August 22nd Horse Pick of the Day - Saratoga Race 8

The headline on Saratoga’s Friday card is the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Ginger Punch.

Online racebook fans will notice that Ginger Punch and Spring Waltz, the two top contenders in Friday’s Personal Ensign are coupled. That makes finding an overlay near impossible.

I settled on the 8th at Saratoga which happens to be a marathon turf race.

Let’s get to it!

Saratoga Racecourse – Race 8

$50,000 n2x Optional Claimer

For Fillies and Mares Three-Years Old and Up

1 3/16th miles on the turf

Viva La Flag - - 3/1 morning line

This daughter of Rahy looked terrible in her last race. Hey, no worries, because it’s obvious that she runs better fresh. Well, she definitely is fresh for this after not having run since May. Jockey John Velasquez takes the call and Viva La Flag is trained by Shug McGaughey. She should absolutely love the distance and her closing kick is the best in this field. A definite use in any online wagering.

Goat Cheese - - 6/1 morning line

This Thomas Proctor charge has the ability to win this but might be looking at this race as a prep for something else. The reason I say that is because Goat Cheese always runs better second time off of a layoff. Still, I have to respect the way she beat down some horses on the Churchill Downs lawn in her last. I also like the fact that top turf rider Julien Leparoux takes the call.

Caprice - - 5/2 morning line

Yes, Edgar Prado is the jockey and Graham Motion is the trainer. Yes, this French import appears much classier than anything else in this field, but she ran terrible in her first race stateside and might run worse in here. She’s hard to recommend at what figures to be underlaid online odds.

Wagering Strategy

I’m going to put a nice sized win wager on Viva La Flag. I will key in an trifecta box with Goat Cheese and Caprice.

Good Luck!