Saratoga: Thursday, 8/14 Plays Pete's Picks

Little Pete
Aug 14, 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 $ 10.00 Early Double:

R1: 3

R2: 4 Cost: $ 10.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 2, 6, 7

R6: 3, 5, 7

R7: 1, 5 Cost: $ 18.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 1, 6, 9

R9: 3, 5, 7

R10: 1, 3, 8, 10 Cost: $ 36.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

Bauer usually ships his runners with a purpose. He hits the board over 50% of the time. He brought (4) OUR STARRY NIGHT here in June and has a steady worktab leading up to this. The cut back to sprinting should work out well as this colt has shown speed in both of his races. His debut race sports a speed figure that none of these have seen.

$ 7.00 WPS 4 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 7.00 Ex 4 w/ 3, 5 Cost: $ 14.00

We'll use (4) Our Starry Night in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.

(2) Ranger Battalion or (7 Shifty Gold in the 4th.

$ 7.00 Daily Double 4 w/ 2, 7 Cost $ 14.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

(1) NANTZ faced better going long, but his last was a head-scratcher. His speed figures stack up well with this bunch. The cutback will help. (6) LEVITATING is fresh off the claim as Amoss ships him in but keeps Jose up. The blinkers have seemed to help as he put in a nice run last time to get 3rd. They too won't mind the shorter distance. Cox sends out a firster (9) ROCK CONCERT , but the MCL start doesn't bode a lot of confidence from this barn. Process of elimination with this group.

$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 1, 6 w/ 1, 6, 9, 10 Cost: $ 18.00

Race 9:

(7) STEADFAST RESOLVE has been going longer, but Weaver now shortens him up to his best distance. Both times Irad was up, things worked out okay. He's back and all systems go. (3) ENLIGHTEN is the one to beat. He was way back last time, which is not his thing, and still almost got there. A clean trip and this guy will be tough. A must-use. (5) FINAL DENILE went back to the turf, and it brought him back to life. He wasn't far from Enlighten, so the trip will be important in making up a length or two.

$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 3, 5, 7 Cost: $ 18.00

Race 10:

(10) DEEMER will be short odds and is a must-use for me. Drops several layers and adds L1. (1) WIND DANCER benefits from the Naguile scratch as he has the hedge and the speed to control. If they forget about him, he's gone. I like the draw and switch to Irad on (3) MISTY FOG. They gave him a public workout sprinting last month, and Falcone saw something that he liked and claimed him. Steady works and the stretch out looms large with the jockey switch. (8) SOLO DANCING will be a price and needs the speed to come back. I like the switch to turf for this Solomini.