Spa selections 2018: Saratoga August 6

Pret Say Eye was antsy early, strong late for trainer Lacey Gaudet (left) at Saratoga in 2016. 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, including all of the exciting stakes action!

Race 2 – New York Stallion Series Stakes

1. #7 Collective Effort (5-2) – Much better on the turf than dirt and has some versatility as well showing the ability to close last race and win on the front end two back

2. #2 Therapist (3-5) – Five for seven lifetime and the clear best in this race, but look elsewhere for value and a running style better suited for this field

3. #1 Codrington (12-1) – Won at Saratoga and should be sitting off the leaders to make a move late; seems to be close to another win

Race 7 – Alw 90000n1x

1. #6 Osare (8-1) – Solid price for a filly who has only two starts but some good upside compared to the rest of the field

2. #5 Silver Shaker (5-2) – Seemingly always in the money, but has only won once in eight tries; Brown and Castellano are ready to breakthrough with this one however

3. #3 Palinodie (9-5) – Can’t be ignored just based on three graded races in a row, but has not won in two years

Race 8 – OC 40000n2x

1. #3 March X Press (6-1) – Both career wins have come at Saratoga, and if a few go out to the lead and set a decent pace, this filly should be able to close for trainer Todd Pletcher

2. #11 Noble Freud (9-2) – Coming off a long layoff, but this filly should be sitting nicely off the leaders and Irad Ortiz jumped off others to ride this Brown trainee

3. #6 Awsum Roar (6-1) – Has been bet to favorite every race but two, drops from an allowance and has won over this track and at this distance