August 28th, 2026 Free Picks & Plays

• August 28, 2026
• Free Picks & Plays
• No comments

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, 16,740/25,530 and the top choice first or second 46% of the time, 11,934/25,530. The algorithm is very good at zeroing in on live runners with regularity. You will often find the triple and super in our picks.

*Pick 6 for us last Thursday at Saratoga…$855.34 on a $96 ticket… 

*Late Pick 4 last Saturday at Saratoga…$354.90 on a $64 ticket…

*Middle Pick 5 for us yesterday at Saratoga…$2,997.86 on a $108 ticket…

*Late Pick 4 for us yesterday at Saratoga…$987.88 on a $32 ticket…

*Late Pick 5 for us yesterday at Saratoga…$7,739.39 on a $96 ticket…

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

Saratoga Selections 

Race 1:  Strength Variable:

#4 Breaker 9-2                         18
#3 Quartz Mountain 5-2        18
#2 Bolt Island 6-1                    17
#5 Rockabye 8-5                       17

Dirt Selections 

*Leaving as is…

Race 2:

#7 Bellacose 9-5                       28
#1 Curlin’s Magic 8-1              27
#4 Short Shift 7-2                     27
#2 Ah Ca Ira 3-1                        26

Race 3:

#7 Polar Bear Plunge 6-1         30
#5 Spoiler 1-1                             29
#6 Fever Night 5-1                     28
#2 Shipsational 8-1                    27

Race 4:

#6 Shoot the Nickel  5-2           31
#8 Normandy Coast 4-1            30
#1 Norwich 3-1                           29
#3 Kunshan Bridge 6-1              28

Race 5:

#1 Royal County Down 5-1         20
#10 Mandy Steph 7-2                   19
#9 Celebrate 6-1                            18
#2 Bluegrass Princess 4-1            18

Dirt Selections 

#2 Bluegrass Princess 4-1
#9 Celebrate 6-1
#12 Revenge of the Sis 3-1
#10 Mandy Steph 7-2
#11 Funny Words 12-1

Race 6:

#11 Hammerin Henry 5-1            19
#8 Five Grand 6-1                          18
#9 McMoon 4-1                              17
#7 Freedom Charge 7-2                 17

Race 7:

#4 Mi Bago 2-1                              37
#7 Sounds Like a Plan 6-1           35
#2 Spirit of St Louis 3-1               34
#8 George Briggs 7-2                    33

Dirt Selections 

#11 Doc Sullivan 9-5
#12 Wynstock 5-2
#10 Bank Frenzy 5-1
#13 Dr. Kraft 8-1

Race 8:

#6 Storm Miami (IRE) 4-1            34
#4 Massarat 9-2                              33
#8 Silvology 7-2                              32
#9 Unmerited Favor 8-1                32

Race 9:

#9 Sweet Note 7-2                        28
#8 Sassy Princess 4-1                   28
#6 City Blocks 5-1                         27
#1 Majestic Return 8-1                 26

Race 10:

#8 Joker On Fire 3-1                     32
#1 Illmatic 7-5                               31
#5 Rhyton 6-1                                30
#9 Van Vollenhoven 10-1             29

Dirt Selections 

#12 Music in Motion 7-2
#11 B Provocateur 4-1
#10 Vekinda 6-1
#3 Fireballin 12-1
#6 East Coast Girl 10-1

Saratoga Plays

Early Pick 5:

Race 1:  4,3,2,5

Race 2:  7,1,4,2

Race 3:  7,5,6

Race 4:  6,8

Race 5:  1,10,9 Dirt: 2,9,12

  $.50 Ticket:  $144

Early Pick 4:

Race 2:  7,1,4,2

Race 3:  7,5,6

Race 4:  6,8,1

Race 5:  1,10,9 Dirt: 2,9,12

  $.50 Ticket:  $54

Pick 5 (3-7):

Race 3:  7,5,6

Race 4:  6,8,1,3

Race 5:  1,10,9 Dirt: 2,9,12

Race 6:  11,8,9

Race 7:  4,7 Dirt: 11,12

  $.50 Ticket:  $108

Pick 4 (4-7):

Race 4:  6,8,1

Race 5:  1,10,9,2 Dirt: 2,9,12,10

Race 6:  11,8,9,7

Race 7:  4,7 Dirt: 11,12

  $.50 Ticket:  $48

Pick 6:

Race 5:  1,10,9 Dirt: 2,9,12

Race 6:  11,8,9

Race 7:  4 Dirt: 11

Race 8:  6,4,8

Race 9:  9,8

Race 10: 8,1 Dirt: 12,11

  $1.00 Ticket:  $108

Late Pick 5:

Race 6:  11,8,9,7

Race 7:  4,7,2,8 Dirt: 11,12,10,13

Race 8:  6,4,8

Race 9:  9,8,6

Race 10: 8,1 Dirt: 12,11

  $.50 Ticket:  $144

Late Pick 4:

Race 7:  4,7,2,8 Dirt: 11,12,10,13

Race 8:  6,4,8

Race 9:  9,8,6

Race 10: 8,1,5 Dirt: 12,11,10

  $.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.