Check out my Saturday (8-23-25) Saratoga Race 7 analysis below.
SAR 7 (G2 Lake Placid, 8f inner turf) – Post Time 2:35 PM ET
Primary – #1 PLAY WITH FIRE, #3 May Day Ready
Secondary – #4 Warming, #2 Eponine
Horse Comments:
The race shape looks slow early and fast late, and turf races like this are frequently won by horses with the best closing kick.
#1 Play With Fire (2-1) earned a strong triple digit late pace rating when winning from off the pace as my top choice in the Hilltop at 8T May 16. Chad Brown took over as her trainer in the July 3 Wild Applause and she rallied for the place behind front running winner Classic Q. Her winning pilot Flavien Prat stays put and she has the best finishing kick.
#3 May Day Ready (5-2) won her first three turf starts last year including the G2 Jessamine, and she rallied from post 12 and landed the place in the G1 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (Nitrogen 3rd). She shipped to Japan and finished up the track in a G1 at the end of her juvenile campaign (December 2024). She returned in the G3 Wonder Again and that race was originally scheduled for turf and run at one mile in the slop, and she was last of 3 in a race she clearly needed. Last time, she returned to turf in the G1 Belmont Oaks and she had a troubled start and ended up 4th of 7. Jose Ortiz is her new rider and she needs to rediscover her sharp juvenile form.
#4 Warming (6-1) rallied to win her 6T bow last June, and returned from a long layoff and finished a close 5th of 9 in the Take the A Train at 6T May 10. She added lasix and was the strong favorite in an OC-75k/1x turf route at DEL June 13 and she overcame trouble and motored late to win by a neck. She stepped up in class in her third start after a layoff in the G1 Belmont Oaks and she stalked the pace from the inside post and finished 5th of 7.
#2 Eponine (7-2) won her first two all-weather routes in France, and moved to turf and was 5th on 9 on heavy ground in April. She landed the place in her next two turf starts including a Group 2 runner-up finish on June 1. She was 6th of 7 on June 28 and she ships to SAR and gets the services of leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Wagers:
#1 to win
Exacta box 1-3
Trifecta 1-3/1-2-3-4/1-2-3-4
August 2025 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Aug. 1 – Speedy Wilson ($5.20)
Aug. 3 – The Padre ($4.00), Exacta ($12.00)
Aug. 5 – Real Naughty/Thalberg ($13.20)
Aug. 6 – Parchment Party/Digital Ops Exacta ($9.60), Trifecta ($30.40)
Aug. 8 – Sammy Davis ($5.80), Trifecta ($33.80)
Aug. 9 – Privman ($4.00), Exacta ($5.80)
Aug. 11 – Grounded ($12.80)
Aug. 12 – Dreaming of Kona ($8.80), Exacta ($20.40)
Aug. 14 – Roselee May/Thebestisyettobe/Eternal Reign Trifecta ($141.40)
Aug. 16 – Nitrogen ($6.10), Exacta ($11.20), Trifecta ($36.20)
Aug. 21 – Thirsty Trickster/Liquid Spirit/Perfect Life Trifecta ($276.60)
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