late closers. (6) Goodnight My Angel is an interesting firster from the Pletcher barn and should be sent to the front early and have enough in the tank to sustain a big run in here under Irad Ortiz. (8) Lamorna had an impressive debut and should only improve the next time out. Luis Saez is going to be towards the front and wait for the time to release this horse down the stretch.

$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 1,5 w/ 1,5,6,8 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 6,8 w/ 1,5,6,8 Cost: $6.00

Race 7:

(2) Set Sail is my top pick in here who will have the inside post position and I think this race will be won by the horse on the lead early. This horse's running style is set up well to have a chance to wire the field and I love that angle. (4) Mount Up performed well against winners last time out and should only improve this time out. (5) Bramito is facing winners for the first time and this Gun Runner is going to be poised to be running their best late down the stretch. (10) Chileno is coming into this one after a win and the step up for this one should be met with an impressive late drive down the stretch.

$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex 2,4 w/ 2,4,5,10 Cost: $12.00

$1.00 Ex 5,10 w/ 2,4,5,10 Cost: $6.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

(2) MAGICO took a ton of money in his debut and ra a decent 2nd in the mud. He probably wants more distance and 7F is a good start. Continues to work just fine and is expected to improve. His stablemate, (7) DIGITIZE, ran into some good ones 2nd time out after a good looking debut. He now cuts back and figures to be perched just off any speeds and make the first move around the turn. We'll only use these two Brown runners to kick off the late Pk3 today. We'll spread out in the last two.

$ 7.00 WPS 2 Cost $ 21.00

$ 7.00 Ex 2, 7 w/ 2, 7, 8, 9 Cost $ 18.00

Race 9:

We'll stick with the MTO's as they took this one off the grass. I'll take a shot with the Rudy claim (15) FIGHT FIERCLY. He ran ok in a sprint here early in the meet and now gets to long. Saez sticks for a reason. (12) MONEY SUPPLY drops in for a tag. It's now Brown's best move but his speed figures stack up well with this group. (13) GATE RUNNER also drops for Pletcher. The cut back may be what he wants. He's a player in here.

$ 7.00 WPS 15 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 13, 15 w/ 12, 13, 15 Cost $ 12.00

Race 10:

(8) WOODSIDE WARRIOR showed speed two back. That's dangerous with this group as he meets similar. (9) CHALKY CAT drops today which is what he needs. We'll use him defensively and try to beat him with (10) MUDVILLE NINE. 1M may have been too far so they cut him back to 6F. Jose takes over and should avoid any trouble from the outside draw. (7) SIN NOMBRE is the sleeper in here. Didn't have the cleanest of trips and then tried to go 10 wide turning for home. A better ride and a little experience should help.