Shapiro's strategy for Saratoga All Stakes Pick 4 on Whitney Day

by SCOTT SHAPIRO

The Whitney Day slate at Saratoga is loaded and includes an all stakes Pick 4 over the final four races of the Saturday afternoon card.

The Test Stakes (G1) for three-year-old fillies gets things rolling and the Lure Stakes over the sod concludes a sequence that also includes the $1.2 million featured event. Here are my thoughts:

Race 8: The Test

The $500,000 seven-furlong affair features several fillies exiting the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park including 3-1-morning line favorite #7 Mia Mischief for hot training Steve Asmussen. The $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida March 2017 purchase had finished in the top two in all seven of her lifetime starts before the Victory Ride where she dueled early and faded late as the 6-5-chalk. She draws favorably towards the outside, but she may not have things her way like she has in so many of her top performances thus far. She can win, but is far from unbeatable.

#6 Separationofpowers makes her second start off the layoff for leading trainer Chad Brown after stumbling after the break in the Victory Ride. The move off the rail, a race under her belt as a three-year-old, success over the racetrack and a likely better start all give her a huge shot to move forward for Klaravich Stables.

I also give a pair of newcomers to New York a big shot as they take a step up in class on Saturday. #8 Minit to Stardom enters the Test a perfect 3-for-3 for trainer Albert Stall Jr. She beat up on Louisiana-bred competition in her initial two tries and then took it to a high-level optional claiming field at Churchill in her first effort versus open company. She has a big shot.

I have been waiting for #5 Cathedral Reader to return ever since a brutal trip from the rail in her first start against winners on June 21 for trainer Dallas Stewart. The $200,000 daughter of Shackleford takes a big step up in class, but has a load of talent. At 20-1 I will not only include her on all tickets, but also her to Win.

Race 9: The Whitney (G1)

The featured mile and an eighth event over the main track appears to be a race with a pair of favorites that can get to the wire first, but are far from unbeatable. Instead of siding with #4 Mind Your Biscuits and #6 Diversify, I will lean heavily on #2 Backyard Heaven for trainer Chad Brown after an excusable effort last time out under the lights in the Stephen Foster.

You can find my full thoughts on the Whitney here.

Race 10: The Waya (G3)

I am going two-deep in the Waya.

#2 Mom’s On Strike makes her first start off a two-month freshening from hot training Joe Sharp. The five-year-old mare proved she can get the 1 1/2-mile distance two-back in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes. A repeat of that 101 BRIS Speed rating and they are running for second.

I will also include #5 Santa Monica. The second half of the uncoupled Chad Brown entry ran down Inflexibility in the lane on June 30 in the Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine. Her 2-for-5 record at 12 furlongs illustrates that 12 furlongs is not an issue.

Race 11: The Lure

I lack a strong opinion in the finale, so I will use several. Sure, #8 Voodoo Song is a perfect 4-for-4 over this turf course and the one to beat, but I am not convinced he is a sure thing in this $100,000 restricted stakes event.

Suggested Ticket: ($1 Pick 4)

Race 8: 5+6+7+8

Race 9: 2

Race 10: 2+5

Race 11: 2+3+4+6+7+8+10

Ticket Cost: $56