BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: July 24, Saratoga

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Friday, July 24

Saratoga, Race 9: Quick Call (G3, 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, 5:46 p.m. ET)

#2 Jack and Noah (1-1 on the morning line) and #8 Turned Aside (2-1) are the obvious favorites, after they finished first and second in the 6-furlong Sir Cat S. at Belmont Park last month.

Both flashed excellent early speed and ran 1-2 all the way around the course, and while Jack and Noah is the more accomplished of the duo — with two stakes wins to his credit — Turned Aside could turn the tables at Saratoga.

The son of hot young sire American Pharoah is set to make his second start of the season for trainer Linda Rice, who went 4-for-9 (44%) to start the Saratoga meet.

But if you want to work a longshot into the mix, #3 Flap Jack (12-1) is worth a look.

His form was muddied during the spring by a series of unsuccessful efforts running long, but the son of Oxbow thrived when he cut back to 6 furlongs for a Thistledown allowance last month, when he romped away to win by four lengths, with a career-best 93 Brisnet Speed rating. That number is superior to the 90 posted by Jack and Noah in the Sir Cat.

Flap Jack showed promise on turf and synthetic tracks last summer, and he won the Arlington-Washington Futurity, so he might take a step forward in his return to the lawn.

Let’s key him in the exacta with the two favorites.

$7 exacta: 2,8 with 3 ($14)
$3 exacta: 3 with 2,8 ($6)
Total: $20

Good luck!