Showdown at the Spa, Presented by NYRA Bets, for July 29

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TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato will give their best bet of the day for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday card of the Saratoga meet, and bet $50 Win/Place on their selection. In the case of a scratch, an alternate pick will be posted on twitter. The handicapper who has accrued the biggest bankroll through Sept. 3 wins.

SS: Last Sunday's Result Bluegrass Sunset sat a perfect ground-saving trip, but failed to land a major blow when the real running began in the stretch to report home fourth at 9-1… So much for my early lead. Time to change the password on our clocker report account if DiDonato hits with another firster. Total: $410.

Friday, Race 4, Msw – The cutting back Singleton returns to the maiden ranks as a first-time gelding after setting a very hot pace and fading to sixth in the 1 1/8-mile GII Peter Pan S. May 14. The Triple Crown nominee has run into some nice ones at Gulfstream earlier this year, including a third-place finish going a one-turn mile behind subsequent GIII Pat Day Mile S. hero Sharp Azteca back in February. Nice to see Hall of Famer Nick Zito back in the winner's circle at the Spa Wednesday with a $26.60 winner, who was also turning back in distance to a sprint (Zito Route/Sprint 42 .12 $2.50, per DRF Formulator). It's hard to get too excited about Singleton's rail draw here, but he's in very capable hands with Johnny V. at the controls. Selection: #2 Singleton (6-1).

BD: Last Sunday's ResultMajestic Bonnie took notable early action, but somehow drifted all the way up to 12-1 at post time and came flying late to just get up. Feels good to avoid being shut out for the meet and be well on our way to profitability. Total: $925.

Friday, Race 5, MSW – Sensing a pattern yet? Have to stick with my strengths… A few horses interested me in here, but Danny's Rush figures to be the biggest price and has some sneaky pedigree appeal. Sire U S Ranger has had several longshot first-out winners over the past couple of seasons, and his horses seem to excel in turf sprints. Dam Merion Miss (Halo) has been responsible for 13 winners from 14 foals to race, including Arkansas Derby hero Private Emblem and MSW Rhum. The latter is the dam of graded winners Gantry and Central Banker. Both runners probably accomplished more on the dirt, but they handled the turf just fine. Central Banker won the Quick Call S. over this course and distance, while Gantry set a record for six furlongs on the Belmont inner turf. Bill Mott can win with a firster when he feels like it–as evidenced by his well-publicized upsets with a pair of turf juveniles here last season–and this horse doesn't feel like one you'd have any reason to bring along slowly. Selection: #6 Danny's Rush (6-1)

Tune in each race day from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for Saratoga Live, available on Fox Sports 2 (channel finder), MSG+ (channel finder) and Altitude (channel finder).

For the complete broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com

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