Tag Archives: graded stakes

Caress Stakes 2026 Analysis & Picks

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Caress Stakes will be run at Saratoga on Saturday, July 11. It goes as Race 5 and features a competitive field of six fillies and mares sprinting 5½ furlongs on the turf for a $250,000 purse. Below is a horse-by-horse breakdown and a look at the projected pace scenario. […]

Saratoga Suburban Stakes 2026 Preview & Picks

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Suburban Stakes is one of the star attractions on Saturday, July 4 at Saratoga. It goes as Race 8, offering a $500,000 purse for older horses going 1¼ miles on the main track. Scheduled for 4:42 p.m. ET, the race brings together an accomplished field of proven graded stakes […]

Bango Stakes 2026 Preview at Churchill Downs

By Jarrod Horak 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 […]

San Juan Capistrano Stakes 2026 Preview

By Jarrod Horak Santa Anita’s closing-weekend feature is Sunday’s Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, a $100,000 turf marathon contested at the demanding distance of 1 3/4 miles. The race attracted a field of ten older horses. The race serves as a true test of stamina, and with several entrants stepping into unfamiliar territory distance-wise, […]

Belmont Racing Festival Stakes Preview – June 4

By Jarrod Horak The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival continues at Saratoga on Thursday with a pair of graded turf stakes drawing competitive fields. Using the past performances and numbers from Today’s Racing Digest, I’ve analyzed each event and identified top contenders and live longshots. Race 8: Grade 2 Intercontinental Stakes $250,000 | Fillies & Mares, […]

Santa Anita Park Memorial Day Stakes Picks

By Jarrod Horak Memorial Day racing at Santa Anita Park features three graded stakes races, including the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup, the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes, and the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile. I’m using data from the Complete Digest from Today’s Racing Digest to break down the key contenders, pace scenarios, and betting opportunities on […]

Oaklawn Handicap 2026 Analysis & Picks

By Jarrod Horak The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap headlines the Saturday, April 18 card as Race 11, offering a $1.25 million purse for older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. This is a fascinating matchup between elite older runners and top-class four-year-olds returning from layoffs. I’m approaching this race as a classic […]