Spa Selections 2026: Saratoga Picks July 5
Joseph Aiello
July 4, 2026
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!
1. #8 Rocket One (3-1) – Nearly won last time out over this track, and has been hitting the board at a high clip even if he may have some seconditis with four places in his last five
2. #7 Fil Dor (7-2) – Has fared well recently in grade I company with just four career races, with the ability to run well with a forward trip and by rating
3. #6 McTigue (9-2) – Failed to finish last time out but is familiar with this track even if he needs to prove that his best racing isn’t behind him
4. #1 Merry Maker (5-2) – Five straight grade I tries puts him as the morning line favorite, but has been hit or miss and starts for the second time off a long layoff
Race 6 – Grade III Kelso Stakes
1. #1 Zulu Kingdom (5-2) – Was bested by Pass the Hat and Capitol Hill last time out over this track, but can get back to winning ways with a stalking trip or slightly more favorable fractions
2. #6 Cruise the Nile (8-1) – Improving speed figures put him in the mix and has won both tries at a mile with real chances here if he gets the right trip and set up at good value
3. #5 Pass the Hat (6-1) – Unexpected winner last time out may have found his race going a mile on the turf, and can prove that last race was no fluke with another strong effort here
4. #11 Capitol Hill (10-1) – Tough post, but has run very well in two mile races over this course including last time out with very good consistency going eight furlongs
Race 7 – Mdn 100k
1. #2 Luckbeourlady (4-1) – First time starter gets an edge over the starters due to their disappointments thus far, and has good connections here
2. #1 Midnight Honor (5-1) – Another first timer who has been working well but may need to break to have chances against those with more experience
3. #6 Garden of Grace (6-1) – Has failed in eleven starts, but tends to be in the mix and has the consistency to break through if the race goes his way but does step back up from a maiden claimer
4. #8 Liberty’s Advance (5-2) – First time lasix with familiar connections but hasn’t been competitive in three of five races although he has kept the best company thus far
Race 8 – Harvey Pack Stakes
1. #2 Boss Sully (5-1) – A brutally tough field where many can win, this gelding should offer solid value and will be stalking the leaders early over what has remained a dry turf course
2. #4 Twenty Six Black (3-1) – Put in a recent bullet work at Belmont and gets a bump coming out of a grade I over this course last month with top end races that can win here
3. #7 Chasing Liberty (8-1) – Good consistency coming out of two stakes races at Laurel and appears to be in top form if he gets a good pace set up here
4. #1 Bring Theband Home (7-2) – Certainly has as much upside as any here with three wins in three tries over this course but the question is whether his best racing came last year
Race 9 – OC 55000n1x
1. #10 Noble Dynasty (5-2) – Out of a grade III against West End Kid who ran well in defeat yesterday, and may be the classiest in here with no distance issues as he saves ground
2. #12 Noble Factor (15-1) – Consistently gaining ground in his stretch runs at a mile, so could take a step forward with another half mile plus drops a bit in class
3. #5 Alakan (10-1) – Form suggests that he is reaching for more ground for Graham Motion and could see improvement with the added distance here which puts him in the mix
4. #1 Miztertonic (4-1) – Drops from a grade II and has run well at distance, but may prefer a bit shorter but has hit the board in all four tries at the Spa
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