Named after the stalwart New York-bred who received no less than one race at Saratoga annually from 1987-1994, this 12 months’s $750,000 Fourstardave drew a area of 10 turf specialists headed by a number of graded stakes winner Johannes.
One among 5 graded stakes on Saturday, Whitney Day, the Fourstardave (G1) is also a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in November at Del Mar.
Fourstardave Odds: Johannes 5-2 favourite
Johannes, who’s making his East coast debut, enters off an eight-month layoff courting again to his victory final December within the San Gabriel (G2) at Santa Anita, from which he emerged with delicate bone bruising that led to his prolonged hiatus, in accordance with coach Tim Yakteen.
“We’re coming into it in nice form,” stated Yakteen of Johannes, whose solely loss in six 2024 begins got here when second to Extra Than Seems within the BC Mile.
“He just about seems to be similar [to December]. He’s all the time a horse that carries an awesome coat and he carries his situation nicely. It’s been an uneventful journey again to his first race, and hopefully we’ll proceed with that this week.”
The 5-year-old son of Nyquist returned to coaching on the finish of Might at Santa Anita and has been working steadily ever since. Most lately he posted a 5-furlong transfer on July 26 at Del Mar in 1:00.40, his ultimate transfer previous to delivery to New York.
“We’re doing good. It’s a protracted method to journey if we’re not doing good,” Yakteen stated, with amusing. “He had his ultimate prep and we’re all set. We’re proud of the way in which he’s doing, so let’s see if we are able to have some luck right here.”
“It’s a giant ask, however I feel he’s as much as the duty,” he added. “He dealt with the ship nicely earlier than. [Jockey] Umberto [Rispoli] is aware of him nicely. He’s been very versatile, and I feel that’s his asset. It’s all the time good when you’ve gotten that.”
Johannes had a extremely profitable 12 months in 2024, successful the American (G3) in his first begin as a 4-year-old, and adopted that together with his lone Grade 1 win thus far within the Shoemaker Mile. He then captured the Eddie Learn and Metropolis of Hope, each Grade 2s, earlier than difficult for the lead however settling for second, three-quarters of a size forward of favored Notable Speech within the BC Mile.
The Fourstardave shall be his third begin in a Grade 1.
“It’s a giant ask, however I feel he’s as much as the duty,” he added. “He dealt with the ship nicely earlier than. [Jockey] Umberto [Rispoli] is aware of him nicely. He’s been very versatile, and I feel that’s his asset. It’s all the time good when you’ve gotten that.”
Fourstardave is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence
Becoming a member of him as highweights beneath 126 kilos are Win for the Cash (8-1), who took the Woodbine Mile (G1) final November, New York-bred Spirit of St. Louis (6-1), who captured the
Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Turf Basic (G1) at Churchill Downs, and up to date Manhattan (G1) winner Deterministic.
Deterministic Odds: 9-2
Skilled by Miguel Clement, Deterministic has blossomed since being switched to the turf final June, ending no worse than third in seven begins on the floor, together with wins within the Fort Marcy (G2), Hill Prince (G3) and Virginia Derby (G3). Alongside together with his Manhattan victory, he completed third in final 12 months’s Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) and broke his maiden on the filth as a 2-year-old.
He has made one begin on the turf on the Fourstardave distance, ending third within the Manila (G3) and received the Gotham (G3) over a sloppy, sealed monitor, each at Aqueduct.
“He’s coaching spectacular,” Clement stated. “His weight, coloration, coaching are all nice. He received the Gotham over a mile, and he’s received the velocity to do it. I don’t assume it will likely be a difficulty.”
Spirit of St Louis at 6-1 odds
Spirit of St Louis, the main money-earner within the area with a bankroll of greater than $1.8 million, enters off a non-threatening sixth within the Manhattan. He cuts again to a mile for the primary time since ending fifth in October to Carl Spackler [last year’s Fourstardave Winner] within the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland however owns a trio of New York-bred stakes wins on the distance.
Coach Chad Brown additionally will ship out Mind, a European import who has a file of 0-2-1 from three stateside begins, together with a pair of seconds at Saratoga within the Poker and Kelso, each Grade 3s.
Mark Casse additionally enters a pair in Win for the Cash, most lately third within the Kelso coming off a six-month layoff, and My Boy Prince, who is available in off three straight dash begins, ending second within the Highlander (G2) at Woodbine and the Jaipur (G1) on the Spa. He received his first begin of 2025 within the Elusive High quality on the Large A.
“I feel this [inner] turf course is made for him with the tighter turns,” Casse stated of My Boy Prince. “He’s slightly athlete and he can form of scoot round them together with his velocity.
He’s coming off the dash races, so he’s going to be up very near the tempo.”
Rounding out the sector are Kelso winner Suppose Large, Cugina, winner of an elective claimer in June at Aqueduct, Lagynos, who owns a second and threes third in 4 begins this 12 months, and Neat most lately fourth within the Kelso.
Fourstardave betting choices
Whether or not Johannes returns to his successful kind in his first race in practically a 12 months is the massive query right here. That stated, Deterministic appears in prime racing form and Spirit of St. Louis is greater than able to rebounding off his poor Manhattan effort.
For many who wager horse racing, the picks …
1 Deterministic 2 Johannes 3 Spirit of St Louis
The sector for the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, coach, odds:
1 Cugino (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Shug McGaughey), 10-1
2 My Boy Prince (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse), 15-1
3 Johannes (Umberto Rispoli, Tim Yakteen), 5-2
4 Suppose Large (Luis Saez, Michael Stidham), 6-1
5 Win for the Cash (Dylan Davis, Mark Casse), 8-1
6 Mind (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown), 5-1
7 Spirit of St Louis (Manny Franco, Chad Brown), 6-1
8 Deterministic (Kendrick Carmouche, Miguel), 9-2
9 Lagynos (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen), 20-1
10 Neat (Junior Alvarado, Rob Atras), 20-1
