Spa selections 2019: Saratoga August 16

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 7 – OC 80000b 

1. #2 Lunaire (8-1) – Likely to get bet down despite cheaper races, and can beat this field with a repeat of last race closing into some pace

2. #1 Up the Ante (5-2) – Drops from a Grade II and a bounce back effort should put this colt in the winners circle with a wire to wire trip

3. #3 Aquaphobia (4-1) – Can finish in the money with a closing trip, and with Maraud and Multiplier having trouble winning recently, this horse has a good chance with a stalking trip

Race 8 – OC 25000n1x

1. #7 Behind the Couch (9-5) – Should get a stalking trip off of the following two picks, and drops in class from an allowance race she nearly won

2. #5 Ratajkowski (8-5) – Will try to take them all the way around with Jose Ortiz, and could do so if there is little pressure from brother Irad on Paved With Gold

3. #4 Paved With Gold (4-1) – Faded in the stretch last race against Ratajkowski, but a similar trip this time around gives her a good chance pass in the stretch

Race 9 – Skidmore Stakes

1. #6 Montauk Daddy (2-1) – Linda Rice and Jose Lezcano have been great together on turf, and should have the winner here to fight off other front runners and hold on late

2. #1 Memorable (10-1) – Moves to turf for the first time like Another Miracle, but drops from a Grade III and should prefer the turf

3. #4 River Hawk (20-1) – Rare to see Jose Ortiz on a twenty to one morning line entry, and despite coming from a maiden claimer, if the favorite nullify each other, he can win in the stretch