Races 3 through 5 offer a good mix of horses I like and favorites I think are vulnerable, so I’ll put together a pick 3 starting in the third race. These races also play in the pick 5 and early pick 4, so feel free to dabble in those bets, if you have opinions in the first two races.

Trainer Michelle Nevin saddles Linkappleyard (#9, ML 7-2) in Wednesday's third race at Saratoga, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claimer for two-year-olds. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Nevin is winning at a 30 percent clip in two-year-old races, for a return on investment of $6.66.

Leading Wild (#1, ML 6-5) returns in Wednesday's sixth race at Woodbine, a six-furlong claiming race on the all-weather track. It will be her first start since finishing first by one length in a claimer July 22 at Woodbine. The second-, third-,10th-, and 11th-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.

Let's take a horse-by-horse look at Wednesday's late pick four at Saratoga.

Race 7 ($25,000 claimer going mile on turf)

BIM BAM (#2) takes a huge drop for a barn having a quiet meet. He's unexciting, but he does have the right running style and this one-time graded stakes animal could be a factor with a glory days run. C

PARIS BIKINI
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Last race: Aug. 24, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 77
Returned to form dropping from a stakes to a preliminary allowance, dueling favored Regent’s House into defeat and getting nailed in the final strides of her third start this season.

PASSION FOR ACTION
Trainer: Mike DePaulo
Last race: Aug. 23, 8th
Finish: 4th by 5 1/2
Beyer: 86
The 3-year-old rallied belatedly against some of the better grass runners on the grounds in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes, finishing just behind the accomplished Kaigun. He was previously a troubled second in his season opener in a second-level optional claimer, and appears to have a bright future on the local lawn.

I’ll be relying on WORLDWIDE (7) to come through as a lukewarm favorite in the anchor leg (race 6) of this mid-card pick three. Worldwide makes his second start off a brief layoff for the Ron Ellis stable, which is particularly effective (35 percent, $3.21 ROI) with this kind of move.

KNOCK EM FLAT
Trainer: Dean Pederson
Last race: Aug. 22, 2nd
Finish: 5th by 9 1/2
Beyer: 66
Three for four since gelded, this $20K claiming veteran lost all chance when he veered out and stumbled. Claimed by Pederson from Tim Yakteen, he can win with a clean break.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Saratoga - Alabama (race 10)

COMMENT: Another 3-year-old filly dirt route, another different winner. While Lovely Maria seemed to have control of the division in the spring that isn’t the case now as Embellish the Lace made it her turn. She dueled and faded badly to end up ninth in the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont June 27. She’d been freshened and had worked well.

Here’s how I’ll play Monday’s races, as always focusing on the overlays relative to my personal betting line.

Race 1: Frosty Margarita (2-1); Legend of Lorelei (4-1); Flatware (6-1); Lady’s First (6-1)

Race 2: Great Attack (8-5); Mish Mosh (7-2); Liberal Spin (4-1)

Race 3: Regent’s House (2-1); Callista (3-1); Two Taps (7-2)

Race 4: Little Mary Ellen (2-1); She’s All Even (3-1); Glare Ice (7-2)