Friday Racing Picks: Saratoga

Our lead Horse Racing handicapper John DaSilva previews the racing at Saratoga on Friday.

Race 4 – Pick #2 Sonic Speed (6-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

One of the better sires that produces first time starter winners is MacLean’s Music. In the past year, MacLean’s Music wins at 23% with juvenile first time starters on regular dirt. Sonic Speed is a firster trainer by John Kimmel by MacLean’s Music. He drew an inside post position and has been working well for his career debut. Junior Alvarado, who wins at 24% when riding for Kimmel, picks up the mount.

To bet on today’s cards and claim your $300 risk-free bet with TVG simply:

1 - Open a TVG account HERE

2 - Register using code RISKFREE1 and make a deposit

3 - Place a single horse win bet and if it loses they’ll refund you up to $300

Race 6 – Pick #9 Passion Factor (5-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

Rodolphe Brisset in one of the young up and coming trainers to watch for. The former Bill Mott protégé has done well since going out on his own. He sends out Passion Factor to run in an allowance for the first time in his career. After breaking her maiden in her second career start. Passion Factor stepped up in class to run in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland. She was evenly to be fifth. Now with the drops in class to allowance, she should improve off that effort and gain the victory versus these.

Race 7 – Pick #4 I’ll Take the Cake (3-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG

Not often do you see a horse make 47 starts before racing on regular dirt versus claimers for the first time in their career. Even though I’ll Take the Cake has run on dirt in the past, the only time he raced for a tag on dirt was over the all-weather surface at Woodbine. She makes her local debut and drops to claiming ranks after tiring badly at Gulfstream three weeks ago. While this could be a sign of trying to get the horse claimed for a decent price, Saffie is trying to get the victory here. I’ll Take the Cake has run versus claimers since November 2018 at Woodbine. She has shown good early speed in the past but she can also came off the pace to win, like she did two back with Tyler Gaffalione aboard, who will be on her today.

Want more expert Horse Racing analysis? Our sister site RacingPicks.com has insight from the likes of Matt Bernier and Peter Fornatale throughout the week.