How to bet the 2021 Spinaway Stakes

A salty group of nine two-year-old fillies will travel seven-eighths on the Saratoga dirt in Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1). Eight in the cast are coming off of impressive tallies which makes this a very competitive handicapping puzzle.

I came away with a very good impression of #7 Dream Lith in her debut victory on the course for Diodoro. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro took very little money at the windows at first asking when going postward at 36-1 odds, but the Kentucky-bred didn’t run like a longshot en route to a 2 1/4-length score on Aug. 8.

Dream Lith displayed good tactical speed and a nice turn of foot on that occasion against a well-meant field, and she has come back with two solid morning breezes in the interim for a conditioner who is better with horses that have some experience. The March foal also proved to be capable of passing runners in that heat, and her running style will come in handy against a group with an abundance of early pace. David Cohen retains the mount atop the dark bay, and the price will be right.

The Brad Cox-trained #2 Girl With a Dream couldn’t have looked much better in her dazzling debut at Ellis Park. By young sire Practical Joke, the juvenile miss dueled on the lead to the turn for home and put her foes away easily in the stretch to win in going-away fashion. The chestnut brings her pilot, Florent Geroux, along for the voyage. She is a must-use.

Dominant local debut heroine #3 Echo Zulu was among the most visually impressive juveniles at the meeting for Asmussen. The bay daughter of Gun Runner crushed what may turn out to be a very good field on the surface, and she comes in fresh for her stakes bow. Santana retains the mount.

Schuylerville S. (G3) victress #5 Pretty Birdie has yet to be headed from two tries to date and draws outside some of her pace foes for Norm Casse. Gray daughter of Bird Song is training like she is rounding up to another big effort.

Spinaway Wagers

• $12 win and place #7 Dream Lith ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 2,7 with 2,3,5,7 with all ($21)
• 20-cent superfecta 2,7 with 2,3,5,7 with 2,3,5,7 with all ($14.40)