img HORSE

SARATOGA Race #8 (THE BALLERINA STAKES(G1))

August 25, 2018
img3:35 PM Eastern
Premium Pick

Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #5 (FINLEY'SLUCKYCHARM) (7-2) - Hard hitting mare enters off a sharp local win in the G2 Honorable Miss Stakes going 6 furlongs July 25. It was her first race since May 5 and stalker worked well above average Aug 17. Capable at this 7-furlong trip she enters off a career-best figure and gets a slight edge.

2nd pick: #6 (Lewis Bay) (3-1) - As consistent as they come, the mare has a great overall record 16-6-5-3 and was an easy winner at this distance June 8 at Belmont in the Bed O'Roses Stakes (G3). Five-year-old has been pointed to this stakes since then and leading trainer Chad Brown has her working both steadily and above average.

3rd pick: #7 (Marley's Freedom) (5-2) - California based filly ships east for the first time. She's from the barn of Bob Baffert and has improved dramatically in her last four starts. She's won a pair of sprint stakes facing weaker heading into this but is far too sharp to dismiss.

4th pick: #9 (Highway Star) (10-1) - She passed the $1M mark in earnings earlier this year and the mare has a fine record at this distance 6-3-2-0. However, Broman home-bred was 5.5 lengths behind 'Lewis Bay' at Belmont June 8 with no visible excuse. One-run type would need a complete pace collapse for anything more than a minor award.

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