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Weekend Winners Club

Aug 23 2013

Saratoga Picks Saturday August 24 Travers, Test, King’s Bishop, Ballston Spa

The big Travers Day is finally upon us! Grid and Analysis below.

Download Travers Day Grid Here

SARATOGA: TRAVERS G1

The headline race on Saturday is of course the Travers G1, which would be the 4th leg if the Triple Crown were a Quadruple Crown. The favorite is Verrazano, who failed miserably in the Kentucky Derby but is coming off two 9+ length wins at Monmouth in the Pegasus and Haskell G1.

Just inside of V at post 2 is Derby winner Orb at 4-1 who is coming off disappointing but not horrible finishes in the Preakness and Belmont. At post 8 is 5-2 Palace Malice, our pick to win the Belmont at 14-1, who did win the Belmont and is coming off another impressive win in the Jim Dandy G2.

Will Take Charge, our long shot special for the Dandy, actually finished second in that race at 17-1. He looks like he’s in his best form of the year for HOF trainer Wayne Lukas, and drew post 5 at 10-1. Just inside him is Golden Soul at 20-1 who looks to return to 2nd place in Derby form after a horrid Haskell.

Kirian Mclaughlin must have liked what he saw from Transparent in his 2 length Curlin Stakes victory the day before the Dandy at Saratoga, and he will take his second graded stakes shot of his career at 10-1. 3rd place Dandy finisher Moreno will try to go gate to wire at 12-1.

The bottom line is the 3 chalk horses look formidable, with 2 Triple Crown race winners and a Wood/Haskell winner among them. We’ll take Will Take Charge again as a long shot special, with the track drying out it will favor him and Orb as late runners.

SARATOGA: KING’S BISHOP G1

In this 3yo race, Forty Tales is a legitimate favorite, but it’s only 7f so it may not be a good late runners race even with a field of 14. Speeders such as Let Em Shine, Mentor Cane, Majestic Hussar, and No Distinction all offer good odds. Overanalyze also has a great price returning to sprint. The top value picks are Overanalyze and Majestic Hussar.

SARATOGA: BALLSTON SPA G2

This race looks like it’s up to Diana G1 winner Laughing to win, but there are some other competitive chalky horses in the race. Watch out for top LP late runner Somali Lemonade at 6-1.

SARATOGA: TEST G1

In this 7f filly race, the favorites are Sweet Lulu, My Happy Face, and Lighthouse Bay. The top EP rating goes to Baby J at 12-1 and is also the only E runner in the field, and has great trainer percentages . Second in EP is So Many Ways at 10-1 ridden by crowd favorite Rosie Napravnik.

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