Spa selections: Saratoga August 12

Pret Say Eye was antsy early, strong late for trainer Lacey Gaudet (left) at Saratoga last year. Photo by Teresa Genaro.

by Joseph Aiello

In Spa Selections, Saratoga on-site correspondent Joseph Aiello provides picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, today including two graded stakes!

Race 4 – Grade II Adirondack Stakes

1. #1 Pure Silver (2-1) – Beating this jockey-trainer combo on two-year-old favorites has been tough this year
2. #3 Sly Roxy (5-2) – Won at Saratoga on an off track, but gets a better post and a cleaner surface
3. #2 Stainless (8-1) – Limited View might deserve a play here, but this filly by Flatter is the only one to have a graded try and is another from the impressive Pletcher barn of juveniles

Race 8 – OC 80000b

1. #2 Something Else (9-2) – West Point Thoroughbreds filly always seems to be in the money and is good at distance
2. #3 Enchanteresse (6-1) – Five-year-old mare has run in cheaper races, but might sit off pace and pounce in stretch
3. #8 Off Limits (8-5) – Shake Down Baby and this Brown trainee look to come from deep and close if pace permits

Race 9 – OC 62500n2x

1. #9 Cerro (6-1) – Two-for-two at the distance and ran a great race last time out at Churchill Downs
2. #7 Canadian Flyer (12-1) – Limited dirt experience, but Mott can maximize speed of this gelding with surface switch
3. #1 Gift Box (9-5) – Others in this race like this distance more, but likely pace battle sets up race for Spartiatis and this ridgling who lost to Arrogate in the Travers last year

Race 10 – Grade I Fourstardave Handicap

1. #7 World Approval (9-2) – Should sit right off of Sassy Little Lila and run by her in the stretch
2. #3 Time Test (8-5) – Can’t count out Juddmonte horse with Javier Castellano, but this doesn’t seem to be the right spot or distance for him to win
3. #6 Disco Partner (2-1) – Gets slight edge over American Patriot due to experience at Saratoga and three-for-three record this year