Friday Racing Picks: Saratoga

Four picks on the card at Saratoga from our lead Horse Racing analyst John DaSilva: 

RACE 2 – PICK: #3 Apex Predator (10-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

After Apex Predator finished fourth when dropped to this level last time out, trainer Mitch Friedman decides to take the weight off and replace Dylan Davis with bug boy Luis Cardenas, who won the first race of the meet yesterday. While apprentices are usually known to send to the lead, as we saw in that first race yesterday, Cardenas showed a good clock and the ability to come off the pace successfully to gain the victory. Apex Predator will probably have to do that to win this race here and at the price he should go off at post time, he will be tremendous value.

RACE 4 – PICK: #4 Pick Up the Fone (6-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

Is a rare sight to see Todd Pletcher with a claiming horse as he is 12 for 50 (24%) with non-maiden claimers in the past year. But not only is this horse a claiming horse, Pletcher claimed this one in December for $35,000. In her last start on May 22, Pick Up the Fone led every step of the way win going longer for a $20,000 claiming tag. Obviously, the addition of blinkers two starts back have helped as Pick Up the Fone shows good early speed now. Todd could have sent her to be based and run at Monmouth Park, but instead he elects to bring her to run at the Spa. With José Ortiz aboard, she might be ready to run the best race of her life at a generous price

RACE 6 – PICK: #7 Vintage Hollywood (7-2 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

This is a race that on paper, seems to be lacking quality speed. In his last start, Vintage Hollywood set the pace before tiring to fourth as part of the Orlando Noda favored entry when moving to face state bred competition. Now with the cut back from a mile to seven furlongs and with Manny Franco retaining the mount. Franco could try to steal it on the front end. With big names like Rudy Rodriguez and Chad Brown in the race, this Orlando Noda trainee could get ignored at the windows and go off higher than the morning line at post time.

RACE 9 – THE SHINE AGAIN STAKES PICK: #9 Blamed (7-2 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

Blamed gets much-needed class relief after finishing fourth in Grade 1 Ogden Phipps while going longer last out. The Bill Mott trainee cuts back to seven furlongs and should be on or close to the early pace. She is also reunited with Irad Ortiz Jr., who was on her the last time they were together in February.  With the lightly raced Chad Brown trained Indian Pride penciled in as the 6-5 favorite, there’s a good possibility that Blamed, who is a multiple stakes winner that has been working out well for this spot, could be an overlay versus these.

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