Saratoga Picks & Predictions — August 5, 2026

Wedelia is the heavy public favorite at 6/5 with a 59.67 rating and Irad Ortiz, Jr. doing the steering for Brad H. Cox — a formidable combo by any measure. The avg speed of 53 is mid-pack here, and while we respect the connections, we think the price is too short given the competition. She should fill out the place slot but laying 6/5 to win is a tough sell when Slow Kara is 10 times longer.

Maria Louise rates third at 57.5 for the powerhouse team of John R. Velazquez and Todd A. Pletcher — a duo that routinely gets debut and early runners to the winner's circle. No published avg speed figure makes her a bit of a mystery box, but the Pletcher barn rarely shows up at Saratoga without a well-prepared maiden. She belongs in the exotics.

Unreasonable brings genuine heat with a 76.93 rating and an avg speed of 58 — that's the best speed figure in the race. Manuel Franco and Miguel Clement are a sharp combo, and a 16% career win rate in allowance company isn't flashy, but it's reliable. The 3/1 morning line is fair value for a horse that could easily be the one to beat Serendipity if the pace sets up.

Power of Destiny at 5/1 is quietly dangerous here — a 33% career win rate is outstanding in this kind of company, and John R. Velazquez gives the horse every chance. Trainer James Bentley Begg's runner may not have the top-end rating (66.71), but that win percentage suggests a horse that runs its race consistently. Good show-ticket material with sneaky upside.

Ramajay is extremely close to our top pick at 87.81 — just 1.31 rating points separate the two. Flavien Prat takes the reins for Saffie A. Joseph, Jr., and a 25% career win rate is respectable for this level. The avg speed of 56 gives Ramajay the best published speed figure in the race, and if Sharons Beach catches a bad trip, this horse wins outright. The 5/2 ML is excellent value.

Mr. Hooligan has a 68.65 rating and the second-best avg speed figure in the race at 56 — that kind of foot in a six-furlong sprint is nothing to dismiss. Jose L. Ortiz is one of the sharpest turf and dirt riders on the East Coast, and trainer Kevin Rice's runner at 6/1 represents live show value. Keep him in your trifectas.

Seaside Startup is Chad C. Brown's 5/2 contender with a 57.5 rating and Flavien Prat up — Brown won't hesitate to split his entries if he thinks each one has a genuine shot, and getting the meet's leading rider on a turf maiden at Saratoga is always a green flag. No avg speed published, but the trainer's maiden turf record at this meet consistently outperforms expectations.

Rockabye at 7/2 is the show pick, rating 55.83 with an avg speed of 57 — the best published work figure among the contenders in our analysis. Trainer Miguel Clement is sharp at finding spots for his charges, and Manuel Franco pilots horses with exceptional positional awareness. In a wide-open field like this, Rockabye's raw speed gives her a strong argument to hit the board.

Abrigado is the lukewarm public choice at 7/5 with a 65.7 rating and Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding for Brad H. Cox — that's a powerful combination at face value, no question. But the 7/5 price in a maiden claimer is extremely short, and our top rating goes elsewhere. Abrigado should hit the board, making the place slot appropriate, but betting this one to win at that price is leaving value on the table.

Mr R T at 15/1 is a speculative but intriguing third pick, rating 45.21 with an avg speed of 53. In a field this open, double-digit prices can hit the board with some frequency, and Reylu Gutierrez is a competent pilot who can find trips. If you're playing the trifecta, Mr R T represents a cost-effective way to diversify your bottom.

Midtown Lights is the most interesting overlay in the race — a 69.58 rating (second in the field) at 15/1 on the morning line. Trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. is in strong form with multiple entries today, and Tyler Gaffalione gives the horse a professional trip every time. A 21% career win rate in this company suggests reliability, and if Concurrently gets tangled in traffic in a 13-horse field, Midtown Lights has the ability to win outright.

Pronghorn rounds out the ticket at 5/2 with a 68.27 rating and a 28% career win rate — Jose L. Ortiz takes the mount for Steven M. Asmussen, and horses from that barn rarely show up without a genuine chance to perform. The avg speed of 53 is honest if unspectacular, but in a large field on turf, tactical versatility matters as much as raw figures.

With the Angels rates second at 72.55 with a remarkable 63% career win rate — that's a horse who simply knows how to win, and Jose L. Ortiz doesn't ride longshots in stakes races unless there's something there. Trainer Linda Rice has two in today, and both have strong credentials. At 7/2, With the Angels is a solid win contender in her own right and the most logical place selection.

Usha is the 6/5 morning-line favorite trained by Bob Baffert with Flavien Prat up — you can't ignore that combination in any race. The 57.49 rating and 36% career win rate are solid but trail our top two picks on the numbers. The price is short for a show play, but in a stakes race, the Baffert barn earns the benefit of the doubt as a board ticket.

Beau Cheval rates second at 66.78 for trainer Joe Sharp — who is quietly one of the better turf trainers in the East — with Jose L. Ortiz in the irons. An avg speed of 54 matches the competitive baseline for this distance. At 9/2, Beau Cheval is a strong place candidate and offers genuine win upside if Rossbeigh has any trouble in traffic.

Chris's Song at 3/1 rates third in the field at 57.53 with an avg speed of 55 — that's a useful speed figure for a turf maiden this far stretching out. Ricardo Santana, Jr. is in the saddle for Linda Rice, who fills out the card today with multiple live entries. This is a horse that deserves show consideration and could outrun the morning line if the pace sets up favorably.