Horse Racing picks for Saratoga on Sunday, August 1: Aloha West says goodbye to rest of the field

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Ricky Dimon

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Since graduating from Davidson (The College That Stephen Curry Built), I have been writing about sports -- just about any and all you can think of! -- and coaching tennis in Atlanta, GA. Beyond the four major sports, I am an avid tennis fan and cover the ATP Tour on a daily basis. If I'm not busy writing, you can generally find me on a tennis court or traveling the world wherever a sporting event takes me. For Ricky Dimon media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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There is plenty of great horse racing action to look forward to across America on Sunday, including at Saratoga race track. Here are four runners whom we think look to be a class above the opposition in their respective races. Let’s dive in and take a look at some potentially lucrative plays.

3:21 pm Saratoga (Race 5) – Rotknee +250

 A son of Runhappy, he had shown plenty of ability in the mornings prior to his debut at Belmont last month. He finished a very promising second, no match for the eventual winner, but well clear of the remainder. He’s entitled to step forward plenty from that opening effort and a subsequent workout at Belmont suggested he has done just that. Drawn well in gate three, his early pace should carry him to the front, and he shouldn’t be for catching on his second racecourse visit.

3:55 pm Saratoga (Race 6) – Miss Teheran +350 

Has run to a very good standard since joining Chad Brown from France, returning in 2021 with victory at Gulfstream. She posted a career-best figure on her next start, securing fourth in the Hillsborough, just a place behind New York Girl. Two subsequent runs have seen her finish runner-up at Belmont in allowance optional claiming company, beaten just a neck last time. A strongly-run mile contest will suit her perfectly and Irad Ortiz returns to the saddle for the time since her Gulfstream success, which is another obvious positive.

4:29 pm Saratoga (Race 7) – Aloha West +300

 Lightly-raced four-year-old who has won two of his five career starts, latterly an allowance event at Churchill Downs two starts ago. He followed up that performance with a good fourth in the Kelly’s Landing at the same venue, where he didn’t enjoy a clean passage through the race (squeezed at the start and bumped in the stretch). After just a handful of starts, he remains unexposed for Wayne Catalano, and a return to six furlongs won’t be an issue. He’ll have a strong gallop to chase and if Joel Rosario can find the gaps, he can pick up these rivals late on.

5:39 pm Saratoga Race 9 – Drain the Clock +200

 Saffie Joseph Jr’s colt has enjoyed a progressive 2021 campaign, winning four of his five starts, all at stakes level. He secured his first top level success at Belmont last time, defeating Jackie’s Warrior to win the Woody Stephens, really toughing things out late on. He remains unexposed after just eight starts and the best should be yet to come from this son of Maclean’s Music. He’s drawn well to attack from gate two and if he can protect that rail, he’ll be very tough to pass.

Exotic

Late Pick 4

Race 7: 3, 6
Race 8: 2, 6, 10
Race 9: 2, 3
Race 10: 1, 4, 5, 10
$0.50 Late Pick 4, cost $24.00

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