Beats a good day at work.  And no one is having better days of work at Saratoga than Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (pictured)  The jockey title is his to lose, and barring injury he should win easily.  His mounts are in the money 55% of the time.  Thursday was no different.  The young man was in 8 of 9 races, and the horses he rode hit the board 5 times.  Including a $25 winner in the first race, on a horse the Daily Racing Blog picked first in it selections.  So let’s keep it going on Friday.

1st:  #9 ML 8-1.  #2 ML 4-1.  #4 ML 5-2.  #5 ML 6-1.

2nd:  #3 ML 4-1.  #2 ML 15-1.  #5 ML 3-1.  #4 ML 7-2.

3rd:  #1 ML 8-1.  #3 ML 6-1.  #7 ML 5-2.  #5 ML 4-5.

4th:  #3 ML 4-1.  #6 ML 6-1.  #9 ML 7-2.  #4 ML 9-5.

5th:  #1 ML 8-1.  #6 ML 7-2.  #8 ML 20-1.  #5 ML 6-1.

6th:  #3 ML 5-1.  #1 ML 10-1.  #8 ML 5-2.  #4 ML 12-1.

7th:  #8 ML 6-1.  #2 ML 10-1.  #5 ML 7-2.  #9 ML 8-1.

8th:  #3 ML 9-2.  #6 ML 9-2.  #8 ML 8-1.  #4 ML 12-1.

9th:  #10 ML 10-1.  #4 ML 6-1.  #12 ML 5-1.  #2 ML 5-2.

10th: #10 ML 12-1.  #11 ML 10-1.  #3 ML 5-1.  #1 ML 6-5.

There are two feature events on Fridays card of ten.  Race two is the running of The Saratoga Dew.  It is for New York bred fillies and mares, three years-old and up.  It will be run on the dirt track, at a distance of a mile and one eighth.  Six scheduled starters will be competing for a purse of $100,000.  The second feature will be in the 9th race, when two year-olds will compete in The Skidmore B.  It is scheduled for the turf, and eight horses will do battle in a 5.5 furlong sprint, with a purse of $100,000.  Good luck, and good value.