Spa selections 2018: Saratoga September 3

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 9 – Grade II Bernard Baruch Handicap

1. #4 Synchrony (3-1) – Finished seven straight graded races with four wins and in the money in each try, if anyone can pass Voodoo Song it’s this horse

2. #1 Voodoo Song (1-1) – Has been on an incredible run at the Spa over the past two years, winning all five tries; would be extremely impressive if he can wire the field a sixth time

3. #5 Inspector Lynley (4-1) – Comes in the money a lot much like Projected, but is in better form and showed a stronger closing kick in the Lure Stakes in early August

Race 10 – Grade I Hopeful Stakes

1. #1 Sombeyay (5-1) – Gets a nice price considering a win in the Grade III Sanford in July, and worth a play as a closer with a bevy of frontrunners

2. #3 Nitrous (7-2) – This grey colt by Tapit has been favorite in both efforts, and won easily last time over this track

3. #7 Mucho (8-5) – Don’t forget about Mind Control who finished second to Call Paul in his debut, but this colt by Blame was too good last time to ignore

Race 11 – MC 40000

1. #2 Lady Camille (5-1) – Likely to be up front due to distance stretch and bet to favorite last time and has run well in two turf tries

2. #5 Sardonyx (3-1) – Has been steadily improving and keeps Irad Ortiz Jr. who has ridden well for David Donk this year in limited efforts

3. #6 Low Is Laine (30-1) – End the season with a bang by taking a shot with this filly who will likely go off at even higher odds and saw huge improvement switching to the turf last time