A big day of racing throughout the land not only includes the first Saturday of the Del Mar summer meeting, as well as Haskell Day at Monmouth Park, but of course another big weekend afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. The 12-race card in Saratoga Springs, NY kicks off at 12:35 PM eastern with a strong MSW event for 2YOS and is headlined by the Diana (G1) for older fillies and mares. Here are a few horses I like most on the Saturday afternoon Saratoga slate.


Race 1:
The opener marks the debut of highly regarded juvenile #4 Powerline. The son of Flightline commanded $1.8M at the FTS August ’25 sale and comes in off a strong series of drills in Kentucky before a pair of breezes over the Saratoga main track. The Steve Asmussen barn is off to a strong start to the summer at the Spa and this guy looks like the real deal. That said, I will take the experience edge with #7 Greenwell. The fellow Flightline colt was well-meant on debut going off at even-money against a live field of MSW foes at Churchill Downs in mid-June. He was beaten out of the gate that day and in a bit tight on the backstretch before holding on barely to earn second. The winner won in gate-to-wire fashion for trainer Jimmy DiVito that day in Louisville with third place finisher Midnight Still coming back to win going away earlier this meet at the Spa. The experience edge and added furlong make the $500k Keeneland September ’25 purchase by top choice in the opener.

Play: #7 Greenwell (2-1 ML)
Picks: 7-4-5


Race 5: Diana (G1)
The featured event for the day is for fillies and mares at 1 1/8-miles over the Inner Turf and if you are just waking up from a long nap you might not know that trainer Chad Brown has dominated this race over the years. Brown has won the last four, including last year with Excellent Truth and has captured the Grade 1 event a record ten times. Brown has a huge chance to defend his title since he has four entered this year, including the three ML favorites. I landed on 2-1-ML favorite #3 Kathynmarissa. The American Pharoah mare was caught four-wide into the first turn and was never able to save ground in her third-place finish in the New York (G3) last month. The inside draw and slight cutback should benefit her, as well as the fact she retains her elite regular rider, while the other Brown trainees will be using replacements for those riding the Haskell Day card at Monmouth Park. The stage is set for the former Richard Dutrow trainee to earn her first Grade 1 win later today.

Play: #3 Kathynmarissa (2-1 ML)
Picks: 3-2-6


Race 9:
My final play of the day in New York comes in this MSW event for 3YOs+ at 7-furlongs over the main track where I like second-time starter #9 Gadget Play quite a bit. The son of Into Mischief debuted at Churchill Downs in late May for trainer Al Stall, Jr. in an 11-horse MSW race that was dominated by those prominently placed in the early stages. The track appeared to favor speed that day and eventual winner McCann used it to his advantage with a narrow victory over Bob Baffert conditioned Campobasso. Gadget Play was never a factor on the win end, but was the only off-the-pace runner to put in a late run. Stall has always been trustworthy when shipping runners into Saratoga and that has continued over time evidenced by his $2.15 ROI over the last five years with his horses competing at the Spa. I expect a big move forward from the Spendthrift Farm homebred in career start #2.

Play: #9 Gadget Play (7-2 ML)
Picks: 9-6-1