Saratoga: Thursday, 8/21 Plays Pete's Picks

Little Pete
Aug 21, 2025
3 min read

Fast and Good for this Thursday action as we only lose two from the turf. The rest of the week looks great. 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: 6

R2: 1, 2, 8 Cost: $ 15.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R5: 2, 3, 4, 11

R6: 4, 7, 8, 13

R7: 2, 3, 5 Cost: $ 48.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R8: 2, 5, 7

R9: 1, 4

R10: 2, 3, 9, 10 Cost: $ 24.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 4:

Both Coach Case and Miztertonic will take most of the action and I'll use but I want to give (8) ORTUS another shot against his fellow NY Breds. I didn't like his ride earlier in the meet and maybe Lewis didn't either as she goes to Jose this time around. No published workouts up here is a little odd but he came in in good form from Florida.

$ 7.00 WPS 8 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 6, 7, 8 Cost: $ 18.00

We'll use (8) ORTUS in R4 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.

(2) Seraphina Sea or (4) Pan Pan in the 5th.

$ 7.00 Daily Double 8 w/ 2, 4 Cost $ 14.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 8:

(2) KHALI MAGIC has worked herself back into shape, and Abreu took notice and claimed her. She now gets Irad, who will use her speed to get to the front coming out of the chute. Any leftover moisture only helps. (5) CATHERINE WHEEL has been sharp in all of her ten races. She's been 2nd here twice and is the filly to beat. A must-use with her speed figures. If both choose to go at it early, that will bode well for (7) CUPID'S HEART. She had issues last time, and Prat wrapped her up early. I'll give her another chance to come get the above two ladies and catch them late.

$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 2, 5, 7 Cost: $ 18.00

Race 9:

(4) IRON DOME got some relief when the Trainer came out. He'll be singled on several tickets, and rightfully so. His last was his best yet and he appears to be getting better with each start. He did lose to Hit The Post back in June, so the break is important. He spotted him 10 lengths and couldn't make it up. If the Post causes trouble up front and softens Iron Dome, I want to include a sleeper. The FL shipper, (1) KING'S LEAP, has been solid and wasn't far from the Trainer in the NY Derby. No medication is allowed for this, and he seems to have handled his races without Lasix. The others, not so much. I'll take a Leap with the King today.

$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 4, 6 Cost: $ 18.00

Race 10:

(10) APERITIF looms large as oddly, this one stays on the turf. She's getting the hang of this game as she's improved each time out. I'll try her to beat the two favorites, (9) GARDEN OF GRACE and (2) NO ORDINARY LOVE who both came running fast in their last race. They will need to catch them again. The speed will come from (3) ONE LAST KNOCK as she got to the front in her debut but couldn't last. A race under her belt will only help.