With horses paying $45.60, $86.00, and $30.20, the Pick 6 at Saratoga will carryover going into Friday’s card, and the pool should easily be over $2 million.

I have to think the NYRA has their fingers crossed that nobody hits the Pick 6 on Friday, setting things up for a huge pool on Saturday, where Rachel Alexandra is the marquee runner going in the $750,000 Woodward (G1).

Would Rachel Alexandra be a “free square” in the Pick 6 sequence? She is sitting at 1-2 on the morning line for the Woodward as she takes on older males.

It would make for an interesting dilemma among Pick 6 players, but first we need to get through Friday’s card.

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There are no free squares in the Pick 6 on Friday. There are two maiden races, the first and third leg, and five of the six races will be contested on the turf.

In four of the six races, my top pick is 8/1 or higher, and I have no morning line favorites among my top picks in any of the six races that make up the Pick 6.

In fact, the only chalk I see getting a win on the entire card comes in the opening race.

We do have some extra time to put together our Pick 6 tickets. Post time for the opener is 2:30 ET, and the first leg of the Pick 6 goes off at 4:09 ET.

To purchase my full card report for Saratoga that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.

Here is today's opening race from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:

SAR Race 1 Alw $59,800N2L (2:30 ET)

#8 Mother Rush   8/5

#7 Yes It's Barbara   10/1

#1 Paracaidas / #1a Life At Ten   5/2

#4 A.P. Elegance   8/1

Analysis: #8 Mother Rush was a much the best winner last out in the slop, breaking her maiden in her third career start by 7 3/4 lengths as the chalk. She earned the top last out speed fig in the effort and she has been working swiftly in the mornings for the Baffert barn that is having a slow meet (1 for 10) by his standards. Going back five years the recently inducted hall of famer has hit at a 28% clip at the Spa. This filly was a $425K purchase, by A.P., Indy out of the stakes winner Seven Four Seven ($404K). The barn is 22% winners with horses coming back off a 46-90 day break.

#6 Yes It's Barbara came off a two month break last out, pressing the early pace from the outside and weakening while drifting out to finish fourth. The filly caught a main track in her first trip here that was more favorable to outside stalkers and closers as early speed was backing up. She has three sibs that are winners including Buddy's Humor ($361K). Worth another look here if we see close to the 10/1 ML.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 8/5 or better.

EX: 7,8 / 1,4,7,8

TRI: 7,8 / 1.4.7.8 / 1,2,4,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 7 Voodoo Dancer S. (5:48 ET)

#2 Final Refrain   15/1

#8 Indescribable   6/1

#6 Belle Allure   4/1

#7 My Baby Baby   5/1

Analysis: #2 Final Refrain is coming off a sharp win at Ellis last out in the Ellis Park Turf and was flattered when the runner up and third place finisher both won next out. The runner up Whirling Bertie came back to win the Gardenia 'Cap (G3) in her next start on August 15. Our top pick will need to step it up a notch or two to beat this group but she does have a couple of wins over the turf here, and was a good third in the Old Red Stakes here last summer. She gets a positive jock switch for her third start of her current form cycle.

#8 Indescribable has not been a threat in her last two starts but she was facing much tougher. Mott puts the blinkers back on today and the last time she wore the hood she won the Cardinal (G3) on the turf at Churchill Downs last fall. She will appreciate the class relief here as she faces restricted company.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 8/1 or better.

EX: 2,8 / 2,6,7,8

TRI: 2,8 / 2,6,7,8 / 2,5,6,7,8

Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Saratoga

R1: #7 Yes It’s Barbara   10/1

R1: #4 A.P. Elegance   8/1

R2: #2 Shareholder Dues   8/1

R3: #3 Paddy O’Prado   8/1

R3: #2 Zapster / #2b Golly Day   8/1

R4: #5 Lovely Lil   10/1

R4: #4 Iron Penny   12/1

R5: #6 Storm Caller   8/1

R5: #3 Tahoe Warrior   10/1

R6: #4 Adriatic Magic   10/1

R7: #2 Final Refrain   15/1

R8: #4 For Free   8/1

R9: #1 Pegasian   8/1

Good luck today!