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 – MC 55000

1. #1 Himothy (10-1) – Should be on the lead with Carmouche in the irons, and ran his best with an aggressive trip three races ago but needs to control a slightly slower pace here

2. #3 Oligarch (5-1) – Uncompetitive last time, but his prior two races would put him squarely in the mix here with a good effort three back coming off a layoff

3. #7 Deported (8-5) – Jose Ortiz took this mount between the two Ward trainees with overseas horses running well on this turf course for the meet

4. #4 Ink Lies (4-1) – Escapades has strong connections but hasn’t shown enough in two tries to be a winner, with this other Ward trainee getting another crack at maiden claimers here

Race 6 – OC 45000n2x

1. #2 Valtellina (1-1) – Just a bit classier than this field dropping from the Grade II Shuvee with her best good enough to win here and likely to improve from her last effort

2. #1 Boxed Wine (9-2) – Looked a bit sharper last year, and needs to be a bit more forwardly placed to stay involved in the race and get back to her top form

3. #3 Sweetest Princess (5-1) – Plenty of experience at the distance, and ran much closer to her best last time out off the claim for Linda Rice with that performance putting her in the mix here

4. #6 Princess Becca (7-2) – Good connections and respectable clip in the money for this mare that steps up from claiming company and should be near the leaders early if she wants to run well

Race 7 – New York Stallion Cab Calloway Stakes

1. #7 Jaxer (5-2) – First time gelding has won his last two but enters off a long layoff for Graham Motion and keeps Prat in the irons with good chances if he regains his form

2. #8 Nessuna Pagina (4-1) – Undefeated in four starts, this Finger Lakes shipper should have no issues with the added ground, but does make just his second turf start in this spot

3. #3 A Little At First (3-1) – Bet to favorite last time but couldn’t hold late as the pace fell apart, and may have better chances here from mid pack with a likely slower first half mile

4. #1 Chummers (3-1) – Spirit of New York has been more consistent even if he may prefer shorter, with this gelding running well in his last two with pace to aim at and can close into the mix here

Race 8 – OClm 45000

1. #1 Oklahoma Smoke (4-1) – Got the right set up in her turf debut last time, but showed a good closing kick and also has the ability to show speed here

2. #2 She’s Got Will (3-1) – Has won both her tries over this track and should be competitive here if she gets enough pace to aim at with a few speedy fillies from the outside

3. #6 Gracie’s Delight (8-1) – Filly by American Pharoah steps up off the claim for Linda Rice and comes off the bench with a sharp bullet work here two weeks ago

4. #8 River Seine (7-2) – A filly who may have the most speed here, this distance specialist has struggled to hold leads at times but could be a threat if she controls a slightly slower pace than usual

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