Troy Stakes 2026 Analysis at Saratoga (8-9-26)

The Troy Stakes is the final stakes race of the weekend at Saratoga on Sunday, August 9. The Grade 2 event carries a $300,000 purse and is scheduled for three-year-olds and up going 5½ furlongs on the turf. Post time is approximately 5:09 p.m. Eastern.

Let’s take a look at the field and the Digest speed and pace projections.

Troy Stakes Field

1. Dancing Buck (15-1)

Jose Ortiz picks up the mount on Dancing Buck, who is making his second start of the year.

He won a stakes race at Aqueduct last November going six furlongs on turf, but his return this year was disappointing. He finished sixth, beaten 11 lengths, in the Ashley T. Cole at six furlongs on the Aqueduct turf.

He’ll need a significant improvement to compete with this group.

2. Twenty Six Black (5-2)

Twenty Six Black is the morning-line favorite.

He has won three times at Saratoga and also owns three victories at today’s 5½-furlong distance. He enters off an impressive victory in the Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga, where he rallied strongly from off the pace to win by more than two lengths.

He also finished second in last year’s Troy Stakes at 10-1 odds, closing from off the pace. His current form appears even stronger, making him a major threat to take the Grade 2 event this year.

3. Doncho (3-1)

Doncho comes into the Troy Stakes in good form for trainer Michelle Lovell.

He has won seven of 13 career starts and is four-for-seven at the distance. He also enters with back-to-back stakes victories, including wins at five furlongs on the turf at Churchill Downs and Horseshoe Indianapolis.

His versatility could be important. He has shown that he doesn’t necessarily need the lead and could potentially sit just behind the early speed.

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