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 3: Grade II Amsterdam Stakes

1. #3 Pure Force (9-2) – Better value than Jefferson Street with strong connections as well, and can win with a stalking trip off of World Record with a modest pace

2. #4 Jefferson Street (8-5) – A winner with a repeat of his most recent race over this track, and may just be the best if Alvarado keeps him close enough to the lead early

3. #1 World Record (3-1) – Adds blinkers and has shown improvement in three tries from a speed figure perspective, plus may have the most early speed here

4. #5 Valentine Candy (3-1) – Broke maiden here, but his best performances are just a tad below the top three runners in this small field so needs a pace collapse to win

RACE 8: OC 62500n2x

1. #9 Runningwscissors (9-2) – Has typically preferred running longer distances, but can be a winner here with mid pack positioning from Castellano

2. #2 Run Curtis Run (7-2) – Only has one win on turf in fourteen tries and hasn’t won a race in two years, but has races including two back which win in this group

3. #4 Fauci (12-1) – Doesn’t win often, but typically closes into the money and can do so here at good value with some winning chances if the pace heats up

4. #3 Fore Harp (5-1) – Typically has run his best on the lead, and getting back to that running style could be enough to put him in the mix with some decent back class

RACE 9: OC 80000b

1. #9 Zozos (4-1) – Eased up last race, but has the speed to be on the lead here in what should be his best distance after some success at eight furlongs

2. #7 Castle Chaos (7-2) – Has the recent class and good performances at seven furlongs, but hasn’t been winning even if he is good in the money

3. #1 Accretive (5-1) – No match for Baby Yoda last time in the Grade II True North, but has some of the better efforts at this distance if he stays closer to the lead

4. #12 Scotland (6-1) – Just a bit classier than Factually Correct even if he hasn’t been running his best since last year, but has upside if Alvarado keeps him off the pace

RACE 10: Mdn 90k

1. #6 Wind Dancer (7-2) – Adds blinkers and was close in his first two tries, keeping Castellano here who can win with some improvement in running style

2. #5 Mission Hill (5-2) – Returns after failing to break maiden here last year and is a top win candidate but seems to fade late when he has a chance to win

3. #7 Sebastianthe First (8-1) – Has been improving and even if he may be better suited going shorter than this, this colt can hang on in the money at a price

4. #9 Hard Par (8-1) – Has consistently moved forward in his stretch runs recently, but will need to be a bit more forward than usual to finish well enough to hit the board

CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!