Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Saturday, August 29, 2020 Meet Total ...101-318

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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

3-10. R1 ... ABCD 3.30 x 4.00 t 5.40 s 7.00; R4 ... BCx x 16.80; R5 ... ABx 3.00 x 12.80; R6 ... CBA x 36.20 t 127.00; R9 ... DAx x 75.50; R10 .. Axx off turf - dirt picks "D" scr 7.00

Cracked the century-mark with winners-on-top. Now we'll see if we can reach 120. With eight days left things will have to go our way - should be interesting!

Weather: Very nice! Sunny and very comfortable.

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

Today

FIRST RACE
Happy Sophia...Makes the class move -- NY-bred alw to open clm -- that I find very potent.
Enough Love...Might be primed.
Queendom...Fits with these.
La Negrita.

SECOND RACE
Very evenly matched among the top half-dozen.
En Wye Cee...Went well in the seasonal debut with the move to turf.
Spirit Animal..Just snudged the top pick last time as a beaten fave -- obviously dangerous.
Ballagh Rocks...Clearly capable.
King Cause.
Dirt: 10-11-1-2-9.

THIRD RACE - G3 $100K Saranac
Don Juan Kitten...Seems dangerous off the latest.
Vanzzy...Also coming in off of a nice win last time.
Bodecream...Meanwhile, this one flopped when last seen - but is better than that and goes out for trainer having a good meet on the grass.
L'Imperator.
Dirt: 8-3-9-1.

FOURTH RACE
Stay Fond...Brings in a two-race win-streak. Claimed and moves up - but likely fits with these.
Radiantrithym/Tied Up...Ran 1-2 last time but Radiantrithym has some back Beyers that might have an edge on these - if able to rebound to those.
Bustin to Please...Not convinced on the ML favoritism - but is 3-for-5 this year and 6-for-12 overall. so, likes to win.
Annie Rocks.

FIFTH RACE
Letmetakethiscall...In good form.
Archumybaby...Also going well lately. Claimed out of a win here on 8/7.
My Roxy Girl...Behind top pick last time in a first-off-the-layoff start.
Prairie Fire.
Viradia.

SIXTH RACE
One of two very salty, fun 2YO race on the card [see also R10].
Newbomb...Sire good with firsters. sib My Happy Face was 2,1,2,1,2,1,2 to start career - those last five were stakes. Sib Excuse My French won debut. Working well for trainer contending for meet-leader status.
Happymac...Sib to Shancelot who started career with three straight wins inclusing the eye-popping 2019 G2 Amsterdam. Son of Runhappy is chasing a $100K bonus if able to put a Saratoga won on sire's resume.
Highly Motivated...Potent win-early team. Worked 21.0 before auction. Sib Dew Springs won debut in Puerto Rico.
Nerves of Steel... Sib Fort Courage 2,6,2,2,1 to start career. Sire good with win-early runners. Enough here to take a look with a ML of 30-1.
Majestic Street.

SEVENTH RACE - G2 $150K Amsterdam
Yaupon...Gets tested today - but seems like potentially another quality sprinter from a trainer who's had a few of them recently [Volatile, Mitole].
Long Weekend...One of three that ran in 7/10 Gold Fever. Close-up third that day - but perhaps better than that if able to recapture Oaklawn form.
Basin...Perhaps will apreciate the cutback.
Premier Star.

EIGHTH RACE - G1 $30K Forego
Whitmore...7YO millionaire gets the nod off of the second last time to Volatile.
Complexity...Should be set up well off the nice win in first start of 2020. Best rave so far was at this trip.
Funny Guy...Steps up here - but impressed winning vs NY-breds last time.
Mind Control.
Fortin Hill.

NINTH RACE - G1 $500K Sword Dancer
Cross Border...Took latest on DQ and four other that race come back here - including first under the wire Sadler's Joy. Tepid pick.
Sadler's Joy...Millionaire edged top pick last time before DQ. Talented and a multiple-time winner at the distance.
Aquaphobia...Coming out of a solid G1 win.
Channel Maker.
Dirt: 1-3-2-4.

TENTH RACE
Always Carina...Sib Structor won first three, including BC Juv Turf.
O'Gotten Girl...Interesting with one under the belt and move to dirt.
Zainalarab...Barn mate to top pick attracted $1mil at auction and shows some nice works.
Len Lo Lady.

ELEVENTH RACE
Midnight Surprise...Good looking debut. Probably needs to step it up a little here but that's not out of the question in start #2.
Eloquent Speaker...Cut back is intriguing.
Flashpackinbarbie...Good try vs similar last time.
Stretchthestory.
Miss Jimmy.

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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