Spa selections 2019: Saratoga August 28

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 3 – OC 40000n2x

1. #6 Classic Lady (5-2) – Based on her last three tries, this Abreu trainee should win, as she keeps Manny Franco who jumps off of Fetching

2. #5 Fetching (5-1) – Her tries on the turf were some of the best in this field, and switching back to her preferred surface plus the class drop makes her a player here

3. #3 Bareeqa (8-1) – Dynamite Kitten has not worked well despite a nice effort last time, plus this mare has run well at the Spa and should be a nice number

Race 8 – Alw 50000s

1. #3 Hardcore Folklore (8-1) – Has won four of eight this year and is always competitive, plus has won at Saratoga and good at the distance

2. #6 Smile Bryan (3-1) – Jose Ortiz takes this mount over Dark Money and should help this colt improve with the distance cutback

3. #4 Four Freedoms (12-1) – Has trouble winning like El Asesino and a bit cheaper like Dark Money, but this longshot runs his best off the layoff and can win if he breaks

Race 9 – Grade III With Anticipation Stakes

1. #2 Our Country (7-2) – Was the most impressive of this group last time, winning by five lengths at this distance as the post time favorite

2. #5 Eagerly (7-2) – This colt by American Pharoah was charging in the stretch in his last try, and can win here with some pace to run into

3. #4 Fighting Seabee (10-1) – Has won his only try, and has a jockey trainer duo that has won twenty four percent of their over two-hundred together this year