Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks August 31 * The Racing Biz

Spa selections 2023: Saratoga picks august 31

Joseph Aiello
August 30, 2023

In Spa Selections, Saratoga correspondent Joseph Aiello provides Saratoga picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!

Follow along all meet with all the exciting action (and good betting opportunities)!

First horses arrive at Monmouth Park for 2024 season
Horses for trainer Mike Dini, who ultimately expects to have as many as 60 horses at Monmouth Park this summer, were the first to arrive at the Shore track.

Race 7 – Grade III With Anticipation Stakes

1. #8 Carson’s Run (7-2) – Won at this distance in his only try last time, and should get a bit more pace to close into here than in his debut with a sneaky good jockey trainer combo

2. #7 Nomos (4-1) – Didn’t finish with a particularly fast time in his debut, but still won by a commanding four lengths for Todd Pletcher and gets Irad Ortiz here

3. #1 Gala Brand (7-2) – This filly takes on the boys here and stretches out in distance, but had a hugely impressive win first time out and has a chance coming from off the pace here

4. #2 Spirit Prince (3-1) – Narrowly lost last time for Clement, but gets Flavian Prat here and adds blinkers so should be right on the early lead with a bit more pace

Race 8 – Alw 95000n1x

1. #2 Bank Frenzy (3-1) – Stretches out in distance here, but with a similar mid pack trip from Irad Ortiz this time, this colt could be in a prime spot to make a late run

2. #3 Cicciobello (5-2) – Wasn’t great last time out at this distance, but his try two back would probably be good enough to win here so breaking towards the lead is vital in this spot

3. #5 G Munning (2-1) – Has been improving recently, now running his second race for Chad Brown, trending upwards with a bit more of a stalking running style

4. #8 Boys Code (15-1) – Has some recent speed figures that place him with this group, and a huge move last time from nearly twenty lengths off into third gives him a chance to hit the board

Race 9 – Alw 50000s

1. #5 Ice Road (5-2) – Hasn’t been winning with three straight seconds, but has shown improvement and has finished in the money in all of his tries at this distance plus gets Irad Ortiz

2. #7 Giroovin (7-2) – Ran a solid second last time with some still left in the tank in the stretch, now getting an extra furlong to close into and should be sitting off the leaders here

3. #8 Locke and Key (12-1) – Broke his maiden last time out after five tries, and gets another race in the Begg barn in a dirt sprint which he seems to favor over his previous races

4. #10 Tenebris (12-1) – Gets a tougher post here, but has one of the better races at seven furlongs of this group, and should be in the mix even if he runs from a bit off the pace here

Race 10 – Clm 35000b

1. #8 Miss M M (9-2) – A repeat of her last race might be good enough here, nearly missing out in this company and at this distance over the same turf course

2. #5 Miss Bonnie T (5-2) – A strong record in the top three considering most of it was against better competition than this, but comes off a longer layoff from December

3. #10 Lady Hamilton (2-1) – Irad Ortiz has won nearly a third of his races with Saffie Joseph over the last year, and gets this filly who drops from an optional claimer into this field

4. #2 Home for Christmas (10-1) – Four for five in the money at Saratoga lifetime, even if she doesn’t seem to be a likely winner she could still close into the top four at a price