Spa selections 2021: Saratoga picks August 11

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 3 – Evan Shipman Handicap

1. #2 Mr. Buff (7-5) – Not a great sign to lose by seventeen last time, but still the one with the best chance to wire this group and should win if he gets control early

2. #3 Sea Foam (4-1) – A strong record at Saratoga and good connection with Joel Rosario make this horse the next best here

3. #4 Three Jokers (7-2) – Not many others with enough upside to put over this colt who could be distance limited and unlikely to wire, but hung on last time at a mile and one sixteenth

Race 8 – OC 45000n2x

1. #4 Trinni Luck (7-2) – This filly has only had one poor career effort in four tries, and generally runs well in the stretch plus should like this distance

2. #2 Betsy Blue (9-5) – Probably the most likely, but may have been a beneficiary of some sloppy tracks recently, where she seems to run her best

3. #6 Honey Money (4-1) – On the contrary to Betsy Blue, this one has struggled in the slop and could be aiming for a front-running score if the track is dry here

Race 9 – Mahony Stakes

1. #8 Arrest Me Red (9-2) – Has won both turf sprint efforts and switches to the barn of Wesley Ward, this colt by Pioneerof the Nile should be ready off the layoff here

2. #3 Sky’s Not Falling (9-2) – Has some winning troubles, but the right closing style and possibly a bit better price than the morning line odds make this one worth playing

3. #1 Into the Sunrise (7-2) – Two for four at the distance and possesses enough speed here to hold off other front-end runners for a potential wire to wire effort

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