The final weekend of Saratoga treats bettors with two Grade I races, including Saturday afternoon’s million-dollar Jockey Club Gold Cup and Sunday’s $300,000 Spinaway Stakes.
Stars are out in force for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, including Olympiad, Keepmeinmind, Dynamic One, and Americanrevolution. It’s a marquee event for event for 3-year-olds and older at a mile-and-a-quarter.
The Spinaway Stakes was won by Echo Zulu in 2021, so it’s a race on the rise, and horse racing odds are available.
Olympiad to Claim Gold
We are keen on Olympiad to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup, despite a moderate effort for fourth in the Whitney Stakes.
The Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old colt had impressed earlier with five consecutive wins, including the Stephen Foster (Churchill) over Americanrevolution and Proxy.
He’s a class act on his day, and the son of Speightstown deserves attention at the sportsbook.
Mott doesn’t believe there was anything wrong with him following his performance in the Whitney.
“That’s about all you can do,” Mott told Daily Racing Form. “If we felt like there was something amiss, we wouldn’t be running.”
He had good work during the week, and he quickened down the back impressively.
“I thought he went quite well, just a nice breeze, not intended to be anything quick, on the bridle.”
Olympiad drew post position No. 2, the 2-1 early choice ridden by Junior Alvarado.
Dynamic One Battled Tested
It was a tough battle for the Suburban Handicap (Belmont) for Dynamic One, but he prevailed.
The 4-year-old son of Union Rags came down the outside to disposed of his rivals, and it holds him in good stead in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Todd Pletcher. training half of the eight entrants, has loved the progression with this colt and he could push Olympiad close in the run to the line.
“I think the real key has been his mental maturity,” Pletcher said. “He’s gotten a little better with each start, a little more professional. He’s learned how to finish the race. He’s one we always thought had plenty of talent. It’s just kind of taken a little bit of time to put it all together.”
Betting online support for Dynamic One suggests he’s a contender. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Dynamic One breaks outside hs seven rivals as the 7-2 morning-line third choice. Along with Keepmeinmind (Javier Castellano, post No. 7, 12-1)-another of the Pletcher quartet-perhaps he could cause a minor upset at juicy odds in here.
It’s the 11th race, with scheduled post time of 5:45 p.m. ET.
Unbeaten Kaling Eyes Spinaway
Ksling, a $220,000 yearling, is an excellent winning hope in the Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Pletcher could have another good one on his hands.
Sbe/s by Practical Joke, and was solid on debut at Saratoga. Winning over the track is huge.
There was good speed out of the gate before scoring by 2¾ lengths. Eclipse Thoroughbreds Aron Wellman is ready to accept the much harder challenge.
“She’ll have to justify us taking that big leap, but that’s something we definitely have to keep in mind,” Wellman said. “She’s a filly that we’ve thought highly of from the beginning.
“We really liked what we saw out of her in all respects. She came to the paddock like a pro, warmed up like a pro, left the gate running, made the lead.”
Horse racing betting markets should have Kaling well-favored to win and she’s our top bet in the Spinaway Stakes. She drew the rail-perhaps a concern-in the field of 10, Flavien Prat has the assignment.
Naughty Gal Shoots for Three
Naughty Gal started her career with a fourth at Churchill Downs, but she quickly found form with consecutive wins at Churchill and the Spa.
The D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly won in Louisville before taking out the Grade III Adirondack (Saratoga), so she’s another with track experience. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post No. 4.
Having three runs under her belt helps and the daughter of Into Mischief, so the bettors should look for any positive moves on race day.
We are picturing Naughty Gal and Kaling to be fighting out the finish, so they’re a possible exacta (biox) chance.
Carded at seven furlongs, it’s the 11th race (post time 6:11 p.m. ET).
Saratoga ends its season Labor Day.
