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 8 – Wild Applause Stakes

1. #11 Pillar of Beauty (8-1) – On the improve and offers good value with these connections as this filly stretches out in distance coming off a win over this track

2. #6 Smexy (7-2) – Has run well in two straight, but may lack the upside of some others even if she has good class and has shown some consistency

3. #7 To a Flame (9-2) – Drops out of two straight grade two tries where she didn’t run her best, but comes off the bench which should lead to a return to form here

4. #9 I Love Giraffes (6-1) – Enters following a bullet work over the training track for Preakness winning trainer Chad Summers and should be in the mix with a repeat of her last race win

Race 9 – Schuylerville Stakes

1. #2 Prime Aurora (9-2) – As visually impressive as any with a near nine length win at four and a half furlongs, this filly by Mind Control has a good chance if her form translates to this distance

2. #8 Luminous Beauty (3-1) – Still had plenty left in the tank last time as she drew away from the field at five and a half, plus keeps Flavian Prat and has continued her strong works

3. #1 Voyager (7-2) – Filly by Justify didn’t quite have enough first time out, and would need to take a step forward and get a good pace set up to have winning chances against despite her clear talent

4. #5 Washton (4-1) – Filly by Mitole wasn’t dominant in her debut win on an off track, but has good connections and could improve with more favorable conditions

Race 10 – Saranac Stakes

1. #11 Arizona Territory (5-2) – Tough post off the layoff, but without a clear standout it is tough to pick against these connections even if others have shown just as much

2. #10 Zeppelin (10-1) – Adds blinkers and has been competitive in his stakes tries thus far even if he lacks wins, and should be on the move late with some value

3. #1 Siyouincanada (9-2) – Strong in his debut and should be on the early lead with a win first time out at the distance for Joe Sharp

4. #4 Teddy’s Rocket (8-1) – Wasn’t his sharpest last time out, but his form from two back would put him in the mix here at a price plsu broke his maiden over this track

Race 11 – OC 45000

1. #5 Dividend Recap (2-1) – Has been the most consistent recently despite the fourth last time out as the favorite, and can build off her last try in this class with another crack at similar competition

2. #6 Pretty Lavish (4-1) – Good record in the money at the distance with competitive speed figures amongst this group which is evenly matched on paper

3. #9 River Tay (6-1) – Mostly running against lesser, this mare outperformed four returnees in her last effort and has shown improvement since her tries here last summer

4. #10 Brokealltherules (7-2) – Captured her first try over this track last time, but hasn’t won past six furlongs and could be distance limited even if she has the upside to win

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