Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Saturday, August 1, 2020 Meet Total ... 41-122

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Merrow's picks can also be found on most Saratoga racing says at the Capital OTB Handicappers' Report. Also on a rotating basis throughout the Saratoga meet in the hard copy of the Albany Times-Union.

Turf picks are turf only - unless otherwise indicated.

2020 Best Bets Picks/Plays archive.

Yesterday

4-10. R3 ... BAC x 14.60 t 4.60; R4 ... ACBD 15.20 x 63.50 t 218.00; R5 ... B-De-x "D" scr 74.50; R6 ... ACB 11.40 x 59.50 121.00; R7 ... ABx 6.10 x 24.80; R8 ... ABx 4.20 x 10.80

Weather: Mostly sunny, warm, a little less humid.

Today

FIRST RACE
Winfromwithin...OK debut. Sib Pacificadora won second career start in Europe - on synthetic.
Reinvestment Risk...Team is always well-meant with firsters at Saratoga. Worked 20.4 before attracing $280K at March auction.
Team Merchants...Works seems to say 'ready'. Sib Norma's Love was 10,1 to start career.
Windcracker.

SECOND RACE
En Wye Cee...Has shown some flashes of talent. Tries turf for the comeback.
Spirit Animal...Won and claimed last time - and suppopsedly subsequently entered and scratched for new connections. Now claim is listed as "voided" for "administrative" reason. Hmm. Whatever - can't ignore the nice win.
Dream Friend...Consistently tossing Beyers that fit with these.
Fog of War.
Dirt: 4-7-6.

THIRD RACE
Regal Speaker...Perhaps on the class move in the second start.
KK Ichikawa...Ran well in a similar event last time.
Allied Invasion...Nice work leading into debut try.
No Salt.
Dirt: 6-3-9-1.

FOURTH RACE
Dreams of Tomorrow...Nod off of the first two in a tough MSW event.
Ima Pharoah...Knocking at the door.
Futuro...Might be interesting in debut.
Searing Chase.

FIFTH RACE - G1 $500K Personal Ensign
Midnight Bisou...Hard to go past this phenom.
Vexatious...Maybe we get a barometer through this one on how top pick will match with Monomoy Girl.
Point of Honor...Might regret this placing as this gal hits the exacta far more often than not.
Motion emotion.

SIXTH RACE
Everfast...Moves back to N1X after trying mostly stakes competition.
Mister Winston...Should benefit from first try at the level.
Cool Bobby...Third start back off a nice win at Churchill last time - vs claimers.
Stage Left.

SEVENTH RACE
Sol Del Sur...Sib Santos Dumont 2,1 to start career. Sib Cascade Kid second of thirteen in lone start.
King of Miami...OK second in off-turfer.
Habitus...Stretches out off of closing effort last time.
Lease.
Dirt: Same.

EIGHTH RACE
Amano...Nice improvement start #1 to start #2 and went 1 1/4M last time so today's trip should be within scope.
Reigning Spirit...Knocking at the door last two.
Bail Out...Fifteen tries and no wins - but should fit with these.
Holy Emperor.
Dirt: Same.

NINTH RACE - G1 $750K Whitney
Tom's d'Etat...Hard to fault the first two start this season.
Code of Honor...Won G1 Travers here last year. Looked like he was going by all in G1 Met Mile last time and might be tough on the stretchout and return to Saratoga.
By My Standards...Seems an improved 4YO. Second to top pick last time.
Mr Buff.

TENTH RACE - G1 $300K Jerkens
Captain Bombastic...Perhaps stalks and goes on by at the 7F trip with plenty of early pace.
No Parole...Wins if able to repeat latest.
Echo Town...Always in the mix.
Mischevious Alex.

ELEVENTH RACE - G2 $250K Bowling Green
Cross Border...Quick turnaround is interesting.
Sadler's Joy...7YO multi-millionaire might have an edge on most of these.
Channel Maker...Like Sadler's Joy this multi-millionaire is light on wins over last two seasons but fits nicely with this bunch.
Highland Sky.
Dirt: 3-1-7.

TWELFTH RACE - $200K Caress
Dalika...Primed in third start back.
Miss Gossip...Also likely to go well in third start of season.
I'llhandalthecash...Off the latest.
Mother Mother.
Dirt: 6-5-3.

If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

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