Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Sunday, August 23, 2020 Meet Total ...88-281

Stop by the equidaily.com HOME PAGE for all the day's racing headlines from across the country and around the globe. Bookmark it and stop by regularly!

Don't forget to check out the Challenge page where we started the month with a mythical $2000 bankroll and attempt to increase that amount as the Saratoga season continues.

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

1-10. R1 ... Ce-Bd-x off turf - sirt picks "A" "B" scr x 17.40; R2 ... BDAC x 44.40 t 113.50 s 281.00; R4 ... AxB "C" scr 3.90; R6 ... BCA x 34.00 t 73.50; R7 ... Cd-A-Bc x 6.70 t no tri; R8 ... D-A-B-Ef "E" scr x 44.00 t 70.00 s 137.00; R10 .. Bc-Ab-De "A" scr x 23.00 t 140.00

Weather: Bizarre, ominous dark-sky storm hit the area early morning. Heavy rain for just a few minutes - but enough to knock R1, 3, 5 and 7 off the turf. By post time however it was sunny and mostly comfortable -- a little bit humid.

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

Today

FIRST RACE
Simply the Best...Win-early sire. Sib Gun Loaded won debut. Sib Rocco Solid 5-2-2-0 in career.
Black Sand...Team's firsters typically well-meant. Sib Maqsad 2,3,1,1 to start career.
Brynbella...Might be a runner.
Uptown Flirt.
Dirt: Same.

SECOND RACE
Mission Wrapitup...Always like this class move - NY-bred alw to open clmr.
Scoring...Might stack up nicely with this group on the move from out of town.
Wicksters Dream...Solid win here in 2020 debut. Claimed. Looks like a good fit here.
Mr Shortandsimple.

THIRD RACE
Jade Empress... Worked 21.0 before auction. Good 8/13 work in prep for this.
American West...Expensive purchase goes out for potent team.
Fifth Risk...Sib Soul Song won debut. 8/9 work was best of 108.
Suspended Campaign.

FOURTH RACE
No Salt...Tepid vote on the latest Beyer - which perhaps has an edge on this weak field.
Supply Sider...Behind top pick last time - but it was an improved effort and maybe there's still some upside.
Bielefeld...Perhaps interesting stretching out on the return to grass.
False Alarm.
Dirt: 8-3-5-2.

FIFTH RACE
Quiet Out East...Beyers seem better on grass - but there are some back dirt numbers that would be good enough.
Cold Hard Cash...Nice inw in seasonal debut here but moves into tougher company and stretches out.
Unrelenting Force...Might try to steal it.
Six Percent.

SIXTH RACE
Towering Gaze...Seems best with Beyers and move from MSW company.
High School Crush...Good try in similar event last time.
Mia Bea Star...Dropped in for a tag last time - but this will be first claiming try on turf.
Silent Empress.
Dirt: 4-2-6-3.

SEVENTH RACE
Free Enterprise...Just a feeling that a rebound to earlier good form might be in the cards - but admittedly, that's not solid handicapping.
Pete's Play Call...If able to hold form off the claim.
Big Engine...In the mix more often than not.
Mount Travers.

EIGHTH RACE - G1 $500K Diana
Rushing Fall...Talented mare's form has held in two 2020 starts.
Starship Jubilee...2019 Canadian HOTY was solid winning G2 Ballston Spa here on 7/25.
Sistercharlie...2018 Turf Female Eclipse winner. Third behind top pick in first start of this year - eligible to benefit from that race.
Mean Mary.

NINTH RACE
Allied Invasion...Should benefit from debut effort. Perhaps get a barometer on this one by watching No Salt in R4.
Aintitfunkynow...Better than troubled trip result last time indicates.
Ringgood...Class move on the comeback for barn that's going well recently.
Nero's Fiddle.
Z'finale.
Dirt: Same.

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

Note: Pages on this site are labelled with the equidaily.com logo. Some links are for information only and lead to pages at other sites. equidaily.com is responsible only for the pages on this site. equidaily.com assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always check with official sources to verify info.

E-mail any questions, comments, or suggestions: