The racing week kicks off in style at Saratoga on Wednesday afternoon since no one was able to connect on the Pick 6 on Sunday’s card. This leaves horseplayers with a $102k carryover in the sequence that kicks off in Race 4. Let’s get right to it.

Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.

Race 4:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7 Remi’s Moon; 2 Gardiner
Backups: 3 Trust Issues; 5 Zippy Mark

Forecast: #2 Gardiner is the one to beat in this 50k starter over the main track. Trainer Joe Sharp has had a tremendous 2025 and it has continued thus far at the Spa. The Audible colt has been in the exacta in 4 straight since Sharp added blinkers last November, but he has had favorable voyages in his two starts as a 3YO making him tough to fully trust. #7 Remi’s Moon is much less experienced, but has done little wrong through three starts. The Enticed gelding took a huge step forward with the addition of shades in his first start off the claim for David Jacobson. A repeat of his win at Ellis against lesser puts him squarely in the mix on the class hike.


Race 5:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 2 Talkin in Cursive
Backups: None

Forecast: Trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci holds a strong hand in this low-level starter with 8-5-ML favorite #2 Talkin in Cursive and 2-1-second choice #4 Gone and Forgotten. Gone and Forgotten was claimed by Kantarmaci just 10 days ago. He is just 1 for 13 with runners first off the claim being wheeled back in 15 days or less making this one tough to trust despite a big run over this surface less than two weeks ago. I prefer Talkin in Cursive who was given more time after being claimed by this barn in June and put forth a career best effort on July 10. If she avoids regression, they are running for second place.


Race 6:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Catch a Wave
Backups: 5 Crystal Quest

Forecast: I lack creativity in this 1 3/8-mile second level-allowance event over the Inner Turf, but do prefer second choice #2 Catch a Wave to 9-5-ML favorite #5 Crystal Quest. No doubt, Crystal Quest holds the class and experience edge, but his two runs since returning off the layoff have been underwhelming. Plus, he has to prove the added ground will work to his advantage. The son of Uncle Mo is capable on the class drop, but Catch a Wave is the one I prefer, especially at a slightly bigger price. The Curlin gelding failed to finish the deal in his first start off a year layoff on June 28 at Aqueduct, but appears poised for a career best second off the bench. Hopefully, the slight cutback and the start under his belt do the trick.


Race 7:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Looks First; 3 Beira
Backups: None

Forecast: The pace should be honest in this 7-furlong event over the main track for starter allowance foes, which on paper should benefit 2-1-favorite #4 Daisy Duke. The Classic Empire filly exits some solid races at Churchill Downs and put in a solid second last out in a similar spot, but this barn has really struggled to find the winner’s circle at Saratoga of late. In fact, trainer Ron Moquett is 0 for 40 over the last 5 years when shipping into the Spa making the ML offering impossible to swallow.

#2 Looks First is the price option I am intrigued by. The Mor Spirit filly has really shown the ability to finish, including last out when she came with a strong late run over this racetrack to miss by just a neck at odds of 29-1. She will need a proper setup to spring the upset, but that is well within the range of outcomes. #3 Beira is more logical. The 4YO filly took advantage of a lack of pace in her gate-to-wire win off the claim for Richard Dutrow Jr. last month at Aqueduct, but is not a need the lead type. Joel Rosario has been riding well and should have her in a perfect stalking position on the backstretch.



Race 8:
Grade: X
Main Ticket: 2 The Big Calhouna
Backups: None

Forecast: You get two chances to take two for the price of one in this second-level allowance at 6.5-furlongs with a pair of coupled entries in with big chances. The Linda Rice entry is listed at 4-1 by oddsmaker David Aragona, but unfortunately, I am attracted to the chalkier duo.

#2B Everyoneloveslinda is not without a chance, but #2 The Big Calhouna is the one to beat. The Maximus Mischief filly rattled off a pair of victories at Aqueduct earlier this year before being given some time off by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. She came back in a salty allowance on June 26 where she was unable to go with the top two after stalking just off the pace early. The two gals she lost to though would both be very tough in this spot, including winner Dolomite. The Big Calhouna should be tough to beat with a clean voyage under hot riding Irad Ortiz Jr.


Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 6 Askingforafriend; 4 The Commish
Backups: None

Forecast: Hopefully, we can get to the final leg and take a shot against 8-5-favorite #7 King Puck. The Twirling Candy gelding certainly fits well in this spot, but has fit well before evidenced by his losses at 3 to 5, 4 to 5, and 2-1 over his last 3 starts. He will meet his friends at some point, but it will be without me.

I will use two against the chalk, including top pick #6 Askingforafriend. The Practical Joke gelding did not have things his way in his first start for Mike Maker on June 19. Not only was it not a clean trip, but it was a turf sprint dominated by a wire-to-wire winner. He should take a big step forward in the finale. I will also include #4 The Commish. The Three Diamonds Farm homebred raced against the flow as well last out in his first start over the grass for Keri Brion. His early speed and the presence of Luis Saez for the first time could make him tough to catch late!

Good luck!