Spa selections 2020: Saratoga picks July 22
Ginger N Rye won the 2017 Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga. Photo by Chelsea Durand/NYRA.
by Joseph Aiello
In Spa Selections, Saratoga on-site correspondent Joseph Aiello provides Saratoga picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!
Race 1 – Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes
1. #4 Galway Kid (9-2) – Only has three starts, but a shift in his running style has led to two straight wins and might be a nice price here
2. #2 Snap Decision (4-5) – Winner of five straight including a thirty eight length victory, so this gelding should at least finish in the money and is a likely winner
3. #7 Bodes Well (10-1) – Two good races in a row show how this gelding is in prime form to run well against a classier group
Race 3 – Lubash Stakes
1. #1 Cross Border (1-2) – Not his ideal distance, but drops from a Grade I and will win here with a solid effort
2. #3 The J Y (10-1) – A stalking trip off of Rapt and Cross Border will be the best chance for this seven year old gelding to upset the others here
3. #4 Dante’s Fire (8-1) – Can win in the event of a pace duel as shown by his win from nearly twenty lengths back last time, and has turf experience that Rapt doesn’t
Race 8 – Alw 74000n1x
1. #4 Smile Bryan (9-2) – Both turf tries have been strong, and not sitting too close to the lead will be beneficial for this gelding’s chances
2. #6 La Hara (2-1) – These connections are too good to overlook for potential speeds like Wild Medagliad’oro and Colonel Liam
3. #8 Junkanoo (12-1) – The other Chad Brown trainee hasn’t raced in almost two years, but his closing kick could be deadly here at a price
Race 9 – Alw 64000n1x
1. #3 Sharp Starr (5-2) – Should benefit from others stretching out and a quicker pace, plus this filly should relish in the added distance
2. #8 Singular Sensation (3-1) – Got too caught up in a fast pace last time, but her try two back is the best effort of any in this group
3. #6 Princess Pinky (6-1) – Take a flier with this four year old who is a bit slower than these, but can come in the money with some pace from Eloquent Speaker to her outside
