Monthly Archives: August 2026

August 1st, 2026 Free Picks & Plays

Since the launch of this site ten years ago, our statistics have remained consistent. The race winner is in the top three selections 65% of the time, 16,640/25,754 and the top choice first or second 46% of the time, 11,863/25,754. The algorithm is very good at zeroing in on live runners with regularity. You will often find the triple and super in our picks.

*Early Pick 4 for us at Saratoga last Sunday…$216.44 on a $64 ticket…

*Middle Pick 4 for us at Saratoga last Sunday…$131.78 on a $36 ticket…

*Late Pick 4 for us at Saratoga last Sunday…$271.59 on a $36 ticket…

*Late Pick 5 for us at Saratoga last Sunday…$1,648.57 on a $81 ticket…

*Saturday’s Full Card Saratoga Picks/Plays below…

Saratoga Selections

Race 1: Strength Variable:

#1 Pavlova’s Palace (GB) 6-1 18
#3 Correlation Trade (GB) 2-1 17
#5 Voyager 8-5 16
#2 Bashfully 9-2 15

Dirt Selections

#5 Voyager 8-5
#8 Joy of Life 5-2
#4 Bittersweet Memory 8-1
#2 Bashfully 9-2

Race 2:

#4 Velora 7-2 19
#9 Wildest Dreams 10-1 18
#7 Harlow Drive 8-1 17
#3 Luck Penny 8-1 17

Race 3:

#5 Eliminate 5-1 36
#6 Reasoned Analysis 2-1 35
#2 Tuscan Sky 6-1 34
#3 Dreamlike 9-2 33

Race 4:

#4 Chief of Staff 6-1 21
#9 Dream More 3-1 20
#8 Roll Wave 6-1 19
#2 Jackpot Rocket 10-1 19

Race 5:

#8 Life Changing 5-1 19
#1 Charlotte’s Beach 8-1 19
#6 Wyna 4-1 18
#9 Flightress 8-1 17

Race 6:

#6 Flight Command 9-5 33
#3 Twinkle Town 7-2 33
#4 Booked 7-5 32
#1 How’s Al Today 6-1 31

Race 7:

#8 Iron Dome 7-2 34
#7 Pagode 5-1 33
#1 Sassmaster 3-1 32
#3 Thunderously 6-1 31

Race 8:

#5 Silsbee 5-2 33
#2 Lady Jancis 3-1 32
#3 Only for Now 5-1 31
#1 Big Earn 6-1 31

Dirt Selections

#14 Battis Grove 6-1
#16 Beach Heist 3-1
#15 Golden Irish 12-1
#5 Silsbee 5-2
#8 Paula’s a Star 8-1

Race 9:

#4 Time to Dream 5-1 33
#8 Deep Learning 7-2 32
#6 Amberglen (IRE) 5-2 32
#5 Ultimate Love 10-1 31

Dirt Selections

#2 Star Actress 15-1
#11 Hidden Rose 7-2
#10 Answered Prayers 3-1
#5 Ultimate Love 10-1

Race 10:

#1 Chip Honcho 3-1 38
#5 Commandment 6-5 37
#3 Renegade 7-5 36
#4 Silent Tactic 6-1 35

Race 11:

#7 Rhyton 8-1 29
#1 Illmatic 9-2 29
#9 Dakota Country 8-5 28
#8 Diliello 15-1 28

Dirt Selections

#1 Illmatic 9-2
#11 B Provocateur 4-1
#10 Leo’s Reward 8-1
#5 Blamicker 12-1
#4 Van Vollenhoven 10-1

Race 12:

#3 Amicable Farce 5-1 18
#1 Prime Connection 15-1 18
#4 Timeless Melody 10-1 17
#8 Lose the Blues 15-1 16

Dirt Selections

#7 Hedge Book 3-1
#1 Prime Connection 15-1
#10 Jadorlinija 2-1
#11 Red Beach 15-1
#8 Lose the Blues 15-1

Saratoga Plays

Early Pick 5:

Race 1: 1,3,5,2 Dirt: 5,8,4,2

Race 2: 4,9,7,3

Race 3: 5,6,2 *5 scratched using 6,2,3

Race 4: 4,9 *9 scratched using 4,8

Race 5: 8,1,6

$.50 Ticket: $144

Early Pick 4:

Race 2: 4,9,7,3

Race 3: 5,6,2,3 *5 scratched using 6,2,3,1

Race 4: 4,9,8 *9 scratched using 4,8,2

Race 5: 8,1,6

$.50 Ticket: $72

Pick 5 (3-7):

Race 3: 5,6,2,3 *5 scratched using 6,2,3,1

Race 4: 4,9,8 *9 scratched using 4,8,2

Race 5: 8,1,6,9

Race 6: 6,3,4

Race 7: 8,7 *7 scratched using 8,1

$.50 Ticket: $144

Pick 4 (4-7):

Race 4: 4,9 *9 scratched using 4,8

Race 5: 8,1,6,9

Race 6: 6,3,4,1

Race 7: 8,7,1,3 *7 scratched using 8,1,3,4

$.50 Ticket: $64

Pick 5 (5-9):

Race 5: 8,1,6,9

Race 6: 6,3,4

Race 7: 8,7,1 *7 scratched using 8,1,3

Race 8: 5,2 Dirt: 14,16

Race 9: 4,8,6 Dirt: 2,11,10

$.50 Ticket: $108

Pick 4 (6-9):

Race 6: 6,3,4

Race 7: 8,7,1 *7 scratched using 8,1,3

Race 8: 5,2 Dirt: 14,16

Race 9: 4,8,6 Dirt: 2,11,10

$.50 Ticket: $27

Pick 6:

Race 7: 8,7,1 *7 scratched using 8,1,3

Race 8: 5,2 Dirt: 14,16

Race 9: 4,8,6 Dirt: 2,11,10

Race 10: 1

Race 11: 7,1,9 Dirt: 1,11,10

Race 12: 3,1,4,8 Dirt: 7,1,10,11

$1.00 Ticket: $216

Late Pick 5:

Race 8: 5,2 Dirt: 14,16

Race 9: 4,8,6 Dirt: 2,11,10

Race 10: 1,5,3

Race 11: 7,1,9 Dirt: 1,11,10

Race 12: 3,1,4,8 Dirt: 7,1,10,11

$.50 Ticket: $108

Late Pick 4:

Race 9: 4,8,6 Dirt: 2,11,10

Race 10: 1,5,3

Race 11: 7,1,9 Dirt: 1,11,10

Race 12: 3,1,4,8 Dirt: 7,1,10,11

$.50 Ticket: $54

“Strength Variable” – Is a numerical value that gets assigned to each runner, the end result of the system that I use, which evaluates the horses in as many as thirty categories per race. It gives a visual of races where there are standouts , or conversely, heats where it is very difficult to separate. The races with better quality of horses will score higher values, while lower level claimers and maiden races with limited information will be lower numbers. Top picks that eclipse the second and third choice by three, four or more points will be runners that have a higher percentage of winning. These may be races where it is easier to find a single, where as races in which the values are close , and even tied in some instances may be races to spread in.