Saratoga’s biggest day of their current summer meet takes place on Saturday. The winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont throw down in the 2023 Travers Stakes.
The festivities start on Friday with the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
Check out more horse racing lines for both those magnificent races at The Spa and read about four other grade 1 races happening this weekend at Saratoga.
Betting Top Horse Races: Best Stakes Races at Saratoga | MyBookie Horse Racing Preview
Top Stakes Races Thrid Week of August: Friday, August 25th – Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Personal Ensign Stakes | Grade 1
1 1/8 miles dirt – 4 year olds & up
Friday, August 25th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
Three of the top mares in the nation, Secret Oath, Nest, and Clairiere, headline what should be an amazing rendition of the Personal Ensign. Steve Asmussen trained Clairiere projects as the favorite.
Nest, who beat Clairiere in the Grade 2 Shuvee in the last, will challenge Clairiere for favoritism. Malloy, Idiomatic, and Sixtythreecaliber should also run.
Forego Stakes | Grade 1
7 furlongs dirt – 3 year olds & up
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
As of the Tuesday before the race, only four runners will go in the Grade 1 Forego. Rivals Elite Power and Gunite, which finished 1-2 in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt in their last, should attract all the action.
Synthesis and Lightning Larry will fight for the show spot. Even if others join, Elite Power and Gunite look too talented to finish out of the exacta.
Sword Dancer Stakes | Grade 1
1 ½ miles turf – 3 year olds & up
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
Aidan O’Brien trained Bolshoi Ballet and Channel Maker from the Bill Mott barn lead the Sword Dancer field.
Soldier Rising, Verstappen, and Stone Age are probable. Stone Age is an intriguing prospect because the runner goes first time for Chad Brown.
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes | Grade 1
7 furlongs dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
Indiana Derby winner Verifying takes on Woody Stephens winner Arabian Lion, Dwyer winner Fort Bragg, and Amsterdam winner New York Thunder in what should be an exceptional H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
Todd Pletcher puts the saddle on Wood Memorial winner Lord Miles. One In Vermillion, which finished third in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby in the last, will also run.
Ballerina Stakes | Grade 1
7 furlongs dirt – 3 year old fillies & up
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
Three equines will attract the most action. Chad Brown trained Good Night Olive will go off the chalk. Star Echo Zulu from the Steve Asmussen barn will challenge Good Night Olive for favoritism. Society, another from the Asmussen barn, should go off third choice.
Matareya and Caramel Swirl will have their fans. Dr. B and Sterling Silver should go off at longshot odds.
Travers Stakes | Grade 1
1 ¼ miles dirt – 3 year olds
Saturday, August 26th, 2023
Saratoga Race Course; Saratoga Springs, New York
Forte, the Jim Dandy winner and Kentucky Derby morning line chalk before having to scratch, will go off the chalk. Mage, the Derby winner, should go off second choice while Arcangelo, the Belmont Stakes winner will be third choice.
National Treasure, Bob Baffert’s Preakness Stakes winning colt, should attract action. Tapit Traice, Scotland, and Disarm will also run.
Although Forte, Mage, and Arcangelo should be the favorites, the race is wide open. Scotland looked fantastic winning the Curlin in the last. Disarm and Tapit Trice are both quality horses and National Treasure will be the fastest out of the gate. Handicap the 2023 Travers Stakes fully before deciding which three-year-old steps into the winner’s circle.