Spa selections 2018: Saratoga August 19

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 4 – Summer Colony Stakes

1. #2 A Place to Shine (5-1) – With a few front runners who haven’t shown they can go this far, take this mare who should be sitting off the leaders

2. #4 Moonlit Garden (9-5) – Will be up on the lead, but hasn’t been able to win past a mile and one sixteenth, fading in the stretch in both tries at that distance

3. #1 Awestruck (7-5) – Similar to Moonlit Garden, but still a bit classier than Forever Liesi, and Nomorerichblondes is a toss up

Race 8 – OC 80000b

1. #7 Breaking Lucky (9-2) – Hasn’t raced since September, but if he is in good form, should be able to win here at a distance he will like; ran third to Gun Runner here last year

2. #4 Wonderful Light (5-2) – Bet to favorite last time out and keeps Jose Ortiz in the irons, should sit off Behavioral Bias and Eight Town with a chance to move late

3. #1 Favorable Outcome (3-1) – Behavioral Bias has a chance to come in the money finishing second four out of five this year, but this colt gives a better chance to win

Race 9 – OC 80000n1x

1. #9 Admission Office (7-5) – As long as this colt by Point of Entry doesn’t drop too far back early, he should be able to run down the rest in the stretch run

2. #1 Cullum Road (12-1) – Take over Vegas Kitten due to better value and the fact that this gelding should like the distance stretch

3. #2 Vegas Kitten (9-2) – Strike most likely won’t be able to go wire to wire at this longer distance, meaning take this closer who adds blinkers to be a bit more forwardly placed