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 5 – Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

1. #8 Antiquarian (12-1) – Take a shot with the other Pletcher trainee who closed well in the Suburban and could sit right off the leaders with a chance to pounce late

2. #3 Sierra Leone (8-5) – Consistently the best runner here, but may leave himself too much ground and has often come up short unless the pace collapses

3. #4 Mindframe (2-1) – Hasn’t won at ten furlongs yet and was tiring last year in the Belmont over this track, but may be the best of this bunch right now if he’s sharp

4. #7 Phileas Fogg (15-1) – Can certainly win with the right trip given his record at this distance, but with Contrary Thinking likely pressing him it will be tougher here

Race 10 – Disco Partner Stakes

1. #8 Works for Me (6-1) – Bet to favorite last time against a better horse, and could get back to his winning ways by avoiding Bring theband Home

2. #5 Twenty Six Black (4-1) – Made a huge late move into second in the Grade II Troy last time, but may need Doncho to go out quickly to take aim at the leaders late

3. #7 Alogon (9-2) – Comes out of a grade I and grade II in back to back tries over this track, and has been good at finishing in the money at this distance

4. #6 Doncho (7-2) – Big Invasion may need a race off the bench, but this gelding has the most speed here so could be dangerous if he gets the early lead

Race 11 – MC 30000

1. #1 Eighty Gold (10-1) – His lone dirt try in claiming company was his best, as this gelding could be a value play at this distance if he breaks to the lead

2. #3 Rout (2-1) – Switches to dirt after his dirt debut for Chad Brown, and should improve on the class drop with solid connections in this spot

3. #4 Army Proud (5-1) – Can win if he returns to his form from two back, and has the best average speed figures here with a bounce back from last try

4. #8 Smallchangegeep (10-1) – Could be one that takes a step forward with the cutback in distance, as his last two tries on dirt have been too far

Race 12 – OClm 32000

1. #2 Navajo Warrior (2-1) – Has won his last three, and should be up on the lead with Irad Ortiz with a chance to keep the streak going here

2. #9 Hero Status (9-2) – Classier than most of these, and returned to form last time in the drop into claiming company with good winning chances here if he remains sharp

3. #1A Alternate Reality (7-2) – Wasn’t his best last time, but comes off the bench and has a good record in the money at this distance and gets Alvarado here

4. #6 Gasoline (6-1) – Has won both tries over this track including last time out, and has the top end races to compete here despite some inconsistency

Race 13 – Clm 17500n2L

1. #5 Kyle’s Mom (8-1) – May be over bet out of a maiden claimer, but can win with a repeat of her last race with the best seven furlong effort of this field

2. #11 Belle Cherie (9-2) – Makes a huge drop in class for Maker, and despite some disappointments in the past, this one should be in the mix in this company

3. #7 Carolina Smokeshow (4-1) – Has the speed figures to compete and possibly win, and may just need a return to a dry track and a better start to be in the mix

4. #8 Julita (8-1) – Gets a slight edge over Lollipops due to the class drop, and has shown her best when she is a bit more involved in the early pace

Race 14 – MC 50000

1. #11 Deemer (8-5) – Dropping from maiden company and adds lasix first time which should lead to improvement against a lesser field

2. #2 Hello Newman (3-1) – Took a clear step forward last time on the class drop, but may prefer shorter distance to this which could be an issue late

3. #3 Lets Fight (9-2) – Maker switches this colt to turf and drops him in class but would still need to improve to have winning chances here

4. #9 Mission Hill (15-1) – Has been uncompetitive since switching into the Duggan barn, but finally drops in class and has chances if he regains old form

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