Saturday at the SPA; Full-Card Selections

By Bob Hill
Tracksideview Feature Writer —-

Saturday Picks for Saratoga

July 18th

As though we need a reminder, the opening couple of days at the SPA demonstrate once again that playing favorites there is a quick path to an empty wallet. Hopefully, we can make some adjustments before the bankroll is completely gone.

Here are picks for the Grade 2 Hall of Fame and the Grade 1 Coaching Club American, along with full-card plays for July 18th at Saratoga. No matter the outcome, this meet is the highlight of summer racing. Watching on TV with the stands empty, however, is a tough testimony to how screwed up things are right now.

Good luck at the races.

Race 3 – Hall of Fame G2 – 1-1/8 Miles on Turf for Three-year-olds 5-7-1-2

Decorated Invader (7) has won both his races this spring in preparation for his first go at a Grade 1 in 2020. He won at that level as a 2yo last year, so it is no surprise that he is the even money favorite here. His greatest competition should come from stablemate Gufo (5). That one did not run his first race until 16 days after Decorated Invader competed in the Breeder’s Cup last November. He has now won four straight, including the Grade 3 Kent at the 9-furlong distance of the Hall of Fame. Domestic Spending (1) is a lightly raced Chad Brown trainee that has won both his races. Moon Over Miami (2) is my pick to round out the superfecta. Since it is Saratoga, I’ll pick the upset. Picks: 5-7-1-2

Race 10 – Coaching Club American Oaks G1 – 1-1/8 Miles for Three-year-old Fillies 3-2-1-6

Tonalist’s Shape (1) is a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner facing five other fillies that have zero graded wins. All her races have been run in Florida, so the trip to New York is her first away from her home barn. Antoinette (2) is the only other in this field to have run in graded company, but unlike Tonalist’s Shape she has competed in four venues prior to this start at the SPA. Paris Light (6) owns two wins in three tries, both at 8.5 furlongs. This daughter of Curlin has posted competitive Beyer figures, as has Crystal Ball (5) out of the Bob Baffert barn. If all the front-end speed gets revved up early the race could set up for Altaf (3) to get a big piece of the prize. My guess is that Irad Ortiz, Jr. will press the pace on Tonalist’s Shape rather than contest early fast fractions, as will Antoinette. The weather forecast is for dry weather so a wet surface is unlikely. Tonalist’s Shape will take a lot of money, so the value in the race will reside with Antoinette and Altaf. I’ll use those two on top, but I’ll cover all my bases in the Pick 4. Picks: 3-2-1-6

Full Card Selections

Race 1: 6-3-5-1

Race 2: 1-5-6-3

Race 3: 5-7-1-2

Race 4: 3-5-1-4

Race 5: 6-4-3-7

Race 6: 8-2-3-6

Race 7: 3-1-2-5

Race 8: 9-1-3-8

Race 9: 7-2-6-9

Race 10: 3-2-1-6

Race 11: 4-2-7-1