FRIDAY RECAP: The day’s lone stakes Race No. 9, the Lucky Coin, was won by #4 Pulsate (morning line 4-1) for hungry, veteran trainer Bobby Ribaudo and rider Manny Franco. The 5-year-old sprint specialist paid $15 on a $2 Win ticket … Capturing the early (Races Nos. 1 & 2) Daily Double and the (Race No. 10 finale), Irad Irtiz Jr. (see below) topped all riders with three victories, followed by brother Jose and Dylan Davis with two wins each … Chad Brown led trainers with two scores … Mr. Ed’s recent roll continued as he banked a $31 EXACTA EXTRA (Race No. 8) & the $4 LATE DAILY DOUBLE (Race Nos. 9 & 10) for $208 … The average $2 Win ticket paid $13.30 and the $1 Pick 6 returned a modest $5,873.50.
IRAD INDEX: With three winners, Irad Ortiz Jr. cut his 13-day loss total on mythical $2 Win wagers to a manageable -$24.80 with three days left in the meet. He is listed to ride in 10 of 12 races today. Giddy up and go, Irad!
JOCK TALK: After today’s program, young Tyler Gaffalione and veteran Joel Rosario will relocate their tacks to Kentucky Downs, where they will ride in the boutique six-day meet on various days beginning Sunday and concluding on Sunday, Sept. 22. Jose Ortiz will join them in the bluegrass on Labor Day. All had outstanding Saratoga meets … With Luis Saez a shoe-in for top jockey honors with 60 wins, for the first time since 2014 the winningest rider title will go to someone not named Ortiz. Nice goin’, Luis.
TODAY AT THE SPA: With early Race No. 1 post of 12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT, don’t get shut out. Rare 12-race card features four excellent stakes, including two Grade 1s, the Race No. 11 Flower Bowl (6:11 p.m. ET, 3:11 p.m. PT) and Race No. 12 Jockey Club Gold Cup (6:46 p.m. ET/3:46 p.m. PT) … Here are Mr. Ed’s budget-busting selections:
EARLY DAILY DOUBLE (Races Nos. 1-2, 12:35 p.m. ET/9:35 a.m. PT)
Race 1: 3,5,12
Race 2: 2,3,8
Wager: $2 Daily Double ($18)
$.50 PICK 4 (Races Nos. 2-5, 1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT)
Race 2: 2,3,8
Race 3: 1,4,6,7
Race 4: 7
Race 5: 1,2,4,5,6 ($30)
PRICE PLAY I (Race No. 5, 2:47 p.m. ET/11:47 a.m. PT)
Trainer upgrade from subpar Linda Rice to hot Brad Cox (31% wins) and cutback to 6 furlongs are the keys to victory for #5 Amendment Nineteen (4-1 morning line). Jose Ortiz stays. Mr. Ed exercises his right to vote for and Wager: $10 to Win & Place on 5 ($20)
EXACTA EXTRA (Race No. 7, 3:53 p.m. ET/12:53 p.m. PT)
Dallas Stewart 2-year-olds improve with age and experience. His #10 Brigadier General (5-1 morning line) making his third start, gets rider change to Manny Franco. Mr. Ed uses him top & under with #3 Ten Gauge (5-1), #4 Misbehaved (7-2) and #8 Gait (4-1). Wager: $4 Exacta Box 10/3,4 & 8. ($24)
PRICE PLAY II (Race No. 8, 4:27 p.m. ET/1:27 p.m. PT)
Wesley Ward ships Kentucky Derby starter #2 Like the King (6-1 morning line) up north for Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac Stakes following ultra-sharp works at Keeneland. Johnny Velasquez fit for this king. Mr. Ed crowns colt. Wager: $10 Win & Place on 2. ($20)
BEST BET (Race No. 10, 5:37 p.m. ET/2:37 p.m. PT)
Brad Cox is the trainer Mr. Ed rode in on (see Race No. 5 above). Late-blooming 3-year-old colt #3 Ducale (5-2 morning line) shows ton of upside. If he can repeat 97 Beyer Speed Figure in last, he’s a winner against this crew. Wager: $30 to Win on 3. ($30)
LATE DAILY DOUBLE (Races Nos. 11-12, 6:11 p.m. ET/3:11 p.m. PT)
In conditioner Bill Mott, Mr. Ed trusts to sweep Late DD with #3 War Like Goddess (4-1 morning line) in Race No. 11 and #1 Forza Di Oro (8-5 morning line) in Race No. 12. Wager: $10 Daily 3-1 Daily Double. ($10)
TOTAL WAGERS: $152
ON TAP SUNDAY: Another early (12:35 p.m. ET/9:25 a.m. PT) Race No. 1 post for another 12-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs on the dirt.