Garrity's Sunday Stakes picks races at Monmouth Park, Woodbine, Saratoga and Emerald Downs in Washington

It’s a mixed bag of stakes racing on this summer Sunday, as we have plays in four races, at four tracks, from New Jersey to Canada to Upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest. We expect fast dirt and firm turf in all races, so let’s go.

Monmouth Park, Race 10, 4:43 pm ET
$100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds

The field of the Jersey Shore came up strong, with some pretty fast colts among the seven who will go to the gate. The pick is 7-Upstriker, who earned good speed figures in his last two starts, which were in allowance races in Kentucky and Arkansas. We particularly like that he cuts back in distance here, as his last start was at 7 furlongs, and the Jersey Shore is at 6; and we also like his outside post position, which is a tactical advantage in one-turn races. Look for him to stalk the speed from the outside, loom boldly on the far turn, and to seize command of the race in mid-stretch. We will bet him to win at 4-1. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 10, $40 to win on 7-Upstriker.

Woodbine, Race 8, 4:44 pm ET
Grade 2 King Edward Stakes, 1 mile, Turf, 3 & Up

The King Edward drew a field of eight. We like -- no, make that love -- 3-March to the Arch, who seems primed to run big in this spot, as it’s his third start of the year, and the first two should be a perfect foundation for him, allowing him to run the best race of which he is capable. The Mark Casse trained 6-year-old won this last year, which shows that his best race is very good, and we are expecting a similar result this time. We will bet him to win at 2-1. The bet: Woodbine, Race 8, $40 to win on 3-March to the Arch.

Saratoga, Race 9, 5:39 pm ET

$120,000 Galway Stakes, 5 ½ furlongs, Turf, 3-Year-Old Fillies

A good group of ten lines up for the Galway. The pick is 8-Bye Bye, who did a speed-and-fade in his last start, the Wild Applause Stakes at Belmont Park. But that race was at a mile, and we think he will fare much better over the shorter distance here: he has enough early speed to stay reasonably close to what should be a very fast early pace, and his good finishing kick, plus the stamina he developed running that longer race, will allow him to overtake the pacesetters down the Saratoga stretch. We will bet him to win at 5-1. The bet: Saratoga, Race 9, $40 to win on 8-Bye Bye.

Emerald Downs, Race 8, 8:51 pm ET

Grade 3 Longacres Mile, 1 mile, Dirt, 3 & Up

We make a rare trip to Emerald Downs, in Auburn, Washington, for the Longacres Mile, the biggest Thoroughbred race of the year in the Pacific Northwest. There is a lot of speed in the field of eleven, so much that we are looking for a closer, and we think we’ve found one in 2-Forest Fire, a 6-year-old gelding who was claimed out of his last start, at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia, by trainer Candice Cryderman. Going from a $35,000 claimer to a Grade 3 stakes is a lot to ask, but Forest Fire has been running well on the Mid-Atlantic circuit this year, and we think the pace is going to favor him. At 15-1, we are betting on it. We will play him to win. The bet: Emerald Downs, Race 8, $35 to win on 2-Forest Fire.

That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.