Alabama Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-22-26)

The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is the featured race for three-year-old fillies on Saturday, August 22. The Grade 1 event carries a $600,000 purse and will be contested at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

After reviewing the field and the Racing Digest past-performance numbers, the race appears to revolve around Counting Stars, who enters off back-to-back Grade 1 victories. She looks like the clear horse to beat, but there are a few interesting contenders underneath her.

Alabama Stakes Field Analysis

1. Nycon (20-1)

Nycon appears to have the most work to do. She has competed in graded company in her last two starts, but she was beaten by 10 lengths and 24 lengths in those races.

She did post a couple of 120 final time ratings earlier this year at a mile, but her recent numbers dropped significantly. She’ll need a substantial improvement to compete with this field.

The inside post could allow her to save ground, but it’s difficult to envision her being around at the finish.

2. Ati Girl (10-1)

Ati Girl has been improving steadily and has already demonstrated that the 1 1/4-mile distance isn’t a problem. She finished second at that distance at Churchill Downs in April and ran well in her last two starts, including a two-length-plus victory at Saratoga on July 16.

The concern is class.

All nine of her races have been maiden special weight events, so this is a major step up against graded stakes competition. Her final time ratings have improved from 104 to 110 and then 114, but she’ll need another significant jump forward here.

3. Measure (6-1)

Measure is an intriguing contender for the underneath spots.

She finished third in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga last time out, finishing behind Counting Stars and Always a Runner. Although she was beaten by more than six lengths, she continued running through the finish and earned a 125 final time rating.

That followed a 123 rating in her previous start, showing a pattern of improvement.

Flavien Prat gets the mount, and Measure’s grinding running style should suit the 1 1/4-mile distance. She doesn’t appear fast enough to beat Counting Stars on paper, but she could be a factor in the exacta.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Fleet Indian Stakes 2026 Video Analysis (8-21-26)

Video analysis of the $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes at Saratoga (8-21-26). 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse. 

New York Stallion Cab Calloway Stakes Video Picks (8-20-26)

Video analysis of the $150,000 New York Stallion Cab Calloway Stakes at Saratoga (8-20-26). 

Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse. 

Travers Stakes 2026 Preview

In this horse racing article and video, I preview the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.

The Grade 1 Travers will be held at Saratoga Race Course on 8-29-26, and it is for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

Travers Stakes hopefuls (as of 8-16-26): Baby Vino, Commandment, Emerging Market, Golden Tempo, Leading Change, Napoleon Solo, Ocelli, Renegade, Sea Strike, Silent Tactic, The Puma. 

Latest Workouts:

Baby Vino – 3 works since winning the G1 Haskell in the slop. Latest move: 5f in 1:00.40 (2/8) at MTH on Aug. 15.

Commandment – Has not had a published work since finishing 2nd in the G2 Jim Dandy on Aug. 1.

Emerging Market – Clearly second best as the beaten favorite vs. older rivals at 9f at SAR July 25 (OC-80k/2x). Wide closing trip from outside post. 2 works at SAR since his last outing including a 4f breeze in 48.75 (17/54) on Aug. 15.

Golden Tempo – Got sick after the Belmont and missed an intended start in the Jim Dandy. 5 works overall and 4 moves at SAR since the Belmont including a 4f bullet in 47.46 (1/67) on Aug. 15. Out 5f in 1:00.25. 

Leading Change – 2-for-2 for Brad Cox including a stakes win in the G3 Indiana Derby July 11. 4 works at CD since the Indiana Derby including a 5f breeze in 1:00.20 (8/44) on Aug. 15. 

Napoleon Solo – G1 Preakness winner and G1 Haskell runner-up has worked twice at SAR since his last start including a 5f bullet in 58.81 (1/7) on Aug. 12. Final 1/4 in 23.24 and out 6f in 1:11.66, 7f in 1:24.44, and one mile in 1:37.94. John Velazquez was up for the impressive work. He will run next in the Travers or PA Derby.

Ocelli – The maiden did not handle a wet track in the Haskell. He has breezed 3 times at SAR since his last start including a 4f work in 48.80 (24/64) on Aug. 15. In company with stakes winning sprinter Bring the Smoke. Out 6f in 1:14 and 7f in 1:27.70.

Renegade – G2 Jim Dandy winner got back to work with a 4f breeze in 50.66 (99/114) at SAR on Aug. 14. Worked in company with Aug. 1 SAR dirt route winner Sassmaster. Galloped out 5f in 1:03.57. This was just a leg-stretching move 13-days after the Jim Dandy and he showed nice energy and has seemingly bounced out of his last start in good order.

Sea Strike – Nice win vs. restricted stakes foes in the 9f Curlin at SAR on Aug. 2. Got back on the worktab with a 4f move in 47.63 (3/64) at SAR Aug. 15. Out 5f in 1:00.55 and 6f in 1:13.31. Flavien Prat will ride him in the Travers.

Silent Tactic – Jim Dandy show finisher has not returned to the worktab since his last start on Aug. 1.

The Puma – Did not seem to care for the wet track when finishing 4th in the Haskell. Two works at SAR since his last start including a strong 5f bullet in 59.80 (1/10) on Aug. 14. He breezed under his rider Javier Castellano and got his final 1/4 in 23.89. He was out 6f in 1:12.56, 7f in 1:25.38, and a mile in 1:38.91.

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Mahony Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-16-26)

The Mahony Stakes at Saratoga is set for Sunday, August 16, with a scheduled post time of 6:06 p.m. ET. The Grade 3 event carries a $225,000 purse and is for three-year-olds dashing 5½ furlongs on the turf course.

The field features seven runners, including even-money morning-line favorite Outfielder, a stakes-winning speedster, and Intricate Spirit, who is looking to rebound from a troubled trip in his most recent start.

Here is a look at the field.

Mahony Stakes Field

1. Rebel With a Cause (8-1)

Javier Castellano takes over for trainer Lauren Robson aboard Rebel With a Cause, who has won three of five career starts and is two-for-three in turf sprints.

His most recent victory came in the My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth on July 11. He chased the pace before winning by 1¼ lengths over Big Destroyer, who returns in this field.

Rebel With a Cause has been steadily improving according to the Today’s Racing Digest numbers. His final-time ratings have progressed from 120 to 131, 132 and 134 in his recent starts. His Fire numbers have also improved, reaching 88 in each of his last two races.

The inside post and tactical speed are positives, but he will need another step forward to defeat this group.

2. Outfielder (Even Money Favorite)

Outfielder is the horse to beat.

The Wesley Ward trainee has won four of seven starts, with John Velazquez aboard for all four victories. His best performance came in the William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 9, when he won at 5½ furlongs while pressing the pace.

That race produced an impressive 143 final-time rating and 183 pace rating from Today’s Racing Digest. Those numbers make Outfielder the fastest horse on paper in this field.

He subsequently traveled to Royal Ascot for a Group 1 event on June 19. Facing a large 22-horse field, he finished 10th, beaten just over five lengths.

If Outfielder returns to the form he showed in the William Walker, he could be very difficult to beat. Velazquez and Ward also give him a strong jockey-trainer combination.

3. Oscar’s Hope (8-1)

Oscar’s Hope is the biggest question mark in the field because he is switching from dirt to turf.

The good news is that his pedigree offers some encouragement. His sire, Twirling Candy, has been productive with turf runners, and Oscar’s Hope has already shown some ability in training on the surface. He worked four furlongs on the Saratoga turf on August 1 in 49 seconds, the second-fastest of 14 horses.

He has been consistent on dirt, finishing with four wins, three seconds and a third in 10 starts. His recent final-time ratings have included a 135, two 134s and a 138.

If he can transfer that form to turf, Oscar’s Hope could be competitive at a price.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

King's Plate 2026 Analysis at Woodbine (8-15-26)

The $1 million King’s Plate, the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown Series, is set for Saturday, August 15 at Woodbine. The 1 1/4-mile race on all-weather ground for Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds is scheduled as the 10th race with a post time of 6:12 p.m. Eastern.

The field features 12 runners, including a pair of fillies in Luster and Dixie Law.

Based on the Today’s Racing Digest past performances, Luster looks like the horse to beat, but there a few contenders who could give the impressive Woodbine Oaks winner a run for the money.

King’s Plate Field & Analysis

1. Luster (Even Money Favorite)

Luster is the clear horse to beat for Josie Carroll. She is 4-for-5 lifetime, 2-for-3 at Woodbine, and comes off a dominant victory in the Woodbine Oaks at 1 1/8 miles. She tracked the pace, drew off by more than five lengths and was geared down late.

Her Digest numbers are excellent, with recent Fire Numbers of 94, 94, and 98 and Final Time Ratings of 144 and 146. The Knicks Go filly has already proven she can win around two turns and should have the tactical speed to secure a favorable trip from the rail under her winning pilot John Velazquez.

2. Fire and Wine (30-1)

Fire and Wine has won twice at Woodbine, but his recent form is a major concern. His last three Fire Numbers are only 80, 48 and 76, well below what appears necessary to win this race.

His best races have come when he was able to get to the lead. He hasn’t been able to establish that position in his recent starts, and even if he does make the lead here, he’ll have to improve significantly to stay there for 1 1/4 miles.

3. Baaeed Alynna (30-1)

Baaeed Alynna was sixth, beaten seven lengths, in the Plate Trial. That was his first attempt around two turns, so there is some possibility of improvement with experience.

He did earn an improved 88 Fire Number last time, but his recent Final Time Ratings of 114, 113, and 125 leave him with plenty to prove from a class and speed standpoint.

4. Imyourmedicineman (20-1)

Imyourmedicineman has just one win from seven starts, although he has also recorded two seconds and a third. His lone victory came at Woodbine at 1 1/16 miles in November 2025.

He rallied to finish second in the Plate Trial at 28-1, which was encouraging, and his recent Fire Numbers of 98 and 90 are competitive. However, he hasn’t won in five starts since his maiden optional-claiming victory.

Red more at Today's Racing Digest 

Philip H. Iselin Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-15-26)

The Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, August 15, brings together a competitive field of six older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The $150,000 event is scheduled as the fifth race, with a 2:57 p.m. Eastern post time.

The 1 1/16-mile distance at Monmouth has generally favored horses racing near the pace. Early-pressing types have accounted for the overwhelming majority of winners in the available sample, while late runners have had a difficult time getting the job done. The inside posts, particularly positions one through three, have also performed well at this distance.

That could make early positioning especially important in this year’s Iselin.

1. East Avenue

East Avenue is one of the top contenders in this race after an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth on June 13. Breaking from the outside post in that one-mile event, he raced wide throughout but still managed to get up by a nose over Bishops Bay.

The victory was particularly encouraging because East Avenue demonstrated a new dimension to his running style. He had previously been much more dependent on being near the front, but this year he has shown an ability to relax and pass horses. He also stalked the pace effectively in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile earlier this year, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

His Today’s Racing Digest numbers also point to continued improvement. He earned a 153 final-time rating and a 104 Fire Number in his latest start, both strong figures for this field. His best number prior to that was a 141 in the Oaklawn Mile in March, suggesting that he could be moving forward as a four-year-old.

The switch from an outside post to the rail should help, particularly at a distance where the inside posts have performed well. Tyler Gaffalione, who rode him to victory last time, stays aboard.

East Avenue has the combination of current form, speed, tactical versatility and a favorable post to make him one of the horses to beat.

2. Chunk of Gold

Chunk of Gold is an intriguing runner making his second start of the year.

The four-year-old has finished in the top three in 10 of 11 career starts, with three wins and six runner-up finishes. He returned from a lengthy layoff on June 28 at Churchill Downs, setting the pace before finishing second at 1 1/16 miles.

That race produced a slow early pace and a faster finish, which may have contributed to his modest 131 final-time rating. He should be fitter for his second start of the year, and his previous form suggests he is capable of a significantly faster effort.

He earned a 150 final-time rating in last year’s Grade 2 Clark and previously posted a 153 in a romping allowance victory at Keeneland. His past pace ratings have also been strong, including figures of 162, 155, 171 and 156.

The question is how much improvement he can make from his four-year-old debut. With his tactical speed and the inside-friendly post, he has a legitimate chance to take another step forward.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest