Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Thursday, August 19, 2020 Meet Total ...80-253

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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

3-9. R1 ... AxB "C" scr 3.80; R2 ... CDx x $31.60; R3 ... Bentry-A-Bentry-C "D" scr x 31.60 t 154.00; R7 ... AxB "D" scr 5.90; R8 ... ABDC 3.10 x 15.80 t 53.00 s 134.40

Weather: Beautiful morning - that turned around bizarrely maybe a half-hour before the first post. Clouded over. Temp dropped noticeably. Wind kicked up significantly. And the skies opened up for about fifteen minutes. Ten minutes after that the sun returned and the remainder of the afternoon was sunny and comfortable.

["A" is our top pick, "B" the second selection, and so on...]

Today

FIRST RACE - G1 $100K NY Turf Writers
Optimus Prime...Looks for a reversal of G1 Smithwick with that seasonal debut under the belt.
Moscato...Got up over top pick last time.
Gibralfaro...Third behind top two in Smithwick.
Redicean.

SECOND RACE
Thankful...Improved in second start and move to dirt. Has a few win-early sibs.
Heavenly Sis...Been right there in recent starts.
Simply Sweet...Won't be shocked to see this one move forward in second start.
Pago Querido.

THIRD RACE
First Appeal...Might be interesting on the stretchout.
Awesome Alana...Won similar last time - albeit in March.
Goodbye Brockley...Class relief.
Out of Trouble.

FOURTH RACE
Disciplanarian...On the recent Beyers - as compared to these.
Threepointninenine...Decent, improved try in a similar event last time.
Boom Boom Kaboom...Should contend with this bunch.
Freudian Analyst.

FIFTH RACE
Leaveuwithasmile...Claimed out of a nice win earlier in the meet.
Customerexperience...Claimed after running third in same race as top pick.
Mosienko...Also claimed last time - beaten as fave... Six days ago.
Sirenic.

SIXTH RACE
Big Wonder...Beyers edge.
Jack of Clubs...Seems better than latest.
Red Mule...Back to turf. Rebound to previous form with this trainer will be good enough to contend.
Wild William.

SEVENTH RACE - $85K Tale of the Cat
Stan the Man...Tepid nod but clearly capable vs these.
T Loves a Fight...Winner of latest might be a good one - so the second is perhaps better than it looks.
My Boy Tate...Just behind T Loves a Fight last time.
Binkster.

EIGHTH RACE
Lead Guitar...In from Kentucky to face NY-breds.
The Important One...Lightly-raced and perhaps still some upside off the improving Beyers.
Fetching...Won at this level two back.
Speightstown Gal.

NINTH RACE
Just Right...Talented enough that the return for the reduced rate was a head-scratcher -- but ran OK, so why not again?
Eye Luv Lulu...First start for new trainer. Hmm.
We Should Talk...Claimed and moves up off a solid win.
Dark Money.

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.

Archives of daily Best Bets picks and plays pages: 2013 ... 2012 ... 2011 ... 2010... 2009 ...2008 ... 2007 ... 2006 ... 2005 ... 2004 ... 2003

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