BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: Aug. 26, Saratoga

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Wednesday, Aug. 26

Saratoga, Race 7: Mahony S. (5 1/2 furlongs on turf, 4:12 p.m. ET)

#8 Maven (5-2 on the morning line) was a classy juvenile sprinter in 2019 for trainer Wesley Ward. The colt won his debut at Aqueduct, over future stakes winner Lebda, before he shipped to France and battled to victory in the Prix du Bois (G3).

A son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Maven recently returned to action with an easy allowance win sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland. After he led through quick splits of :21.62 and :44.95, Maven pulled away decisively down the lane to win eased up by 2 3/4 lengths, with a 94 Brisnet Speed rating.

If Maven improves at all in his second start of the season, he can nab the Mahony in gate-to-wire fashion under Saratoga’s leading jockey, Irad Ortiz.

Let’s bet this classy sprinter to win and key him on top of #1 Buy Land and See (8-1), #7 Cajun Casanova (30-1), and #10 Turned Aside (2-1) in the exacta.

$21 to win on #8 Maven
$3 exacta: 8 with 1,7,10 ($9)
Total: $30

Good luck!