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 – OClm 20000

1. #3 Coach Cronin (5-2) – Drops from a stakes try which gives him an edge on the others, but may be pressed to quicker fractions by Secured Landing who has been sharp recently

2. #2 Secured Landing (4-1) – A consistent gate to wire winner against claimers but typically winning at a mile and may have difficulty keeping up his early fractions with an added furlong

3. #5 Sharp Spark (6-1) – Could be the one to take advantage of a pace collapse if the top two go out too quickly, with a good record in the money on dirt and no distance issues

4. #6 Cailbrate (2-1) – A little classier than Metatron’s Muse who has won two straight, but still needs to prove it at this distance on the dirt with recent turf form

Race 8 – Alw 105000n1x

1. #4 Liberty’s Secret (6-1) – Could be a winner with a repeat of her second try which may have been the best race of any in this group at the distance on a dry dirt surface

2. #5 K Gun (7-2) – Perfect in three starts, but may be leaving too much ground to make up at this distance with a couple speeds here who could gain some separation on this group early

3. #8 Lightning Strike (3-1) – Should beat Queens Cat to the quarter pole based on her last try, and gets to an ideal distance where she may be able to hold on gate to wire

4. #6 Lady Rose (5-1) – May prefer more distance, but gets a slight edge over Daniella Marie due to recent form and Queens Cat who hasn’t been as sharp in her tries over this track

Race 9 – Grade II Amsterdam Stakes

1. #4 Gilded Bandit (9-2) – Should offer decent value in this spot but needs to stay attached to the leaders early to have winning chances coming from mid pack here

2. #7 Obliteration (7-5) – The most likely winner if he runs his best, and should improve after running into the buzzsaw of Englishman in the Woody Stephens last time

3. #1 American Man (6-1) – Prat left Solitude Dude to ride this colt for Dallas Stewart who appears to be improving but needs to take another step forward in his second graded try here

4. #3 Solitude Dude (4-1) – Certainly has the top end races to go gate to wire here, but has to prove it against this company with Rockies Balboa likely to press him early

Race 10 – Clm 40000n2L – OFF TURF

1. #9 From Scratch (7-2) – Competitive turf tries which put her in the mix, and could flash early speed if she repeats her turf sprint from February which could win here

2. #8 Lilies N Paradise (12-1) – Major drop in class and good early positioning make this filly a good value play and she should improve here off the bench for Maker

3. #5 Heads in Beds (6-1) – Simply went out too fast in the first half mile last time, and runs better here with more modest fractions in her second claiming try

4. #3 Emerald Ember (4-1) – Tough to pick against both Irad and Prat here, but this filly has shown more improvement and can factor in with a repeat of her last try by sitting behind the leaders here

MTO: #13 Leslie’s Star (8-1) – Include Lilies N Paradise if she stays in, with her best speed figure on an off track and Expecto Patronum could be dangerous here on the class drop

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