Illman: Saratoga pick three play for Monday, Aug. 4

Let’s go with a pick three encompassing races 3 through 5.

Race 3

The third race is the colt division of the New York Stallion Series, and it is not a strong race.

You can check out the “Monday Race of the Day” video preview that Matt Bernier and I produced at this link.

Many handicappers will single #7 MARK MY WAY, the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Trained by Linda Rice, Mark My Way recently handled a couple of these rivals in a seven-furlong turf sprint at Belmont. She’s proven at this distance and is a very logical contender.

I’ll use her as an ‘A’ on my Ticketmaker play along with #6 FOREVER UTOPIA. Yes, I realize that Forever Utopia is a maiden, but she does have decent early speed and is catching a field without much zip. Her trainer, the shrewd John Terranova, is removing blinkers for this assignment, and Forever Utopia ran decently without the hood last year. She figures to be prominent when they swing into the stretch and will be a solid price.

#8 RIVETTO is a complete unknown on turf, but there is a little bit of pedigree on display, and she might be forwardly placed stretching out following four sprint tries. Again, this isn’t a very strong race. Why not a total stranger?

A – Forever Utopia
A – Mark My Way
C – Rivetto

Race 4

I really liked #3 ICED OVER’s effort most recently at Churchill Downs. It was his first start on dirt, and he was hung out three to four wide in a race without much pace. Still, he gave an even effort in the stretch and was flattered when the winner returned to beat allowance foes at Ellis Park with an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. Iced Over drops in with statebreds this afternoon. Hopefully, he’ll get some pace to attack.

#5 BLUE SHARK hasn’t raced since October but returns as a new gelding for a high-percentage trainer. He gave a good effort in his lone turf appearance last year and shows a steady string of five-furlong workouts in preparation for this assignment. Despite the layoff, he looms the horse to beat.

#4 DREAMBOAT totally missed the break in his career debut at Tampa Bay Downs and uncorked a premature four-wide bid down the backstretch to get within a half-length of the leaders. He understandably tired in the stretch but showed enough ability to indicate that he can be competitive in a spot like this. He shows some quick bullet workouts at Finger Lakes and adds Lasix.

A – Iced Over
A – Blue Shark
B – Dreamboat

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Race 5

Hard-hitting older claimers anchor the sequence. #4 BACK FORTY has some back races that would put him in the winner’s circle, and he takes a needed drop in class following a dull effort in the $52,000 Fort Delaware Stakes on July 12. This will be his first race for a tag, and his good stalking ability should place him right behind the leaders.

#5 DOUBLEDOWN AGAIN boasts consistent speed figures and has the early speed to be right up on the pace. He just doesn’t seem to win very often, however, and has lost ground from the stretch call to the wire in his last four races. I’ll use him as a tepid ‘A’ on my ticket but won’t blame anyone who wants to utilize him as only a backup.

#6 WEGSON was claimed out of his last race by a very sharp barn. He has a solid late kick and would benefit if the pace is very fast up front.

A – Back Forty
A – Doubledown Again
B – Wegson

Here are the Ticketmaker tickets:

All A’s ($2 base):
6, 7 with 3, 5 with 4, 5 = $16

A’s with one B ($1 base)
6, 7 with 4 with 4, 5 = $4
6, 7 with 3, 5 with 6 = $4

A’s with two B’s ($1 base)
6, 7 with 4 with 6 = $2

A’s with one C ($1 base)
8 with 3, 5 with 4, 5 = $4

Total investment = $30