Saratoga Harness: Pick 5 and Gerrity Memorial Analysis

Saratoga Hotel and Casino offers its richest program of the year on Saturday highlighted by the $150,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial. The 15-race program kicks off with a $3,000 Guaranteed Pick 5.

Race 1: $12,500 Claiming

(2) REAL KID gets an inside post to work with this week and will assuredly be cutting the mile. Eight-year-old has been changing barns regularly but has a win and a second for these connections.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Saratoga card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 2: NYSS Excelsior A

(1) LANJO LEE and (2) STEWARDOFTHELAND won the post draw and both have strong credentials in limited action. (5) LAST WITCH HUNT wasn't bad from off the pace in the Springfield after starting from a bad post. He could certainly improve.

Race 3: $28,500 NYSS

(2) SEVEN HUNDRED has seriously stood out in overnight races and now steps up to Sire Stakes competition. Huntsville-sired colt has the early speed to make the front and is the only horse with experience over the track. (1) FOXHUNT hasn't done much yet, but he's been facing some talented foes and might deserve another look from pylon position. (5) STRETCH THE LINE has talent but also a breaking issue. As the likely chalk, I'll pass.

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Race 4: $28,500 NYSS

(1) BOUNTY HUNTER took on a potential killer in Pebble Beach last time, so let's not be too hard on him for being third. From the cones he deserves a long look. (7) JD is perfect this year in two starts and MacDonald has been firing off the gate with virtually every Sire Stakes horse lately. (2) KINGSVILLE closed well in his first start against strong competition in the Springfield. He could show more now. (3) BLUE COLLAR MAN really isn't as quick away from the gate as it seems on paper, which is why he broke at Buffalo.

Race 5: $28,500 NYSS

This is an impossible race with a handful of contenders. We'll toss #’s 3,6 and use the rest. If pressed for a top pick, (1) SILVERSTONE should be firing out and might benefit by yielding to one horse and sitting a pocket trip this week.

.50 Pick 5 Ticket: 2 / 1,2,5 / 1,2 / 1,2,7 / 1,2,4,5,7 = $45

Race 6: $150,000 Gerrity Memorial

(8) NICHOLAS BEACH is the best older pacer in the country for my money. Post 8 isn't ideal and I have no idea how driver Joe Bongiorno will figure out a winning trip, but we will get a nice price on the best horse who is clearly coming in sharp after the fastest qualifying mile (1:47 4/5) in Meadowlands history. (3) BACKSTREET SHADOW has an inside post edge and tons of form. If he makes the front in the opening quarter, regardless of whether he has to give it up for the pocket, he'll be tough to beat. (7) THIS IS THE PLAN has only finished worse than second once in 12 starts this year and he is the fastest pacer ever on a half-mile track.