Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks July 17

  • userJoseph Aiello
  • dateJuly 16, 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 3 – Rick Violette Stakes

1. #6 Smooth Breeze (7-5) – Good at the distance and has a win over this track, plus gets Flavian Prat in the irons even if this isn’t the best value play

2. #4 Outsource (4-1) – Steps up in class, but showed massive improvement in his switch to the turf last time and can be a threat here with a repeat of that try

3. #2 Sounds Like a Plan (9-2) – Comes off a sharp bullet work and adds blinkers in an attempt to get back to the lead where he has run his best

4. #5 Leon Blue (5-2) – Has never finished worse than third but has struggled to win against lesser and may be better at shorter distance than this

    Race 8 – Alw 110000n1x

    1. #5 Tracking Error (10-1) – Colt by Good Magic has his lone win at this distance and should get slower paces this time around plus could take the early lead

    2. #3 Stars and Stripes (6-5) – Won impressively in the slop last time out and can win here with a similar performance but faces a more experienced group

    3. #6 Dr. Kraft (4-1) – Good record lifetime in the money and should be in the mix here even if this may not be his ideal distance

    4. #7 Lordship (8-1) – Adds blinkers and drops from stakes company plus gets Prat to ride for Chad Brown in what could be an open race

    Race 9 – OClm 50000

    1. #1 Brit’s Wit (6-1) – Has won all four of his races at this distance and should be in a good stalking position early offering good value here

    2. #7 Enlighten (8-5) – Had some strong efforts down at Gulfstream against lesser competition, but didn’t match up with the step up in class so should improve here

    3. #2 Just for Luck (6-1) – Made a huge move closing into a quick early pace last time to lose by two lengths, and will likely need another quick pace here to have a chance

    4. #9 Gem Mint Ten (9-2) – Enters out of a stakes try, but will need to break well and get to the lead to return to his top form which he hasn’t shown recently

    Race 10 – MC 50000

    1. #11 Film Academy (3-1) – Adds blinkers and drops from maiden company into claiming and should improve with the distance cutback

    2. #12 Hello Newman (4-1) – Another who drops from maidens and adds blinkers but like Film Academy has a tough post and will need a sharp break to compete

    3. #1 Orie (5-2) – Nearly won last time out and has run his best going short on turf so this race should be right in his wheelhouse

    4. #7 Eighty Gold (8-1) – Keeps Irad Ortiz after a solid effort but on an off track, this gelding will need to prove that he can run on turf

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