Saratoga: Thursday, 7/31 Plays Pete's Picks

Little Pete
Jul 31, 2025
3 min read

Rain has taken a toll on the card as we are off the turf. 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 $ 3.00 Early Double:

R1: 2, 9

R2: 7, 10, 11 Cost: $ 18.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 1

R6: 3, 9, 10

R7: 1, 6, 8, 11 Cost: $ 12.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 1, 4, 8

R9: 2, 5, 12

R10: 7, 10, 12, 13 Cost: $ 36.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

This Bustin Stone, (4) D'S A ROCK, was stakes placed after she broke her maiden last year. The connections must like her chances. She faded a little this winter, so they gave her some time and then built her confidence by shipping her out to western NY. Three wins later, they return to the Spa and may have found the right field. Her speed looms large to take her all the way.

$ 7.00 WPS 4 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 4, 7 Cost: $ 18.00

We'll use (4) D's Rock in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.

(3) Sailaway or (4) Carolina Smokeshow in the 4th.

$ 7.00 Daily Double 4 w/ 3, 4 Cost $ 14.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

(1A) BOLD ENDEAVOR and (4) KHAFRE figure to draw most of the attention. Both have speed and will try to shake loose from each other. I trust Khafre more to handle the off going between the two. It should be one of these two, but I want to try a wise guy pick. (8) STRONG LIGHT seems to run well every 4th outing, and today the cycle fits. His sire, Brody's Cause, ran well in the off, and they get in light today with the bug up. He'll be a big price, and I feel he should at least hit the board. Worth a shot in this low-level claimer.

$ 7.00 WPS 8 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 4, 8 Cost: $ 12.00

Race 9:

(2) BANK FRENZY has dominated this level of NY Breds for a long time now. He's a must-use as he gets his preferred muddy surface and should be tough. (5) THE WINE STEWARD is interesting as he faces just NY Breds for the first time in a while. Maker is heating up too. The hesitation is that he has yet to handle an off track. That's why I'll lean on (12) DOC SULLIVAN to make an impact late. He was a major player in this division last year and has yet to show it this year. He looks to be sitting in one as Rosario takes over, and his speed figures have been solid. He just missed Frenzy in the Alex Robb mid-December.

$ 7.00 WPS 12 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 2, 5, 12 Cost: $ 18.00

Race 10:

(13) ALWAYS PRACTICAL was claimed three back, and Rice seems to have her sharp now with a couple of races under her belt. Rudy did the same thing with (12) SHE'S COOL , and she, too, looks ready for a big effort. They both meet a watered-down field today. (10) BRED TO RUN has a nice run on a sloppy surface. Saez stays, and they look the part today. (7) STAMP OF APPROVAL has the speed to be a factor. It worked last time and meets similar today.