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 – OC 80000n2x

1. #5 Brisbane (5-1) – The “other” Chad Brown trainee put in a decent effort in her first race in a year and a half, and now gets another chance to get back to her best at a preferred distance

2. #2 Play With Fire (3-1) – Good class compared to most of this group, but struggled winning graded stakes so should compare well at this level

3. #1 Queen of Hawaii (9-2) – First time lasix coming out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and looks to be a bit closer to the leaders here if she wants to have better winning chances

4. #7 Opulent Restraint (7-2) – Didn’t run well last time after leaving the Chad Brown barn, but is classier than Strutsherstuff and should prefer slightly less distance as she tends to fade late

Race 7 – Clm 20000

1. #2 Gatsby (9-2) – Hasn’t been as sharp in his last two on softer surfaces, but can get back to winning on a fast track especially if he is aggressive early

2. #9 Red State (7-5) – Drops in class after a long stretch at optional claimers, and should improve with the class relief plus rna well in defeat last time out

3. #3 Factually Correct (6-1) – Was a winner of two straight in claiming company before stepping back up to optional, so getting back to this level should lead to a better performance

4. #6 Big Hat Willie (8-1) – Take Burninhunkoflove on an off track, but this six year old drops slightly in class and should be competitive at this level if he gets back to form

Race 8 – OClm 45000

1. #7 Joker On Fire (4-1) – Wasn’t able to hold on in the stretch in his last two, but has run better on turf in his last three and drops in class from an allowance into this group

2. #8 Counter Move (7-2) – Encouraging signs in his last two on the turf, but has one win in maiden claiming company two back so needs to prove he can win at this level

3. #3 Russi (6-1) – Hasn’t been his sharpest recently, but has a good record in the money at the distance and over this track plus returns to turf where he ran well two back

4. #2 Bridle a Butterfly (9-2) – After Taxes has shown more consistency but has a tough post, leaving this classier gelding who has the top end races to win but hasn’t looked as sharp recently

Race 9 – Mdn 115k

1. #9 Okefenokee (8-1) – Took a clear step forward last time in his switch to turf and should be good value, but may need a bit more pace than is in here to win if he keeps his form from last race

2. #5 Coordinator (2-1) – Juddmonte colt from the Chad Brown barn has finished third and second in two tries against good company, and could improve more in his third start

3. #7 Bull Shoals (10-1) – Hasn’t taken much money in his three starts, but ran a close second at this level a month ago here and should factor in with a good break and mid pack trip

4. #8 Feline Curious (12-1) – Has shown improvement since switching to turf from his debut, and ran a strong second last time out at Churchill which would put him in the mix with these with a repeat performance

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