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 2: Birdstone Stakes

1. #5 Next (1-9) – The price is a bit steep, but in a field of this size, this grey gelding is just better and more proven than the others at distance with five straight route wins

2. #4 Time for Trouble (8-1) – Finished a distant second to Next in this fourteen furlong race last year, and should be primed for another late charge here

3. #2 Masqueparade (6-1) – Has won at a mile and a half back in March, which gives him a leg up over some of the others even if Next is still better here

4. #3 Nimitz Class (15-1) – Hasn’t run close to this distance before, but may end up being better here than at nine furlongs and under, but will need to show it

RACE 8: OC 62500n2x

1. #6 Billal (7-2) – Will be on or near the lead with good class and improves here after dropping from the Grade III Dwyer and races against better horses

2. #5 Cape Trafalgar (4-1) – Is best when aggressive, and should prefer six furlongs over longer distance with a top effort in his most recent race

3. #7 Implementation (3-1) – Has been finishing in the mix if not winning, but gets the nod due to class relief after running against some top tier competition recently

4. #3 Top Gunner (6-1) – Market Street has the class edge, but this gelding by Into Mischief is running his best recently, including a win over this track last time out

RACE 9: Grade III Adirondack Stakes

1. #8 White Sands (3-1) – This filly beat the boys last time at Prairie Meadows, and appears to be the best here with a repeat of her past form and a clean break

2. #3 Atomic City (8-1) – Comes off a sharp work and should be near the lead after running a sharp first quarter in her debut win at Churchill

3. #7 Anakarina (12-1) – Under the radar Dallas Stewart trainee by Vekoma showed improvement in her second try when pushed to the lead, and should be there again

4. #2 Italian Soiree (9-2) – Came home quickly in her debut after modest early fractions, and could be one to sit off the leaders and take advantage if they go too fast

RACE 10: Clm 30000n2L

1. #9 Modica (6-1) – First time gelding has strung together a few solid races on the turf, but may need some pace to aim at in this evenly matched field

2. #3 Officer Derrick (10-1) – Has a chance to be alone on the lead, but also showed the ability to rate last time out if he doesn’t break sharply

3. #1 Now and Later (7-2) – The classiest of the bunch, should improve purely off the drop and has a strong jockey trainer combo this meet

4. #10 Nostalgic One (5-1) – Mr. Mendelssohn and Skellig Island need to be considered, but this one keeps Irad Ortiz and runs his best at this distance

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