Thursday's featured Rick Violette Stakes goes as Race 3 and will be the first of 2 key plays on the card. Best of luck today at the Spa, where Race 7 also offers up to a $10 money-back special on win bets if your selection finishes second or third, only when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.

Saratoga | Race 3 | 2:21 pm ET
#4 Outsource (4-1 morning line odds) looked like a budding New York-bred turf star in his June 4 Saratoga allowance win. He rallied furiously from the clouds and galloped out with his ears up like he was just getting going, and did so without any pace help whatsoever. The nose runner-up had been on the lead, so it wasn't a pace collapse. Win bet #4. Exacta box 4-6 with stakes-proven favorite #6 Smooth Breeze.

Saratoga | Race 9 | 5:44 pm ET
#10 Badge of War (10-1 morning line odds) may actually benefit from the outside draw in this turf mile after a career of chronic issues coming out of the starting gate. Being widest should keep him clean, and this looks like a strong rider upgrade with trainer Rick Dutrow turning to Jose Ortiz. This 1-turn dirt races should have him sharper for this 2-turn turf tilt and worth a look at a juicy price. Win-place bet #10.