BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $864.50

Those of us in the pick box on the front page of The Pink Sheet work hard to one-up one another, but underneath all of that is a lot of respect, on both competitive and personal levels. It’s for that reason I’m proud to shout out Liam Durbin’s fundraiser for cancer research.

Recently, Liam biked a 100-mile route in his native Ohio, from Columbus to Kenyon. Over the years, his efforts have helped raise more than $6,000 for cancer research, and this fundraiser is still active for folks to donate to and support. If you want to learn more and donate, click here!

(As a reminder to any Ohioans who may read this, Saturday marks 2,078 days since Ohio State has beaten Michigan in football. Go Blue.)

FRIDAY’S RESULTS: Payoffs weren’t great, but we cashed a few tickets. My two early Pick Four singles that I bet to win got the job done, and the Pick Four itself hit, too. In total, $45 in bets returned $140.25.

SATURDAY’S PLAY: I’m wasting no time, because I think the opener presents a strong value proposition and I’ll spend most of my time there. #5 TRUST FUND seems like the lone closer in a race full of early speed, and I’m playing accordingly. I’ll have a $30 win bet on him, and I’ll also play a skinny early 50-cent Pick Five ticket that goes as follows: 5 with 1,3,7,8 with 1,3,7,8 (not a misprint) with 4 with 1. Finally, I’ll use my back-to-back singles on that Pick Five ticket in a cold $5 double that links #4 WHITE PALOMINO in the fourth with #1 AMUNDSON/#1A LOOMS BOLDLY in the fifth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $43.

SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Amplitude, Race 12
Longshot: Street View, Race 11

R1

Trust Fund
I’m Wide Awake
Factually Correct

#5 TRUST FUND (7/2): Feels like the only horse in the Saturday lid-lifter that wants to pass others, and he’s found his form in his last two outings. This is a bit of a step up in class, but I think he gets his desired trip and has a big shot at his third win in a row; #4 I’M WIDE AWAKE (9/5): Settled for third after setting a very fast pace going a bit longer last time out. His two-back win at this route was sharp, but I worry about how fast he’ll have to go early on to hit the front with so much other speed signed on; #6 FACTUALLY CORRECT (8-1): Gets back to the optional claiming level and gets to run with Lasix again after a failed stakes try at Finger Lakes. He hasn’t won in a while, but Flavien Prat hops aboard and the two and three-back efforts weren’t bad.

R2

Glint
Rivalry
Just Clarity

#8 GLINT (5/2): Takes a drop in class after fading to finish fourth against $30,000 claimers last month, and the cutback from the chute to a sprint should help him. Irad Ortiz Jr. sees fit to ride, and he could have enough speed to clear the field early from his outside post; #3 RIVALRY (3-1): Cuts back to a sprint second off the claim and adds blinkers, which is a notable move given his desire to be forwardly-placed. He also comes back into restricted claiming company, which could move him up; #7 JUST CLARITY (6-1): Drops from an open claimer into a restricted one and could benefit from the likely race shape. One has to dig a bit to find it, but he could close once upon a time, and that ability could come in handy here.

R3

Trading Trouble
Fancy Lights
My Boston Beauty

#7 TRADING TROUBLE (5/2): Ran very, very well in his debut at a price, when she was second at 12-1 after an eventful trip. She doesn’t need to move forward much to be a formidable favorite here, and if she does that at all, I think she could be very tough; #8 FANCY LIGHTS (4-1): Debuts in a turf sprint for George Weaver, which is reason enough to pay attention. She sold for $80,000 despite a pretty modest pedigree, and broodmare sire The Factor is a very strong turf influence; #1 MY BOSTON BEAUTY (10-1): Had a world of trouble in her debut, but still closed a bit to be fifth that day for a barn whose firsters often need a race to get going. She gets a big jockey switch to Joel Rosario and has every chance to run an improved race at a big price.

R4

Chileno (MTO)
White Palomino
Walley World

#4 WHITE PALOMINO (5/2): Returns after a long layoff of more than a year, and if he’s ready to go, he should dust this bunch. He was beaten just a head in last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby, and he’s been training steadily over the Oklahoma track for trainer Chad Brown; #2 WALLEY WORLD (6-1): Has won two of three since going to the Saffie Joseph barn and made up a ton of ground last time out downstate. This race shouldn’t fall apart quite like that one did, but he and jockey Manny Franco should be rolling late; #9 COMMON DEFENSE (6-1): Tries turf for the first time second off the bench and is bred to love it. He’s by Karakontie and out of a Street Cry mare, and these connections tried to get him on the lawn last month before that race was moved to the main track.

R5

Ten Strike entry
Show Time
Forgiving Spirit

TEN STRIKE ENTRY (8/5): Both #1 AMUNDSON and #1A LOOMS BOLDLY could win this, and they make for a powerful 1-2 punch. The former is a 9-year-old gelding looking for his fifth lifetime Saratoga win, while the latter takes a big drop in class for the aggressive Brad Cox barn; #7 SHOW TIME (5-1): Has been off since a wire-to-wire score at Churchill in April and makes his first start for Norm Casse. He figures to be a factor early in his one, and for a six-furlong sprint, there’s not a ton of other early zip signed on; #4 FORGIVING SPIRIT (6-1): Won his local debut here last month and goes first off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez. That barn’s been a bit cold at this stand, but this one overcame a poor start last time and earned a pretty big speed figure.

R6

Oscar’s Hope
Sassmaster
Senior Lender

#2 OSCAR’S HOPE (7/2): Gets a tepid nod in a wide-open 2-year-old maiden race with several strong prospects. This one has been working very, very fast for Tom Amoss and boasts back-to-back bullet drills ahead of his unveiling; #8 SASSMASTER (3-1): Draws a cushy outside post, sold for $550,000 at auction, and has a right to run well in his debut. He’s a son of Curlin, out of a mare that’s also produced multiple graded stakes winner Royal Charlotte; #7 SENIOR LENDER (6-1): Fetched $450,000 at Keeneland last year and has a few solid works for Chad Brown. His dam is kin to multiple stakes winner Mundaye Call and 2-year-old stakes winner Bullard, and his second dam is a half to another stakes-winning 2-year-old, Can the Man.

R7

Treaty Obligation (MTO)
Exact Estimate
Depiction

#7 EXACT ESTIMATE (5/2): Runs for a tag, which is a bit curious, but he ran second behind the talented Cugino last time out and has plenty of back form. It also helps his cause that he beat impressive next-out winner Big Everest in that race, too; #6 DEPICTION (3-1): Didn’t do much running when fifth in the Grade 3 Poker, but he gets Lasix back here and that should help. He strikes me as a bit pace-dependent, but if he’s able to get some speed in front of him, he’ll be a factor late; #5 ITSALLCOMINTOGETHA (6-1): Ran third in the Kingston last time out after being a big part of the early pace, and he’ll likely be forward again here, too. He’s run well at he Spa several times, and he could be dangerous if he gets comfortable up top early.

R8

Damon’s Mound
Little Ni
Surveillance

#2 DAMON’S MOUND (2-1): Chased Book ‘Em Danno in the Grade 2 Vanderbilt a few weeks ago and gets some class relief here. He’s a graded stakes winner who should appreciate the shallower waters, even if this event came up pretty salty for the level; #6 LITTLE NI (3-1): Ran pretty well in his 2025 debut last time out, when he was second in his first try since October. He showed a new dimension that day making up some ground late, and he’s a logical candidate to move forward second off the bench; #8 SURVEILLANCE (4-1): Comes back to dirt after chasing Bring Theband Home in the Harvey Pack on turf. He’s clearly a better horse with Lasix, which he gets here, and this 11-time victor is capable of winning this on his best day.

R9

Opulent Restraint
Laurelin
Go Go Boots

#1 OPULENT RESTRAINT (2-1): Sure looks like the lone early speed in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks, and I think she’s a logical wire-to-wire candidate. It feels like she’s getting much better with distance and experience, and she may get brave up top and prove tough to catch; #6 LAURELIN (9/5): Has done nothing wrong with four wins in as many starts and ran down my top choice two back. This is, however, a stretchout in distance for her, and it’s not an insignificant one; #3 GO GO BOOTS (7/2): Makes her first U.S. start for new trainer Miguel Clement after five efforts overseas. Her most recent effort at Ascot wasn’t bad, and while she doesn’t have any local works (which is a big question mark), at least we know she should handle this distance.

R10

Far Bridge
Nations Pride
Utah Beach

#6 FAR BRIDGE (9/5): Stretched back out in distance to win the Grade 2 Bowling Green a few weeks ago and will look to take the Grade 1 Sword Dancer for the second straight year. Toss last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf against a world-class field, and you have a horse that hasn’t run a truly bad race in more than a year; #5 NATIONS PRIDE (3-1): Has won big races all over the world, and his best would give him a big shot here. William Buick comes in to ride for Charles Appleby, but I’m wondering if it’s possible we’ve seen the best of him already, and if he’ll need to turn back the clock to beat this bunch; #9 UTAH BEACH (8-1): Won at this distance two and three back and didn’t get a great trip last time out. Jose Ortiz hops aboard, and a return to form would give him a puncher’s chance at a price for a trainer who intends to retire by the end of the year.

R11

Alyeska
Street View
Next On Stage

#3 ALYESKA (7/2): Won her debut in September like a very good horse, then went to the sidelines and changed barns. Her return effort wasn’t bad, as she was third behind next-out Test runner-up Ragtime, and given a few very sharp works, I’m expecting a bigger effort here; #6 STREET VIEW (15-1): Won at this distance last time out and is worth a look at a big price. Draw lines through the efforts on off tracks, which she clearly hates, and her sheet looks far, far better. It wouldn’t shock me if she’s right there; #8 NEXT ON STAGE (9/2): Was second in the race my top pick exits and should be on or near the lead early. She’s a consistent sort, and while it doesn’t seem like she enjoys being in front, her usual effort should be enough to get a piece of this.

R12

Amplitude
Hit the Post (MTO)
Charles J

#2 AMPLITUDE (5/2): Feels like a very probable winner of the finale given the likely race shape. There’s a lot of early speed signed on, and this seems like a softer group than the one he faced last time out coming off a long break. If he’s sharper and gets his desired trip, he’s strictly the one to beat; #10 CHARLES J (5-1): Was third in a similar spot last time out and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides back for a small barn. He’d also benefit from a fast pace, but I’m wondering why blinkers go back on since they didn’t seem effective back in early-2024; #7 FIDELIGHTCAYUT (3-1): Ships in from Monmouth to face New York-breds, and he’s run some big races at this level. It certainly helps that he doesn’t necessarily need the lead. If there’s hesitation here, it’s because his lone recent win came on dirt at Tampa.