Spa selections: Saratoga August 6

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 Alydar and Troy Stakes!

Race 3 – Alydar Stakes

1. #6 Rally Cry (8-5) – Velazquez and Pletcher combo has been on fire this meet with anything and everything and this should be no different
2. #2 Red Rifle (4-1) – Other Pletcher entry has been mostly a turf horse, but shows solid form on dirt when asked
3. #3 Mo Tom (5-1) – Tough choice here with Conquest Windycity who has been better as of late, but this colt by Uncle Mo doesn’t need perfect break to run a strong race

Race 8 – Alw 75000n1x

1. #1 Storm Prophet (2-1) – Really tough race here that anyone can win, but gelding by Tale of the Cat has best chance to run down others in stretch
2. #11 Nutzforboltz (6-1) – Turf has been right choice for this three year old who is finally hitting his stride
3. #5 Yummy Bear (15-1) – Seems to like distance more than others who want to go shorter than this

Race 9 – Alw 85000n1x

1. #5 Stormy’s Song (4-1) – Joel Rosario leaves others to ride this Lynch trainee who won by seven lengths first time out
2. #2 Bow Town Cat (20-1) – Switching turf to dirt has helped this filly in past who recently ran a 46 second four-furlong bullet on the Saratoga training track
3. #4 Royal Inheritance (5-2) – Three-for-four in career and just a little faster than Tasteful who came from 11 lengths back last time out to win

Race 10 – Troy Handicap

1. #6 Holding Gold (9-2) – Two-for-two coming off of layoffs and won a stakes race at Saratoga last year at this distance
2. #3 Pure Sensation (9-5) – Fastest in field, needs lead and soft fractions to go wire-to-wire
3. #4 Green Mask (8-5) – Has been really sound lately, and will run others down in stretch if half is run under 45