Spa selections 2018: Saratoga August 12
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 7 – Alw 87000n1x
1. #9 Belle of the Spa (15-1) – A little cheaper, but should sit off the leaders and have enough pace to run into
2. #4 Transaction Tax (9-2) – The speed of the race who has had trouble holding on to leads in the past, but will most likely be able to hang in the money
3. #6 Maximus Beauty (8-1) – A nice win last time and has won in both tries this year for trainer Joe Sharp who has been having a good year
Race 8 – Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes
1. #4 Tight Ten (5-2) – Pretty telling that Asmussen decided to put his top rider Santana on this colt over his other entry Sir Truebadour
2. #3 Spinoff (4-1) – Pletcher puts Velazquez on this colt by Hard Spun over his other entry much like Asmussen, meaning this one should be live
3. #1 Meade (7-2) – The other Pletcher entry gets the nod over Sir Truebadour with a solid win last time and the running style to make a late charge
Race 9 – Grade III Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes
1. #2 Mom’s On Strike (3-1) – Already a winner of three this year including a Grade III, this mare by First Dude sees Adam Beschizza return to the irons from out of town
2. #5 Santa Monica (2-1) – The Jose Ortiz and Chad Brown combo hasn’t been as hot this year compared to most, but they have not lost together when racing this mare
3. #4 Homeland Security (5-1) – With Tricky Escape unlikely to get enough pace to close into, this filly by Smart Strike gets Irad Ortiz to stay and has won at the distance
