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

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

Bango Stakes 2026 Analysis (6-27-26)

The Grade 3 Bango Stakes brings together a solid group of older sprinters at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and several runners enter in sharp form. While proven stakes performers such as Cornucopian and Dr. Venkman command respect, the improving Built appears poised to continue his strong transition into a sprint specialist.

Race Overview

The pace should be honest from the outset with Cornucopian and Harrodsburg expected to show early speed. Built, breaking from the outside post, figures to enjoy a stalking trip under Irad Ortiz Jr., while Dr. Venkman and Extra Anejo should settle just behind the leaders.

Main Contenders

Cornucopian (#2)

Bob Baffert’s Cornucopian remains one of the most accomplished sprinters in the field. He has won three of four starts this season, including Grade 3 victories in the San Carlos Stakes and the Aristides at Churchill Downs on May 30.

His fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 2 can be forgiven against tougher competition. He owns some of the strongest recent speed figures in the race and should secure a forward position throughout beneath Flavien Prat.

If he reproduces either of his graded-stakes-winning efforts from this season, he will be a major factor from start to finish.

Extra Anejo (#5)

Extra Anejo could be the value horse underneath in vertical wagers.

The Steve Asmussen trainee made his first start in almost nine months on May 21 and should move forward in his second start of the year. He owns prior graded stakes success and has proven capable of handling the Churchill Downs surface.

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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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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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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Saratoga Race Course 2025 Video Update (July 3-6)

In this horse racing video, I recap the Fourth of July Racing Festival at Saratoga (July 3-6). 

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Preakness 2025: Black-Eyed Susan Day Recap

In this horse racing video, I recap the 2025 Black-Eyed Susan Day program.    

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Kentucky Derby 2025 Video News Update (4-28-25)

In this horse racing video, I take a look at the latest Kentucky Derby 2025 news (4-28-25).   

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Southwest Stakes 2025 Video Picks at Oaklawn

In this horse racing video, I analyze the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn (1-25-25).  

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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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Los Alamitos Futurity 2024 Video Analysis

This horse racing video features analysis of the 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity.  

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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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Breeders' Cup 2023: Top 3 Jockeys to Watch

 

By Jarrod Horak

The horses are clearly the main attraction, but Breeders’ Cup jockeys are a big part of the equation. In this report, I will take a look at three jockeys to keep an eye on for both Breeders’ Cup days at Santa Anita Park on November 3-4, 2023.

Click here for Santa Anita Horse Racing Picks, Tips and Insider Analysis

Breeders’ Cup Jockeys to Watch

Frankie Dettori is the first of three Breeders’ Cup jockeys to watch. He recently called off his retirement and is going to stay in California to ride after the 2023 Breeders’ Cup. He was third in the rider standings with 26 wins at the 2022-23 Santa Anita Park Winter Meet. The Italian rider captured 14 Breeders’ Cup races from 1994-2018 and his mounts earned over $25 million. The BC Turf has been his most successful race. He won that race five times including a victory aboard Enable (GB) in 2018. He booted home three winners in the BC Juvenile Turf and two in the BC Mile and BC Filly & Mare Turf. He guided home Wilko in the 2004 BC Juvenile, and took home the big prize in the 2008 BC Classic aboard Raven’s Pass. 

Click here to read the rest of this article at Today's Racing Digest