Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks August 18 * The Racing Biz

Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks august 18

Joseph Aiello
August 17, 2023

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 deaths
HISA announced it had made grants to support two projects analyzing exercise-associated sudden death among horses.

Race 7 – OC 62500n2x

1. #5 Costa Terra (9-5) – May end up as the least distance limited in this mile and three sixteenths race, recently running two of his sharpest races at ten furlongs for Linda Rice

2. #4 Speed Bias (2-1) – In one of his best tries, this four year old colt nearly won the Pimlico Special going wire to wire, and even if he usually gets passed late, has the ceiling to win here

3. #2 Red Run (5-2) – Gets a bump purely based on the class drop from two grade two tries, and shouldn’t have any major distance limitations here to at least finish in the money

4. #1 Portos (10-1) – Doesn’t win often, but has hit the board in half of his tries and nearly won last time out over this track at ten furlongs around two weeks ago

Race 8 – Skidmore Stakes

1. #9 Fandom (5-1) – Wesley Ward has been sharp training two year old turfers here in the past, and has this under the radar colt based on his last effort but dominated in his debut

2. #7 No Nay Mets (7-5) – Purely based on his two wins, this colt should win here if he gets the early lead at a respectable pace with plenty of unproven runners in this field

3. #3 Sebastian Run (15-1) – Flashed some upside with some good early speed in a gate to wire win last time in his turf debut, and could be a factor if he gets a similar trip

4. #2 Ship Cadet (4-1) – Finished a distant second to No Nay Mets last time out, and has shown a bit more than most of these in here with enough to hit the board even if he doesn’t win

Race 9 – Clm 50000

1. #3 Powerfully Built (5-1) – His last race didn’t go well, but removing that effort leaves a contender at a good price who has fared well at this distance and in this class

2. #2 Prisoner (7-2) – Has been solid as of late, but seems to be a bit too hit or miss, either winning in half of his tries or failing to hit the board completely even if he has winning chances

3. #7 Cees Get Degrees (8-1) – Most likely to be on the early lead here, and with a ten for fourteen record in the money at this distance he should be in the mix late

4. #5 Happy Farm (3-1) – Not a likely winner, but this workmanlike nine year old usually puts his best foot forward and should have a good chance at third or fourth with Irad Ortiz

Race 10 – Alw 95000n1x

1. #4 Whistler’s Honor (4-1) – Might be hoping for a bit more pace than is in here, but won here last year and should be making a late move with Flavian Prat who rides well with Jorge Abreu

2. #2 Thethrillofvictory (8-1) – Ran a close fourth last time and has a win at this distance, plus should be another who is making a late move if Manny Franco leaves him mid pack

3. #9 Be of Courage (8-1) – Castellano seems to get the best out of this colt, recently making some big late moves with him in his last two which appears to be his running style here

4. #7 Born Dancer (8-1) – May be one to be aggressive with Carmouche, but will need to compete with Rally Squirrel on the front end with a good chance to hit the board