Saratoga & Del Mar Picks and Predictions – Bernard Baruch, Perfect Sting & More (Aug 28, 2025)
Saratoga Race 3 Bernard Baruch Stakes
1 Major Dude drops in class after trying to take a solid field of 9 gate-to-wire in the Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth Park. This Todd Pletcher trainee tired in the stretch that day to finish 3rd beaten by 2 lengths. He cuts back to the mile and sixteenth distance today where he’s won 3 of 6 starts with 2 placings and a third. This son of Bolt d’ Oro likely sits in the second flight today and gets first run at the front runners. Win Contender
5 Donegal Momentum is another in here dropping in class. This Uncle Mo Colt was last seen stumbling badly in the Grade 3 Kelso and had to be pulled up. Draw a line through that race. Colt was unbeaten at the Spa before that unfortunate bad step. He won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes while wiring the field. He has a good chance to take this group gate-to-wire once again. Win Contender
2 Program Trading is a multiple Grade 1 winner and the class of this field, however this Roan hasn’t seen the starting gate in over a year. If he was 100% fit this Chad Brown trainee would handle this field with ease. With a year off I’d like to see a race before putting this one on top for the win bet. Use with Caution.
Selections 1-5-2-3. / Off Turf 5-4-1-6
Saratoga Race 9
6 Light Man makes his third start of 2025 after finishing third in his last 2 starts which includes a sharp effort in a local Stakes here. Gelding was chasing a fast pace that day and still finish well to be third beaten by just under 4-lengths. With the outside draw today this son of Central Banker should sit just off the speed and try to catch the front runners in the stretch run. I like this ones chances at a price. Win Contender.
5 Baby Yoda hasn’t been able to get the job done versus Stakes company lately but fits well here with the drop in class. Win Contender
7 Dubyuhnell hasn’t shown much ,finishing off-the-board in his last 6 starts. This guy will be dismissed at the windows and rightfully so. I was a bit encouraged how this Billy Mott trainee was making up ground in his last start. If the pace is contentious early, I think this 5-year-old can make up some ground in the stretch and get a piece of the pie at a price. Live Longshot
Selections 6-5-7-1
Saratoga Race 11 Perfect Sting Stakes
6 Proctor Street came home with authority when defeating Allowance/Optional 75K N2 foes last out over this inner turf course here at the Spa. This Fill’s late pace numbers that day were in the triple digits. Gal faces much tougher horses today but she appears to be moving in the right direction. She sports a bullet work and could be sitting on a career best effort. Top Pick
5 Dynamic Pricing is Grade 1 winner who rarely runs a bad race. Win Contender
7 Les Reys finished a disappointing 4th last out in a local restricted Stakes race here. Filly still only lost by a length that day. She was making her first start off an extended layoff. She should be much more fit as she makes her second off the bench. Major Threat
Selections 6-5-7-4
Del Mar Race 7
2 Imaboutago came off the bench from a near 7-month hiatus to run a credible 4th in the Daisycutter Stakes here at Del Mar. This Filly obviously needed a race under her belt off the long layoff. I expect a big move forward today. Top Pick
6 Uncorked makes her second start off the pine after losing by a nostril in Daisycutter Stakes at this distance. It’s been awhile since this 6-year-old Mare has seen the winners circle but she fits well with this group. Win Contender
8 Barbara T makes her first start on the blades. Filly was last seen being overmatched in Grade 2 competition last out on the dirt. I like that the trainer adds the eye cups today. If this gal takes to the surface switch, she’ll be a player at the wire. Major Threat