For the second consecutive Sunday, horseplayers were unable to piece together the final six winners on the card, leaving Saratoga with a strong $154,119 carryover to start the racing week in their traditional $1 Pick Six Pool. This along with another Wednesday afternoon 1 million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split make it a great time to be alive to play at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. The Pick Six sequence kicks off in Race 3 at 2:20 local time and includes the featured New York Stallion Statue of Liberty at one-mile over the Inner Turf. Here are a few horses I like most within the Wednesday Pick Six.
Race 3:
The pace should be contentious in this seven-furlong affair over the main track, which is likely to benefit #7 Hot Gossip. The 3YO filly makes her second start of the meet after a third-place finish in a similar condition out of the Wilson chute on July 19. Not only do I expect things to set up a bit better for the Linda Rice trainee on the turnback to a true one-turn race, but it has not been easy making up a ton of ground late in the races over the one-mile dirt configuration at the Spa this summer. The Linda Rice barn has been smoking hot and hopefully continues to kick the sequence off with Manny Franco back in the saddle.
Play: #7 Hot Gossip (4-1 ML)
Picks: 7-1-8
Race 4:
Up next is an optional claimer at six-furlongs over the main track where I presume a significant number of horseplayers will take a stand with 8-5-ML favorite #7 Gardiner. The Joe Sharp colt won his last race at Churchill Downs on June 21 and had his claim voided after the race for the second time in his 13-race career. The fact Sharp shipped him to New York and protects him is a positive, but I struggle to want to push all-in on a horse with soundness issues that is likely to be tested on the front end. Therefore, I will take a swing with #8 Runaway Joke. The son of Practical Joke makes his second start off the long layoff after a stalk and fade against NY-bred allowance foes last month. He shook off the rust last out and draws favorably outside the main speeds. Hopefully, he springs the upset and gives trainer Chad Summers his first win of the stand.
Play: #8 Runaway Joke (8-1 ML)
Picks: 8-7-9
Race 7: NYSS Statue of Liberty Division
This state-bred event for 3YO fillies run at one-mile over the Inner Turf probably goes through 2-1-ML favorite #7 She’s a Country. The daughter of Combatant makes her first start since last November, but does so for a George Weaver barn capable of having ready to roll off the layoff, especially she already won fresh in her first start over this course last year. I will not be surprised if she wins, but #5 Celtic Dawn is likely to be a better price. It is possible the Carlos Martin trainee is a sprinter, but I am willing to give her one more chance going long after chasing the pace last time instead of using her strong gate speed to control the early tempo. Javier Castellano did not ride last time, but was onboard her first three wins and is back onboard again. If she has things her way on the front end, I think she can get the eight panels.
Play: #5 Celtic Dawn (3-1 ML)
Picks: 5-2-7
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