Spa selections 2020: Saratoga picks July 29

Ginger N Rye won the 2017 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga. Photo by Chelsea Durand/NYRA.

by Joseph Aiello

In Spa Selections, Saratoga on-site correspondent Joseph Aiello provides Saratoga picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!

Race 5 – Dayatthespa Stakes

1. #4 Classic Lady (7-5) – Deserving favorite based on her near win last time out against Fifty Five, this mare has a red hot jockey trainer combo and should at least come in the money

2. #5 Wish Upon (10-1) – Likes this distance and has fared well when stepping up into stakes company, plus has shown versatility to stalk or close

3. #7 Vortex Road (8-1) – Carmouche will have this six year old mare running early, and should give her a great chance to take this field wire to wire at a good price

Race 8 – Alw 64000n1x

1. #2 Bebe Banker (5-2) – Has more speed than most in this field, and if this gelding can stretch out a bit, he may be able to take this underwhelming group wire to wire

2. #6 Blackjack Davey (2-1) – Still had some left in the tank last time which means he should adjust well to this distance, and will win with a repeat performance

3. #9 Too Early (12-1) – Danny California showed promise last time out, but this other Rice trainee offers better value and won here at this distance just twelve days ago

Race 9 – OC 150000b

1. #4 Just Howard (10-1) – Getting Jose Ortiz at this number is hard to pass up, and despite his winning troubles, this horse can cross the wire first if Gidu sets quick fractions early

2. #1 Wissahickon (7-2) – First time running in North America, this five year old horse by Tapit has been impressive and faces a vulnerable group that has had trouble winning in the past

3. #8 Devamani (9-5) – If Gidu goes out slower than usual, Breaking the Rules may be the play, but this classy gelding will have Rosario in the irons who should have him closing in the stretch

Race 10 – Mdn 72k

1. #2 Let Them Eat Cake (9-2) – Rosario chooses this filly with Ian Wilkes over his usual trainer choice in Clement, and her bullet works indicate that she is ready for a breakthrough effort

2. #4 Sequin (3-1) – May hope for a bit more pace than is available here, but is the classiest of this bunch despite three second place finishes in her turf tries

3. #1 Zaccapa (5-2) – Hard to go against a Chad Brown first time starter on the turf, but this filly has some experience, and might break her seconditis with a cut-back in distance here