Spa selections 2021: Saratoga picks August 13

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 8 – OC 80000n2x

1. #3 Noble Emotion (3-1) – Winner of both this year with Jose Ortiz, and has run his best at Saratoga and at this distance

2. #1 Shekky Shebaz (2-1) – Maybe not the same runner he was two years ago, but still enough speed to contend and hold on in the money at least

3. #9 Competitive Saint (4-1) – Has had difficulty winning, but one that could be the beneficiary of a fast pace with a chance to pick them off in the stretch

Race 9 – Tale of the Cat Stakes

1. #2 Shashashakemeup (8-1) – Good value here in a brutally close field where anyone could win, plus might get the right set up with three speeds breaking on the outside

2. #1 My Boy Tate (5-1) – Consistent finisher in the money, should get a bit more pace here and should be sitting in fourth early with a chance to pick up the pieces in the stretch

3. #6 Foolish Ghost (4-1) – Not as classy as the two to his inside, but has actually shown a bit more speed than them and comes off a stakes win already this meet

Race 10 – Clm 16000n2L

1. #1 Joey Loose Lips (2-1) – Odd to see this gelding drop into claiming company after a strong effort last time out, but a distance cutback and repeat of last race makes him a winner here

2. #3 Vikram (8-1) – Good jockey trainer combo with this gelding by Blame who goes from turf to dirt and adds blinkers looking to get more involved early

3. #9 Well Done West (9-5) – This Gargan trainee has shown the most upside with his wire to wire win three back, and is working well so he could be looking for a front-running score

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