Spa selections: Saratoga August 21
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 the Evan Shipman Stakes!
Race 6 – Alw 85000n1x
- #3 Run and Go (9-5) – If this filly is in the same form she was in her only start in January, she will run away with race for Repole Stable
- #5 For Honor (12-1) – Cutback in distance and in class should help this Weaver trainee take a step up
- #4 Knarsdale (9-2) – Three-year-old by Medaglia d’Oro gets the nod over Awestruck because of win at distance and addition of Lasix
Race 7 – OC 25000n1x
- #2 Vintage Matters (3-1) – This gelding has proven he can go this far and keeps John Velazquez in the irons
- #7 Converge (8-5) – Class of race who has good connections and should handle distance
- #4 Incorporate (30-1) – May seem to be cheap and loses Castellano, but one thing he has over Hoboe, Bushmill Giant, and Uncle Sigh is he seems to improve with added distance but will need some pace help to win
Race 8 – Evan Shipman Stakes
- #5 Diversify (7-5) – Deserved favorite who can control race and showed that he can handle fast fractions and still emerge on top, but added distance might be issue in stretch run
- #2 Papa Shot (5-2) – This will be the player who takes advantage from back if Diversify can’t hold on in stretch run
- #3 Good Luck Gus (12-1) – Only other horse with win on this track is Royal Posse, but he seems to be past his prime, making this gelding next in line to close in race
