Spa Selections 2026: Saratoga Picks August 29
Joseph Aiello
August 28, 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. #5 Shelzawa (3-1) – With no clear standout here, tough to pick against Chad Brown and Prat with this improving filly off the bench who won over this track last time
2. #3 Bella Knows (5-2) – Has no problem passing tiring horses in the stretch and may eventually want more distance, but should be closing late to finish in the mix with a strong jockey trainer combo
3. #9 Counterintuitive (4-1) – Adding lasix off a long layoff for Chad Brown and has the upside to be a winner here with Jose Ortiz in the irons
4. #7 Code (10-1) – Paige Turner and All of It have shown stronger late kicks, but this Pletcher trainee drops in class and has early speed if she wants to control the race with few front runners here
Race 8 – Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes
1. #4 Englishman (3-5) – The winner if he runs anywhere close to his Woody Stephen, but does face a tough group of top contenders who have a chance if the track isn’t as speed biased as in June
2. #5 Local Knowledge (4-1) – Took a step forward in the Amsterdam and could be one that saves ground here with a mid pack win in his debut and plenty of speed here to aim at
3. #3 Solitude Dude (6-1) – Impressive in defeat in the Amsterdam, this Yaupon colt should be sitting on a more modest pace than in the Woody Stephen and has a strong track record at the distance
4. #2 Deep Flame (3-1) – A dominant winner of two straight, this Into Mischief colt will have every chance to aim at Englishman in the stretch but does face a step up in competition here
Race 9 – Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes
1. #2 Fully Subscribed (6-5) – Reeled in Scottish Lassie at this distance last time, and should be in position to do the same here with a better track record at nine furlongs
2. #4 Scottish Lassie (7-5) – Can certainly bounce back and be a winner here if she controls a slower pace, but does appear to be better going shorter and tired in the stretch last time in the Shuvee
3. #6 Snowyte (8-1) – Finished behind Fully Subscribed and Scottish Lassie in the Shuvee last time, and appears to be the third best here with a good record in the money
4. #5 Speed Shopper (12-1) – The others have question marks and would need to improve to win, leaving this turf runner who has the form to compete if she can adjust to the surface change
Race 10 – Grade II Lake Placid Stakes
1. #5 Naomis (3-1) – With overseas shippers winning turf stakes at a high clip this meet, taking this Prat and Brown filly who debuts in the States seems like a good play if she ends up around this price
2. #1 Queen of Hawaii (2-1) – Impressed in her last effort and has run her best at a mile with a strong late kick and Jose Ortiz staying put here
3. #9 East Jabip (6-1) – Could show some early speed in a field that lacks a contending pace setter, and is dangerous if she gets clear from Oscar Bound early
4. #4 Deep Learning (4-1) – May be reaching for more distance, but has been knocking on the door in graded stakes for Brown and broke her maiden here last year
Race 11 – Grade I Forego Stakes
1. #6 Senior Officer (7-2) – Impressive last time running down Tip Top Thomas and should be even sharper at seven furlongs, but is as much a value play here as the clear threat to Book’em Danno who wins at his best
2. #5 Book’em Danno (1-1) – Maybe not as likely a favorite to be upset as in a larger field such as the Ballerina, but does face a real challenger in Senior Officer and will be a short price with little betting value outside of multi race plays
3. #4 Crazy Mason (12-1) – Strong late finisher usually finds a way into the money and has hit the board in all five tries at this distance as well as three over this track
4. #8 Bring the Smoke (10-1) – Mid pack gelding picks up Jose Ortiz and should be good value as an underneath play to get a piece of the pie, even if there are classier runners here
Race 12 – Grade I Ballerina Stakes
1. #7 Ways and Means (9-5) – Certainly not a lock in a field of this size and quality, but remains the likeliest winner with her record over this track and running style sitting right behind what should be a quick pace
2. #10 R Disaster (5-1) – Has been too impressive as a gate to wire runner to ignore here even with others who have early speed, and bested Ways and Means in her last effort on Derby day at Churchill
3. #12 Eclatant (3-1) – A winner of three straight with some of the sharpest seven furlong races in the field, this Brad Cox filly by Into Mischief has improved as a four year old and is a top contender despite the tougher post
4. #2 Kilwin (8-1) – Beauty Reigns will likely get the right pace set up to run well, but this Test winner is three for three on dirt and should also be running late with winning chances if the pace falls apart
Race 13 – 157th Grade I Travers Stakes
1. #5 Renegade (3-1) – Unfortunate to lose Irad Ortiz as his rider, but may get a better price with Gaffalione who is likely to keep this Into Mischief colt off the lead and make a late charge similar to the Jim Dandy. If Leading Change or Sea Strike stalk Napoleon Solo early and end up showing distance limitations, this race may end up with late runs from the top two choices similar to the Kentucky Derby, with Renegade looking for revenge and a chance to leap up the three year old rankings going into the fall
2. #9 Golden Tempo (5-2) – Colt by Curlin has clearly proven himself to be the best three year old at this distance with his wins in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and has the meet’s leading rider in the saddle here. With many adjusting their running style to the speed biased track in early June, Golden Tempo was still able to pass them all in the stretch and may face a modest pace here which may make things even more difficult, but remains the one to beat with his strong late kick and stamina
3. #7 Sea Strike (5-1) – Chad Brown has been searching for a Travers win for years and has one of his most talented up and comers entered off of a dominant nine furlong Curlin win which may have been the most impressive race of any in this field. If this colt guided by Flavian Prat is able to carry that form with an added furlong, he may end up the one to catch in the stretch run even if this remains a huge step up in class with others who have proven their mettle at ten furlongs
4. #4 The Puma (8-1) – With plenty of interesting jockey moves, the seven time Travers winning Javier Castellano returns to this promising colt who scratched from the Kentucky Derby and didn’t take to the slop in the Haskell while leaving too much ground to make up. With competitive speed figures and a clean mid pack trip here, this under the radar colt by Essential Quality could have something to say in this talented field where many look to step forward in their first effort at the classic distance
Race 14 – OC 100000n1x
1. #2 Three to G (6-1) – Filly by Tiz the Law figures to be a bit more aggressive with Carmouche here, but has shown the ability to pass horses when rating
2. #10 Alibi (5-1) – Has shown recent improvement for Chad Brown and has been a more consistent finisher than Tax Holiday with a chance to make a run late
3. #1 Tax Holiday (9-2) – Gets a bump from the class drop out of a grade II for Brown, but still needs to take a step forward to win here with a slower effort in her lone victory
4. #4 That’s How We Love (6-5) – Would be an underlay if she goes off at the morning line price, but was impressive enough in her debut to warrant a play even if this is a step up in competition
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