Spa selections 2021: Saratoga picks August 15

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 7 – OC 80000n1x

1. #5 Mira Mission (7-2) – Near winner in his last two, keeps Jose Lezcano and has shown enough consistency to win here

2. #1 Hidden Enemy (6-1) – Drops from the Grade I Belmont Derby, and despite struggling in tougher fields, some class relief and a closing running style could get this colt in the money

3. #12 Shady McGee (8-1) – Never explain may find it difficult to add and extra sixteenth, but this Maker trainee has been competitive amongst better, and has upside here

Race 8 – Clm 16000

1. #4 Mongolian Humor (3-1) – Three in a row in the money, including some good efforts this summer, won last time out after a six day rest, should be in good form here

2. #7 Absolute Love (5-2) – Winner of two in a row, most recently at the Spa, but will need to prove that this distance is right for her as she typically goes longer

3. #8 Jessica (15-1) – Has run her best at seven furlongs, picks up Rosario here, plus should be good value in an underachieving field

Race 9 – Galway Stakes

1. #8 Bye Bye (5-1) – Cuts back to a distance that she prefers, should be sitting mid pack with a good chance to close if Rosario keeps her closer to the leaders

2. #7 Goin’ Good (3-1) – Strong in the money, and with the right running style to be sitting off of Wink early, plus Gaffalione and Cox have been good together

3. #2 Tuscan Queen (6-1) – Wink has upside here at a better price, but this filly won convincingly last time out breaking her maiden over this turf course

Race 10 – Clm 40000n2L

1. #4 Kubie Snacks (10-1) – Was much improved after switching to turf, then ran well last time and has a good jockey trainer connection that is three for eight this past year

2. #5 Mirabell Mei (5-1) – Drops from allowance company and has strung a couple good efforts in a row, just needs to make her move earlier or sit a bit closer to the leaders

3. #10 Sengekontacket (8-1) – Summer in the City seems to want shorter, and Amortization will be bad value, so take a chance with this filly who should be in the mix

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