Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks JULY 15
In Spa Selections, Saratoga correspondent Joseph Aiello provides Saratoga picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!
Follow along all meet with all the exciting action (and good betting opportunities)!
- HISA announces research into equine sudden deathsHISA announced it had made grants to support two projects analyzing exercise-associated sudden death among horses.
Race 4 – Grade I Diana Stakes
1. #4 Fluffy Socks (8-1) – Will fly under the radar at a good price in this five horse field with Joel Rosario who should have this Chad Brown trainee moving late
2. #2 In Italian (2-5) – The most accomplished and most likely after winning this last year, but may need slower fractions as this mare is best going eight furlongs
3. #3 Marketsegmentation (4-1) – Has never finished worse than third and is a winner of consecutive graded races, this filly by American Pharoah will have no distance issues here
4. #1 Fev Rover (12-1) – This Casse trainee definitely has the ability to have winning chances in this Chad Brown invitational, and may benefit from some others tiring in this nine furlong race
Race 8 – Mdn 88k
1. #6 Island Rose (6-1) – First time starter by Gun Runner gets Joel Rosario who has ridden well for Charlton Baker and should be a fair price here
2. #11 Mim (6-1) – This filly by Practical Joke still has room to improve coming off one of the better efforts in this field last time over a muddy track
3. #10 Ichiban (4-1) – Showed clear improvement last time and can win with another step up here, plus should like the slight cut back in distance with this top jockey trainer combo
4. #9 Neigh Jude (5-1) – Another first timer that gets Irad Ortiz for Kelly Breen, this filly gets the nod over some others in this underwhelming field
Race 9 – Grade III Kelso Stakes
1. #2 Annapolis (8-5) – With three runners that appear to be aimed towards the lead, this evenly matched field may just give way to the clear favorite who can win if he is mid pack
2. #5 Big Everest (5-1) – Seems like there is too much pace here for this one to have an ideal trip, but he has been too good recently and can steal this if fractions are softer than expected
3. #8 Casa Creed (5-2) – Proved he could go this distance last year here when winning the Fourstardave, and may get the right set up to do it again
4. #6 Filo Di Arianna (5-1) – Classy seven year old probably prefers a tad shorter, but is still capable and a bit better than Anaconda even though the pace doesn’t bode well for his speed
Race 10 – Grade III Sanford Stakes
1. #9 Gold Sweep (3-5) – Was dominant last time out in a stakes win, and should win here purely based on what others have shown in their first efforts
2. #3 Dickens (8-1) – Tough to gauge this runner coming out of a four and a half furlong win, but should be in a good stalking position and is a better value play than many of the others here
3. #10 Market Street (12-1) – This colt by Street Sense won easily last time out in the slop at five furlongs, and could control the pace here if he improves off of that effort
4. #7 Triple Trea (10-1) – Gets a slight edge over Call the Cavalry due to a slightly better debut, and could be the beneficiary if the pace is a bit quicker than it appears it will be
Race 11 – Mdn 136.5k
1. #2 Beer Run (2-1) – This Wesley Ward trainee was narrowly beaten last time out and has shown a bit more than the rest in his two starts but will need to break sharply
2. #12 Baie Longue (5-1) – This first time gelding also adds lasix and will certainly be one that appreciates the shorter distance after fading from first in his last two stretch runs
3. #4 Flat Top Box (9-2) – This colt trailed Beer Run all the way around in his most recent race, but could be the next most likely if he sits behind the leaders in the early stages
4. #1 Monet Never (10-1) – Removes blinkers after not having the strongest of finishes in three career tries, so could be one to be positioned mid pack this time hoping for a quicker pace
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