The action begins with the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes, where a field of lightly raced two-year-olds will sprint 6½ furlongs on the dirt for a $250,000 purse.Later, three-year-old fillies take center stage in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes on the inner turf course before the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes headlines the card.Here are my best bets for all three stakes races Saturday at the Spa.OUTKICK SPORTS CARTOON OF THE DAY6.5 furlongs on dirt for two-year-olds with a $250,000 purse.Since the field is made up of lightly raced two-year-olds, I’m taking a shot with #5 Uncle Kef (12-1), with jockey Irad Ortiz up, who has been the top-earning jockey in several Saratoga summer meets.NCAA ROCKED BY COLORADO JUDGE'S 2022 CLASS ELIGIBILITY RULING THAT COULD RESHAPE COLLEGE SPORTS THIS YEARUncle Kef is getting 12-1 on the morning-line because this is his first race on turf.
He broke his maiden on a synthetic surface on debut and finished fifth on that same surface in his only other start.SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - AUGUST 16: Horses and riders train at sunrise at Saratoga Racetrack on August 16, 2013 in Saratoga Springs, New York.(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Two early speed horses and the top two betting choices post alongside Uncle Kef, so maybe he rises to the occasion, runs with his rivals and Ortiz wins this race on the closing stretch.
There is a better chance of this happening than the 12-1 odds imply.One-and-one-sixteenth miles on the inner turf course for three-year-old fillies with a $225,000 purse.It's not a great price, admittedly, but the #8 Deeper Learning (7-2) is my favorite horse in the race.She has the best jockey (Flavien Prat) and trainer combo (Chad Brown) in the field.
Prat is 2-for-3 on Deeper Learning and they won on debut on the Spa’s turf at this distance last summer.The Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 24, 2019 in Saratoga Springs, New York.(Horsephotos/Getty Images)Her 85 Beyer speed figure that day remains he...