Quills Picks Winners – Wednesday 6/3 – Saratoga Race 9

Today is the beginning of the final Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga, and today NYRA is celebrating the New York breds. It is New York Showcase Day with six stakes for New York bred horses.

We will take a look at race nine of a ten-race card. Our race today is the Commentator Stakes as a field of nine will go a mile and an eighth on the main track.

Saratoga Race 9 – Commentator Stakes

Favored in the Commentator is the 7 Iron Dome (5/2 morning line). He finished second in his first race in six months in an allowance race at Oaklawn. He stretches out to today’s distance where he has won all three of his career races. Look for him to be stalking here this afternoon.

The 8 Drake’s Passage (5/1 ML) races for the first time since last August where he had all kinds of trouble in an optional claiming race. He finished third in this race last year and will look to improve off that. He might need a race, but he did fire some bullets preparing for his return today.

The 9 Donegal Surges (4/1 ML) closed well to finish second about five weeks ago at Aqueduct just missing by a neck. He can be on the lead like he was in February, and though he was disqualified, closing like he did right after Christmas. He does have a good race, bad race pattern forming here but there are a few horses that I consider “race filler”.

The 4 Wynstock (6/1 ML) showed nothing in the Isaac Murphy Marathon during Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill. He shortens up three furlongs for today’s race where he should be able run his best race. He loves the distance (four wins in eight tries), but he does not appear to like Saratoga (0 for 3 lifetime).

Joe’s Pick

As much as I said that Wynstock may not like Saratoga, which is a viable excuse, I think that being a horse that likes this mile and an eighth distance is a good thing. Also, he is facing restricted company in these state bred horses. Look for him to bounce back here at what I think will be a nice price.

I’m calling this race 4-8-7-9 and my play is $20 to win o the 4. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!