Saratoga Picks: Kentucky Derby Winner Returns in Jim Dandy (07/26/2025)

The racing action from Saratoga on Saturday features the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!

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Saratoga Full Card Analysis

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Saratoga Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:35 P.M. ET; Claiming $68k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #1 GUN IT (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Franco and Kantarmaci team up on this one. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
• #2 LOCO ABARRIO (5-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #7 COLD AS HELL (6-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Rivera and Giangiulio team up on this one.
• #4 OTTO THE CONQUEROR (8-5): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 7 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 7-2

Exacta: 1/ 2,4

Saratoga Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:07 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #6 FURTHER ADO (5-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid.
• #4 SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (8-5): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #5 ACCOST (6-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Franco and Brown team up on this one.
• #2 AMADOR (8-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 5 – 2

The Plays

Win: #6 at 9-5

Exacta Box: 4,6

Saratoga Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:40 P.M. ET; Claiming $36k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #8 TARPAULIN (5-2): Top pick. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Russell.
• #4 BRAVE BUCK (3-1): Major Player. This one debuts at low odds. Backside buzz? Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #6 MIDDLE MARKET (2-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely in the mix early.
• #5 JOHN THE BAPTIST (15-1): Underneath. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #8 at 2-1

Exacta: 8/ 4,6

Saratoga Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:13 P.M. ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $120k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

• #1 ARTHUR’S RIDE (4-5): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Fits well with this group.
• #5 BIG BLUE LINE (9-2): Major Player. Davis and Dutrow team up on this one. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #3 FILM STAR (7-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
• #4 STRAPPED (10-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 3 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta: 1/ 3,5

Saratoga Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:45 P.M. ET; Claiming $50k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.

• #7 SIDE EYE (5-1): Prime Win Player. Stamina to outlast the competition. Saez puts this one in with a chance.
• #2 COUSIN ED (8-1): Fringe Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Can run with these.
• #1A FLY’N FRISBEE (30-1): Underneath. Previous success in similar race types. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
• #12 WECALLEMFUNCOUPONS (20-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 1A – 12

The Plays

Win: #7 at 4-1

Exacta: 7/ 1A,2

Saratoga Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:17 P.M. ET; Allowance $95k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

• #13 SUMMER WHIRL (5-1): Top pick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Looks good based on the 86 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
• #10 ROYAL BOBBIE (8-1): Major Player. Comes home strong. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #4 TONGUE TWISTER (5-2): Major Player. Has been running well enough recently. Previous success in similar race types.
• #8 NORTH END LADY (6-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 13 – 10 – 4 – 8

The Plays

Win: #13 at 5-2

Trifecta: 13/ 4,10/ 4,8,10

Saratoga Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:52 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

• #8 IMMORTALIZE (5-1): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Cox.
• #4 VAJRA (5-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Good race flow for this runner.
• #7 TOMMY JO (4-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
• #9 ACADEMIA (5-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 7 – 9

The Plays

Win: #8 at 3-1

Exacta: 8/ 4,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:28 P.M. ET; Allowance $95k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

• #10 ON THE HILL (8-1): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #7 BUSTIN AWAY (10-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #3 VEKINDA (4-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
• #6 ROOFER (6-1): Major Player. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 10 – 7 – 3 – 6

The Plays

Win: #10 at 4-1

Trifecta: 10/ 3,7/ 3,6,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:04 P.M. ET; Lake George Stakes Presented by Surfside $175k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

• #5 CLASSIC Q (2-1): Best bet of the card. Looks good based on the 93 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Fits well with this group. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #11 KAY CUP (1-1): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Comes home strong.
• #4 LAVENDER DISASTER (5-2): Contender. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Previous success in similar race types.
• #1 REINING FLOWERS (15-1): Contender. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Race shape gives this one an edge.

Selections: 5 – 11 – 4 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 1-1

Exacta Box: 5,11

Pick 3 (races 9-11): #5 with #2,1,3 with #9

Saratoga Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:41 P.M. ET; Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 5 runners.

• #2 SANDMAN (6-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #1 BAEZA (3-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
• #5 SOVEREIGNTY (2-5): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. May be able find the right setup, but this one is just too short on the morning line.
• #3 MO PLEX (10-1): Major Player. Recent races are solid. Franco and Englehart team up on this one.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 5 – 3

The Plays

Win: #2 at 4-1

Trifecta: 2/ 1,5/ 1,3,5

Saratoga Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 6:16 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 14 runners.

• #9 HELLO BEAUTY (5-2): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Comes in with solid form.
• #7 ON A SUMMER DAY (15-1): Underneath. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #1A JUST ONE MORE (6-1): Underneath. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
• #2 SASSETTI (10-1): Underneath. Could be griding down the competition late. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 9 – 7 – 1A – 2

The Plays

Win: #9 at 8-5

Exacta: 9/ 1A,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:49 P.M. ET; Maiden Claiming $55k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 15 runners.

• #10 HEDGE THE RISK (9-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Solid closing kick.
• #7 FATEFUL LIGHTNING (2-1): Major Player. Comes home strong. Good race flow for this runner.
• #11 GOT STRIPES (12-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Devaux.
• #13 NANTZ (7-2): Contender. Could be griding down the competition late. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 10 – 7 – 11 – 13

The Plays

Win: #10 at 7-2

Exacta: 10/ 7,13

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