Bernard Baruch Stakes 2026 Video Analysis (9-3-26)

Video analysis of the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Stakes at Saratoga (9-3-26). 

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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

Diana Stakes 2026 Analysis at Saratoga (7-18-26)

The Grade 1 Diana Stakes returns to Saratoga on Saturday, July 18, featuring a talented field of fillies and mares competing over 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf for a $500,000 purse. As always, the race attracts some of the top turf runners in New York, and one trainer once again dominates the conversation: Chad Brown.

Chad Brown’s Remarkable Diana Record

Few trainers have owned a race the way Chad Brown has owned the Diana Stakes. Brown has won the race ten times, including victories with standout mares such as Zagora, Lady Eli, Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall, In Italian, Whitebeam, and Excellent Truth.

This year, Brown sends out four runners, giving him another strong opportunity to extend his remarkable record.

Horse-by-Horse Analysis

#1 Dynamic Pricing (6-1)

Dynamic Pricing enters off a solid second-place finish and was third in last year’s Diana for Chad Brown. She has an excellent Saratoga record with two wins and two third-place finishes in four starts.

One factor working in her favor is the possibility of rain in the forecast. She has proven she handles softer turf, including a Grade 1 victory over yielding ground. If rain softens the course, her chances improve significantly. From the rail, she should enjoy a ground-saving trip before making her late run.

#2 Cathedral (6-1)

The European invader has faced quality competition overseas and produced a respectable fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf after stalking the pace.

The concern is her lack of winning punch. Despite several competitive efforts, she owns just one victory from eleven career starts. She has enough class to hit the board but must improve to earn the win. 

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Kelso Stakes 2026 Analysis at Saratoga (7-5-26)

The Grade 3 Kelso Stakes goes as Race 6 at Saratoga on Sunday, July 5. The $225,000 event is contested at one mile on the inner turf course for horses four years old and up, with a scheduled post time of 4:04 p.m. ET.

This year’s field features several familiar rivals, including horses exiting the Grade 3 Poker Stakes, making for an intriguing rematch with a potentially different pace scenario.

Pace Analysis

Several horses prefer to race on or near the lead, including Maycocks Bay, My Boy Prince, Itsallcomintogetha, and Mi Bago.

That projected pace should favor the tactical stalkers and late runners, particularly Zulu Kingdom if he returns to the running style that produced many of his biggest victories.

Rather than being committed to the front, he figures to save ground from the rail before making his move entering the stretch.

Race Overview

The morning-line favorite is Zulu Kingdom (5-2) for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat aboard. A seven-time winner from 10 starts, Zulu Kingdom has been remarkably consistent throughout his career and owns a strong record at both Saratoga and the one-mile distance.

He enters this race after finishing third in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes, where he was sent to the front from the rail. While he has proven capable of winning on the lead, many of his best performances have come when tracking the pace before producing his finishing kick.

If Prat allows him to settle behind the early leaders this time, Zulu Kingdom could be in an ideal position turning for home.

Main Challengers

Pass the Hat

Pass the Hat arrives in excellent form after upsetting the Poker Stakes at 10-1. He pressed the pace before narrowly defeating stablemate Capitol Hill by a nose, with Zulu Kingdom finishing third.

His recent speed figures have improved noticeably, and his running style versatility gives jockey John Velazquez plenty of options depending on how the pace develops.

With three victories in his last four starts, Pass the Hat clearly deserves serious respect once again.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Pegasus Stakes 2026 Video Picks (6-13-26)

Pegasus Stakes video picks at Monmouth Park (6-13-26). 

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Kentucky Oaks 2026 Live Longshots

The 2026 Kentucky Oaks (Race 13 at Churchill Downs, post time 8:40 p.m. ET) offers a deep and competitive field, which is exactly where I want to hunt for value. My approach is simple: identify improving fillies sitting at 10-1 or higher on the morning line and evaluate them using advanced performance metrics from the Complete Digest.

What separates these evaluations is the ability to go beyond traditional figures. I rely heavily on metrics like Fire Number, CPR, and Fast Figs, which incorporate pace, class, and finishing strength—not just final time.

This year, two fillies stand out as legitimate long shot threats with upside: Always a Runner and Bella Ballerina.

Always a Runner (10-1 ML): Rapidly Improving with Upside

Profile & Form

Trainer Chad Brown sends out Always a Runner, a lightly raced filly who has done nothing wrong in two starts. She debuted at Tampa Bay Downs, stalking and drawing off to win by more than six lengths. She followed that effort with a step up in class in the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct—and delivered again, grinding down the leader to win going 1 1/8 miles.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest

Remsen Stakes 2025 Video Picks at Aqueduct (12-6-25)

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct (12-6-25).  

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Aqueduct Stakes Analysis (11-23-25)

In this horse racing video, I analyze the rescheduled Forever Together and Pebbles at Aqueduct (11-23-25) using Today's Racing Digest Fractional Charting.  

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Ballston Spa Stakes 2025 Video Analysis at Saratoga

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga (8-8-25). 

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Curlin Stakes 2025 Video Picks Featuring Strategic Focus

In this horse racing video, I analyze the 2025 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga (7-24-25).    

Shuvee Stakes 2025 Picks at Saratoga

In this horse racing video, I analyze the 2025 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga (7-18-25).     

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Saratoga Race Course Weekly Video Update (July 10-13)

In this horse racing video, I recap all of the racing action at Saratoga Race Course (July 10-13). 

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Diana Stakes 2025 Video Anaiysis - Saratoga Race Course

In this horse racing video, I analyze the 2025 Diana Stakes at Saratoga (7-12-25).     

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Penn Mile 2025 Video Picks at Penn National

In this horse racing video, I analyze the 2025 Penn Mile at Penn National (6-27-25).     

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Belmont Stakes 2025 Video News Update (5-24-25)

In this horse racing video, I share the latest 2025 Belmont Stakes news (5-24-25).     

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Gazelle Stakes 2025 Video Analysis

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct (4-5-25).  

I am covering all of the road to Kentucky Oaks prep races, and through the first 29 points races, my top choices have 13 wins, 4 runner-up finishes, and 4 show finishes. Two of my top choices scratched, so I am officially 13-for-27.

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Eclipse Awards Finalists & Predictions Video

This horse racing video features finalists and predictions for the Eclipse Awards.  

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BC Classic 2024 Recap + Fierceness & Sierra Leone Eclipse Award

 This horse racing video features a recap of the 2024 BC Classic and a look ahead at the Eclipse Awards 3-year-old male battle between Fierceness and Sierra Leone.  

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Breeders' Cup Classic 2024 Video Picks

This horse racing video features analysis of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic.  

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Belmont Stakes 2024 Top Pick

This horse racing video features 2024 Belmont Stakes final analysis.     

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