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Spa selections 2022: Saratoga picks July 28
Joseph Aiello
Race 5 – Birdstone Stakes
1. #2 Lone Rock (6-5) – Looks a tad below Fearless right now, but ran extremely well here last year and might be better with the added two furlongs
2. #1 Fearless (4-5) – Is the classiest here and has been the best as of late, but will need to prove he can win at this distance although the running style looks good for this race
3. #3 Original Intent (12-1) – This seven year old gelding takes a big step up here, but has won twice at the distance and gets Joel Rosario who should have him closing late
4. #4 Portos (8-1) – This doesn’t seem like a winner here, but with solid class he should be somewhere in the mix
Race 7 – Alw 115000n1x
1. #3 Ring of Fire (7-2) – Two solid races in a row and keeps Luis Saez who has won at a 33% clip for Rudy Rodriguez in the past year
2. #8 Boston Tea Party (5-2) – This colt by American Pharoah will likely be favorite on a class drop after fading against Annapolis, but cuts back to a more preferred distance
3. #5 Legends Can’t Die (7-2) – Loses Saez but broke his maiden as the favorite first time out with a strong stretch run and fast final fractions
4. #6 Thin White Duke (6-1) – Finished second in both tries at the Spa two years ago, and finally cuts back to this distance where he is a threat to go gate to wire
Race 8 – Alw 95000n1x
1. #4 Price Discipline (4-5) – This Klaravich colt looks like the best in here, as Prat and Chad Brown’s drought together continues, this should give them another good winning chance
2. #1 Dangerous Edge (4-1) – A winner of his last two who looks to be in top form, this gelding keeps Manny Franco in the irons who has won at a nice clip together with Rob Atras
3. #8 Rhymes Like Dimes (20-1) – A longer shot coming out of cheaper races, but a solid win last time out where he stalked a fair pace off a layoff and another good jockey trainer combo
4. #6 Great Workout (5-1) – Had some pace to close into in a claiming win last time, and got a good speed figure in that try that makes him competitive with this field
Race 9 – OC 62500n2x
1. #7 McLovin (6-1) – Has a win at this distance and ran well his last two off a layoff, plus keeps Rosario who has been riding as good as any on the turf
2. #5 Balthus (2-1) – His last two are good enough to beat the others here, with his last race effort the best of this group at this distance but will need to sit off a slow pace
3. #3 Mud Pie (6-1) – First time gelding who is eight for nine in the money lifetime on the turf, and has some competitive races at longer distances so should be a factor here
4. #2 Cold Hard Cash (6-1) – Linda Rice trainee has been consistent and ran very well here in three tries last year, plus stretches out to a longer distance that he should be well suited for
Joseph Aiello
Race 5 – Birdstone Stakes
1. #2 Lone Rock (6-5) – Looks a tad below Fearless right now, but ran extremely well here last year and might be better with the added two furlongs
2. #1 Fearless (4-5) – Is the classiest here and has been the best as of late, but will need to prove he can win at this distance although the running style looks good for this race
3. #3 Original Intent (12-1) – This seven year old gelding takes a big step up here, but has won twice at the distance and gets Joel Rosario who should have him closing late
4. #4 Portos (8-1) – This doesn’t seem like a winner here, but with solid class he should be somewhere in the mix
Race 7 – Alw 115000n1x
1. #3 Ring of Fire (7-2) – Two solid races in a row and keeps Luis Saez who has won at a 33% clip for Rudy Rodriguez in the past year
2. #8 Boston Tea Party (5-2) – This colt by American Pharoah will likely be favorite on a class drop after fading against Annapolis, but cuts back to a more preferred distance
3. #5 Legends Can’t Die (7-2) – Loses Saez but broke his maiden as the favorite first time out with a strong stretch run and fast final fractions
4. #6 Thin White Duke (6-1) – Finished second in both tries at the Spa two years ago, and finally cuts back to this distance where he is a threat to go gate to wire
Race 8 – Alw 95000n1x
1. #4 Price Discipline (4-5) – This Klaravich colt looks like the best in here, as Prat and Chad Brown’s drought together continues, this should give them another good winning chance
2. #1 Dangerous Edge (4-1) – A winner of his last two who looks to be in top form, this gelding keeps Manny Franco in the irons who has won at a nice clip together with Rob Atras
3. #8 Rhymes Like Dimes (20-1) – A longer shot coming out of cheaper races, but a solid win last time out where he stalked a fair pace off a layoff and another good jockey trainer combo
4. #6 Great Workout (5-1) – Had some pace to close into in a claiming win last time, and got a good speed figure in that try that makes him competitive with this field
Race 9 – OC 62500n2x
1. #7 McLovin (6-1) – Has a win at this distance and ran well his last two off a layoff, plus keeps Rosario who has been riding as good as any on the turf
2. #5 Balthus (2-1) – His last two are good enough to beat the others here, with his last race effort the best of this group at this distance but will need to sit off a slow pace
3. #3 Mud Pie (6-1) – First time gelding who is eight for nine in the money lifetime on the turf, and has some competitive races at longer distances so should be a factor here
4. #2 Cold Hard Cash (6-1) – Linda Rice trainee has been consistent and ran very well here in three tries last year, plus stretches out to a longer distance that he should be well suited for
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