Horse Racing picks for Saratoga on Sunday, July 25: Royal Flag flying high

2:49 pm Saratoga (Race 4) – Tale of the Union +160

 Hasn’t been enjoying the rub of the green since winning an allowance race at Belmont Park back in July 2020. He ended 2020 with three subsequent second-place finishes, returning from a six-month layoff at Belmont in June to finish third. Despite a lack of race fitness, he kept on strongly and wasn’t beaten far in a competitive heat. He should be a different proposition today and his reliability, versus favourite Excellent Timing, is a big positive. John Velazquez retains the ride and he won’t be far away from a good draw in gate three.

3:55 pm Saratoga (Race 6) – Four Dawn +250

 A daughter of Nyquist, Brad Cox’s newcomer has shown plenty of speed in the mornings at Keeneland. A recent four-furlong breeze of 46.40 catches the eye and she’s been drawn well in gate two to utilise that speed she’s been displaying in the mornings. Cox’s string are in electric form at present, with 36% of his last 25 runners being winners. He sent out Girl With a Dream to make a winning debut at Ellis Park yesterday and this filly could be another juvenile winner for the barn.

4:29 Saratoga (Race 7) – Master of Hope +450

 It’s unsurprising to see Kaely’s Sister as the warm favourite and she’s the one to beat, but Master of Hope is a much bigger threat than the odds suggest. She has won two of her four starts thus far, landing a claimer at Belmont two starts ago. Most recently, she was second in a $55,000 starter allowance race at the same venue, only finding one too strong and pulling clear of the rest. She remains very lightly-raced and she’ll appreciate cutting back to six furlongs. Better drawn than the favourite, she’s going to be a big danger.