Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks august 4

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)!

  • Pennsylvania Derby day in pictures
    Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby day card was the biggest day of the racing year at Parx Racing, featuring a pair of Grade 1 races for sophomores and several other graded events. It was also not without controversy; more on that in a moment. The biggest races – the Pennsylvania Derby for three-year-olds and the Cotillion for… Read more: Pennsylvania Derby day in pictures

Race 7 – Grade III Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes 

1. #7 Papilio (5-1) – Added distance seems to benefit this filly who ran well last time in defeat, and could compete at a solid price with more room for improvement

2. #5 Allamericanbeauty (20-1) – Adds blinkers and looks like one reaching for more distance, this filly by Into Mischief should still be closing from off the pace for Shug McGaughey

3. #1 Solo Album (8-1) – Has primarily been running on an artificial surface, but comes off a grade III win and is trending upwards with two wins in a row 

4. #9 Selenaia (4-1) – A winner of three straight, this filly gets Irad Ortiz and has bettered her speed figures in every race, winning a grade III at Santa Anita in early June most recently

Race 8 – Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes 

1. #8 Mysterious Night (10-1) – Hard to sleep on Godolphin and Appleby at a price, as this one has one of the best races at a mile in this field winning a grade I at Woodbine in September

2. #7 Nagirroc (7-2) – Wasn’t able to match his blistering James Murphy at Pimlico in the Manila, but this colt still has plenty of upside and is a threat with a top effort

3. #1 More Than Looks (4-1) – Bested Nagirroc in the Manila, and is one close beat away from having won four in a row, always with a late run that puts him in the mix in every race

4. #4 Ocean Vision (15-1) – Hasn’t raced in North America yet, but some efforts at seven and eight furlongs show that he has the speed to contend and might be overlooked in a tough field

Race 9 – Alw 95000n1x

1. #7 Timely Conquest (4-1) – In a field with no standouts, this second time starter may have some room to improve after a debut win in the mud where she came from seven back

2. #3 Big Bean Christine (3-1) – Has routinely been in the mix among similar company, hitting the board in twelve of sixteen dirt starts and in good form this year

3. #1 Disruption (5-1) – First time lasix for this Chad Brown trainee that has been a bit up and down in five starts, but has enough here to finish third or fourth 

4. #8 Big Hazel (5-1) – The dirt races for this filly by Big Brown have been ok, outside of last race which may have just been too far a distance so seven furlongs should help here

Race 10 – Clm 35000b

1. #4 Foliage (6-1) – Might need a bit of pace to close into, but is strong at this distance and matches up well with the others going five and a half in this class

2. #11 Ignited (6-1) – Bet to favorite in three straight, this Trombetta trainee is four for five in the money at this distance and has been running his best recently in claimers

3. #9 Athenry (6-1) – If Carmouche can be a bit more aggressive with this gelding early, he should be able to improve dropping from state bred allowance company 

4. #6 Deep Cover (4-1) – Should be in a good stalking position here, nearly winning here last year against better competition and gets a second straight try at claiming company

Race 11 – Alw 50000s

1. #10 Jarreau (4-1) – Hasn’t won in two years, but has been racing against slightly better competition and gets Irad Ortiz to stretch this runner out to a preferred eleven furlongs 

2. #2 Lord Flintshire (6-1) – Has a good amount of second place finishes, including recently at twelve furlongs which was his best effort over the past two years

3. #6 Shinsun (9-2) – Will need to come from off the pace here, but has shown the ability to improve his position in every stretch run in five tries and gets more distance here

4. #9 Unleash the Power (3-1) – This gelding by Curlin has been competitive in recent allowance tries, but may need to drop back to be able to adjust to the added distance

  • Tiz the Law
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