Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks July 11 * The Racing Biz

Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks July 11

Joseph Aiello
July 10, 2025

Cover photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

In Spa Selections, Saratoga correspondent Joseph Aiello provides Saratoga picks for a handful of key races at Saratoga, including all of the exciting stakes action!

Follow along all meet with all the exciting action (and good betting opportunities)!

Check out our other handicapping here!

Race 7 – Grade III Coronation Cup Stakes

1. #7 Gata Brazil (6-1) – Comes off an impressive win and an even more impressive workout with a strong record at this distance and hopefully good value

2. #1 Make Haste (2-1) – Set a blistering pace and held on last time out at Gulfstream and could be in control of this race over a turf course that has been speed favoring

3. #3 Cloe (5-2) – Keeps Irad Ortiz and has run her best on turf so getting back to turf here should lead to a return to her top form

4. #6 Abientot (7-2) – Has good class but has been inconsistent in her career although her most recent race off a layoff was one of her best efforts

Race 8 – MC 50000

1. #7 Gallo de Fuego (3-1) – Drops from a maiden where he wasn’t competitive, but this colt by Audible should improve amongst this class

2. #8 World Fair (7-2) – Three straight place finishes against similar company and should be in the mix in the early stages

3. #4 Dark Devil (7-2) – Gelding by Mitole has a good record in the money in twelve career tries, now cutting back to a more manageable distance from his usual routes

4. #3 Munson (4-1) – Three straight tries against top maiden company for this first time gelding could be enough to improve and have winning chances

Race 9 – OC 45000n2x

#1 Rhetorical (1-2) – Part of an entry that may be over bet, but this one has Irad Ortiz and wins if he repeats his performance from last time

#5 Slapintheface (8-1) – Has a bit of seconditis with three place finishes in three tries at Saratoga, but at least has been in the mix in most of his efforts

#10 Born Dancer (10-1) – Drops from a stakes try and has performed well in this company so getting back to optional claiming should lead to improvement

#9 Laurel Valley (6-1) – Has two wins over this track and may be able to control this race but has to start from a tougher outside post

Race 10 – OC 100000n1x

1. #9 Souper Times (8-1) – After breaking maiden, this colt ran against a pair of Pletcher trainees that were on the Derby trail so gets some competition relief here

2. #11 Strate Cash (6-1) – Colt by Tiz the Law won his lone try in debut, now stretching out in distance with plenty of upside plus gets Jose Ortiz

3. #12 King of Ashes (5-1) – This colt by Street Sense drops from a stakes try where he nearly won, and finds himself in the perfect spot here albeit with a tough post

4. #2 Asbury Park (2-1) – Can’t ignore these connections, but his two tries were on the slower side even if they were on softer surfaces

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