It is hard to believe, but today marks Closing Day of the 2026 summer meeting at historic Saratoga Race Course. Racing on the New York Racing Association calendar will continue after a week off with the official opening of the newly renovated Belmont Park set for Friday, September 18. I will be covering the fall meeting when I return from a few days off of my own, but before we look ahead, it is time to focus on the 12-race card that gets started at 11:30 AM local time. Here are a few horses I like most on the day, including my top choice in the featured $200k Gio Ponti.


Race 2:
Trainer Chad Brown heads into Closing Day with a five-win lead over Linda Rice in the trainer standings. Brown sends out a strong 1-2-punch in this MSW event for 2YO fillies at six-furlongs over the main track with first-time starters #2 Ready Set Roll and #10 Heirsuta. Over the last 30 days, the Brown barn has sent out 17 2YO first-time starters in dirt sprints with five finding the wire first. One of those was Inalienable yesterday. The debut runner was hammered down to favoritism and won going away at odds of 8-5. Hopefully, the price will be twice as big on my top choice in this spot Ready Set Roll. The Upstart filly enters her first start after a long series of morning drills, mostly at Belmont Park. She is bred to win early being out of a Kantharos mare that has produced three foals prior to this gal. Two have won at first asking with one finishing second last summer at Horseshoe Indianapolis. She gets hot riding Manny Franco in the saddle and appears as live as anyone in this group at first asking.

Play: #2 Ready Set Roll (3-1 ML)
Picks: 2-3-10


Race 7:
Trainer Linda Rice is up against it to catch Chad Brown in the trainer standings, but has a shot to earn another victory in this six-furlong dash for 2YOs over the main track. #7 Dargham is a son of Army Mule that commanded $500k at the OBS March sale. The colt is out of a Speightstown mare that has produced three foals prior to this fella with one of them finding his way to the winner’s circle at first asking. Rice is not known for her prowess with juvenile firsters, but has proven capable with the right stock. She might have a fast one with this Kentucky-bred that comes in off a strong four-furlong breeze in 47.4 on August 30 and attracts Ricardo Santana Jr.

Play: #7 Dargham (5-1 ML)
Picks: 7-4-6


Race 11: Gio Ponti
The final stakes race of the meeting is this $200k race for 3YOs at one-mile over the Inner Turf where there does not appear to be that much early speed signed on. This should bode well for #7 Siyouincanada. The Joe Sharp trainee took advantage of a lone lead at odds of 16-1 on debut over the Churchill Downs grass, but has not had things quite as easy since shipping to New York to take on winners this summer. He was dueled into defeat in the Saranac on July 3 before being beaten to the front when encountering older runners for the first time in an allowance race over this course on August 6. The French-bred moves back into restricted 3YO company and should have the speed to control the tempo like he did on debut in Kentucky in late May. Kendrick Carmouche gets the leg up for the first time with Jose Ortiz set to ride at Kentucky Downs once again this afternoon.

Play: #7 Siyouincanada
Picks: 7-4-8