Saratoga Picks: Meet begins 2nd half on August 10

Saratoga Springs, the town north of New York's capital is bustling with equine-related activity! The celebrated Meet is already at the half-way point, but that only means that the best is yet to come ... NYRA will continue to put forward another major stakes schedule, and with full fields, it should be another exciting go! Travers Day is coming, along with so many betting opportunities. Wait for it ... Week 5 is here!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Wednesday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 4: Higher Standard #2, 7/2):

Trainer Tom Amoss has achieved quite a number of marks over the course of his illustrious career, but he is on the verge of a big one … 4,000 wins. Just a pair of wins will do the trick. I think he has a good one that is worth a bet on Wednesday. We all know that Into Mischiefs are highly-prized (just look at the F-T Sale @The Spa), and his offspring command major prices in the ring. Shipping in from Churchill, this is a perfect spot for Amoss’ colt. He rates accordingly, and has all kinds of talent when it comes to sprinting. He is going to get an upgrade in the rider department, and I fully expect that Dylan Davis will give it his all. If you could get 7/2 on this runner, then I would consider that an overlay.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #2

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 9: Battle Scars #6, 8/1):

Here is a nice homebred partly-owned by Team Block. The gelding by War Dancer is making his ’22 debut, and I like that he is lightly-raced with only 4 starts to his credit. Even though he has not raced since the start of the Aqueduct Meet back in November, that doesn’t mean that he cannot come off the bench against this state bred ALLW Co. group and fire. Rob Atras is a trainer with major ability, and even though he doesn’t pair with jockey Ricardo Santana that often, there is a betting opportunity that cannot be missed. If David Aragona’s M/L rings true (and it normally does), then 8/1 is a pretty smart price. Maturity over the course of a break can be a major catalyst against tired rivals … nice angle …

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #6 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Dirt, 7F, Tale of the Cat S., $135k, 4+):

The plan coming into the Tale of the Cat Stakes is to try and find an answer for what will surely to be an over bet entry in Chad Brown’s Southern District #3. Currently, he is the leading trainer at the Meet, but what is interesting is his go-to jockey (Irad Ortiz), who is at the top of his respective standings, takes over Saffie Joseph’s Awesome Gerry #2. I would argue that there is not much value on the #3 at 7/5 (he probably will be 3/5 at post time), considering that this is a Brown-Klaravich runner. As for Ortiz’s ride, the colt by Liam’s Map will be bet down from 7/2 because of who is on his back.

Searching for value, instead, I want to focus on Greg DiPrima’s Repo Rocks #4. This gelding has some ability to combat early speed, and he does his best running by laying close to the lead. Andew Wolfsont makes his Spa ’22 debut, and he has won aboard this son of Tapiture. I expect him to be a good price on Wednesday, and running lately against the likes of Life Is Good, Eons, and Drafted, should help his class shine through. It will not be an easy task, but that is what makes Saratoga such a fun place to wager.

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Exacta Wheel, 4 w 2/3

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Enjoy some action from the SPA! The tradition at Saratoga Race Course marches on … Be sure to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!