Saratoga Picks & Best Bets | Saratoga Special, Fourstardave, Saratoga Derby, Test, Whitney Stakes – August 2 2025
Saratoga Race 3 Saratoga Special Stakes Grade 2
6 Obliteration did just that when winning the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes by a whopping 10-lengths. Colt raised his dirt speed figure 14 points from his Maiden score to his romp in the Sanford. Top Pick
4 Dazzle d’ Oro defeated a large field of 11 in his debut at Churchill. His daddy is up and coming Sire Bolt d’Oro whose siblings tend to move forward at a quick rate. Win Contender
1 Ewing was an impressive debut winner over this main track here at the Spa. This son of Knicks Go bested a small field of 4,winning by 12-lengths. Win Contender
Selections 6-4-1-5
Saratoga Race 8 Fourstardave Stakes Grade 1
4 Think Big proved he’s more than just a sprinter when he recently won the Grade 3 Kelso at this mile distance. This Michael Stidham trainee does his best running on a firm turf which he likely gets today. Win Contender
3 Johannes returned in fine form to win the Grade 2 San Gabriel after his second place finish in the Breeders Cup Turf Mile. He’s won 4 of 5 at this distance and is your deserving morning line favorite. Win Contender
7 Spirit of St Louis is another in here who does his best running on a firm turf course. Gelding is Grade 1 winner who has a nice late turn of foot and has 3 victories in 4 starts at this mile distance. Major Threat
8 Deterministic is in best form of his career winning two straight races including the Grade 1 Manhattan. His best chance here would be to try to take this group gate-to-wire. Don’t Ignore
Selections 4-3-7-8
Saratoga Race 9 Saratoga Derby Invitational Grade 1
3 Final Gambit made his turf debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and finished a respectable 5th beaten by just 2 lengths. Colt is stone cold closer who’s a bit pace dependent but I feel he’ll get an ideal set up today. He should also relish this mile and 3 sixteenths distance. I’m hoping to get 10-1 or better come post time. Win Contender
7 Hotazshell is a European shipper who has been facing much better overseas. He’s a Group 1 winner who has defeated some salty competition. If he ships well and is on top of his game, he’s your likely winner. I’ll try to beat him today. Win Contender
5 Test Score was last seen getting his first Grade 1 victory in the Belmont Derby over this turf course here at Saratoga. This son of Looking at Lucky rarely runs a bad race and should be ready to fire second off the layoff. Win Contender
Selections 3-7-5-9
Saratoga Race 10 Test Stakes Grade 1
1 Ragtime is a perfect 2-2 here at the Spa and unbeaten in 2 career starts. Gal faced winners for the first time off her maiden score and nearly ran a triple digit speed figure when defeating Allowance foes. She ran that number despite being hand ridden at the wire. This is a huge step up in class but I believe this Filly is up to the task. Top Pick
3 Look Foward has been holding her own against some stiff competition. She recently finished second to La Cara in the Grade 1 Acorn and finished ahead of Scottish Lassie, who would go on to win the Grade 1 Coaching Club Oaks by 15 lengths. She’s a juicy 8-1 on the morning line. Live Longshot
4 Cash Call has won three straight races which includes the Grade 3 Summer Oaks, where he defeated the up and coming Howin, who won a Graded Stakes yesterday in a hand ride. Don’t sleep on this west coast shipper. Win Contender
Selections 1-3-4-6
Saratoga Race 11 Whitney Stakes Grade 1
5 Sierra Leone is last year’s Breeders Cup Classic Champ who has yet to find the winners circle in 2 starts in 2025. With the rabbit Contrary Thinking and front running Mama’s Gold entered here, the pace should be hot early which should benefit his Closing style. I believe he stamps his ticket to this year’s Breeders Cup Classic. Top Pick
7 White Abbario was a non-factor last out in sloppy conditions in the Grade 1 Metropolitan. I’ll draw a line through that effort as he’s never run well on a sloppy track. He’ll get a fast strip today and I expect a top notch effort as he showcased when winning the Pegasus World Cup by nearly 7-lengths. Irad OrtizJr chooses this horse over #1 Mindframe which speaks volumes to me. Win Contender
9 Fierceness couldn’t get by Raging Torrent last out in the slop in the G1 Manhattan, finishing a disappointing second. I feel if the track was fast that day this son of City of Light would’ve dominated. This Todd Pletcher trainee sports 3 wins with a placing in 4 starts here at Saratoga and he’s 2-2 at this distance. Win Contender
10 Post Time will be motoring late.