Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks August 2
Joseph Aiello
August 1, 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. #4 Dazzle d’Oro (5-2) – Set a strong pace in his debut and still had plenty left to pull away and may be better value than Obliteration
2. #6 Obliteration (7-5) – A dominant winner of two straight including the Grade III Sanford last time, but may be pressed to a quicker pace here
3. #1 Ewing (8-5) – Gets Irad Ortiz and won by a whopping twelve lengths in his debut but may not control the lead the same in this one
4. #2 Comport (8-1) – A slight step below the top three contenders, but could benefit if the pace heats up and he sits off the leaders with a chance to close late
Race 8 – Grade I Fourstardave Handicap
1. #3 Johannes (5-2) – Narrowly lost the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the fall, and otherwise has been dominant at this distance and should be the one to beat
2. #4 Think Big (6-1) – Godolphin runner has been strong on turf in six tries, and showed he could handle this distance last time with a chance to do so again here
3. #8 Deterministic (9-2) – Might not be best suited for this distance, but has been running too well to be ignored and could have the early lead
4. #6 Intellect (5-1) – Gets a slight edge over Cugino and Spirit of St Louis, but would need to run a career best to be a winner against a tough group
Race 9 – Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes
1. #9 World Beater (10-1) – Was making a late run at Test Score last time in the torrid Belmont Derby and should have good betting odds plus gets a bit more distance here
2. #5 Test Score (7-2) – If he can repeat his blistering performance from the Belmont Derby, this three year old colt may find himself in the winner’s circle again
3. #7 Hotazhell (7-5) – Ships in from overseas and is the lone mount for regular rider Shane Foley with some strong performances across the pond on turf
4. #6 New Century (5-1) – Should get back to his late running ways after being a bit too close to the pace last time and will be closing with Final Gambit here
Race 10 – Grade I Test Stakes
1. #5 Me and Molly McGee (8-1) – Tough field to face here but has shown some serious speed with plenty left in the tank and should offer great value
2. #6 Echo Sound (9-5) – The likely favorite who has won back to back grade III races, this filly could be in prime stalking position if the pace gets too fast
3. #4 Cash Call (5-1) – Baffert trainee may find her best race at this distance, but still faces a tougher test than what she has run against thus far
4. #2 Kilwin (6-1) – Hard to ignore both Ragtime and Look Forward who have won both tries at this distance, but the lone dirt try for this filly last time was very impressive
Race 11 – Grade I Whitney Stakes
1. #1 Mindframe (5-2) – Five wins and two places in seven starts, this Pletcher trainee may be in the best form of all these but needs to break well and sit off the leaders and will hope for a more modest pace
2. #5 Sierra Leone (2-1) – Has never missed the board in eleven starts, and despite his late finishes over this track last year and preferring more distance, he should still be making a late charge into the money
3. #9 Fierceness (9-5) – Last year’s Travers winner returns after a blemish in his undefeated Saratoga record last time in the Met Mile, and could be the one to beat if he gets back to a dry track here
4. #7 White Abarrio (4-1) – Irad Ortiz chose to ride this six year old despite his success on Mindframe, as he looked as good as ever down at Gulfstream this year, and could be another that just needs a dry track after a sloppy Met Mile
Race 12 – Alw 110000n1x
1. #5 She’s Got Will (10-1) – Drops from a grade II where she was stretched too far, now getting to what may be a preferred distance
2. #3 La Salvadorena (3-1) – Keeps Prat and seems ready for a breakthrough win, this filly has shown good consistency in her starts at sprint distances
3. #1 Tales of The Heart (5-1) – Could be one that wants a bit more distance, but still has been closing well in her recent tries and should be making a late move
4. #6 Being Betty (15-1) – Could be a threat to go gate to wire if she runs back to her most recent try, and should offer good value
Race 13 – Mdn 100k
1. #7 Twolatebabydoll (6-1) – Has finished in the mix in all four of her tries, running in top end maiden fields recently with a chance to close from mid pack here
2. #10 Say Yes to Dreams (9-2) – First time lasix for this filly from the Chad Brown barn who comes off a year long layoff but has plenty of upside in her second try
3. #4 Magnum’s Microbrst (10-1) – Has put in some good efforts since switching to turf but seems to run out of gas late so may need to sit off the leaders here
4. #12 Just So Pretty (8-1) – Tougher post, but this one has been hitting the board at this class and despite less upside than Peak Hype, she should be in a better spot early
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