Who doesn’t love Saratoga? For those who have been to that historic track in upstate New York (a three-hour drive south of Montreal) and feel imbued with the ambience of the country setting, winning a race could almost feel like a bonus. For some reason that track seems to fit comfortably into my wheelhouse. Selecting winners doesn’t feel as intimidating as it does at some other tracks.

Besides that esoteric quality, what are more substantive things that can give you a betting edge? And what can be said about Del Mar that kicks off in southern California on Friday?

Consider this: Some trainers have been champing at the bit waiting for these meets to begin because they have a hot horse or horses in the barn that are raring to put out a winning performance. That’s especially true for first-time starters — which means there’s a chance to capitalize on unknown talent that could go off at a big price.

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