August 23rd Horse Pick of the Day - Saratoga Race 9

Saturday’s Saratoga card is absolutely loaded with overlays. Starting in Race 8, there is an All-Stakes Pick 4 that online racebook fans should try and hit.

The Travers Stakes, Race 11 on the card, is the most competitive I have seen in years. Online racebook fans can check out my pick for the Travers Stakes in my Weekend Stakes Action article.

As far as the best play of the day on Saturday, I have to go with a horse in Race 9 at Saratoga, the Grade II Bernard Baruch Handicap.

Let’s get to it!

Saratoga Racecourse – Race 9

Grade II Bernard Baruch Handicap

$200,000

For Three Years Old and Up

1 1/8th miles on the inner turf course

Proudinsky - - 9/2 morning line odds

Proudinsky is the morning line chalk but the morning line betting odds, if they hold, make him an overlay in this race. There are no Dancing Forever’s or Out of Control’s in this field. Proudinsky has the perfect running style for the inner turf course and the return to firm turf should prove to be beneficial to online racebook fans backing this son of Silvano. Edgar Prado and Bobby Frankel make up some serious connections. He’s almost a stand-out in this.

Drum Major - - 6/1 morning line odds

The last time we saw Drum Major he was finishing third in this race. Could Drum Major actually come off of a year layoff and win a Grade II at Saratoga? Maybe. He’s been training over the Saratoga turf course since June. Obviously, his connections have been pointing towards the race. Breaking from the one hole means he saves all of the ground but could need some luck at the top of the stretch to get there. In any case I expect his odds to be closer to 10 to 1 than the 6 to 1 on the morning line. He’s worth a long look in this.

Shakis - - 8/1 morning line odds

Shakis hasn’t been in very good form lately, but there’s no doubt that he is the class of this race. He has won over $500,000 and is the defending champ in the Bernard Baruch Handicap. The question is whether or not the horse likes to run at all anymore. If he finds a way to pick up his feet like he did in the past than the only horse close to him in this will be Proudinsky. That’s a big if, however, so don’t take anything close to a short price on this guy.

Wagering Strategy

I’ll be making online horse bets on Proudinsky to win and place. I will use Proudinsky, Drum Major and Shakis in exacta and trifecta boxes.

Good Luck!