Saratoga

Uncle Mo looks sharp for return in King’s Bishop

August 22, 2011 By Ryan Patterson Leave a Comment

Uncle Mo looked like the “next coming” in his Breeders Cup Juvenile triumph. Check out the video of the race above. Seriously, even if you have seen it, watch it again.

Many thought the son of Indian Charlie would take the Kentucky Derby, but it wasn’t meant to be as a GI tract infection kept him from racing. His loss in the Wood Memorial sort of foretold his future troubles. He should have crushed that group so it’s clear that something was amiss that day at Aqueduct.

Todd Pletcher has handled him with kid gloves since then and has steadily prepared him for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop going seven furlongs at Saratoga. If his recent work of :59.95 for five furlongs is any indication, the colt is ready to run a huge race.

The layoff isn’t likely to hinder him much, if at all. Let’s not forget he broke his maiden first out over this track by about 14 lengths. The point being not that he handled a group of horses that hadn’t won, but that he fires fresh. The maiden win rates among the best by any horse ever in that caliber of race.

It’s scary to think how good Uncle Mo could be if he lives up to his potential. Racing really needs a star right now and I’m putting my money behind the Repole owned and Pletcher trained colt. He will be extremely hard to beat in the King’s Bishop.

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: king's bishop, king's bishop picks, mike repole, saratoga, saratoga picks, Todd Pletcher, uncle mo, uncle mo king's bishop, uncle mo work, uncle mo work out

2011 Whitney Invitational Handicap Preview

August 4, 2011 By Ryan Patterson Leave a Comment

The Whitney Handicap is the premier race of the Saratoga meeting for older horses. The 1 ⅛ miles race is a grueling test which includes the likes of Alydar, Personal Ensign, Easy Goer, Awesome Again, Lemon Drop Kid, Invasor and Lawyer Ron among its winners.

Last year we nailed Blame ($8.80) as our top selection on the way to a $2,564 Pick 4. We also had Commentator ($10.80) as our top selection and play of the day when he won in 2008.

The 2011 edition of the Whitney looks very strong and could provide a lucrative payoff if you back the right racehorse. Let’s take a look at the field.

Flat Out (Flatter x Cresta Lil by Cresta Rider): We had this tough runner as our top pick in each of his last two races. The first of those events was the Stephen Foster Handicap where he tried to make a move up the rail, but failed to close effectively at odds of 18-1. After that we backed him again in the Suburban. It turned out to be the right move as he romped home at odds of nearly 14-1. Alex Solis was aboard for the first time that day and elects to stay aboard even though he had options here. Now that everyone else is ready to jump on the train I am ready to hop off. While I like the horse he was a much more appealing prospect at double digit odds. He gets the rail today and has never won going two turns. I’ll pass at 4-1, but recognize that he could win this race.

Friend or Foe (Friends Lake x Unbridled Star by Unbridled) I’m bullish on this colt in the long term, but I don’t like that he has just won race this year. Even though it was a good race in which he defeated Rail Trip by a head, I wish he had a bit more seasoning. On the bright side he proved how talented he is by winning the Empire Classic Handicap by five lengths in his penultimate race last year. I’m confident that he will score a break through win soon, but I don’t know if it will be in the Whitney at 8-1. Jose Lezcano picks up the mount from Alex Solis.

Morning Line (Tiznow x Indian Snow by AP Indy) The Nick Zito trainee scored his best lifetime win over this distance when he won the Pennsylvania Derby last year. Since then he has become a Grade 1 winner by taking the Carter Handicap and was involved in a very close finish in the Breeders Cups Dirt Mile. I’m willing to excuse his last out effort in the Salvator Mile where he ended up fifth. Regular jockey John Velazquez was gone that day and the first three finishers came back to run well with Soaring Empire winning, Kensei finishing behind him and Rule taking a minor stakes race at Saratoga. Things could get heated up front so I expect Johnny V to try and get him to relax behind a few horses. He is as good as any horse in this race and deserves consideration at odds of 10-1.

Giant Oak (Giant’s Causeway x Crafty Oak by Crafty Prospector) The first thing I notice when I look at this horse is the shiny :58 4/5 five furlong breezing bullet he fired over the Saratoga track on July 31. The Donn Handicap winner is clearly getting better as he gets older. His last two races have seen him make two furious charges down the lane only to come up short. The pace wasn’t particularly hot in either of those races, but it could be torrid in this one. That means he will have a big shot at winning. The only bad thing I can see for him is that he will have Shaun Bridgmahon riding. Nothing against the guy, but he is ice cold right now. It is very clear to me that this is a horse that is doing well and thriving at Saratoga and if not for this being a highly contentious field he might be my pick.

Tizway (Tiznow x Bethany by Dajyur) We had this great colt as our top selection in the Metropolitan Mile last out where he cruised to an easy win smashing the clock in 1:32 4/5 at odds of 4-1. Many will be hot to bet him after such an amazing performance, but I will encourage caution before doing so. First, we must consider that that win came over what is clearly his favorite track. Tizway has dominated at Belmont Park with a win in the Kelso and third place finishes in the 2009 Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2010 Met Mile. Furthermore, this colt has proven that his optimal distance is one mile. I’m not saying Tizway can’t or wont win, but the price will not be generous enough as I expect him to be bet well below his morning line odds of 6-1. Rajiv Maragh gets the call to ride.

Mission Impazible (Unbridled’s Song x La Paz by Hold Your Peace) The Todd Pletcher trainee raced near a very soft pace last out in the Stephen Foster Handicap and just missed holding on while finishing second beaten a neck to upset winner Pool Play. His last win came at Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Handicap where he beat Apart and Giant Oak. His record at the distance is incredible with 2 wins from 3 starts. I know it’s only 2 wins, but when you consider that those wins were the aforementioned New Orleans Handicap and Louisiana Derby that record sounds much better. In the end he rates below my top few horses in here, but would be no surprise for top notch connections. JJ Castellano rides back after boarding him for the first time last out.

Rail Trip (Jump Start x Sweet Trip by Carson City) It’s been a long road to redemption for the 2009 Hollywood Gold Cup winner, but it appears he is back in top form for Jay Em Ess Stable and trainer Richard Dutrow. His first race in over six months came on June 5 in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park where he set a very rapid pace and was only narrowly defeated by Friend Or Foe. Clearly that is a strong race for a gelding that hadn’t been out in so long. Rail Trip races best near the front and I will look for Ramon Dominguez to put him on the lead. If he is fit enough he could take them all the way at a juicy price of 12-1.

Headache (Tapit x Pamric by Woodman) As horse bettors it is our job to look for the horses that are getting better and capitalize at a big price. We picked Headache to win the Cornhusker Handicap last out and he came through at odds of 9/2. That was a big effort as Miguel Mena angled him outside and he roared past Grade 1 winner Awesome Gem for a 2 ½ length victory. Trainer Mike Maker is no spring chicken and if you don’t know who he is then you should check him out on Google ASAP. The closer will get a big pace to chase and it looks like he is in great form right now. I highly encourage including him on Pick 4 tickets at odds of 20-1. He would come as no surprise if he were to win the Whitney. Ken and Sarah Ramsey might have a big time runner in this former claimer.

Rodman (Malibu Moon x Crystal Gem) It seems like we have hit every horse in this race at some point and Rodman is no exception. He was our big price horse in the Met Mile as we nailed the $378 exacta cold with Rodman second at huge odds of 36-1. He had no business being such a big price in there as the horse has proven he can run with the best of ‘em by easily winning the Irish Tower in his previous start. Rodman was a distant third in the Suburban last out where JJ Castellano put him on the lead and he set fast fractions. While this guy can be effective on the front he is clearly better when closing. His second place finish in the Met happened with him rallying from as far back as ninth. I’m a little worried this isn’t his best distance, but with a perfect 2 for 2 record at Saratoga and a boat load of talent this isn’t a horse you want to leave off your Pick 4 ticket. Edgar Prado gets the mount back for the first time since 2009. I’ll make him the top pick at 20-1.

Apart (Flatter x Detach by Unbridled) Last year’s Super Derby winner comes to Saratoga in search of his first Grade 1 win after finishing third in the Stephen Foster last out. He races for Al Stall and will have Julien Leparoux up for the second time. The closer will get a very fast pace to chase in here, but I’m just not sold that he is good enough to even hit the board in this race. I’m going to pass odds of 6-1 which I consider to be a huge underlay.

Duke Of Mischief (Graeme Hall x My Lady Amelia by Real Courage) He defeated one of the deepest field of handicap horses we have seen in a very long time two back in the Charles Town Classic. On his best day this horse can win this, but he is sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You never know which one you will get. He closed well last out in the Stephen Foster even after having a very slow pace in front of him and even led at one point before ending up fourth. He has a sharp four furlong work in :46 4/6 B over the track which rated first of 95 moves. I’m bullish at 8-1 and look for him to be finishing very well under Joe Bravo.

In summation my top selection to win the Whitney Invitational Handicap from Saratoga is Rodman (20-1). I love that he is a perfect 2 for 2 at Saratoga and he should race from off the pace with Edgar Prado back up. He showed us in the Metropolitan Mile that he is still a highly talented individual and over looking him at such a big price is a huge mistake. Horses to include on the Pick 4 other than my top selection are Giant Oak, Headache and Duke of Mischief. If you feel like going very deep I would also throw in Morning Line and Rail Trip.

To get our full card picks for all of the horse racing action at Saratoga check out our Saratoga Picks page.

Betting online for the Whitney Handicap is convenient and easy. Just head over to Twin Spires or TVG where new players get a $100+ sign up bonus!

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: apart, duke of mischief, flat out, friend or foe, giant oak, headache, horse betting, horse racing picks, mission impazible, morning line, rail rip, rodman, saratoga, saratoga picks, tizway, whitney handicap, whitney invitational handicap, whitney picks

Bettor Friendly Tracks; where to get the most bang for your buck!

January 4, 2011 By Ryan Patterson 2 Comments

*Please note that this post is just over a year old. While most of the information is still accurate, takeout rates have risen in California.*

Horse bettors are presented with a million different variables on any given day. There are almost always at least 10 tracks to bet at any given moment. There are a minimum of 11 “traditional” wagers that can be made. These include Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Superfecta, Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and the Pick 6. Many circumstances are beyond the bettor’s control. Tracks can come up sloppy. Turf courses can be rated good or soft. Jockeys can fall off their mount. These things are uncontrollable, but we as bettors are able to control certain variables such as takeout. Will I place my wagers at the track with 25% exacta takeout, or the one with 18.5% takeout? Will I give my business to the track that has large and competitive fields, or the track that has small fields with many favorites finding the winners circle?

There are many factors to consider when deciding which track offers the best bang for the buck. The number one factor is size and competitiveness of the fields. If favorites are winning a disproportionate amount of races it will be hard to make money. If the majority of races at a track have only 6-8 horses or even less then exotics will pay little to nothing unless a huge long shot is able to win and the favorite runs out of the money. The wagering menu is also an important factor. Dime superfectas offer great value in fields of 10 horses or more. The same can be said for the 50-cent trifecta. Rolling Pick 3’s and the Pick 4 and 6 wagers offer great value for those who are able to string together several winners in a row. Takeouts must also be taken into consideration when making your decision. Whether you realize it or not, YOU have a choice when it comes to where you will bet your hard earned money. Let’s take a look at the top five bettor friendly tracks in the United States along with some honorable mentions.

#1 Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)- It was a tough decision, but the storied Churchill Downs ranks as the most bettor friendly racetrack in the entire United States. Whether it’s the beautiful scenery behind the legendary twin spires, low takeouts, or full fields, gamblers cannot go wrong with Churchill Downs. Home to the Kentucky Derby, this track is beloved by many fans. The Run for the Roses is one of the best betting races you will find, but there is much more to Churchill Downs than just a single race. One of the things I love best about Churchill Downs is the “real dirt”. While many gamblers have no problem with synthetic tracks, I find them harder to handicap and I know a lot of people out there would agree with me. Regular dirt races are much easier to handicap, and thus easier for gamblers to make money. The second thing I love about Churchill Downs is the diversity in race types. Churchill Downs is one of the only tracks I can think of where you might see low level claimers and Grade 1 winners compete on the same day on a regular basis.

The takeouts at Churchill Downs are very reasonable. The track keeps 16% of the Win-Place-Show pools, and 19% of all exotic pools. The amount of money in the pools is among the highest in the nation due to Churchill Downs popularity and strong racing. Their wager menu is very strong. They offer 50 cent Trifectas, Pick 3’s, and Pick 4’s. They also have the very popular dime superfecta wager. These wagers shouldn’t be underestimated. They allow bettors to stretch their bankroll and offer more bang for your buck. Average field size at Churchill Downs is 8.28 according to information provided by the Horseplayers Association of North America. I also like Churchill Downs because of their very useful advanced deposit wagering service (www.twinspires.com). Wagering online is very convenient and has many benefits, but we will save that discussion for another time. Churchill Downs has set the bar for other tracks when it comes to treating the bettor well.

#2 Keeneland (Lexington, Kentucky)- While the Kentucky racing circuit certainly has problems that it needs to address, the top two tracks when it comes to wagering lie in the Bluegrass State. Keeneland is one of the premier meets in horse racing. The beautiful location combined with the highest quality of racing makes Keeneland a must visit for all horse racing fans. The feature race in the spring is the Bluegrass Stakes, which has produced countless Kentucky Derby winners. It is just one of many excellent races at Keeneland. The takeout rate of 16% for Win-Place-Show wagers and 19% on exotic wagers is very reasonable. The takeout rates in Kentucky are among the best in the entire nation. Keeneland is similar to Churchill Downs in many ways. Both have top notch racing and they share the same takeout rates. They even offer most of the same wagers. The place where they part the most is in their racing surfaces. Keeneland has Polytrack while Churchill Downs still has traditional dirt.

Many bettors often complain about the trickiness of handicapping Keeneland due to its Polytrack surface. While it can be difficult at times, it isn’t impossible to figure out. For those that are baffled by the Polytrack, Keeneland offers a complete database of information about the Polytrack. It is available for free on their website and is titled “PolyCapping”. There is an abundance of valuable information available at www.keeneland.com, and it is all free. Other resources available online are the Winners Book, and Clocker’s Comments. The Winners Book contains information about every horse that won in the previous meet. Some of the information included is the winning jockey, post time odds, morning line odds, and much more. Clockers Comments is one of the most valuable resources you will find anywhere. The clocker at Keeneland makes notes for every horse that works there. This information is invaluable, particularly when handicapping maiden races with first time starters. The final thing I like about Keeneland is their excellent contests. They have handicapping contests quite frequently both on site and online. I recommend any handicapper that wants a challenge to give these contests a try. Keeneland and Churchill are neck and neck for first and second. You can’t go wrong with either track. Keeneland is a credit to the entire racing industry.

#3 Oaklawn Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas)- While Keeneland and Churchill Downs clearly set the standard for doing right by the bettor, Oaklawn Park isn’t too far behind. The facilities at Oaklawn are top of the line and will put a smile on even the most well traveled track enthusiast. The feature race at Oaklawn is the Arkansas Derby. It is a great betting race and has presented us with many future great horses such as Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and Curlin just to name a few. Oaklawn is also home to the Apple Blossom, a Grade 1 race won by potential Horse of the Year Zenyatta in 2008. The takeout rates at Oaklawn are solid at 19% for Win-Place-Show and 21% for exotic wagers. The average field size is 9.04 according to data gathered by the Horseplayers Association of North America. This is a solid number and ranks Oaklawn in the top tier of all tracks for that statistic. The pool sizes are strong and average over $100k per race.

Oaklawn offers both the 50 cent trifecta and dime superfecta wagers. These wagers help bettors to obtain value, especially when making bets on races that have large fields. The track has benefited from increased purses thanks to an onsite casino. Increasing the purses subsequently lead to better horses racing at this track. Gamblers are able to join the Oaklawn Park Winner’s Circle Player’s Club. Members are rewarded for wagering at Oaklawn and can use the points they earn to buy things like a Daily Racing Form, food, or cash. Oaklawn has some of the finest race calling in the entire country thanks to track announcer Terry Wallace. He has delivered race calls for 36 years and hasn’t missed a single race at Oaklawn since 1975. His calls are some of the best around, and he has called 19,621 races at Oaklawn without missing a beat. While Oaklawn is a top notch track there are a few things I would like to see them improve upon. Their website is lacking and doesn’t even begin to come close to Keeneland. Other than that and a few other small details they are doing a wonderful job. There is a reason they call Oaklawn Park the Saratoga of the South; they treat the horseman and the bettor very well. Owner Charles Cella has always maintained that Oaklawn is about the horse, and he is making good on that promise.

#4 Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, California)- There is a reason that Santa Anita has hosted the last two Breeders Cup World Championships. This track is one of the finest in the entire world. Aptly named “The Great Race Place”, Santa Anita is home to the “Big Cap”, better known as the Santa Anita Handicap, and the Santa Anita Derby. Both are Grade 1 events that attract some of the finest horses in their divisions. This track has some of the best takeout ratings around. Their Win-Place-Show takeout is just 15.43%, ranking them in the top five of all tracks in North America for that category. The exotic takeout is a bit higher than some at 20.68%, but is still more than reasonable. The average field size is about average at 8.53 horses per race. Santa Anita offers the dime superfecta wager, but at this point in time does not offer 50 cent trifectas or 50 cent Pick 4’s. That is something I would like to see change in the near future.

One of my favorite reasons to bet Santa Anita is the $2 minimum Pick 6 wager. It isn’t uncommon for the wager to pay in excess of $100,000. If you are able to string together six winners in a row, you will be handsomely rewarded. The difficulty of the wager, combined with the massive amounts of money in the pool allows this to happen. The Super High 5 wager offered at Santa Anita represents another chance for a huge score. To a hit a Super High 5 the bettor must pick the first five finishers in a given race. It’s hard enough to hit a trifecta these days, so hitting the High 5 will almost always result in a huge pay day. Santa Anita’s website has Pick 6 carryover alerts for all tracks on the southern California circuit. Santa Anita is the perfect destination for the handicapper seeking the score of a lifetime.

#5 Gulfstream Park (Hallandale, Florida)- Home to the SunShine Millions, Florida Derby, and Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park is a top notch track that bettors love. Due in large part to the excellent weather, this track has plenty of great horses to bet on when it runs from January to April. Winners of the Donn Handicap can often be found in the Dubai World Cup later in the year, and the same can be said for the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Gulfstream has excellent field size, averaging 9.07 horses per race according to the Horseplayers Association of North America. The takeouts for Win-Place-Show are acceptable at 17%. The trifecta and superfecta takeouts are too high at 25%. The Pick 6 takeout is 15%, and all other wagers are 20%.

I really like the takeout numbers for Gulfstream, minus the trifecta and superfectas. Those large numbers can really take a bite out of your payoffs. Gulfstream currently accepts the Dime Superfecta and 50 cent Pick 4 wagers. These wagers offer good value, but the excessive superfecta takeout means I’d rather play that wager at another track. The Good Luck Players Club is a nice thing for onsite bettors. It allows customers to accrue points for every wager they make, and the points can be spent on various items. Overall I was disappointed with the usefulness of their website. Keeneland clearly sets the standard in this area, and most racks have a lot of catching up to do. On the whole, Gulfstream is a good track to wager on, but it has some work to do in order to catch up to the top four.

Honorable Mentions:

Del Mar- I love this track, and I could find little wrong with it. However, I felt it was just a bit lower than Santa Anita in terms of quality. Where the turf meets the surf, Del Mar is one of the best tracks in the country and bettors can’t go wrong with this one.

Saratoga- The Spa is a great track for win bettors, but the excessive trifecta, superfecta, Pick 3 and Pick 4 takeouts caused me to leave them out of the top five. The pools always have tons of money in them, and the quality of racing is almost unparalleled. If you’re going to bet in New York, then Saratoga is the place to do so.

Hoosier Park- This track has great field size and low takeouts. However the pools are small in comparison to the big boys, and I believe in betting into larger pools. This typically results in larger payouts. Hoosier should be the top pick for anyone seeking to bet on a smaller track.

Evangeline Downs- In my experience this track is a graveyard for favorites. Evangeline often has very large fields over 10 horses and it’s never a surprise to see a huge long shot find the winners circle. If you like making win bets on horses at big odds then look no further than Evangeline Downs.

Overall it is clear that Kentucky comes out in front when it comes to giving bettors the best bang for their buck. Churchill Downs and Keeneland are far ahead of all of their competition overall. Santa Anita is clearly the place to be if you are looking for a life-changing score. Oaklawn and Gulfstream are both excellent meets that cater to players that like traditional dirt racing and excellent fields. While takeout, field size and field quality are very important I advise you to not lose sight of the reason you are wagering. I think I can speak for the majority of horseplayers when I say we bet the horses because it is something that we love dearly. Stay within your comfort zone and remember the most important rule; have fun.

*I would like to give a special thanks to HANA (Horseplayers Association of North America) for the excellent work that they do and for gathering a large portion of information about the tracks and making it available on their website. If you would like to access their track information chart that includes takeout rates and much more visit: http://www.horseplayersassociation.org/hanatrackratingsbyoverallscore.html.

Filed Under: Horse Racing Information, Miscellaneous Tagged With: belmont park, churchill downs, del mar, evangeline downs, exacta, gulfstream, hoosier park, keeneland, oaklawn, pick 3, pick 4, pick 6, place, santa anita, saratoga, show, superfecta, takeouts, trifecta, win

Saratoga Pick 6 Play ($443,274 carryover)

August 31, 2010 By Ryan Patterson Leave a Comment

The Pick 6 is my favorite wager. I rarely play it, but when I do it seems like I usually get close to the prize. I’ve had 5 of 6 many times, but at my young age of 20 I’ve yet to successfully hit the entire sequence. I have been alive in the 6th race 3 times only to fall short. I hope that doesn’t happen tomorrow as I will be making a big play. Let’s breakdown the Pick 6 at Saratoga on September 1, 2010!

Race 5: I’m not going to over think this race. I’m using #1 Arrr Pirates Booty (3-1) and #4 Stroke (2-1). The Linda Rice barn has been nearly unstoppable so I expect the favorite to take top honors here.

Race 6: I’m using #1 Talk To Nick (4-1) and #6 Dance Floor Maniac (4-1). I like the speed that Talk To Nick is likely to flash from the rail. He faded last out, but I think he could go from flag fall to thats all turning back in distance for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Dance Floor Maniac is super consistent and will get first jump on Talk To Nick. I feel pretty confident I will get through this leg with just these two, but I wouldn’t mind having #2 Devilish Due.

Race 7: I’m not wild about this race. I could see myself going down here. My horses are #5 Power Dreams (6-1) and #6 Precious Metal (7/2). The latter is a fast working first time starter and the former picked up the pieces in a maiden claimer to be third last out. Stretching out on the turf there is no telling what might happen. The rail horse is favored for Linda Rice, but I don’t like babies that haven’t worked five furlongs yet.

Race 8: This is a tough race, but I feel confident with Avanta (8-1), Pleine Forme (5-1), and Believe In A.P. (8-1). All three hold an excellent hand. Avanta has the benefit of jockey Johnny Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher. I like her turf pedigree and she will be tough while throwing the blinkers on after a stalking victory against maiden claiming company in which Pletcher swiped her away from Bill Mott. Pleine Forme picks up Ramon Dominguez who seemingly could have had the mount on Arch Support who is lower odds. Pleine Forme is trained by turf expert Graham motion. She scored a first out victory over the Poly Track at Presque Isle. Believe In A.P. put in a good effort last out for Jay Em Ess and Dick Dutrow finishing a close third despite closing into slow fractions. Julien Leparoux will ride and he is always an asset on the turf.

Race 9: I’m going out on a limb by singling Sumfun (6-1). From five starts at the distance he has won three times and finished second and third. He won an allowance at Lone Star earlier this year before finishing second to the grizzled veteran Atticus Kristy at Churchill Downs. The son of Menifee was claimed last out by Gary Diprima who saddles 19% winners first after the claim. He’s in with a big shot, but I wouldn’t mind having Matt’s A Giant (6-1) and Sly (4-1).

Race 10: He isn’t what he used to be, but I’m hoping that The Roundhouse (4-1) can get me home in the final leg of the Pick 6. He is making a slight class drop after finishing fourth beaten three lengths in his last start. I’m hoping he can find some of the run that allowed him to win an optional claiming even at Aqueduct earlier this year. I’m also using French Transition (12-1). The gelding son was a good second on the turf at this level two starts back.

The total cost of my ticket is $96. Win or lose, I’ll be on the edge of my seat the whole way cheering my horses on. Who do YOU like?

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: free picks, pick 6, saratoga

Free Video Pick: Blessed Moon (Race 2 @ SAR on 9/1/10)

August 30, 2010 By Ryan Patterson Leave a Comment

Enjoy the video! Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: al stall, blessed moon, free picks, saratoga

Gradedstakes.com picks 5 winners in a row at Saratoga!

August 3, 2010 By Ryan Patterson 2 Comments

Sunday was a huge day for my subscribers and I. I picked 5 winners in a row at Saratoga. The highest paying of the five was $17.40, and the lowest was $5.10. If you had bet $2 to win on the first horse and parlayed it for the next five races it would have returned a whopping $883! The five winners were also the first five legs of the Pick 6 which paid a very nice $13,393!

2 Aprilmayjune Velazquez J R 119 17.40 6.10 4.00

3 It’s Tea Time Leparoux J R 116 5.50 3.60 2.80

2 Get Stormy Castellano J J 117 5.10 3.10 2.80

1 Winslow Homer Albarado R J 120 4.70 3.40 2.20

1 Malibu Prayer Velazquez J R 116 6.70 2.80 2.50

I’m handicapping the races everyday at Saratoga. Don’t miss out this week! You can buy selections by using the form below. The rest of the meet is available for $69, and single day cards are $10. Horse racing results will be posted here afterwards on certain occasions.

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: horse racing picks, saratoga

Broken Dreams ($10.40) wins at Saratoga as my free pick!

July 28, 2010 By Ryan Patterson 1 Comment

Regular visitors of this website know that I participate extensively at BettorsWorld. I am selling my picks for Saratoga there, as well as here. My free pick was posted there today. That pick was Broken Dreams in the 9th race. The filly was shipping in after a strong performance at Churchill Downs. I had a great feeling she would run big, and she backed my words up with a strong win at odds of 4-1. A $2 win wager returned a healthy $10.40! Here is what I had to say about her:

Free Saratoga Pick – 7/28 – Race 9 #7 Broken Dreams (6-1) Let’s hope this filly’s name doesn’t describe our thoughts after the race. Seriously though, she has proved in two starts that she is a runner. The daughter of Broken Vow races for Tom Proctor and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. She broke her maiden first out by a whopping 14 lengths. She returned from that effort to be second in an allowance race at CD. Look for her to run big stalking the early pace.

Saratoga hasn’t been easy thus far, but I’m doing well. Dealing with off tracks has been the worst part of the meet. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s Diana and Jim Dandy Stakes. Both features some of the best horses in their respective divisions. If you’re not on board yet then I highly encourage you to join me soon! I have every hope that I will hit both the Diana and Jim Dandy on Saturday. I also have high hopes for the late Pick 4.

Don’t get left out!

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: free picks, saratoga

Free Pick: #1 Lou Brissie (3-1) in the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes

July 25, 2010 By Ryan Patterson 1 Comment

#1 Lou Brissie (3-1) This son of Limehouse has a great closing kick. He won his first two starts including the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile before running into the freakishly good Kantharos last out. There isn’t anyone in this field half as good as Kantharos. The fact that Lou Brissie has displayed the ability to rate will work wonders for him. He has a serious experience advantage and will be VERY tough to beat as the second choice on the morning line.

Use the menu below to get all of my picks and plays for Saratoga. I got off to a very fast start on opening day with 2 of my 4 plays winning, including $17.20 winner Katherns Kitten!

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: del mar, free pick, lou brissie, sanford stakes, saratoga

Saratoga and Del Mar are BACK!

July 20, 2010 By Ryan Patterson Leave a Comment

The two greatest things about summer for racing fans are the meets at Del Mar and Saratoga. Combined with Keeneland, these three boutique meets are arguably the best in thoroughbred racing. The horses are of the highest quality, the crowds are great, and the betting pays dividends when you’re right.

I would probably visit Del Mar over Saratoga if given the choice. The track sits right on the Pacific Ocean and the beach is stunningly beautiful. There are few things in the world that I like more than horse racing and beaches. Saratoga is no slouch though. The track has tons of historical value as it has been around since 1863.

Some of the races we can look forward to at Saratoga are the Whitney Handicap, Jim Dandy Stakes, Traver Stakes, Woodward Stakes, and Alabama Stakes among many more.

All of those races were very memorable in 2009. The Travers saw Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird romp over Quality Road. We got to see Careless Jewel destroy her foes in the Alabama. Who can forget Rachel Alexandra digging in and holding on to beat older males in the Woodward? That performance will be hard for any horse to top this year.

We can expect to see Rachel Alexandra, Blame, and Quality Road race at the Saratoga meet this year. Rachel Alexandra will race Saturday at Monmouth Park in the Lady’s Secret, but her next start is likely to be in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Blame and Quality Road will meet in the Whitney Handicap next weekend. The victor of that matchup will be solidified as the top older male in the country.

Del Mar will feature the San Diego Handicap, Pacific Classic, Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar Oaks, and Eddie Read Stakes. Last year we got to see Richard’s Kid take the Pacific Classic at a big price for trainer Bob Baffert. The master trainer also took the Del Mar Futurity with future Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky. The biggest attraction for this meet will be the undefeated mare Zenyatta who is likely to compete in the Clement Hirsch Handicap.

Filed Under: Horse Racing News Tagged With: blame, Bob Baffert, del mar, horse racing picks, Lookin at Lucky, quality road, rachel alexandra, saratoga, Zenyatta

Saratoga Racecourse to offer free grandstand admission on opening day

June 29, 2010 By Ryan Patterson 3 Comments

Although New Yorkers already had plenty of reasons to visit historic Saratoga Racecourse during the summer, they will now have another. At least on opening day that is. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) stated today that the $3 grandstand admission fee will be waived on opening day July 23. The clubhouse fee of $5 will be reduced to $2 on opening day. This isn’t the only good news for Saratoga.

Pick 6 pools on Thursdays will now have a guaranteed pool of $100k. On days without carryovers last year the pool averaged just over $61k. If the pool does not reach $100k naturally then the NYRA will have to supplement the difference. This is great news for bettors that are going for the big score. I’m sure I will play the Pick 6 at Saratoga several times this year.

Perhaps the best news is that the late Pick 4 on Saturdays will have a guaranteed pool of $500k. I’m very glad to hear this because the races on the late Pick 4 at Sarotaga on Saturday are often full of stakes calibur horses. Regular followers of this website know I do my best handicapping in stakes quality races. I am what many would call a “stakes specialist”.

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Filed Under: Horse Racing News Tagged With: saratoga