Spa selections 2021: Saratoga picks September 2

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 4 – OC 100000n3x

1. #5 Three Technique (5-2) – Drops from the Grade I Vanderbilt, this colt is due for a winning effort returning to seven furlongs against this class

2. #2 American Power (2-1) – Sonneman has better back-class, but this horse should improve off the layoff and has some tactical speed here

3. #4 Aloha West (9-5) – This Maryland bred colt by Hard Spun comes off a bullet work and a win at Saratoga, plus keeps Rosario in the irons here

Race 9 – P. G. Johnson Stakes

1. #9 Mystic Eyes (4-1) – Has a chance to go wire to wire stretching out in distance, as this filly was impressive last time out winning her debut by over four lengths

2. #5 Silvery Rill (5-2) – Didn’t have any pace to close into first time out, but still nearly ran down the leader in the stretch, plus Rosario and Clement have been winning lately

3. #3 Expand the Map (8-5) – Can use Sail By in exotics and as a longshot play, but passing up on Chad Brown trainees on the turf is hard, even off a slow first race

Race 10 – MC 40000

1. #6 Babagram (7-2) – Finished second by a length last time out, this one showed improvement in his second start and can win with a forward trip like last time

2. #7 Sandor Clegane (6-1) – First time lasix runner goes back to turf after a subpar performance in the mud last time, and could show some speed here

3. #10 I’m Blaming You (6-1) – This three year old gelding by Blame adds blinkers after being bet to favorite last time but needs to improve to win here

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