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 6 – Alw 110000n1x

1. #6 Gardiner (5-1) – Won last time out over this track and may have the speed advantage on this field but will have to hold off Fort Nelson in the stretch

2. #1 Fort Nelson (2-1) – Has the strongest effort at this distance last time out breaking maiden, and can be a winner with a repeat of that try but faces tougher here

3. #4 Filoso (10-1) – First time lasix and drops from graded stakes company now returning back to a manageable distance where he should show improvement

4. #3 Kalahari Dreams (6-1) – When this gelding by Country House breaks well, he can be competitive so the start is paramount here for Luis Saez

Race 7 – MC 50000

1. #11 Pay the Bills (20-1) – Tough post, but showed improvement in the drop down in class last time and can compete with a similar effort here at good value

2. #9 Unlimited Spending (7-2) – The most likely winner purely based on the class drop, but hasn’t shown much in four starts so will need to improve

3. #10 Bedford the Brave (12-1) – Took a clear step forward in the switch to turf last time, and drops down even further in class here with Carmouche in the irons

4. #4 New Issue (9-2) – Was competitive in her most recent try, now stretching out in distance which should be no issue for this filly by Munnings

Race 8 – West Point Stakes

1. #6 Rhetorical (1-2) – The most likely if he repeats his last two tries, but may end up too short a price to offer betting value even if he is the sharpest here

2. #2 Clear Conscience (8-1) – No match for Rhetorical last time, but has the top end efforts to be a winner if the favorite missteps

3. #3 Bettrluckythangood (5-1) – Would likely need a bit of pace to close into to be a winner, but will be running late regardless of the pace to get a piece of the pie

4. #4 Itsallcomintogetha (4-1) – Conman ran well last time, but this horse is a tad classier and could be in control of things from the jump

Race 9 – Alw 110000n1x

1. #8 Senza Parole (4-5) – First time lasix for this filly by Gun Runner who enters off of a year long layoff, but wins if she runs to her debut form

2. #1 Paula’s a Star (6-1) – Has kept good company compared to most of this field, and despite getting passed in the stretch frequently, she should finish in the mix

3. #4 Justthefactsjack (12-1) – Didn’t run her best last time out, but can be a contender if Santana breaks towards the lead here

4. #3 Claire’s Run (12-1) – A bit classier than Despo’s Dream who has won two straight, this filly by Speightstown is dangerous if she runs to her form two back

Race 10 – Clm 12500

1. #7 Macaw (12-1) – Has won three of his last four, so would be good value if he ends up around this morning line price against an evenly-matched field

2. #10 Rithm Nic (4-1) – Drops a bit more in class after a disappointing effort last time, but has been good at this distance and could show some early speed here

3. #3 Takechargesmiling (3-1) – Gets Santana in the irons and comes off a solid effort last time out over this track, showing his best when aggressive early

4. #6 Tetsu (6-1) – Hits the board in over half of his tries, and as one with sixty career tries, this one is relatively consistent at this level and should be running late

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