Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks July 30
Joseph Aiello
July 29, 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!
1. #1 Santina (4-1) – Espinoza’s lone mount of the day is on this Wesley Ward filly who debuts here and should take well to the turf
2. #10 Sharp Mindset (7-2) – Strong jockey trainer combo to start the meet with this filly by Street Sense who should be a contender here
3. #2 Mackinac (5-1) – Good jockey trainer combo over the last year with this filly who starts for the first time and has a good workout pattern
4. #5 Actis (15-1) – Blanchett deserves a look, but this filly has been working frequently and should be good value with a chance to be aggressive early
Race 7 – OClm 40000
1. #7 War Officer (7-2) – Five straight tries with a top two finish and strong on the turf and good speed figures which compare well to the rest here
2. #1 Brigade Commander (5-2) – An impressive winner over this course last time out, and still had some left which should help him stretch out in distance here
3. #6 Cognoscenti (4-1) – Needed more distance last time when closing into Brigade Commander, and has been bet down to favorite in his last two tries
4. #5 The Paddock Pastor (9-2) – Salted Caramel may prefer shorter distance, leaving this gelding who has shown that he can only be competitive on turf and gets Jose here
Race 8 – Johnstone Stakes
1. #2 Dolomite (5-1) – A perfect three for three at this distance with some strong efforts here last summer, this Chad Brown filly should be in the perfect spot to pounce late
2. #6 Landed (8-1) – The likely leader who often rests between races, this filly won both her tries here last year and has also won both tries at seven furlongs
3. #5 My Mane Squeeze (3-1) – The winner purely based on class, but has been fading in most of her stretch runs and needs to put forth a top effort to win here
4. #8 Sterling Silver (5-2) – Caldwell Luvs Gold has upside in this spot, but this Mott filly has sharper speed figures and is classier even if she may prefer more distance
Race 9 – MC 50000
1. #2 Kyla’s Kause (8-5) – First time lasix for this likely favorite who nearly won last time out and wins here with a repeat of that try
2. #5 Fifi La Fume (6-1) – Heavily raced filly by McKinzie has trended in the right direction with the surface change to turf and likely found her ideal race here
3. #8 Good Mission (7-2) – Ran well last time and may be in prime position to pass the others late, but needs to finish stronger than she has in the past
4. #7 Miss Uproar (5-1) – Mid pack to late finisher type would need some pace collapse to win here, but should still be competitive in this group
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