Grade II $250,000 Ballston Spa Features Classy Field

This year's renewal features a classy field of seven runners led by 2/1 upstart Filimbi.  Trained by Bill Mott, Filimbi turned in a career best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in her last start while beating minor stakes competition August 2 at Saratoga.  While that effort was impressive, some handicappers will view Filimbi as a prime “bounce” candidate as she will likely need to produce another similar effort against a deeper field in the Ballston Spa.  Joel Rosario retains the mount on Filimbi.  

Dayathespa looks to flip the script 

Filimbi ran down Dayathespa in the Ballston Spa and that rival is the 5/2 second choice on the morning line. Dayathespa, trained by Chad Brown, was making her first start since December and figures to be tighter this time around as Brown connects at 21% with runners making their second start off the layoff.  Dayatthespa has excelled on the Saratoga lawn in her stellar career, winning three of four starts with the lone defeat coming at the hands of Filimbi - the last start for both fillies.  

Contention goes deep in classy field 

Strathnaver (4/1), Abaco (4/1), and Centre Court (5/1) all have a fighting chance as their odds suggest.  Centre Court, trained by George Arnold, has finished in the exacta at the distance five times in seven career tries.  Strathnaver could appreciate the shorter trip as she exits the Grade I Diana run at a mile and an eighth for trainer Graham Motion.