Video analysis of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga (8-29-26).
Check out horse racing free picks and more at The Runaway Horse.
Monday, August 24, 2026
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Travers Stakes 2026 Video Preview (8-22-26)
The Travers is less than a week away and here is my latest video preview.
Travers Stakes hopefuls (as of 8-22-26): Baby Vino, Emerging Market, Golden Tempo, Leading Change, Napoleon Solo, Ocelli, Renegade, Sea Strike, Silent Tactic, The Puma.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Pacific Classic 2026 Analysis (8-22-26)
Pacific Classic Analysis
1. Om N Joy (20-1)
Om N Joy is a four-year-old filly taking on males, but she has plenty of experience at Del Mar. In five starts at the track, she has two wins, a second and two thirds.
She won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on May 30 after chasing a wicked 45-second opening half-mile pace. Last time out, she rallied from off the pace to finish second, beaten only a half-length, in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.
This will be her first attempt at 1¼ miles. She should save ground behind the speed and could pick up a minor award if the pace gets hot.
2. Forged Steel (5-1)
Forged Steel will be ridden by Edwin Gonzalez for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
He won the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1¼ miles on May 25, going wire to wire by more than nine lengths. However, that victory came in a five-horse field that did not appear particularly deep.
He subsequently finished fifth, beaten a dozen lengths, in the Grade 2 Suburban.
The major question is whether he can sustain his speed with several other horses likely to be involved early.
3. Finger (8-1)
Finger is an intriguing international shipper coming in from Japan. The three-year-old son of Gun Runner has been remarkably consistent, with four wins and four runner-up finishes from eight starts.
He is four-for-five this year with a second this year and enters off victories in his last two starts, including the Tokyo Derby at 1¼ miles in a 16-horse field.
The distance should not be an issue, and from post three he figures to be fairly close to the pace. The biggest question is how he will handle his first start in the United States against older horses.
4. Subsanador (12-1)
Subsanador is 12-1 on the morning line for trainer Richard Mandella, with Mike Smith aboard.
The seven-year-old has struggled to find his best form this year, finishing fourth and getting beaten by eight, eight and 37 lengths in his three starts.
He is winless in three starts at Del Mar, although he does have a second at this distance. Back-to-back bullet workouts at Del Mar provide some reason for optimism, but he will need a major turnaround.
5. Malarchuk (10-1)
Malarchuk is another horse with the ability to be forwardly placed.
The jockey-trainer combination of Umberto Rispoli and Michael McCarthy has performed well, winning 27% of the time while producing a positive return on investment.
He finished second, beaten more than nine lengths by Forged Steel, in the Hollywood Gold Cup. He prefers to race near the front, which could become an issue if several other speed horses push the pace.
Read more at Today's Racing Digest
Ballston Spa Stakes Analysis (8-22-26)
The Grade 2 Ballston Spa is the main appetizer on Alabama Stakes Day at Saratoga on Saturday, August 22, with a $300,000 purse on the line for fillies and mares. The race is scheduled as the 10th race, with a post time of approximately 6:07 p.m. ET, and will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.
Here’s a look at the field and the top contenders.
Ballston Spa Analysis
1. Ozara (8-1)
Trainer Miguel Clement sends out Ozara, with Dylan Davis aboard.
Ozara has 18 career starts with eight wins, two seconds and two thirds. She has been particularly effective at Saratoga, winning three of four starts, and she’s also strong at this distance, with four wins from six attempts.
Her recent races haven’t been her best. She finished sixth in the Grade 1 Diana last time out over yielding turf, but a return to firm ground could help. She also won this race last year, tracking the pace from an inner post before drawing clear by 1 1/2 lengths.
If Ozara returns to her best form, she could be dangerous at her 8-1 morning-line price. Her inside post should also allow Davis to save ground.
2. Sunlit Uplands (10-1)
Sunlit Uplands is an overseas shipper with John Velazquez taking the mount.
She has four wins and three runner-up finishes from 11 career starts. Her most recent victory came in a Group 3 race in Germany on July 5, where she won by three lengths in a nine-horse field.
There aren’t comparable final time figures available for her because of her European form, making her somewhat difficult to evaluate against this group. Still, the recent Group 3 victory makes her an interesting 10-1 possibility.
3. Deep Satin (5-1)
Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Deep Satin has three wins and four seconds from 13 starts.
She was the runner-up in last year’s Ballston Spa, when Ozara defeated her.
Deep Satin’s recent form has been disappointing, including a sixth-place finish in the De La Rose Stakes. However, she has demonstrated that she is capable of running numbers competitive with this field.
She earned a 149 final rating when finishing second in this race last year, followed by a 146 in a Grade 1 at Keeneland and a 147 in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Saratoga earlier this year.
If she can rediscover her top form, she has a legitimate chance.
4. Play With Fire (15-1)
Chad Brown trains Play With Fire, with Manny Franco scheduled to ride.
She has three runner-up finishes in three starts at Saratoga, making this a favorable venue. She was second by a neck in an optional-claiming race at Saratoga on July 9, her first start since October 2025.
That long layoff makes her second start of the season particularly interesting. Her last race earned a 131 rating, and she has previously posted figures of 132 and 137.
A forward move could put her into the picture at a very attractive 15-1.
Read more at Today's Racing Digest
Friday, August 21, 2026
Alabama Stakes 2026 Analysis (8-22-26)
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.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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.
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