Saratoga delivers an absolutely loaded 10-race card today with deep, competitive fields across fast dirt and firm turf. This is the kind of day where just about every race has multiple legitimate contenders—and where guessing will get you beat.

Good luck… you’re going to need it. Maybe a lot.

But more importantly, you’ll need a way to cut through the noise.

That’s where Smart Sheets comes in.

This full-card breakdown uses Smart Sheets to identify:

Horses most likely to be forward at the quarter mile Pace control and race-shape advantages Total Pace and C-Zone standouts Simulated odds vs the morning line Profile of a Winner indicators On a card like this, the edge isn’t just about finding winners—it’s about eliminating the wrong horses and narrowing the field to the ones that actually fit. Today’s focus: Eliminate false contenders Identify live runners in deep fields Find value in chaos Build smarter Pick 4 and vertical tickets At Saratoga, it’s not about being right on every race—it’s about being right where it matters. Smart Sheets helps you find the edge—and avoid the traps.

Founders Club: https://horseracingtoday.net/smart-sheets-daily-horse-racing-analytics-pace-value/

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https://horseracingtoday.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HRTSmartSheetsExplanations.pdf

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Race 1

Terry’s Picks

1st – #3 Interlock Empire – In the money in 8 of his last 10 starts with two wins. Drops in class and owns strong trainer/jockey statistics.

2nd – #4 Golden Symphony – Consistent runner dropping in class with another strong trainer/jockey combination.

3rd – #1 Shipsational – Owns the highest speed figure at today’s distance and the fastest Best Dirt Speed.

Longshot
#8 First Trumpet – Jockey upgrade with early speed that could prove dangerous cutting back.

Alternates

• #6 Thrill of It
• #7 Screaming Uncle

Rick’s Picks

1st – #3 INTERLOCK EMPIRE – Only runner with a PAR+ above 50% and a powerful TLRSP# +9.

2nd – #6 THRILL OF IT – Offers upside with strong EP/Fractions and improving form.

3rd – #4 GOLDEN SYMPHONY – Consistent performer who has hit the board in four of six at today’s distance.

4th – #7 SCREAMING UNCLE – Could control the pace with the strongest early fractions.

Suggested Bet

$1 Pick 3: 3,6 / 1,3,11 / 1,3

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Race 2

Terry’s Picks

1st – #5 Al Mowashaah – Trainer excels stretching horses around two turns. Excellent turf pedigree with strong connections.

2nd – #7 Parea – Turf breeding suggests improvement switching surfaces.

3rd – #3 Howard’s Hope – First-time starter bred for turf with top connections.

Longshot

#8 Papa Brez – Another well-bred first-time starter capable of outrunning his odds.

Alternate

• #10 Captain George

Rick’s Picks

1st – #1 ALL ABOUT SOUL – Highest-rated first-time starter with a Back Bullet workout.

2nd – #11 MOTORCYCLE COP – Second-rated debut runner in a race lacking proven experience.

3rd – #3 HOWARD’S HOPE – Another well-rated firster with legitimate upside.

4th – #5 AL MOWASHAAH – Strong second-race improvement angle after being favored in debut.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Pick 4: 1,3,5,11 / 1,3,8,10 / 3,8 / 3,6,11

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Race 3

Terry’s Picks

1st – #11 Bargain Purchase – Highest last-race speed figure and trainer wins 25% moving horses up in class.

2nd – #8 Kings Landyn – Promising debut with room for improvement.

3rd – #6 Recurring Revenue – Drops in class with strong trainer/jockey combination.

Longshot

#1 Chris’s Song – Rail draw plus class relief makes him dangerous.

Alternates

• #4 Bye for Now
• #3 How Much Is Enough

Rick’s Picks

1st – #3 HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH – Excellent second-race Parability with a sharp work since debut.

2nd – #1 CHRIS’S SONG – Lone YES horse who finally appears healthy.

3rd – #8 KINGS LANDYN – Strong second-race Parability backed by multiple workouts.

4th – #10 OURS TO START – Highly-rated first-time starter with a Back Bullet workout.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Trifecta Box: 1, 3, 8, 10

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Race 4

Terry’s Picks

1st – #7 Irish Jackson – Comes off a victory and remains in sharp form.

2nd – #8 Jackson’s Dixie – Drops in class with the best speed figure at today’s distance.

3rd – #2 Play Good Pay Good – Three wins in her last five starts with another jockey upgrade.

Longshot

#1 Jackie the Joker – Four wins from her last seven starts and benefits from the rail.

Alternates

• #3 City Blocks
• #1 Jackie the Joker

Rick’s Picks

1st – #3 CITY BLOCKS – Biggest upside in the race with a standout C-Zone advantage.

2nd – #8 JACKSON’S DIXIE – Simulated favorite with Top Total Pace.

3rd – #7 IRISH JACKSON – Reliable fresh runner returning from a break.

4th – #2 PLAY GOOD PAY GOOD – Strong early pace profile and class relief.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Pick 4: 3,8 / 3,6,11 / 2,6,7,9,11 / 2,4,6

Race 5

Terry’s Picks

1st – #11 Mykonos – Finished third against similar company at Saratoga last out and returns with a strong trainer/jockey combination.

2nd – #2 High Leverage – Drops in class, cuts back to a sprint, and comes in off a bullet 4-furlong workout on July 30.

3rd – #8 Eye On the Ball – Runner-up in his last start with another strong trainer/jockey team.

Longshot

#3 Twenty One Red – Owns the fastest Best Turf Speed in the field and offers value.

Alternates

• #6 Sir Walta

Rick’s Picks

1st – #11 MYKONOS – YES horse with the top closing kick and Top Total Pace.

2nd – #3 TWENTY ONE RED – The other YES horse and another strong closer.

3rd – #6 SIR WALTA – TLRSP# +5, Maiden Special Weight dropper, adds first-time Lasix.

4th – #2 HIGH LEVERAGE – Consistent performer gets Irad Ortiz.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Trifecta Box: 2, 3, 6, 11

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Race 6

Terry’s Picks

1st – #7 Capodost – First-time starter by a sire that wins 17% with debut runners. Excellent trainer/jockey combination.

2nd – #8 Goodproblemtohave – Solid debut effort finishing third and has room to improve.

3rd – #10 Cody’s Approval – Switches to dirt and reunites with a high-percentage trainer and jockey.

Longshot

#11 Juana Margarita – Well-bred first-time starter whose dam has produced four winners from five starters.

Alternates

• #2 Beach Belle
• #5 Cream of the Crop

Rick’s Picks

1st – #2 BEACH BELLE – Back Bullet workout and benefits from the favorable inside draw.

2nd – #9 GUSTAVIA – Top-rated first-time starter with a Back Bullet at a generous price.

3rd – #11 JUANA MARGARITA – Second-rated debut runner with strong connections.

4th – #7 CAPODOST – Brad Cox first-time starter gets Irad Ortiz.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Trifecta Box: 2, 7, 9, 11

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Race 7

Terry’s Picks

1st – #6 Risk Tolerance – Runner-up in his latest start and retains a strong trainer/jockey combination.

2nd – #2 Deep Manhattan – Impressive debut winner for a high-percentage barn.

3rd – #4 Siyouincanada – Drops in class and cuts back in distance with a sharp recent workout.

Longshot

#5 Highlands Way – Seeks a third consecutive victory and continues to improve.

Alternate

• #1 Market Timing

Suggested Wager

• $0.50 Pick 4: 2,4,5,6 / 2,9 / 3,5,8,10 / 8,9,10 — Cost: $48.00

Rick’s Picks

1st – #2 DEEP MANHATTAN – Second-race upside to graded-stakes level. Strong workout pattern suggests he’s ready despite the long layoff.

2nd – #6 RISK TOLERANCE – TLRSP# +3 with a 1½-length Sim Speed advantage and class relief.

3rd – #4 SIYOUINCANADA – Third-race upside after facing graded stakes company.

4th – #5 HIGHLANDS WAY – Top C-Zone horse that continues climbing the speed figure ladder.

Suggested Bet

$0.50 Pick 4: 2,4,6 / 2,6,9 / 3,10 / 3,5,8,10,13