SARATOGA · FRIDAY 14 AUGUST 2026

Race 8

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING 7 Furlongs Dirt 3 Year Olds And Up $125,000

Post

TBD

Runners

M/L Fav

Contrary Thinking 5-2

Weather

Increasing Clouds · 80°F

★ Selections at a glance

NAP · TOP PICK

Bold Strength

M/L 3-1

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

M/L 3-1 · chief rival · Brad Cox (elite trainer)

EACH-WAY

Ridgewood Runner

M/L 4-1

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

M/L 4-1 · Gaffalione T (top jockey)

DARK HORSE

Vibrant Express

M/L 6-1

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

M/L 6-1 · Weaver George (top US trainer)

How we score: composite rating of morning-line market position (60%) + trainer tier (20%) + jockey tier (12%) + elite combo bonus (5%) + equipment signals (3%). Picks are programmatic, not editorial — informational only. 21+ where applicable.

# Field of 7

1 post 1

Ridgewood Runner

Gaffalione T ELITE · Joe Sharp · 126 lb

by Klimt out of Honored Promise

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 4-1

M/L

4-1

2 post 2

Contrary Thinking M/L FAV

Rodriguez J · Amelia Green · 126 lb

by Into Mischief out of Valadorna

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 5-2

M/L

5-2

3 post 3

Commuted

Santana R Jr TOP-25 · Rice Linda TOP-25 · 126 lb

by Gun Runner out of Final Holiday

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 8-1

M/L

8-1

4 post 4

Vibrant Express

Franco M · Weaver George TOP-25 · 126 lb

by Vekoma out of The Funky Express

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 6-1

M/L

6-1

5 post 5

Eliminate

Carmouche K · Rice Linda TOP-25 · 126 lb

by Curlin out of I'm a Looker

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 9-2

M/L

9-2

6 post 6

Otello

Alvarado J · Ilkay Kantarmaci · 126 lb

by Curlin out of Isabella Sings

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 8-1

M/L

8-1

7 post 7

Bold Strength

Ortiz I Jr · Brad Cox ELITE · 126 lb

by Constitution out of Vaunting

★ Bet at AmWager M/L 3-1

M/L

3-1

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