Day one at Saratoga has come and gone and I’m still standing…barely.  Listed 5 winners out of 9 races (the 10th was taken off the turf so the picks didn’t count), but only 1 on top.  However, I listed winners in the first 4 races, including a $95 exacta box in race 1, 3 doubles and 2 pick 3’s ($274 and $132) in races 2-4.  Hope you collected because I didn’t.  I forgot one of the basic rules of betting difficult races — hedge your bets and don’t press unless you are way ahead.  In race 1, I keyed my best bet but forgot to box and missed the exacta.  I also didn’t play doubles or pick 3’s with my third choices because I played bigger bets with my top two choices.  Winning money at the races is not just about good handicapping, it’s about being a smart bettor, which I wasn’t today.  I think I learned my lesson and I hope you will remember that when betting at Saratoga during the rest of the meet.

At the end of the day, the Saratoga dragon won the battle because I basically threw water on myself.  Let’s see how I do on Day 2!

Day 1 of my quest to be the best handicapper in America and I can feel that heat all the way from Lake George.  Traveling on The Northway, I87 past Saratoga to my buddy Scott Rothbort’s house last night I could see the scorched remains of defeated handicappers from year’s past all along the side of the road.  But, if handicapping today’s card seems hard enough, how can we deal with the wrath of Mother Nature, which might turn the fire breathing dragon of Saratoga into a cold, muddy mess.  In any event, here is my analysis of today’s card, and I’m handicapping with the premise that all races will stay on the turf and that the rain and thunderstorms will hold off until late in the card.

In race 1, a 1 1/16 turf allowance where you can make a case for 5 horses, I love Stepaside (#8) to run down the leaders in the stretch.  Trained by Tom Voss, he loves Saratoga and is 8 of 12 in the exacta.  I will key up and down in exactas and in doubles and pick 3’s.

In race 6, Bold Abott (#5) has a real shot in another turf contest.  He has been the victim of several outside posts and still ran well, is trained by Graham Motion who always does well at Saratoga.  I’m keying in exactas and multi-race wagers.

Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 8 (Best Bet) with 5 and 7

Race 2: 9 and 6

Race 3: 5 with 7 and 9

Race 4: 9 with 7 and 3

Race 5: 5 with 3 and 9

Race 6: 5 (Best Bet) with 4 and 9

Race 7: 8, 9 and 2

Race 8: 3 (Best Bet) with 2 and 5

Race 9: 3 (Best Bet) with 5 and 13

Race 10: 6 and 2

In my quest to be the greatest handicapper in America, I’ve decided it’s not the other handicappers I’m worried about…it’s the horses!  I just saw the card for Wednesday’s opener at Saratoga and it may be one of the best betting cards in racing history!  10 races, all with full fields, from top trainers and tracks from all over the country, on all surfaces and distances and with the betting favorites in each race no less than 3-1!  Plus, it’s opening day, so there are no current track biases, you have to work with last year’s form at Saratoga, which, while important, may not represent the form of the horses at this moment.  The dragon of Saratoga isn’t just breathing fire, it’s extinguishing all the air out of the atmosphere and leaving all the handicappers gasping in it’s wake!  And it’s only day 1!

Please come to the website every day and go on this journey with me.  I guarantee you, I will leave all my blood and sweat on the battlefield.  I hope each handicapper can win their share, but my battle is with the horses — and they usually win.  They look a lot like dragons!

Last day before the Saratoga meet and it’s fast and firm at Belmont.  In race 2, Wild Poppy (#2) drops back to 7 furlongs after running well in longer races and should be able to run down the leaders for the win.  I will key her in exactas with Serela’s Song (#4) and in doubles an pick 3’s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 5 and 2B

Race 2: 2 (Best Bet) and 4

Race 3: 1

Race 4: 4 and 8

Race 5: 6 and 7

Race 6: 6 and 3

Race 7: 3 with 9 and 8

Race 8: 4 and 2

Race 9: 2 and 4