Spa selections: Saratoga July 23
Pret Say Eye was antsy early, strong late for trainer Lacey Gaudet (left) at Saratoga in 2016. Photo by Teresa Genaro.
by Joseph Aiello
In Spa Selections, Saratoga on-site correspondent Joseph Aiello provides picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!
Race 6 – OC 40000n2x
- #3 Danebury (5-2) – Has won two of his last four and with a bit more speed than the others in this field
- #5 Evaluator (6-1) – Seemed to have an issue with the blinkers in back-to-back races, so now that they are removed, a return to his two tries at a mile without them will put him in the mix
- #6 Blugrascat’s Smile (7-2) – Really a toss up between this five-year-old and the eight-year-old Becker’s Galaxy, but this gelding has been better as of late
Race 7 – Caress Stakes
- #2 Morticia (5-1) – Should be sitting right behind Girls Know Best and Tillie’s Lily and will take over late as long as she isn’t tied up in what could be a torrid pace
- #10 Tillie’s Lily (8-1) – Undefeated filly by Distorted Humor will have a tough time finding the lead from her outside post, but if she gets up there, she could steal the race
- #6 Fire Key (10-1) – Good candidate to finish in the money and should be sitting off the leaders; plus has won in both tries on this track
Race 8 – Alw 50000s
- #1 Make the Rules (9-2) – Will control the pace due to stretch in distance and if this gelding has enough left late and isn’t pressed, he should hold on at the wire
- #7 Sanavi (5-2) – With the best jockey-trainer combo in this race and the only one to have won at this distance and over this track, this gelding by Lemon Drop Kid is a clear contender
- #6 Tiz No Bluff (6-1) – Has run in the money often in his career and has some near-wins in recent tries in similar company
