After a winning night at Assiniboia Downs where I actually called the race while I was live on my stream like I was a track announcer on The Joe Quills Show (apologies for the sound), we return to The Spa for Saratoga’s eighth race, which is the De La Rose Stakes, which is a restricted race for older fillies and mares going a mile on the turf course. Post time is set for approximately 5:10 pm Eastern time and can be seen on FS2.
Saratoga Race 8 – De La Rose Stakes
Favored in the eighth race here at Saratoga is the 3 Spirit And Glory (5/2 morning line) who comes into today’s race after just missing trying to go gate to wire in the Eatontown at Monmouth Park in June, and in the month prior at Aqueduct in the Beaugay Stakes. Since she returned to the East Coast after wintering at the Fair Grounds, she has run on the front end and I expect her to do the same here today as well. Seems like her modus operandi has changed since she left Louisiana and might lull the field the sleep on the front end here at Saratoga.
If there is anyone that might challenge for the lead today, it could be the 9 Evvie Jets (7/2 ML). She does have a ton of back class here having just missed in the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes two back on Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga but did finish off the board last time out in a troubled trip in the Diana two weeks ago. She does appear that she was struggling to keep up, but having to check up there in the final furlong sealed her fate. She may be worth a look today.
If Spirit And Glory and Evvie Jets do duel on the front end today, the filly that may benefit the most is the 10 Midnight Mile (5/1 ML). She has shown a nice closing kick in her first two races of the year at Aqueduct, which were her first two races on North American soil after starting her career in Great Britian. She will be a few lengths behind the leaders and should be flying at the end if everything sets up the way I expect it to be today.
The 6 Mouffy (9/2 ML) came flying on the outside to hold off Midnight Mile last time out at Aqueduct and I am expecting the same performance from her today. She might even have the stronger kick than Midnight Mile when they race home here today.
I would not be surprised if the latter two horses that I mentioned here have a carbon copy of their race on the 4th of July at Aqueduct in the De La Rose Stakes here at Saratoga. I think that Midnight Mile will turn the tables on Mouffy and win this race after having some trouble in the final furlong last time out. If Midnight Mile’s trip is clean in the stretch, she gets by Mouffy today. We will see if what I am thinking will happen today at Saratoga will come to fruition.
I will call this race 10-6-3-9, and my play is $20 on the 10. Best of luck to everyone and I will catch you tomorrow as we begin the month of August with another Quills Picks winners!
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.