Saratoga: Thursday, 7/24 Plays ** Pete's Picks **
- Little Pete
- Jul 24, 2025
- 3 min read
Fast and firm to start this Thursday action from the Spa. 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 two "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 8-10); GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $ 5.00 Early Double:
R1: 3, 5
R2: 4, 7 Cost: $ 20.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R5: 1, 6
R6: 2, 5, 7
R7: 5, 7 Cost: $ 12.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R8: 5, 7
R9: 3, 6, 7
R10: 2, 6, 9, 13 Cost: $ 24.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 4:
Heavy favorite in here, but I don't trust the major drop after one decent race. The works are slow following that one too, so I have to take a shot against. (5) CLASSIC CARA has two 2nd place finishes at this level, and they switch to Davis today. He's off to a slow start, but this filly improved last time to just miss, and her connections might have her all dressed up for a big effort. She's worth a shot against, in my opinion, a suspect favorite.
$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 3, 5, 6 Cost: $ 18.00
We'll use (5) Classic Cara in R4 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.
(1) Set or (6) Vacation Dance in the 5th.
$ 7.00 Daily Double 5 w/ 1, 6 Cost $ 14.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 8:
(5) TAX IMPLICATIONS and (7) PROCTOR STREET figure to attract most of the attention. Both have a race or two that will get it done today. I'll only use these two to kick off this late pick 3. I'll lean on the lightly raced Proctor to make the last move.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 1, 7 w/ 1, 5, 7 Cost: $ 12.00
Race 9:
(3) STRATEGIC FOCUS will be another small piece in this sequence but appears to be a must-use. Distance is his friend, so this 9F seems perfect. I'll use him defensively and try to beat him with two others. The potential lone speed is (6) CRUDO. Not surprisingly, he didn't go on when the big 3-year-olds came to him in the Belmont. He gets some class relief, and Johnny V can try to nurse him along. If both of these go at it, that could set up for (7) SO SANDY to make a late run. DeVaux ships this guy in with back-to-back wins and picks up Jose.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 3, 6, 7 Cost: $ 18.00
Race 10:
(13) MR. COLOSSAL drawing in off the AE's is the interesting one to me. Adam Rice has been shipping them in live, and it looks like he has another one here. The synthetic surface usually translates well to the turf, and his speed figures match up well to this group. I'll side with Jose, as this guy was his first choice over the "other" Rice runner, (2) VIA DELLA SPIGA, who now picks up Kendrick. He was gaining on the Kid last time and will do the same again today. (6) DOOMED exits that same race and now goes out 2nd time for Cox and picks up Prat. A lot to like there. Another interesting one is (9) HAMILTON'S WAY. His speed figures match up well, and they cut him back in distance. The slight drop here is what you can't overlook. He's a player with Irad up again.
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