Ricky’s Rockets 🚀: Saratoga Picks for August 25, 2021

It’s Travers week at Saratoga, and Ricky’s Rockets🚀 is here to kick it off! On Wednesday’s card, we have the John’s Call Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 5/8 miles (13 furlongs) on the Melon turf. Let’s see which turf runner can survive this marathon, and get to the winners’ circle.

Also included below: my 10-race preview of Saratoga

Saratoga August 25, 2021

Race 7: $25,000 Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#5 Binkster is coming out of the same race Power Up Paynter ran on July 25. If there is any moisture in the track, Binkster is the horse to beat. #6 Ninth Hour gets back to the level where he proved he can compete. He was never good enough to compete against Allowance competition like he did last time out.

Race 8: Starter Allowance for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt

#5 Winter Pool has finished second at this level in two straight races, one on a fast track and one on a muddy track. He really doesn’t have any excuses to lose here. #7 Top Gun Tommy lost to Winter Pool last time out, but he was the horse who was on top early on. Had they been running on a fast track, I think he would’ve held on.

Race 9: John’s Call Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 5/8 miles (13 furlongs) on the Melon turf

#5 Conviction Trade has proven he can run for days, running in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) on Belmont Stakes weekend. He has shown speed in the past, so I’m curious to see if he chooses to do that again. #8 Serve the King is looking for his first win since last summer, but it’s not entirely his fault. Every race since September of last year, has been against stakes competition.

Race 10: $35,000 Claiming for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the inner turf

#11 My Candy Girl finished second at this level last year for Mike Maker, losing the lead in the final strides. Irad Ortiz Jr. knows she needs to be on the front end to win. #12 Alba’s Star also needs the lead to win, but she will be running for a new outfit here. Michael Stidham gives way to Mertkan Kantarmaci who will look to improve her off of her last place effort at this level on July 15.

THE TICKET

$3 Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 5,6 / 5,7 / 5,8 / 11,12 – $48

50¢ Pick 4 (Races 7-10) 2,5,6,8 / 4,5,7 / 3,5,7,8 / 11,12  – $48

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Ricky’s Rockets: Saratoga