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: Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap

1. #5 Subrogate (7-2) – Steps up in class here but may be peaking at just the right time and should be good enough value to warrant a play as a winner in a small field

2. #6 Skelly (6-5) – No question about this Asmussen trainee’s speed, although he has never raced above a grade III and hasn’t been fully tested yet despite his success

3. #1 Nakatomi (5-2) – Hasn’t been winning frequently over the last two years, but should be running late and would be the one to take advantage of too fast a pace

4. #4 Baby Yoda (7-2) – Has an affinity for the Spa with some huge performances here including four wins and his first graded win last time but faces a tougher group here

RACE 9: OC 80000n1x

1. #2 Main Beach (5-1) – Has run well in both turf tries for Chad Brown including a win at this distance last time and compares well to this field

2. #4 Time Song (10-1) – Probably the sweet spot for this colt distance wise, and is one of the classier runners in this group who should be in a good stalking position

3. #12 Risk Tolerance (3-1) – Hard to ignore Chad Brown and Klaravich on the turf, even with a tougher post after this colt won in his debut

4. #1 Sea Singer (12-1) – Certainly has some talent, dropping from a stakes race and would be one to play in exotics or to win if he stays at this price

RACE 10: Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes

1. #1 Sierra Leone (1-1) – Outside of bad timing and lugging in late, this colt has been solid as a three year old and is due for a win especially with the potential pace scenario

2. #6 Fierceness (9-5) – The simple trend of his good then bad efforts make him a winner here with a top try, but the presence of other pace setters makes it difficult here

3. #2 Sieze the Grey (6-1) – Flying under the radar after a tough Belmont where he was fatigued, and won last time off the bench but may need to relinquish the early lead

4. #3 Batten Down (5-1) – Pony Express may have been more impressive but against maidens and Gould’s Gold still needs to improve leaving this Juddmonte colt by Tapit

RACE 11: Alw 95000n1x

1. #9 Ez Roll (6-1) – Has shown some improvement in his last three and should be a good price with a good late turn of foot but needs some pace to aim at

2. #1 Clear Conscience (4-1) – Four for six in the money on turf with his best coming at this distance and puts himself in the mix with a repeat of last race

3. #7 Topic Changer (10-1) – Typically moves forward in his stretch runs on turf, and recently put in a solid effort after running in some steeplechase races

4. #3 Teta’s Trotter (15-1) – Rabaja flashed some gate to wire potential last time, but this gelding by Flintshire was just as impressive in his debut and is better value

RACE 12: Mdn 90k

1. #4 Summer Whirl (5-2) – Nearly broke her maiden last time and likely wins here with some slight improvement off that effort and a bit better positioning

2. #12 In All My Dreams (10-1) – Adds blinkers but has been a strong finisher in her two tries thus far, maybe staying a bit closer to the lead will help her here

3. #5 Autumn (6-1) – Has run well from off the pace but switched to the lead last race, should go back to a mid pack trip here with Lezcano if she is to have winning chances

4. #1 Miss City Girl (9-2) – North End Lady has upside on the front end, but this Rosario and Clement runner should be closing late and is improving

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