The racing action from Saratoga on Saturday features the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!
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Saratoga Full Card Analysis
Saratoga Picks: Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes (08/09/2025)
Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.
Saratoga Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:35 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
• #4 I’M WIDE AWAKE (9-5): Best bet of the card. Top connections on the circuit with Santana and Casse. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #6 FACTUALLY CORRECT (8-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #1 WHAT’S UP BRO (3-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Could wear these ones down late.
• #2 YO BANANA BOY (4-1): Major Player. Race shape gives this one an edge.
Selections: 4 – 6 – 1 – 2
The Plays
Win: #4 at 1-1
Exacta: 4/ 1,2
Pick 3 (races 1-3): #4 with #8,3,2 with #7
Saratoga Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:07 PM ET; Claiming $38k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
• #8 GLINT (5-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #3 RIVALRY (3-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
• #2 RIDE UP (5-1): Major Player. Santana and Abreu team up on this one. This one’s a fighter in the late stages.
• #7 JUST CLARITY (6-1): Contender. Recent races are solid. Could be griding down the competition late.
Selections: 8 – 3 – 2 – 7
The Plays
Win: #8 at 2-1
Exacta Box: 8, 3
Saratoga Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:40 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 9 runners.
• #7 TRADING TROUBLE (5-2): Prime Win Player. Race sets up perfectly. Barn has been solid.
• #2 RUN ON STATES (6-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Comes home strong.
• #6 MIAMI STYLE (6-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #3 CHARLOTTESUNIVERSE (7-2): Fringe Contender. May be a better effort in the 2nd start. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 7 – 2 – 6 – 3
The Plays
Win: #7 at 5-2
Trifecta: 7/ 2,3,6/ 2,3,6
Saratoga Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:13 PM ET; Allowance $110k; 1 M Turf; Field of 15 runners.
• #4 WHITE PALOMINO (5-2): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Barn has been solid.
• #11 CHILENO (2-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Comes home strong.
• #6 BE OF COURAGE (7-2): Major Player. The 99 speed rating is among the best in the field. Has experience at this level.
• #13 DR. KRAFT (3-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out.
Selections: 4 – 11 – 6 – 13
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 4, 11
Saratoga Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:46 PM ET; Claiming $47k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
• #1 AMUNDSON (8-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Looks good based on the 93 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #5 GREAT RICHIE M (3-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
• #1A LOOMS BOLDLY (8-5): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Franco and Cox team up on this one.
• #6 THRILL OF IT (10-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Could be griding down the competition late.
Selections: 1 – 5 – 1A – 6
The Plays
Win: #1 at 8-5
Exacta: 1/ 1A,5
Saratoga Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:19 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
• #8 SASSMASTER (3-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #2 OSCAR’S HOPE (7-2): Major Player. Well bred for this race. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #1A HANDSOME LINC (5-1): Major Player. Likely in the mix early.
• #6 GOLDEN TORNADO (5-2): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 1A – 6
The Plays
Win: #8 at 5-2
Exacta Box: 8, 2, 6
Saratoga Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:55 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $115k; 1 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.
• #3 GILDED CRAKEN (10-1): Prime Win Player. Comes in with solid form. Ortiz and Sharp team up on this one.
• #6 DEPICTION (3-1): Contender. Comes home strong.
• #7 EXACT ESTIMATE (5-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #4 TUT’S REVENGE (6-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 3 – 6 – 7 – 4
The Plays
Win: #3 at 5-1
Exacta: 3/ 6,7
Saratoga Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:31 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $120k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
• #8 SURVEILLANCE (4-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #2 DAMON’S MOUND (2-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #3 MAXIMUS MERIDIUS (6-1): Major Player. Likely in the mix early.
• #6 LITTLE NI (3-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 3 – 6
The Plays
Win: #8 at 3-1
Exacta Box: 8, 2
Saratoga Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:07 PM ET; Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes $500k; 1 3/16 M Turf; Field of 6 runners.
• #1 OPULENT RESTRAINT (2-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Looks good based on the 91 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #6 LAURELIN (9-5): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #2 SIGH NO MORE (8-1): Major Player. May be able find the right setup. Could wear these ones down late.
• #5 TOTALLY JUSTIFIED (6-1): Contender. Could be griding down the competition late.
Selections: 1 – 6 – 2 – 5
The Plays
Win: #1 at 3-2
Exacta: 1/ 6,2
Saratoga Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:44 PM ET; Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes $750k; 1 1/2 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
• #6 FAR BRIDGE (9-5): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Rosario and Clement team up on this one.
• #3 VOTE NO (15-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #7 EL REZEEN (15-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Potential to kick home late.
• #9 UTAH BEACH (8-1): Major Player. Trainer’s horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 6 – 3 – 7 – 9
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-2
Exacta: 6/3,7,9
Trifecta: 6/ 3,7,9,5/ 3,7,9,5
Saratoga Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 6:17 PM ET; Allowance $110k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
• #4 ARTEMIS SOUND (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Could be ready for a top effort. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
• #8 NEXT ON STAGE (9-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #1 PRACTICAL LOV (3-1): Major Player. Morning Line suggests this mare is all systems go for the first start. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
• #6 STREET VIEW (15-1): Major Player. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race shape gives this one an edge.
Selections: 4 – 8 – 1 – 6
The Plays
Win: #4 at 4-1
Exacta: 4/ 8,1
Saratoga Picks – Race 12
Post Time: 6:49 PM ET; Allowance $95k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.
• #10 CHARLES J (5-1): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #7 FIDELIGHTCAYUT (3-1): Contender. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Good race flow for this runner.
• #2 AMPLITUDE (5-2): Contender. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #5 EL DE LARRY (4-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 10 – 7 – 2 – 5
The Plays
Win: #10 at 3-1
Trifecta: 10/ 7,2,5/ 7,2,5
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Friday Analysis
- Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 2 Balston Spa Stakes
Saturday Analysis
- Colonial Picks featuring the Grade 1 Arlington Million Stakes
- Del Mar Picks featuring the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap
- Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes
Sunday Analysis
- Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 3 Mahony Stakes