Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: 15-1 maiden at Saratoga
Racing at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Amira Chichakly)
Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, June 4 at Saratoga and Horseshoe Indianapolis, including a 15-1 longshot with promising credentials.
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Best Bets and Quick Picks
Saratoga: Race 2: Mike Lee S. (seven furlongs on dirt, 1:13 p.m. ET)
There are many proven stakes horses in this field of New York-breds, but up-and-coming maiden winner #5 Train the Trainer (3-1) might be the horse to beat.
Train the Trainer debuted in a non-state-restricted maiden special weight on April 6 at Santa Anita, finishing second against next-out winner and future Preakness (G1) fourth-place finisher Goal Oriented. One month later, Train the Trainer wired a maiden special weight for New York-breds at Aqueduct by five lengths, earning a powerful 102 Brisnet Speed rating.
None of the other Mike Lee entrants have posted a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 94, so a repeat of his maiden performance will make Train the Trainer tough to catch. A win bet is in order, along with an exacta using #6 Mo Plex (2-1) and #3 Prince Valiant (5-2) for second place.
Selections
- #5 Train the Trainer (3-1)
- #6 Mo Plex (2-1)
- #3 Prince Valiant (5-2)
Wagers
- $18 to win on #5 Train the Trainer
- $6 Exacta: 5 with 3,6
Total: $30
Horseshoe Indianapolis: Race 3: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 3:12 p.m. ET)
In 2024, trainer William Morey compiled a stellar 4-for-9 (44%) record saddling first-time starters on dirt at Horseshoe Indianapolis. His first such starter in 2025, #5 Seven Emmys (8-1), is worthy of a win bet.
A well-bred three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of a Distorted Humor mare, Seven Emmys sold for $325,000 as a two-year-old in training. She’s put together a lengthy work tab and should be fit for a winning debut under jockey Joseph Ramos, a 50% winner teaming up with Morey over the last two months.
#4 Electrifying Lady (3-5) can complete the exacta.
Selections
- #5 Seven Emmys (8-1)
- #4 Electrifying Lady (3-5)
- #1 Rockaway Reef (3-1)
Wagers
- $15 to win on #5 Seven Emmys
- $15 Exacta: 5 with 4
Total: $30
Saratoga: Race 10: Maiden Special Weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 5:47 p.m. ET)
#3 Shakeitforthebird (15-1) made her turf debut over this course, distance, and class level last summer. After setting a slow pace, she weakened slightly to finish third behind next-out winners Scythian and Real Savvy. The quality of competition was deep, as Scythian’s subsequent win came in the Miss Grillo (G2).
Shakeitforthebird hasn’t run since, but trainer Anthony Ferraro strikes at a lofty 26% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more. Sticking to the New York-bred ranks and adding Lasix cements Shakeitforthebird as a live longshot worth betting.
Selections
- #3 Shakeitforthebird (15-1)
- #4 Coach Case (5-2)
- #11 Sir Lawrence (6-1)
Wagers
- $25 to win on #3 Shakeitforthebird
Good luck!
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