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 – Alw 105000n1x

1. #11 Tuthilltown (4-1) – Strong closing kick last time in a near win, and clearly prefers turf with her last two tries good enough to win here

2. #3 Arinata (6-1) – Comes out of a state bred stakes try where she finished second by three and a quarter, and now adds lasix off a long layoff and with a red hot jockey trainer combo

3. #9 Maria Callas (5-1) – Chad Brown trainee has been competitive in her two turf sprints with a win three back and should be in a good mid pack position in this field

4. #6 Fairy Godmother (6-1) – Emergency Nine was sharp last time but steps up in class with this filly getting Prat and having a nice closing kick to get her in the money

Race 9 – Alw 120000n1x

1. #5 Stimulate (5-2) – Colt by Tapit flashed his potential in a second try maiden win after a layoff from last summer and should have no issues with the added furlong here as he steps up in class

2. #9 Playa Del Mar (4-1) – May have the best mile efforts of anyone in this group, and should be aggressive here with good early speed and the ability to put them away if Franco controls a modest pace

3. #8 Fact (6-1) – Has been a bit inconsistent at this level, but has good efforts when breaking well and also showed the ability to rate last time with a close defeat at seven furlongs

4. #7 Enforced Agenda (10-1) – Silver Talent adds blinkers and has strong connections, but this grey colt comes off the bench from a stakes try and can threaten here if he returns to his debut form and has matured since the winter

Race 10 – Grade II Ballston Spa Stakes

1. #6 Segesta (7-5) – Won’t be the best value here, but is the most likely winner coming from a near Grade I Diana win if Prat has her stalking the leaders

2. #5 And One More Time (3-1) – Has been able to control some modest paces recently and may not get the same trips here, but could be dangerous if others don’t pressure her early

3. #2 Sunlit Uplands (10-1) – Foreign runners have had a strong meet in turf routes, with this filly winning a graded stakes last time out and getting John Velazquez her

4. #4 Play With Fire (15-1) – Grayosh has looked sharper recently, but this filly by Oscar Performance has been consistent even with a lack of wins and can hold on late with the right trip

Race 12 – Mdn 115k

1. #1 Stand the Rain (9-2) – Ran a solid third at this distance last time out, and picks up Jose Ortiz for Miguel Clement with her better efforts coming on the turf

2. #6 Mary Lois (7-2) – Top connections get another crack with this filly who has been consistently competitive but lacks a breakthrough effort which she looks for here

3. #5 Secretly Delighted (3-1) – Has kept good maiden company and may not be quick enough at a mile and a sixteenth, now adding a furlong with hopes of improving

4. #8 Osmosis (9-2) – Home Wrecker may have a good chance of finding her way into the money with her experience, but this Pletcher trainee adds lasix and has the form that suggests that she will like the extra furlong

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