Handicapping The Kentucky Derby - August 08, 2012

Saratoga has completed 16 cards of its 40-day meet and the number of "bombs" that have won shows just how competitive this premier session is.

We return to Del Mar today with four races from our West Coast newsletter.

Get today's premium racing selections here.

East Coast Results: Parx Racing (Philadelphia Park) Race #2 Top pick #5 (WILD MEMORIES)  $3.40.
Exacta (5-3) $7.00.
T-fecta (5-3-2) $19.40.

Parx Racing (Philadelphia Park) Race #3 Best Bet #2 (CANTONA) $3.80.
Exacta (2-4) $6.80.

West Coast Results: Mountaineer Park Race #4 Best Bet #1 (IT'S TIFFEN TIME) $2.40.

Mountaineer Park Race #7 Top Pick #8 (SPEED SCORE) $2.60.
Exacta (8-5) $46.40.
T-fecta (8-5-4) $82.00.

Today's Picks:

SARATOGA Race #1 at 1:00 PM Eastern

Top pick: #6 (KITTY PANDA) - Debuting filly by "Sky Mesa" has been in steady training since early May and is in a solid first-out barn (Chris Clement 22%). Home-bred had a bullet work from the gate just six days ago and looks set for her initial public appearance.

2nd pick: #1 (WILDCAT'S ELEMENT) - She's shown good speed in both starts at Belmont and was claimed out of her debut by Gary Contessa for $50K. In her first for the new barn, filly set a pressured pace and held to finish third when racing at this level down-state on July 14th. Blinkers go on, she draws the rail, and shortens back up to 5 furlongs.

3rd pick: #2 (Spinit to Winit) - Broman home-bred has a bullet 3-furlong breeze here just three days ago and had some fine stamina-building drills at Belmont before heading north.

4th pick: #5 (Physical Delivery) - Trainer Chad Brown is having a strong meet and has some sharp works on view. Filly cost $220K, a hefty sum for a state-bred and she had a fine gate drill here on July 30th.

Horse Racing Picks Resources:

Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters:

Horse-Racing-Picks-August-07-2012
PARX RACING (PHILADELPHIA PARK) Race #1 at 12:25 PM EasternTop pick: #6 (INDIAN EDDIE) - One of two entered here by trainer Ramon Preciado and the pair race uncoupled. Consistent sort has gone (8-2-4-...

Horse-Racing-Picks-August-07-2012
MOUNTAINEER PARK Race #3 at 4:50 PM PacificTop pick: #4 (BLUEGRASS DREAMER) - He's really stepped up his game of late and has gone (4-3-0-1) here in four straight local grass appearances. Speed/stalke...

Horse-Racing-Picks-August-06-2012
SARATOGA Race #4 at 2:35 PM EasternTop pick: #6 (BLACK RHINO) - Lightly-raced gelding rallied to finish third here in a turf sprint facing tougher on July 23rd. Trainer Wesley Ward will drop him in pr...

Horse-Racing-Picks-August-06-2012
MOUNTAINEER PARK Race #1 at 4:00 PM PacificTop pick: #4 (RED KILLIAN) - Speedy gelding has been freshened-up for almost two-months by trainer Craig Huckshold and he had a bullet half-mile breeze here ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-August-05-2012
SARATOGA Race #2 at 1:35 PM EasternTop pick: #5 (STATE FLAG) - Beautifully bred Phipp's Stable colt has been freshened-up since an even trip June 9th on the Belmont Stakes(G1) under-card. He's the typ...