Saratoga Picks: Grade 2 Balston Spa (08/08/2025)

The racing action from Saratoga on Friday features the Ballston Spa Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga picks for the entire card!

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Saratoga Full Card Analysis

Saratoga Picks: Grade 2 Balston Spa (08/08/2025)

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Saratoga Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 1:10 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $80k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

#7 NEIGH BABY (7-2): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#3 MAX MONEY (9-2): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Likely to get forward position.
#2 NAPOLEON SOLO (5-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Carmouche and Summers team up on this one.
#4 WORLD WIDE WEB (4-1): Fringe Contender. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start.

Selections: 7 – 3 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #7 at 3-1

Exacta: 7/ 3,2

Saratoga Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:45 PM ET; Starter Optional Claiming $63k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.

#6 ALEXIS ZORBA (8-5): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Comes in with solid form.
#4 FILM ACADEMY (5-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Good race flow for this runner.
#5 GLOBAL PROSPERITY (4-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number.
#3 BILLIONAIRES ROW (5-2): Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 5 – 3

The Plays

Win: #6 at 2-1

Exacta: 6/ 4,5,3

Saratoga Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 2:20 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

#4 DEEP LEARNING (3-1): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#1 BEACH BALLAD (5-1): Fringe Contender. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
#3 WELL SHAKEN (15-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Carmouche and Abreu team up on this one.
#8 PAMPERED (6-1): Fringe Contender. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 8

The Plays

Win: #4 at 2-1

Exacta: 4/ 1,3,8

Saratoga Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:55 PM ET; Claiming $34k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

#2 VALENZAN DAY (2-1): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Looks good based on the 90 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
#1A WINTER’S GHOST (7-5): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Trainer is having a great meet.
#7 HE’S GOT THIS (4-1): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish. Should sit a good trip.
#5 WHENLOVETAKESOVER (15-1): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 2 – 1A – 7 – 5

The Plays

Win: #2 at 2-1

Exacta: 2/ 1A,7

Saratoga Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 3:30 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 14 runners.

#10 MOONLIGHT DRIVE (5-2): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#14 ARCTIC BEAST (5-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
#12 CRISTOBAL (9-5): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
#11 DILIELLO (2-1): Contender. Fast enough on paper to compete. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 10 – 14 – 12 – 11

The Plays

Win: #10 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 10,14,12

Saratoga Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 4:06 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $80k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

#3 BOD BEACH (9-2): Top pick. Santana puts this one in with a chance. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#8 TACTICS (7-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
#6 EMPIRES KING (2-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Could wear these ones down late.
#2 ESCAPE HALL (9-2): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #3 at 3-1

Exacta: 3/ 8,6,2

Saratoga Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 4:39 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M Turf; Field of 10 runners.

#2 SALAMIS (3-1): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Shouldn’t have trouble getting the distance.
#1 APALTA (7-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Comes home strong.
#9 DURATION (6-5): Major Player. Speed figs match up nicely. Previous success in similar race types.
#8 BLAST FURNACE (4-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 9 – 8

The Plays

Win: #2 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 2,1,9

Saratoga Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 5:12 PM ET; Ballston Spa Stakes $300k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

#9 DEEP SATIN (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
#1 BE YOUR BEST (9-5): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition.
#3 OZARA (6-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Previous success in similar race types.
#7 OCEAN CLUB (10-1): Contender. Could be griding down the competition late.

Selections: 9 – 1 – 3 – 7

The Plays

Win: #9 at 5-1

Exacta: 9/ 1,3,7

Pick 3 (Races 8-10): #9,1 with #6,7 with #11

Saratoga Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:45 PM ET; Claiming $63k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

#6 UNCLE JIM (4-1): Best bet of the card. Comes in with solid form. Franco and Kantarmaci team up on this one. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
#7 BACKTRACK (7-2): Major Player. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
#2 CONSIDER IT DONE (7-2): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Lezcano puts this one in with a chance.
#1 STORM THE STREETS (5-2): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 2 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 1-1

Exacta: 6/ 7,2,1

Saratoga Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 6:18 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.

#11 WORTHY CHARGE (6-5): Prime Win Player. Stamina to outlast the competition.
#4 FAVORABLE SCENARIO (6-1): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Can run with these.
#5 ANTIETAM (9-2): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. This one’s a fighter in the late stages.
#10 SALVATION (4-1): Fringe Contender. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Trainer’s horses have been running.

Selections: 11 – 4 – 5 – 10

The Plays

Win: #11 at 8-5

Exacta: 11/ 4,5,10

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