Saratoga Picks: Jockey Club Gold Cup (08/31/2025)

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The racing action from Saratoga on Sunday features the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!

Be sure to check out all the races and odds provided at the best horse racing betting sites.

Saratoga Full Card Analysis

Saratoga Picks: Jockey Club Gold Cup (08/31/2025)

Saratoga Picks: Jockey Club Gold Cup (08/31/2025)

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Saratoga Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 11:20 AM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #3 ENDORSE (7-2): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Pletcher.
  • #6 RESURGE (7-2): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Potentially cycling to a top performance.
  • #7 IVORY AND EBONY (5-2): Major Player. This one’s a fighter in the late stages. Should sit a good trip.
  • #1 BON VIVANT (9-2): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 7 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 4-1

Trifecta: 3/ 1,6/ 1,6,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 11:55 AM ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.

  • #4 MR. BRES (7-2): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #10 FUNNY FACTOR (12-1): Major Player. Productive recent form. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #13 THREE THIRTEEN (8-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #5 KULEANA (9-2): Major Player. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 4 – 10 – 13 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 4-1

Trifecta: 4/ 5,13/ 5,10,13

Saratoga Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 12:31 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $115k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #2 ECHO AGAIN (5-2): Top pick. Looks good based on the 100 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
  • #5 DILGER (3-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Joseph.
  • #1 TOP GUN ROCKET (7-2): Contender. Should sit a good trip. Davis and Synnefias team up on this one.
  • #4 SOCIETY MAN (6-1): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-2

Exacta: 2/ 1,5

Saratoga Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:08 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #4 LIVIN THE BREEZE (5-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #3 MARIA CALLAS (9-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Prat puts this one in with a chance.
  • #10 SPECTACULAR BELLE (6-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #11 ROSE LISA (8-1): Fringe Contender. Santana and Abreu team up on this one. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 10 – 11

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Exacta: 4/ 3,10

Saratoga Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 1:45 PM ET; Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes $1000k; 1 1/4 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #3 SIERRA LEONE (8-5): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #8 ANTIQUARIAN (12-1): Major Player. Running well of late.
  • #5 WHITE ABARRIO (8-1): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. Santana puts this one in with a chance.
  • #7 PHILEAS FOGG (15-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 5 – 7

The Plays

Win: #3 at 3-1

Trifecta: 3/ 5,8/ 5,7,8

Saratoga Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:20 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $110k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.

  • #10 VIRGIN COLADA (2-1): Prime Win Player. Comes in with solid form. Races competitive with the top contenders.
  • #1 CLIFFS (4-1): Contender. Running well of late. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #6 DOUBLE VELOCITY (20-1): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Santana and Joseph. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #2 OBEISSANTE (8-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Solid turn of foot.

Selections: 10 – 1 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #10 at 2-1

Exacta: 10/ 1,2

Pick 3 (races 6-8): #10,1 with #8 with #2,5,10,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 2:55 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #8 LOVELY CHRISTINA (5-2): Best bet of the card. Comes in with solid form. Barn has been solid. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #11 KARMA CAT (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Beckman.
  • #4 ALL ABOUT YOU (6-1): Contender. May be able find the right setup. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #9 CELEBRITY QUEST (6-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 11 – 4 – 9

The Plays

Win: #8 at 1-1

Exacta: 8/ 11

Saratoga Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:29 PM ET; Allowance $110k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #2 VETTRIANO (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Decent form of late. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #10 VEKOMA RIDES (10-1): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #5 ROCKETEER (8-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #7 TAP INTO THIS (3-1): Major Player. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 10 – 5 – 7

The Plays

Win: #2 at 4-1

Trifecta: 2/ 5,7/ 5,7,10

Saratoga Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:05 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #10 TACTICALITY (3-1): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Barn has been solid.
  • #13 SUNRISE (4-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #1 PRODIGIOUS (6-1): Contender. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #12 MOUNT SOPRIS (8-1): Fringe Contender. Bloodlines fit this race. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 10 – 13 – 1 – 12

The Plays

Win: #10 at 2-1

Exacta: 10/ 1,13

Saratoga Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:38 PM ET; Disco Partner Stakes $135k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 11 runners.

  • #9 BIG INVASION (5-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #8 WORKS FOR ME (6-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #7 ALOGON (9-2): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Should sit a good trip.
  • #5 TWENTY SIX BLACK (4-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 9 – 8 – 7 – 5

The Plays

Win: #9 at 4-1

Trifecta: 9/ 5,7/ 5,7,8

Saratoga Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:11 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $42k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #10 VIBRANT EXPRESS (9-2): Prime Win Player. Franco puts this one in with a chance. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #3 ROUT (2-1): Contender. Likely to get forward position. Top connections on the circuit with Davis and Brown.
  • #4 ARMY PROUD (5-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Pedigree fits in this spot.
  • #7 RARE SOCIETY (8-1): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 10 – 3 – 4 – 7

The Plays

Win: #10 at 2-1

Exacta: 10/ 3,4

Saratoga Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 5:43 PM ET; Starter Optional Claiming $63k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #6 GASOLINE (6-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Barn has been solid.
  • #9 HERO STATUS (9-2): Major Player. Can run with these. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #2 NAVAJO WARRIOR (2-1): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Joseph.
  • #4 ROCK THE WEEKEND (15-1): Fringe Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 6 – 9 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta: 6/ 2,9

Saratoga Picks – Race 13

Post Time: 6:16 PM ET; Claiming $36k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners.

  • #7 CAROLINA SMOKESHOW (4-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #8 JULITA (8-1): Major Player. Productive recent form.
  • #2 ENIGMATIC (10-1): Contender. May be able find the right setup. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #5 KYLE’S MOM (8-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 7 – 8 – 2 – 5

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-2

Exacta: 7/ 5,8

Saratoga Picks – Race 14

Post Time: 6:49 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $50k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #11 DEEMER (8-5): Top pick. Race may setup for this runner. Franco puts this one in with a chance.
  • #3 LETS FIGHT (9-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
  • #15 TRINITY RIVER (7-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
  • #16 METATRON (4-1): Fringe Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 11 – 3 – 15 – 16

The Plays

Win: #11 at 8-5

Exacta: 11/ 3,15

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