The biggest day of the summer at Saratoga of course comes Saturday with a big promotion from 1/ST BET and Xpressbet where the Exacta-Thon is not only back, but with a juicy $5000 offered up! The goal is to connect on the most winning $2+ exactas over the course of the 14-race card. Those horseplayers that hit 6 will divvy up $2500. The person(s) who hit the most overall will split the other $2500. As always it should be a lot of fun, especially for those that can get hot!

Here are a few of the races I plan to attack in the promotion on one of the biggest days of the year at the New York Racing Association in hopes of catching my own Travers Day heater.

Race 3:

I love nothing more than big day maiden special weight events and there are a few on the agenda, including this 6.5-furlong dash for 2YO fillies over the main track. #3 Touch of Magic was made the 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona, but despite a hot barn and a filly that certainly has the bloodlines to be a runner, I prefer others. Trainer Tom Amoss has meant business this summer at the Spa winning with well over 20% of his starters and he has two entered for their first start. With Luis Saez listed to ride both, it is likely one scratches. I will use the entry, as well as #2 Glamorize. The half-sister to Randomized cost a cool million at the Keeneland September sale and attracts Flavien Prat. The rail draw is not ideal, but her ceiling is obvious.

The two fillies I will key around are 7-2 ML second choice #8 Tam Tam and long shot #6 Just Tell Anne. Tam Tam also commanded nearly a million last summer at the FTS August sale for the team of Phil Bauer and Rigney Racing. Bauer is having another solid Saratoga summer with limited starters and legs up Jose Ortiz. She looks live as does #6 Just Tell Anne. The Constitution filly is likely to get overlooked in the wagering with the big-name connections throughout this field, but has reason to fire on debut for trainer Ray Handal. Handal does not sport huge numbers with firsters, but is capable and this gal is bred to be precocious being out of Kiss the Girl. The Into Mischief mare won on debut at Belmont Park in 2019 and backed it up with a runner-up finish next out in the Schuylerville. Just Tell Anne is not the likeliest winner, but should be a big price.

Play: Exacta Wheel 6+8 with 1+2+6+8, Exacta Wheel 1+2+6+8 with 6+8


Race 9: Personal Ensign (G1)

The first of five Grade 1 races over the main track is for fillies and mares 4YOs and up where #7 Thorpedo Anna is likely to be a prohibitive favorite. The popular Fast Anna filly bounced back nicely from her loss in the La Troienne (G1) with an easy victory against lesser in the Fleur De Lis in late June. Last year’s Horse of the Year is 11 for 14 with her lone defeat over this surface being a head loss to Fierceness in last year’s Travers, but has not moved really improved as a 4YO making her tough to get excited about from a wagering perspective.

I prefer #6 Leslie’s Rose. The pricey Whisper Hall Farm filly has struggled with consistency and hates the slop, but is the lone runner in this year’s Personal Ensign that appears to still be on the come. She broke sharp in her win in the Shuvee (G2), relaxed kindly in the pocket under Irad Ortiz Jr., and pulled away late for a career best performance. She should get another favoriable voyage and beats these with a repeat of her last. I will key her on top the favorite, as well as #4 Dorth Vader. The Girvin mare is one of just a few in the region rooting for a rainy Saturday, but is still capable over a fast main track and fits well underneath in the exotics.

Play: Exacta 6 with 4+7


Race 11: Ballerina (G1)

#7 Scylla has had an outstanding career earning over $1M for Juddmonte and Hall of Famer Bill Mott. The regally-bred Tapit mare was able to compete with some of the best in her division in both sprints and routes. She fits well in the Ballerina, but not well enough to endorse at her 5-2-ML offering. She has yet to win in 2025 and is 0 for 4 at Saturday’s tricky 7-furlong distance.

I will try to beat her with #5 Claret Beret. The Not This Time filly has taken a huge step forward since moving into the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn this spring. She rattled off a win by a pole against lesser at Gulfstream Park before a hard trying second to Vahva in the Chicago (G2). She has been freshened up for the biggest start of her career and gets the leading rider. 6-1 seems more than fair. I will tie her up with two other 4YO fillies in hopes of checking one more off in the Exacta-Thon.

#9 Hope Road draws outside the other speeds in her first local start for Bob Baffert after chasing Two Sharp around the track after a subpar break from the gate in the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill Downs. Baffert legs up Jose Ortiz for the initial time. She should be in a good spot throughout. I will also use My Mane Squeeze despite underwhelming earlier this year against this level of competition. Trainer Mike Maker is heating up evidenced by his 7 for 22 over the last 20 days at Saratoga with a $2.22 ROI. The former D. Wayne Lukas assistant got New York-bred a confidence booster on July 30 against fellow state-breds. She fits on figures on the rise back up to the top and could get slightly overlooked.

Play: Exacta Key Box 5 with 8+9

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