Spa selections: Saratoga August 19

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 including the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 2 Lake Placid!

Race 4 – OC 80000b

1. #1 Hello Don Julio (3-1) – Two-for-two at distance and dropping from a Grade II while keeping John Velazquez
2. #5 Doctor Mounty (15-1) – Colt by Street Sense will enjoy distance stretch and has shown improvement after move to turf
3. #6 Manitoulin (2-1) – Was thinking of throwing out morning line favorite for Marengo Road, but this gelding is in better form and dropping from a graded try

Race 6 – Alw 85000n1x

1. #2 Caviar Czar (3-1) – Big question marks with a lot of horses in this field leave the race open for this Velazquez and Pletcher colt
2. #6 Curlin’s Vow (6-1) – Can’t discard this gelding who is due for a win and has a few terrific bullet workouts
3. #8 Meantime (2-1) – Doesn’t necessarily deserve the morning line favorite status, but is coming from a Grade I Belmont try and some big issues with the entry and Battle Midway leave this jockey-trainer combo that is 37% for the year

Race 7 – Alw 85000n1x

1. #8 Glory to Kitten (9-2) – Loses Irad Ortiz Jr. but can run away with race with slow pace
2. #4 Mom’s On Strike (3-1) – Has shown some powerful stretch runs in past two tries on turf, proving surface switch for trainer Joe Sharp was the right move
3. #1A Giada Vegas (8-1) – Casse trainee has best form at distance but don’t count out Miss Kentucky and a few others who are coming off year-long layoffs

Race 8 – Grade II Lake Placid Stakes

1. #3 La Coronel (8-5) – Strong closing kick for filly by Colonel John and extra distance will give her more time to run down others
2. #1 Coasted (8-1) – Has shown strong form when running at Saratoga and is dropping from a Grade I
3. #2 Party Boat (4-1) – Proctor’s Ledge might have topped this filly last time out and be in better form, but take a flier with this filly who might win out front with a soft pace

Race 9 – Grade I Alabama Stakes

1. #7 Elate (6-1) – Pretty telling that Mott chose to put leading jockey Jose Ortiz on this mount over his other entry Lockdown
2. #5 Unchained Melody (3-1) – Rosario takes this mount over Salty and could control the pace despite having not traveled past a mile and one sixteenth
3. #1 New Money Honey (6-1) – A soft track from yesterday’s rain might favor this Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner trained by Chad Brown, and gives her an edge over Salty who is in midst of jockey switch