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 – Gorgeous Bird, off at 22-1, had plenty of pace to close into, but just never got going. Total: $812.50.
Saturday, Race 3, Msw – I know I'm playing with fire selecting a race with a possibly well-meant Pletcher firster, but Pretty Boy Flash (Gone Astray) is awfully difficult to stay away from off a pair of promising efforts. The most expensive 2-year-old by Gone Astray to go through the ring in 2016 when bringing $375,000 at the OBSMAR sale, the bay got going too late to finish an educational fifth after some trouble at the start in his 4 1/2-furlong Churchill debut May 19. Subsequently freshened, he had a bid of an odd journey at the Spa on opening weekend while adding an additional furlong. He broke like a rocket from an inside post despite bobbling shortly after they sprung the latch and briefly led the charge of 10. He was shuffled back to fourth on the far turn and was stuck behind a wall of horses at the top of the lane. Pretty Boy Flash finally was guided out four deep in the stretch and came with a sustained rally to finish a decent third behind the promising One Liner (Into Mischief). Between his outside post and the stretch to seven furlongs, Pretty Boy Flash is going to be very hard to beat here. Selection: #8 Pretty Boy Flash (7-2).
BD: Friday's Result – I was counting my money turning for home as Pax in Terra was inching closer after a contested early pace, but those in front of him kept right on going and he settled for a distant fourth. Total: $1350.
Saturday, GII Adirondack S. – Nothing seemed to go right for Olive Branch last time, so I have to give her another chance at what should be an inflated price. The Rick Violette pupil acted up in the paddock before the GIII Schuylverville S. on opening day, and required a shoe repair. Drawn the rail over a track that seemed to pretty clearly favor outside, off-the-pace runners, she pressed a hot pace along the inside before being pinballed around when trying to get out into the clear in upper stretch. She kept trying from there, and galloped out well enough. Drawn outside of main speed Silvertoni this time, Olive Branch will likely be able to stalk/press that foe out in the clear, and might very well turn in a vastly improved effort under more advantageous circumstances–as long as she behaves herself. Selection: #4 Olive Branch (6-1).
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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