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Happy Travers Day! Today is the big day at the Spa with five Grade 1s on the card. We have a fantastic renewal of the Travers featuring Kentucky Derby/Belmont winner Golden Tempo, Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, Jim Dandy winner Renegade, and Haskell winner Baby Vino. Trivia Question: Secretariat famously won the 1973 Belmont by 31 lengths while “moving like a tremendous machine”. Who holds the record for the widest margin of victory in the Travers? Race 11 – The Forego Stakes – Grade I Seven Furlongs On the Dirt for Four Year Olds and Upward Tip Top Thomas: Narrowly lost an optional claimer last month to Senior Officer…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/29/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 10   Race overview A competitive renewal of the G2 Lake Placid for 3yo fillies at 1-mile on the inner turf.   Pace There’s very little here, so expect a tight group early on, that will sprint off the far turn. Trends A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners using all running styles. Best Play #5 NAOMIS (3-1) (turf only): European invader was a private purchase after her G2 win at Chantilly and subsequently turned over to Brown, who has had a lot of success with less…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/28/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 8   Race overview An extremely competitive renewal of the G3 Waya for fm3up at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf.   Pace Simply put, there’s no one here keep #6 STORM MIAMI (4-1) from making a loose and lonely lead and backing the pace down early. Trends A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners using all running styles. Best Play #6 STORM MIAMI (4-1) (turf only): Expected Lone F was a good 2nd in the local G2 Glens Falls at 1 ½ miles, so this…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/27/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A compact OC 110k/C for 4up at 1-mile on the inner turf course.       Pace  It looks honest, and potentially hot and contested, as there are more than a few who want to be close and involved early on.      Trends  A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners using all running styles.      Best Play  #3 CAPITAL HILL (8-5) (turf only): Stiff class dropper has been facing stakes foes of late, so…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/26/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  3       Race overview  A solid NYB 50k starter-allowance for fm3up at 7 furlongs.       Pace  It looks wildly fast up front, as there are several who want to roll early, so the ability to settle seems paramount.      Trends  The main track was washed out from the rain Sunday, but when fast, has continued to play fair throughout the meet.      Best Play  #6 OUR PREFERRED PAL (3-1): Versatile sort cuts back after pressing things at 1-mile, but has stalked…

    “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                        Date  8/22/26      Featured track  Saratoga       Race number  11       Race overview  A compact and extremely weak renewal of the G1 Alabama for 3yo fillies at 1 ¼ miles on the main track.       Pace  There’s none here, so expect the huge favorite #6 Counting Stars (1-2) to default as the speed, as she’s the only tactical one here.      Trends  A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace.      Best Play  #4 MY GUN’S LOADED (3-1): Up-and-comer…

Happy Alabama Day! Having already won the Acorn and CCA Oaks, Counting Stars goes for a sweep of the Summer Grade 1’s for three old fillies in New York. Kentucky Oaks winner Always A Runner does not run here and instead is being aimed to the $1 million Cotillion at Parx next month. Trivia Question: Who was the last filly to sweep the Acorn, CCA Oaks, and the Alabama? Race 10  – The Ballston Spa Stakes One Mile and a Sixteenth On the Inner Turf for Fillies and Mares 3 Years Old and Up Ozara: Defending champion is three for four over this track. In the Diana she…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/21/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 9   Race overview A very solid renewal of the 200k Fleet Indian for NYB 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.   Pace There’s a ton here, and comes from several who have been running at one-turn, so things should be hot and contested early, which suggests this could fall apart late at such a demanding distance. Trends A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace. Best Play #4 IRON ORCHARD (3-1): Stalker has run just once…

  “PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   Date 8/20/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 6 Race overview A very weak NYB 45K/N2X for fm3up at 1-mile on the main track. Pace It looks honest enough, as there are a trio who want to be on or just off the early pace. Trends A fast main track has been fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from everywhere, including several from off-the-pace. Best Play #2 VALTELLINA (E): Low hanging fruit here, but this filly has been running in 1 1/8-mile stakes races, including a pair of graded events, so she not only brings a ton of class…

    PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau Date 8/19/26 Featured track Saratoga Race number 7   Race overview An extremely meek renewal of the 150k Statue of Liberty for NYB 3yo fillies at 1-mile on the inner turf.   Pace It looks on the slower side of honest, as there are no true speedsters, but there are several who want to be close early. Trends A firm turf course has played fair throughout the meet, with winners coming from all over, but tactical speed is always going to be an advantage with the tighter turns of the inner course. Best Play #7 SHE’S COUNTRY (2-1) (turf…