Saratoga Whitney Stakes Day Picks — Saturday, August 2, 2025 | Full Card Analysis

A group of thoroughbred horses racing on a grassy track with spectators in the background.

By far the best card of the Saratoga meet thus far. Add in beautiful weather and fast turf and we have ourselves one hell of a Saturday. Let’s Ride.

Race 7: Furlongs. OC 75000n2x

#1 Hold My Bourbon (10/1) – This is the first of two Saffie Joseph runners the Conductor likes today. In his first start for the barn last time, Hold My Bourbon chased a wicked pace going two turns. He did well to hang on to 2nd and now looks primed for the cutback in distance. The rail is usually where you want to be on a fast dirt track at Saratoga, and he should get a nice pocket trip. Let’s get the Conductor’s bourbon started nice and early.

Race 11: 1 1/8 Mile. G1 Whitney Stakes

#7 White Abarrio (4/1) – This is a great race with three formidable horses. The Conductor likes White Abarrio at anything over 3/1. If you throw out the Met on a sloppy track, Saffie has him back to his old self. His Pacific Classic this year was dominant and his best can certainly beat the favorites. Fierceness (9/5) will be up close to a hot pace in this one, and White Abarrio should be able to sit a perfect trip and pounce. With a well timed ride by Irad, he’ll get the jump on #5 Sierra Leone (2/1) and cash for the passengers.

Race 12: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Alw 110000n1x

#4 Upon a Star (8/1) – This filly ran solid numbers on dirt last year and returned off the bench to win nicely in the slop. Now 2nd off the layoff, she finally switches to turf, the surface she’s bred for. She has major upside with the surface switch and making her 2nd start as a 4-year-old. Upon a star is going to fire a career best effort.

#5 She’s Got Will (10/1) – A wild card horse entering off a long layoff, this filly has talent. She won her debut routing over this Saratoga turf course and ran well last year in all three starts. She tries sprinting today for the first time and the Conductor thinks this is a mediocre bunch. She’s Got Will can pull an upset.

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Saratoga Saturday Picks — Vanderbilt Handicap Day (July 27, 2024) | Best Bets & Analysis

Detailed vintage steam locomotive model showcasing intricate design and craftsmanship, ideal for collectors and enthusiasts of model trains.

Finally a gullet shot winner Friday at Saratoga. The train got the coal injection it needed heading into the weekend. Time to pounce.

Race 6: 6 Furlongs. G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap

#5 Subrogate (7/2) – The Conductor likes this colt’s steady progression. He has improved with each start as a 3-year-old and looks ready to step up in class and take on graded stakes company. Subrogate looks to get an ideal trip sitting just behind a contested pace, and the Conductor is fading the favorite, #6 Skelly (6/5). Skelly has done all his damage at Oaklawn and lost last time at 2/5 when he shipped to Churchill. That race was also versus a weaker group than he faces today.

Race 8: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Mdn 100k

*Double Barreled Gullet Shots #3 Mac to Moore (12/1) – The Conductor likes two prices in this competitive maiden race. This filly’s best race came in her debut sprinting on the turf at Gulfstream. Her next two starts were on synthetic and then the slop. Now 2nd off the layoff, she finally returns to sprinting on the turf and gets a favorable post. If she improves at all from her debut, she is a major contender in here.

#6 Satin Blue (10/1) – This filly was well bet in her turf starts last year and didn’t run great with some excuses. Then last time in a race taken off the turf, she showed major improvement closing for 2nd behind a slow pace going 5-furlongs. That was a big step forward from her prior dirt races and now she gets back to the turf like Joe Sharp wants. With 152 starters going dirt to turf this year, Sharp is 25% with a juicy +$0.91 ROI.

Saratoga Jim Dandy Picks Today

Race 10: 1 1/8 Mile. G2 Jim Dandy Stakes

#6 Fierceness (9/5) – Fierceness finally returns after flopping in the Kentucky Derby. He’s a fickle horse but has the most talent in the field. He’s faster then #1 Sierra Leone (1/1) when he runs his best and he should get a better trip than Sierra Leone today over a speed favoring Saratoga dirt course. The Conductor doesn’t think Fierceness needs the lead like many others do. There is other speed to his inside in this race and if Johnny V is patient and sits just behind the leaders, Fierceness will be in the perfect spot. Hopefully all the money he burned in the Derby inflates his price for the Conductor today.

Gulfstream Park Holy Bull Day Picks — Saturday, February 3, 2024 | Full Card & Stakes Analysis

Gulfstream Park Holy Bull

Tumbarumba getting home at 8/1 saved the Conductor’s Pegasus weekend last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. We have another solid stakes filled card today, however Fierceness looks too tough to beat at 1/5 in the Holy Bull. There are opportunities for other prices in the other races, so we won’t complain. We need more coal to last the winter. Skip.

Race 5: 7½ Furlongs. (Turf) OC 25000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #3 Listentothemusic (10/1) – This gelding has shown serious development early in his 4-year-old campaign. He dusted the field on the lead two starts back, then ran big taking on winners for the first time last race. He had a very difficult trip and never quit, making up ground in the stretch. Listentothemusic stretches out in distance to 7 1/2 furlongs today, and has the early speed to put himself in a great position early. He has talent and double digit odds would be delightful.

Gulfstream Park Holy Bull Stakes

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.G3 Sweetest Chant Stakes

#2 Madame Mischief (8/1)Milliat (5/2) is clearly the filly to beat in the Conductor’s opinion. She ran an impressive 2nd with a poor trip in her American debut last time. However, the Conductor would be remised if he didn’t mention Madame Mischief. She exits that same race and will be 5 times the price. The Conductor touted her last time at 17/1 and he sacks of coal in his eyes as they turned into the stretch. She had a perfect ground saving trip and found a seem on the inside. However, she took a bad step mid stretch and lost momentum, then found her footing again when it was much too late.  After showing another strong gallop out, the Conductor believes she’ll like the added distance today, and has no choice but to give her one more chance.

Race 10: 7 Furlongs. F.G3 Forward Gal Stakes

#2 Fiona’s Magic (8/1) – This race doesn’t have much early speed for a Gulfstream sprint, and this filly looks to get an ideal trip. She’s shown she can take early pressure and still finish down the stretch in her last two races. The 7-furlong distance should be ideal for her and she’ll have the jump on the favorites, who are nothing special. 5/1 or better will be fair for the Conductor.