Saratoga Picks: Waya Stakes (8/28/2026)

The racing action from Saratoga on Friday features the Waya Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!

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Saratoga Full Card Analysis

Saratoga Picks: Waya Stakes (8/28/2026)

Saratoga Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 1:10 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 7 runners.

• #5 ROCKABYE (8-5): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot.
• #2 BOLT ISLAND (6-1): Underneath. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #4 BREAKER (9-2): Underneath. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
• #7 CLASSY RUNNER (9-2): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 4 – 7

The Plays

Win: #5 at 6-5

Exacta: 5 / 2,4,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:43 PM ET; Claiming $37k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #7 BELLACOSE (9-5): Top Pick. Top connections on the circuit with Franco and Cox. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #2 AH CA IRA (3-1): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Should take a liking to the race shape.
• #1 CURLIN'S MAGIC (8-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
• #6 JACKIE THE JOKER (6-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 1 – 6

The Plays

Win: #7 at 7-5

Exacta: 7 / 2,1,6

Saratoga Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 2:16 PM ET; Claiming $37k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

• #5 SPOILER (1-1): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #1 INTERLOCK EMPIRE (4-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #2 SHIPSATIONAL (8-1): Contender. Speed figs match up nicely. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
• #3 AMEDEUS MUSIC (15-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 3

The Plays

Win: #5 at 1-1

Pick 3 (Races 3-5): #5,1 with #6 with #6,2

Exacta: 5 / 1,2

Saratoga Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:49 PM ET; Starter Optional Claiming $45k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #6 SHOOT THE NICKEL (5-2): Best Bet of the Card. Looks good based on the 95 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Barn has been solid. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #3 KUNSHAN BRIDGE (6-1): Major Player. Can run with these. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #5 TIZMARKUS (4-1): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish. Should sit a good trip.
• #1 NORWICH (3-1): Contender. Santana and Abreu team up on this one. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 1-1

Exacta: 6 / 3,5,1

Saratoga Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 3:23 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.

• #6 SELLONTHENEWS (9-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid.
• #2 BLUEGRASS PRINCESS (4-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
• #1 ROYAL COUNTY DOWN (5-1): Contender. May be able to find the right setup. Potential to kick home late.
• #10 MANDY STEPH (7-2): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 1 – 10

The Plays

Win: #6 at 7-2

Exacta: 6 / 2,1,10

Saratoga Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:57 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $115k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #8 FIVE GRAND (6-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Proven competitor at this configuration. Prat and Weaver team up on this one. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
• #11 HAMMERIN HENRY (5-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #7 FREEDOM CHARGE (7-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #5 COMICAL MISCHIEF (15-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 11 – 7 – 5

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-1

Trifecta: 8 / 11,7 / 11,7,5

Saratoga Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 4:32 PM ET; West Point Stakes Presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital $200k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.

• #4 MI BAGO (2-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Races competitive with the top contenders.
• #2 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #7 SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN (6-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Has experience at this level.
• #8 GEORGE BRIGGS (7-2): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Could be grinding down the competition late.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 7 – 8

The Plays

Win: #4 at 7-5

Exacta: 4 / 2,7,8

Saratoga Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 5:07 PM ET; Waya Stakes $225k; 1 3/8 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.

• #6 STORM MIAMI (4-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Should be able to work out a trip.
• #1 EVERSHED (5-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Prat and Delacour. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #7 AWESOMESAUCE (8-1): Major Player. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
• #4 MASSARAT (9-2): Major Player. Fast enough on paper to compete. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 7 – 4

The Plays

Win: #6 at 3-1

Exacta: 6 / 1,7,4

Saratoga Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:41 PM ET; Starter Optional Claiming $60k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #4 BAM'S BLISS KISS (3-1): Top Pick. Looks good based on the 100 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Stamina to outlast the competition.
• #9 SWEET NOTE (7-2): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #3 CONFIRMED STAR (12-1): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
• #6 CITY BLOCKS (5-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 4 – 9 – 3 – 6

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Exacta: 4 / 9,3,6

Saratoga Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 6:15 PM ET; Allowance $105k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 12 runners.

• #1 ILLMATIC (7-5): Top Pick. Should be able to work out a trip. Prat puts this one in with a chance.
• #8 JOKER ON FIRE (3-1): Major Player. Productive recent form. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #5 RHYTON (6-1): Major Player. May be able to find the right setup. Has experience at this level.
• #9 VAN VOLLENHOVEN (10-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 1 – 8 – 5 – 9

The Plays

Win: #1 at 6-5

Exacta: 1 / 8,5,9

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Friday Analysis

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Saturday Analysis

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Sunday Analysis

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