TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato will give their best bet of the day for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday card of the Saratoga meet, and bet $50 Win/Place on their selection. In the case of a scratch, an alternate pick will be posted on twitter. The handicapper who has accrued the biggest bankroll through Sept. 3 wins.
SS: Friday's Result – Man, I was counting my money when they put up that :49.17 half-mile fraction, but Giant Run just didn't have anything left in the tank late and faded to fourth. Total: $502.50.
Saturday, Race 11, Fasig-Tipton De La Rose S.- Third time's the charm? Or three strikes and I'm out? More likely the latter the way things have been going lately, but I'll still chase Lady Lara (Ire) one more time at what should be a square number in this wide-open affair. I made my case for her twice last year in these contests in the GI Longines Just a Game S. and GI TVG Diana S., and while she failed to land a blow in either of those spots, this may finally be the time to cash out on her. The bay gets some class relief after making 11 straight attempts at the graded level, including a runner-up finish to the mighty Tepin three starts back at Tampa in February, since beginning her U.S. campaign with an ultra-impressive win in Belmont's Pebbles S. back in October 2014. There finally appears to be some speed to set her up, and with her inside draw, she should receive a perfect trip while racing under cover. Lady Lara exits a very strong renewal of the Just a Game and stayed on for fourth, five lengths adrift her dominating stablemate Celestine after a wide journey. She was, however, only 1 1/4 lengths behind narrow next out Diana runner-up Recepta, who sat an ideal, ground-saving trip that day. Fifth-place finisher Faufiler (Ire) returned to annex Arlington's GIII Modesty H.; seventh-place finisher Rainha Da Bateria was a very close third in the Diana; and 10th-place finisher Lexie Lou has resurfaced with a pair Woodbine stakes tallies. Today is the day for Lady Lara. Selection: #4 Lady Lara (Ire) (8-1).
BD: Friday's Result – Giant Run got loose like we hoped in the Hall of Fame, but he couldn't see out that final sixteenth while carrying both Sherack and my money. Total: $1212.50.
Saturday, Race 8, GI Test S. – I had a very tough time trying to narrow it down to one pick for today. This is one of those cards with so many tough, bettable races that you just close your eyes, deposit some extra money into your account and hold on for dear life. I can't resist a turnback in a seven-furlong race, and Lightstream feels like the right one at the right price. She's already beaten likely co-favorite Kareena going this trip with a field's best Beyer, and her subsequent stakes wins were plenty strong as well. I'm certainly willing to give her a pass for the third-place run behind Test entrants Off the Tracks and Lewis Bay in the Mother Goose–she lost tons of ground, covering 36 ft. more than the winner (about 4 1/4 lengths), according to Trakus. That extra ground is about what she lost by, and the shorter trip should definitely help sharpen her late kick. Selection: #5 Lightstream (8-1).
Tune in each race day from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for Saratoga Live, available on Fox Sports 2 (channel finder), MSG+ (channel finder) and Altitude (channel finder).
For the complete broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com
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