Spa selections: Saratoga August 5

Pret Say Eye was antsy early, strong late for trainer Lacey Gaudet (left) at Saratoga last year. 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. Today, it’s four races, including the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes!

Race 3 – Grade III Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes

1. #4 Suffused (7-5) – First of a few Juddmonte entries that are simply too good to ignore
2. #8 Guilty Twelve (5-1) – Two-for-two this year for trainer Graham Motion and one-for-one at Saratoga
3. #7 Summersault (7-2) – Will give jockey Paco Lopez his first win this year at the Spa if he is within range at the top of the stretch

Race 7 – Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes

1. #1 Projected (9-5) – Favorite from Juddmonte draws inside post in stacked field with others like Camelot Kitten drawing tougher spots
2. #7 Blacktype (8-1) – Clement trainee loses Jose Ortiz to Ring Weekend, but is solid at distance and can close in stretch run
3. #3 Zennor (15-1) – Yet to run in graded races, but five-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro has been strong so far this year

Race 8 – Grade I Longines Test Stakes

1. #8 Faypien (3-1) – Baffert tends to bring in sprinters from out West who steal races with front end speed in big races each year
2. #10 American Gal (5-2) – Jose Ortiz left other fillies to ride this recent winner of the Victory Ride for trainer Simon Callaghan
3. #6 Cursor (30-1) – Cheaper than others, but filly by Quality Road might surprise as best closer in field other than Tequilita

Race 9 – Grade I Whitney Stakes

1. #5 Keen Ice (3-1) – Won in huge upset over American Pharoah in Travers here two years ago, and his return to Spa could lead to similar result
2. #6 Gun Runner (4-5) – Deserving favorite, but not worth the value and a softened track that has stopped favoring speed may lead to fade in stretch
3. #4 Tu Brutus (8-1) – Kind of a toss up after the first two and needs more distance, but this five year old horse will have plenty left in the stretch

Race 10 – Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes

1. #7 On Leave (3-1) – Should be off of front then pass others in stretch who figure to be battling for position
2. #2 Sassy Little Lila (5-2) – Fastest in race who is best pace of field and ran huge in the Just A Game Stakes two months back
3. #10 Elysea’s World (5-1) – Filly probably wants more distance than this for trainer Chad Brown, but could close from deep if front gets crowded