Sunday Stakes Spot Plays for Saratoga

A total of six black-type races for New York-bred runners will headline the final day of the brief meeting at Saratoga on Sunday. 

Race 6 – Commentator S. 

A solid group of seven will travel 1 1/8 miles on the main oval and could come down to the pair of contenders drawn on the inside. #2 Drake’s Passage romped home in the Albany S. in the summer by 7 3/4 lengths in his lone try on the course for conditioner Christophe Clement. The Tonalist four-year-old was a smart second in a swiftly run allowance event with open foes last time out, and he will be set for his return to this venue second time off the break. 

#1 Sheriff Bianco is no cinch at nine furlongs, but he has a lot of ability and is also perfectly drawn on the fence for Linda Rice. The bay was third in the race last season when it was contested at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park, and even slight improvement off of that will make the Speightster gelding a major factor under Jose Lezcano.

Wagers:

• $25 exacta: 2 with 1 ($25)
• $10 exacta: 1 with 2 ($10)

Race 8 – Critical Eye S. 

I’m not sure if #1 Sweet Mystery is up to the task of upsetting this field, but the Cupid five-year-old is on the improve and also has the right running style for the contest. The Pat Quick pupil has been first or second in each of her three previous runs at the Spa, and the gray will be saving ground behind a fast and contested early tempo prior to making her run late. She has a lot of exotics appeal with Trevor McCarthy in the controls.

Wagers:

• $2 exacta: 1 with all ($16)
• $2 exacta: all with 1 ($16)

Race 11 – Bouwerie S. 

A very good field of sophomore fillies will vie in the seven-furlong affair. The race features some excellent New York-bred prospects in what will be a fun one. I like what I have seen from #6 Tough Love Torres from two lifetime appearances to date. The Mike Maker pupil rallied from far back to win in going-away fashion on debut at Aqueduct at this distance, and the Kantharos filly was a clear runner-up in a subsequent allowance event at Aqueduct on May 10. The chestnut adds blinkers and gets a rider upgrade to Luis Saez.

Wager:

• $20 win and place: #6 Tough Love Torres ($40)