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 – Mdn 115k

1. #2 Hullabaloo Ray Ray (10-1) – Fourteen furlongs breezed over twelve days for this colt by Jackie’s Warrior in what could be a wide open race where many start for the first time

2. #11 Closing Surge (20-1) – Good workout pattern for this rarely used jockey trainer combo that debuts this colt for Calumet Farm at a likely good price

3. #9 Shahnameh (4-1) – Grey colt by Curlin gets the edge over others due to his top flight connections and strong workouts as a top contender in this group

4. #4 Damavand (3-1) – Road to Ravello makes a quick turnaround off his recent work, but this colt by Not This Time enters with higher expectations in his debut

Race 8 – OClm 45000

1. #4 Urgency (6-1) – Quick turnaround off the claim for Linda Rice after a near win last time on turf and should be a threat with a similar trip to his last race

2. #2 Debt Limit (7-2) – Klaravich gelding has run against slightly better company coming into this race and should finish in the mix even if he has left too much ground to make up in the past

3. #11 Hard Circle (8-1) – Has clearly been better on turf in his career with good recent races since making a surface change and can run well here if he comes from mid pack

4. #10 Vintage Vino (12-1) – One of two off the claim for Kantarmaci who attempt to return after a five day rest with this one familiar with this course and running well in his last two

Race 9 – OClm 45000

1. #2 Light Fantastic (3-1) – Travers winning duo guide this gelding by City of Light who has found his race in turf sprints and should have no issue stepping up slightly in class from a dominant claiming win

2. #8 Ambassador Blue (9-2) – Ran a career best effort last time against this same class and race conditions after breaking his maiden the race before with a recent four furlong bullet breeze that suggest he is in top form still

3. #4 Escapades (7-2) – Gate to wire winner in his first turf try last time now off the claim for Linda Rice with winning chances if he can build off of that effort here

4. #1 Abrigado (10-1) – Global Prosperity has run against better but with less upside than this other Rice trainee by Yaupon who goes back to turf with a sharp recent work and good jockey trainer combo

Race 10 – Funny Cide Stakes

1. #2 Fullcup (2-1) – May have been the most impressive winner of the group with all six entries starting their second race here and can run better on a fast track

2. #5 Scramjet (9-5) – Gate to wire first time out for Linda Rice, but would need to be faster here after beating a lesser state bred field and slowing down in the late stretch

3. #3 Mindfield (5-2) – Couldn’t catch Scramjet last time despite having clear aim at him, and may need D I Wire to pressure him early for the right winning set up here

4. #6 Midnight Raider (20-1) – Made a big late move in the slop to run down a small four horse field from dead last, and despite a slower time and speed figure, should run faster on a dry track with a chance to hit the board

Race 11 – Gio Ponti Stakes

1. #2 Third Coast (5-1) – Removes blinkers after tiring in the Grade II Hall of Fame, now facing a less talented group and returning to his desired running style

2. #7 Siyouincanada (7-2) – Likely to be pushed to the early lead although he does have the ability to sit behind the leaders with enough speed to be dangerous here

3. #5 Bull Shoals (20-1) – Has been every bit as sharp as these classier three year olds against maiden company and seems to be improving with the right value stepping up into this group

4. #4 Lyneham (4-1) – As strong as Doubting Thomas has been at sprint distances with real winning chances if Velazquez keeps him off the lead, foreign invaders have been too good this meet to completely pass up

Race 12 – MC 50000

1. #5 Lil Army Girl (7-2) – Ran her best in two maiden claimers before stepping back up to maidens which both ended up off the turf and finally gets a shot on the class drop over the turf course

2. #3 Daylight Dreamer (6-1) – Missed the break last time but has a race two back that could win here with Carmouche in the irons who tends to be aggressive early

3. #12 Copper Caduceus (4-1) – Showed improvement last time out in her first try as a three year old and drops from state bred maidens into this company which should lead to another step forward

4. #6 Midtown Mischief (6-1) – Avery’s Wonderland may have more upside than this filly, but she has hit the board in three of four tries and should be closer to the early leaders here

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