Quills Picks Winners – Wednesday 8/19 – Saratoga Race 7
After a winning selection at Parx on Smarty Jones Day, we head north to Saratoga for today’s race of the day. The weather should be fine this afternoon as three-year-old fillies who are eligible for the New York Stallion Series.
In this race, a field of nine fillies are entered, but up to eight will run. The 9 Hanna’s Highway (15/1 ML) is entered for the main track only, but is the rare “MTO” who would not have a big advantage over those entered for the turf course.
Saratoga Race 7 – New York Stallion Series Statue of Liberty Stakes
Favored in today’s race is the 7 She’s Country (2/1 ML). She is 2 for 3 lifetime after winning the Key Cents Stakes at Saratoga back in November. She returns here at Saratoga after nine-month layoff for a trainer that wins a high percentage of races with horses coming off layoffs longer than six months. This filly should be close to the lead today or even on the lead here today for her return race.
The 5 Celtic Dawn (3/1 ML) is the other candidate that could go for the lead here today. That may not help here because her pedigree is screaming distance limited here. She won going six furlongs on the grass at Aqueduct in June, but she could not handle the two turns in the Suzie O’Cain Stakes here last month.
The 3 Morning Prayer (7/2 ML) broke her maiden last month while closing strongly despite trouble. She actually finished second last month here at Saratoga after getting hit with an opponent’s crop in the stretch. It appears it was part of a chain reaction when the disqualified horse bumped the horse whose jockey hit Morning Prayer in the nose. I’m not sure if she would have won, but you can see her head turn and lose focus briefly.
The 2 Greyjoy (6/1 ML) ran in a claiming race here at Saratoga last week and dueled with the winner through the stretch and lost a head bob for the win. I am expecting her to stalk the pace here again today and should have two targets as they turn for home today.
Joe’s Pick
I admit that I am not sold on Celtic Dawn and I think the morning line favorite She’s Country may win this race fairly easily. But I am also thinking that she might get caught up in a speed duel. Morning Prayer had all kinds of problems in her maiden breaker and can get under the wire first for the first time after that DQ win last month with that strong closing kick.
I’m calling this race 3-2-7-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 3. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
