The Mid-Summer Derby is finally here at Saratoga. We have an absolutely loaded field with two heavy morning line favorites in Knicks Go and Maxfield. Before the Whitney we have the Longines Test Stakes and the Saratoga Derby Invitational. The weather looks great so it should be another great day of racing at the Spaaaa. All races can be seen on FS2 “Saratoga Live” from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET.
Longines Test Stakes
One of the top races for 3-year-old filles, that is run at Saratoga every year.
Race Information:
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)
- Event Grade: I
- Race: 8
- Post Time: 4:34 PM ET
- Length: 7 Furlongs
- Purse: $500,000
- Division: Fillies | 3 Year Olds
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Late Pick 5 (0.50) Races (8-12), Double
Field:
- Illumination (John Velazquez), 12-1
- Souper Sensational (Ricardo Santana Jr.), 6-1
- Zaajel (Joel Rosario), 8-1
- Obligatory (Jose Ortiz), 4-1
- Always Carina (Flavien Prat), 3-1
- Make Mischief (Tyler Gaffalione), 12-1
- Search Results (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-2
- Bella Sofia (Luis Saez), 6-1
Horse Preview:
ILLUMINATION comes into the Test Stakes off a win in a MSW back in June. In her five career starts, this was her first win running her best speed figure of 105.
SOUPER SENSATIONAL also comes into this race off a win in the G3 Victory Ride Stakes last month. She’s tried her hand at three G2 Stakes Races this year but has failed to find the winners circle in any of them.
ZAAJEL has won two our of her four races this year, moving her career record to 5-3-0-0. She won the G3 Forward Gal Stakes back in January and the G2 Mother Goose Stakes in her last outing. In that rest she bested fellow entrants ALWAYS CARINA (2nd) and MAKE MISCHIEF (4th).
OBILGATORY enters this race fresh off a second place finish to SEARCH RESULTS in the G1 Acorn Stakes. In the race prior she ran a 105 speed figure to capture the G2 Eight Belles Stakes.
ALWAYS CARINA has only three races under her belt but has been successful in all of them. She won her first two races (AOC, MSW) and stepped in class her last race to run second to ZAAJEL is the G2 Mother Goose Stakes.
MAKE MISCHEIF has raced seven times this year with her most recent race coming back on June 26th where she finished fourth out of a five horse field in the G2 Mother Goose. Prior to that she ran third in the G1 Acorn where she was bested by fellow entrant OBLIGATORY and SEARCH RESULTS.
SEARCH RESULTS has won four out of her five races this year. She won the G1 Acorn Stakes and the G3 Gazelle Stakes and took second in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. She has the most class out of the field and is the morning line favorite for a reason.
BELLA SOFIA also has an impressive record this year winning two out of her three starts. The only Stakes race she entered this year was the Jersey Girl Stakes where she ran second. This race will be a step up in class for her but, she does have the speed to compete.
Race Preview:
Front Runner(s): Illumination, Zaajel, Always Carina, Bella Sofia
Stalk/ Off the Pace: Souper Sensational, Make Mischief, Search Results
Closer: Obligatory
Picks:
WIN: (7) SEARCH RESULTS
Saratoga Derby Invitational
The Saratoga Derby Invitational was inaugurated in 2019 and is part of the Turf Trinity Series. The Turf Trinity Series is the turf counterpart to the dirt Triple Crown. There is three races that are run at matching distances with $1,000,000 in purse for every race. The Saratoga Derby Invitational is the turf counterpart to the Preakness, and serves as the series middle jewel. It is also the only race in the Series to not take place at Belmont with the other two being the Belmont Derby and the Jockey Club Derby. This year, the Saratoga Derby Invitational was upgraded to a Grade I status.
Race Information:
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)
- Event Grade: I
- Race: 9
- Post Time: 5:10 PM ET
- Length: 1 3/16 Miles (9.5 Furlongs)
- Purse: $1,000,000
- Division: Open | 3 Year Olds
- Surface: Turf
- Wagers: Double Wagers
Field:
- Soldier Rising (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 12-1
- Du Jour (Joel Rosario), 8-1
- Palazzi (Tyler Gaffalione), 20-1
- Cadillac (Shane Foley), 4-1
- Yes This Time (Luis Saez), 15-1
- Bolshoi Ballet (Ryan L Moore), 2-1
- Secret Protector (Mike E Smith), 6-1
- Cellist (Julien R Leparoux), 12-1
- State of Rest (John R Velazquez), 10-1
- Flashiest (Jose Lezcano), 20-1
- King Fury (Jose Ortiz), 10-1
Horse Preview:
DU JOUR finished fourth in the G1 Belmont Stakes his last time out. Prior to that race, he won the G2 American Turf Stakes.
CADILLAC only has one race under his belt this year and that was across the pond in Ireland where he won the ARM Holding International Stakes. He was shipped to the US last year to run the BC Juvenile Turf but finished fourth.
BOLSHOI BALLET enters this race the morning line favorite winning three of his four starts this year. He was shipped in from Ireland to run in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational where he won.
SECRET PROTECTOR has raced in the UK all of his career but will try his luck in the States in this race. In his last outing he took third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Ascot.
KING FURY started the year strong with a win the G3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. He followed that performance up with a second place finish in the G3 Ohio Derby. One thing to note, is that this will be his first race on the Turf in his career.
Picks:
WIN: (4) CADILLAC
EXACTA: 4/ 2, 6, 11
Whitney Stakes
The Whitney Stakes was first run in 1928 where it was run at a distance of a 1 1/4 Miles until 1940. The event is named after the Whitney family whose members have been prominent supporters of the sport at Saratoga. In 2007 the Breeders Cup Ltd., introduced the Breeders Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” qualification format. This means that the winner of The Whitney will automatically qualify for the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
Race Information:
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)
- Event Grade: I
- Race: 10
- Post Time: 5:48 PM ET
- Length: 1 1/8 Miles (9 Furlongs)
- Purse: $1,000,000
- Division: Open | 4 Year Olds & Up
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (10-12), Double Wagers
Field:
- By My Standards (Gabriel Saez), 10-1
- Silver State (Ricardo Santana Jr.), 4-1
- Swiss Skydiver (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 6-1
- Knicks Go (Joel Rosario), 6-5
- Maxfield (Jose Ortiz), 8-5
Horse Preview:
BY MY STANDARDS finished second to SILVER STATE in the G1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap his last start. In his only other start this year, he won the Oaklawn Mile Stakes. He’s a G1 Whitney veteran, racing last year and finishing second.
SILVER STATE has four starts this year and has won every one. He bested BY MY STANDARDS in the G1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Handicap his last time out. Prior to that race, he won the G2 Oaklawn Handicap running a 113 speed figure.
SWISS SKYDIVER most known for his G1 Preakness Stakes victory back in 2020 enters this race off a third place finish in the G3 Apple Blossom Handicap. He had some success in his only other start this year winning the G1 Beholder Mile Stakes.
KNICKS GO won the G3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap his last time out. Prior to that he finished fourth in the G1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap but was coming off a long layoff after running the G1 Saudi Cup. Before the G1 Saudi Cup, where he ran fourth he won two G1 Stakes (Pegasus World Cup and the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile).
MAXFIELD seems to be in form, winning three out of the four Stakes races he’s entered this year. He won the G2 Stephen Foster Stakes and the G2 Alysheba Stakes his last two starts. Prior to that, he finished third in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap and first in the G3 Mineshaft Stakes.
Race Preview:
Front Runner(s): Knicks Go
Stalk/ Off the Pace: Swiss Skydiver, Silver State
Closer: Maxfield, By My Standards
Picks:
WIN: (2) SILVER STATE
EXACTA: 2 / ALL
Best of luck, and if you enjoy the writeup you can follow me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
