Sunday’s Picks from Saratoga

Authentic ended any thoughts of a Triple Crown this year with a gate to wire score in the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) yesterday.

The win gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record-tying sixth win in the Run for the Roses and the heavy favorite Tiz the Law had to settle for the runner up spot.

Authentic returned $18.80 and the $2 exacta paid a decent $41.00. Longshot Mr. Big News rallied for third at 46-1 and completed a $1 trifecta that paid $1,311.80.

I thought we would see more pace, but jockey Manny Franco aboard Tiz the Law took back and Authentic was able to have things to himself much of the trip.

I was hoping for a contested early pace and my top pick Max Player at 19-1 to come calling late. The colt did finish up well but had to settle for fifth.

If you read my column yesterday, we had a few winners including Ancient Times in the opener at Saratoga who paid $14.60.

In the eighth race at Churchill Downs, my top pick won and paid $11.60, and along with my fourth choice, the $2 exacta paid $135.80.

Overall, we had a good day at Saratoga, but it was a frustrating day at Churchill Downs. We did have exactas that paid $115.60 and $135.80 but we needed a few more winners.

We are down to two days left in the Saratoga meeting and we have a dozen races today and 14 more on Monday.

You can catch the action from Saratoga today from 12:30 to 4:30 ET on FS2 and 4:30 to 6:00 on FS1. In addition, you can stream the action on YouTube or by using the TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a risk-free bet up to $300 for new players.

To purchase my Saratoga Report for Sunday click here.

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Saratoga Reports daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday as well as my Preakness Day Report.

Here is the opener from Saratoga to get the day off to a good start:

SARATOGA RACE 1 ANALYSIS (12:45 P.M. ET)

SAR Race 1 Md Sp Wt
#3 Fouette 7-2
#1 Jordan's Leo 3-1
#7 Bellamore 5-2
#6 Caramel Swirl 9-2

Analysis: Fouette set the early fractions had a clear led as they headed for home but got caught late, checking in third while beaten a neck and a nose at even money. The filly caught a racing strip that was playing to outside stalkers and closers that day. The $400,000 Keeneland purchase is out of a stakes-placed Unbridled's Song mare that has dropped two other foals to race, both winners, stakes winner Workaholic ($144,828) and stakes-placed Tomato Bill ($55,490). Asmussen has been very live with juvies this year and hits at a 23% clip overall with second out maidens.

Jordan's Leo is a $150,000 purchase making her debut for the Pletcher barn that is 21% winners with first-timers. Here at the Spa, this meet the trainer is 3 for 15 with two-year-old debut runners. She is by Malibu Moon out of a Leroidesanimaux mare, her first foal to race. A couple of bullet gate drills on the morning tab and this gal looks ready to go at first asking.

SARATOGA RACE 6 ANALYSIS (5:11 P.M. ET)

SAR Race 9 The Spinaway G1
#6 Guana Cay 3-1
#5 Beautiful Memories 9-5
#3 Lady Lilly 7-2
#2 Vequist 6-1

Analysis: Guana Cay is still a maiden as she makes her third career start here for the Ward barn. She was the beaten chalk in her debut where she finished evenly in a third-place finish on turf. last out she took on the boys where she stalked the early pace and finished up well for the runner up spot while catching an inside speed favoring racing strip. The switch to the main track suited her and she looks as if she still has some upside and will get a good tracking trip behind the speed. She is out of a Malibu Moon mare that has dropped two winners.

Beautiful Memories broke her maiden by 10 lengths in her debut at Churchill Downs and was sent off as the chalk last out in the Schuylerille (G3) here. She stumbled coming out of the gate and ended up getting pulled up, pretty much the way the entire meet has gone for Casse who is 1 for 38 with 11 seconds. The filly is out of a stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare that has dropped three other winners including stakes winner Kimbear ($766,699). She showed a ton of talent in her debut but can't get too excited about backing this gal at a light price.

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
R2: #1 No bang No Boom
R4: #4 Ethos 8-1
R5: #6 Berning Question 8-1
R6: #9 Sweet Kisses 10-1
R7: #4 Theodora Grace 8-1
R8: #1 Releasethethunder 8-1
R10: #4 Unholy Alliance 10-1
R12: #1 Stuy Town Baby 12-1

Good luck today!