The construction of the new grandstand at Belmont Park is underway, which means New York racing fans will have to settle for events like the Finger Lakes at the Aquid Bridge Tournament and the upcoming Big A Summer and Fall tournaments. Sure, there are plenty of races, but, well, it feels a little different without the usual Belmont excitement. The Belmont Stakes kicked things off with some fervor, aligning with a short racing festival on July 4th, which sets the stage for the weekslong Saratoga summer tournament.
Big day
Have you marked your calendars yet?
The Diana Stakes is set for Saturday, July 12th, followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks and Vanderbilt on July 19th. Gym Dandy is happening on July 26th. There’s also a fourth-grade race on Saturday, August 2nd, featuring the Whitney and Forster Durbe.
Next up is the Sword Dancer on August 9th, and then there’s Alabama Day on August 16th. Travers Day on August 23rd will be packed with five grade 1 races, including the Forego and Personal Sign. Spinaway takes place on August 30th, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup wraps things up on August 31st, all leading up to Labor Day, which is closing day on September 1st.
It’s all about the horses.
The Preakness winner, Journalism, might run at Haskell in Monmouth Park—though there’s talk of a possible challenge at The Travers. Definitely keep an eye out for MindFrame, Fierceness, Sierra Leone, White Abarrio, and SkippylongStocking in this year’s Whitney edition.
Thorpedo Anna, last year’s horse of the year, lost to Raging Sea in May. This time, Anna will be looking to turn the tables when they meet again in a big matchup.
Trainer
Two words: Chad Brown.
He had a standout 2024 season, thanks in part to his talented four-legged athletes. Brown racked up 45 wins, leading the pack ahead of Todd Pletcher and Mike Maker, who each had 22. Linda Rice and Bill Mott closed out the top five, with Rice boasting a notable win rate of 28.3%.
Rider up!
Irad Ortiz Jr. had an impressive summer, visiting the winner’s circle 52 times and setting records for most stakes victories (18) and rated stakes victories (14) at Saratoga. It’s also interesting to consider the competition among riders—Luis Saez, Junior Alvarado, Manny Franco, and Dylan Davis will all be vying for their share of the wins, while Jose Ortiz aims to nab victories from his brother Irad.
It’s safe to say riders will experience their fair share of ups and downs before this tournament wraps up.
On the grass
Chad Brown is a strong contender on both dirt and grass, but last summer, 26 of his 45 wins came on turf. That’s quite significant—three times more than other trainers.
Baby lace
First impressions matter, and Saratoga will showcase many 2-year-olds making their debuts throughout the 40-day meet. Looking back, yes, Brown topped the rankings last season, but Mark Casse also made a strong showing.
Included in the excitement is Knicks Go’s offspring, Ewing, who had an impressive debut on July 5th, winning decisively and may return again in later weeks.
Maybe I’ll jump
Obstacle races have long been a staple of Saratoga. The stakes this year will include the AP Smithwick Memorial on July 23rd and the Jonathan Shepherd Memorial on August 20th.
Prizes
This summer’s giveaway days include:
July 11th: T-shirt
July 20th: Hawaiian shirt
July 25th: Blanket
August 8: Pennant
August 22nd: Tote bag
August 31st: Saratoga Quarter Zip Sweatshirt
Prediction
There might be more losses than wins this season, but I’m hopeful it’ll be more successful than the past two years. Honestly, 2023 was tough, and 2024 hasn’t been much better.
We’ve seen the 40-day meet cut down to 39, with 45 grass races taken off turf, moving to slop instead. I truly believe Mother Nature holds a pivotal role in this.
Turn on the race
Fox Sports will provide exclusive coverage of all Saratoga races. If picking winners isn’t your style, you can trust personalities like Greg Wolf, Laffe Pinkai, Andy Serling, Richard Migliore, Jonathon Kinchen, Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Clement, and Sarah Elbadowy to help you along. Oh, and don’t forget Paul Lo Duca, who will round out the lineup.
Expect the first race post at 1:10 PM. Don’t miss the excitement of the photo finishes!
