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 95000n1x

1. #8 Slapintheface (6-1) – Has two competitive races at this distance and in this class, plus typically runs well so should be in the mix in this even field

2. #7 Miracle Mike (8-1) – Six of seven in the money on the turf, plus may be close to the lead with a good tactical advantage in a race with little speed

3. #5 Rhetorical (2-1) – Won convincingly in his debut, keeping Irad Ortiz in the irons but got a good set up last time and needs to improve

4. #4 Clear Conscience (5-1) – Has hit the board in all four tries at this distance, and has shown improvement this summer for Casse who is having a strong meet

RACE 9: Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes

1. #2 Measured Time (7-5) – Needs to build off of his effort last time and stretches in distance, but this Appleby trainee has plenty of talent to win here

2. #4 Silver Knott (1-1) – No issue with distance, as this classy gelding should be the favorite here giving Appleby a strong combo of runners in this smaller field

3. #1 Soldier Rising (8-1) – Has eleven place finishes in twenty-two career starts, and despite consistently running well can’t seem to win and finished second here last year

4. #6 Grand Sonata (10-1) – Showed a nice turn of foot last time out to nearly win, and should have in store a strong finish with Castellano from off the lead

RACE 10: Grade I Ballerina Handicap

1. #5 Scylla (7-2) – Cuts back in distance and may not be as fast as Vahva, but could be one to take advantage of a potentially hot pace from Munny’s Gold and Society

2. #3 Vahva (1-1) – Thrives at seven furlongs and will likely win if she runs back to last race, but faces a tougher group here even though she is classy

3. #4 Society (4-1) – The only one who has the class and speed figures to knock off Vahva, but can only do so if she avoids Munny’s Gold early and is the lone speed

4. #7 Accede (8-1) – Shidabhuti could benefit from a faster pace, but this filly by Into Mischief has been in sneaky good form and is sharper than Munny’s Gold right now

RACE 11: Grade I Forego Stakes

1. #6 Mullikin (8-5) – A winner of three straight, this colt is just a bit better than this field right now, and wins here with a repeat of his John A. Nerud

2. #8 Cagliostro (9-2) – Has done the majority of his running past seven furlongs, but has recently shown speed that should translate here and is training well

3. #7 Angkor (12-1) – Phil Bauer is having a great meet so far, and this grey gelding is one that should be good value with a chance to stalk the lead and hit the board

4. #1 Gun Pilot (3-1) – Ran one of the better seven furlong races of this field in the Churchill Downs Stakes, and should be sharp off the bench after a tough ride last time

RACE 12: Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes

1. #5 Prince of Monaco (4-1) – Simply left too much ground in the Woody Stephens after a slow break, and still gained on Book’em Danno so needs a better ride to win

2. #8 Book’em Danno (7-2) – This New Jersey bred has been very impressive never finishing outside the top two, with wins in every race under eight furlongs

3. #4 Vettriano (20-1) – Takes a significant step up in class, but should be in the top grouping early and will be a massive price with a chance to hit the board

4. #1 World Record (8-1) – Domestic Product was impressive in the Dwyer, but this colt should be on the lead and can hold on in the top four if he breaks well

RACE 13: 155th Grade I Travers Stakes

1. #2 Sierra Leone (7-2) – This $2.3 million colt by Gun Runner has had some tough beats since the Kentucky Derby, but should get the perfect pace set up here and gives Chad Brown his best shot at winning a Travers with a better ride from Prat

2. #4 Corporate Power (15-1) – Certainly would need to take a step forward from his Curlin, but McGaughey wouldn’t enter this colt if he couldn’t compete, and should be sitting a perfect mid pack trip with Castellano who has seven Travers wins

3. #7 Dornoch (5-2) – Despite the presence of others who may make a gate to wire trip unlikely, this colt by Good Magic has proven that he can handle the distance and has been too sharp recently to pass up even if this is a tougher spot than his last two

4. #6 Honor Marie (20-1) – The inconsistency of Fierceness and class step up for Thorpedo Anna leaves this deep closer who adds blinkers and even if he is an unlikely winner, the potential for a highly contested pace could allow for a strong finish

RACE 14: MC 50000

1. #2 Storm Ready (4-1) – The likely winner if his form translates to dirt after four turf tries, this colt by City of Light drops from maiden company into claiming here

2. #9 Trumptastic (9-2) – Had a positive result at this distance last time and enters the barn of Rob Atras off the claim here plus compares well with this group

3. #8 Treaty Obligation (7-2) – Another one who should improve off a class drop, this Klaravich and Brown runner has been consistent, but may prefer shorter

4. #10 Deputy Mischief (5-1) – Adds blinkers from a tough post, and drops in class for Linda Rice with Irad in the irons who should keep this colt by Into Mischief mid pack

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