Spa Selections 2025: Saratoga Picks August 16 * The Racing Biz

Cover photo by Nyra/Adam Coglianese.

In SPA selections, Saratoga -correspondent Joseph Aiello offers Saratoga -picks for a handful of important races in Saratoga, including all the exciting Stakesactie!

Follow all the meeting with all the exciting action (and good gambling options)!

View our Other handicapping here!

Race 8 – OC 45000N2x

1. #4 Cicciobello (9-2) – a bit inconsistent, but falls from a Stakes Race bred by the state and should improve the drop if the track stays dry

2. #3 Get a job (7-2) -A winner of the previous time -out of a similar company, these Asmussen -Stagiair holds Irad Ortiz and is a good game to at least hit the board

3. #8 Crimson Light (6-1) – Betting on favorite in all three attempts, this foal became entangled the last time

4. #7 aggregation (4-1) – A year of dismissal for Chad Brown and Klaravich, this gelding can be a profit candidate if he returns to his top form

Race 9 – Skidmore Stakes

1. #2 Sandal song (2-1) – An impressive winner in debut and now falls from an attempt by class III, this foal picks up Irad Ortiz here and must be in the right stalking position

2. #3 Monster (8-1) – will probably be a shorter price than this, and can be dangerous if Bobrovsky does not go to turf and this foal grabs the early lead

3. #8 Spirit of New York (7-2) – Steps of a Maiden -attempt bred by the State, but was impressive enough to justify a piece here, especially if the value is good

4. # 7 Bobrovsky (6-1) – Schwarzenegger deserves a look as a first timer as the only mountain in Velazquez, but this is dangerous if his dirt shape translates into peat



Race 10 – Grade I Alabama Stakes

1. #2 Good Cheer (8-5) – probably not the best value, especially if no one is pressing on La Cara, but possibly has the advantage, purely because of the added soil here

2. #6 Face (5-2) – Put good courage on a sloppy circuit in the glans for her first defeat, but is confronted with a harder test with this distance, even if she might be on the leadership

3. #1 Margie’s intention (8-1) – her shape suggests that she should not have a problem with the extra distance, and picks up the leading jockey of the finish for Brad Cox here

4. # 3 Kinzie Queen (15-1) – will probably not get the pace to close to win, but more distance is a huge plus for this marefeulen and she is dangerous with a fast first half

Race 11 – CLM 35000N2L

1. #1 Assertiveness (2-1) -drops in the classroom and has some previous races that can be good enough to win here, but can take advantage of a mid -pack trip

2. #7 Landman Friday (6-1) – Another that is falling in the classroom and has made good late movements in the part of his last two attempts

3. #2 Dakota Country (5-1) – tries consistently ahead in his turf and will close Joel Rosario in his second claim problem

4. #10 Kid Kreesa (7-2) – his girl broke here last year and usually has control of the break, plus gets Santana here who has had a strong meeting



Race 12 – ALW 95000N1X

1. #1 Speaking about it (9-2) – can be a winner with a repeat of his most recent attempt, and will probably be aggressive from the leap with Carmouche in the IJzers

2. #10 Pay the SAP (4-1) – returns to what a better distance should be and has been improved from a speed figure perspective for McGaughey

3. #4 On the Richel (6-1) – ran one of his better races in his first peat attempt, and should be in the lead early, which gives him a tactical advantage of this distance

4. #5 Courtly Banker (9-2) – Ran good in the defeat of the previous time – out of this distance, and prefers a shorter distance plus has won this number

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