Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks JULY 22
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)!
- Grade 3 winner Warrant to stand at Murmur FarmWarrant, a Grade 3 winner by Consitution, will stand at Maryland’s Murmur Farm in 2025 after having stood in Pennsylvania in 2024.
Race 6 – Grade III Caress Stakes
1. #2 Bubble Rock (2-1) – Could see any of these five winning here, but this one should have the early lead and may be able to hold off the others in the stretch at this distance
2. #1 Our Flash Drive (7-2) – Casse has scaled this one back in distance recently, and she has responded well by winning her last three in a row plus won over this turf course last year
3. #3 Roses for Debra (9-5) – Not as classy as the others, but her speed and turn of foot is a real threat even amongst these more accomplished fillies and mares
4. #4 Poppy Flower (3-1) – Tough to overlook her stablemate who is the classiest of this bunch, but this filly has three races over this track and a bit more experience with turf sprints
Race 8 – OC 62500n1x
1. #3 Taking Candy (8-1) – Should be a good price and has won at this distance although he may want even more distance than this but has chances if there is some pace
2. #1 I’m Very Busy (6-5) – The likely winner purely based on class, this Brown trainee wasn’t too far back in finishing tenth in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf in the fall
3. #5 Fearless Soldier (6-1) – Got a nice slow pace last time and wasn’t able to hold on at this distance, but there could be a scenario where he gets a similar trip and can hold off the others
4. #4 Scramble (8-1) – Pretty consistent at finishing in the money having never missed the board in seven tries, but just a notch below some others here even if he has the talent to win
Race 9 – Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks
1. #4 Gambling Girl (5-2) – This filly and Wet Paint appear to be a tad better than the others here, with this Repole and Pletcher entry the likely best at this distance and further
2. #2 Wet Paint (2-1) – Probably will be the favorite or co-favorite with Gambling Girl, and may actually be a bit closer than Gambling Girl with Prat who has ridden well for Cox this year
3. #5 Hoosier Philly (5-2) – May get pushed out by She’s Lookin Lucky to her outside, but will still factor into the early pace and could be a threat if the fractions are right
4. #1 Southlawn (9-2) – This filly seemingly only wins or doesn’t finish close, and has a higher chance to upset than Sacred Wish due to her likely stalking running style
Race 10 – Alw 149500n1x
1. #6 Daufuskie Island (2-1) – The only other logical choice who has the form to give Accretive a challenge, this Rudy Rodriguez trainee should be in control here with a chance to steal
2. #8 Accretive (8-5) – This Brown and Klaravich gelding flashed his talent in the Amsterdam last year, and even after a tough next effort and long layoff still has the most upside of this group
3. #2 Talkin Pharoah (10-1) – A quick turnaround having run and won here last week, Linda Rice and Jose Ortiz have been too good to pass up and this one is on the improve
4. #9 A La Carte (8-1) – Debuting as a five year old in February, this gelding by Uncle Mo looked sharp through two tries, and even after a couple tough efforts goes back to dirt with intrigue
Race 11 – Clm 25000
1. #8 Digital Future (8-1) – Drops from allowance into claiming company, which has worked well for this gelding in the past, plus he has three wins off a layoff and comes off the bench here
2. #1A Flint Ridge (7-2) – Looked a bit more competitive over the winter, but a return to being more forwardly placed by Jose Ortiz could get this gelding back in the win column
3. #4 Just Call Ray (8-1) – Probably one that will fare best at six furlongs compared to his usual mile plus efforts, and has a comparable win in March that could be good enough here
4. #6 Seven Nation Army (4-1) – Lost in a solid effort last time in a drop down to a claiming race, and should have a good chance to finish in the top four amongst this class
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