In The Money Telegraph
Saturday, July 4, 2026 · By ITM Staff
Happy Fourth — and happy 250th, America. The Spa hands its opening weekend over to a blockbuster holiday card, and the worst of the heat is finally forecast to ease. Here’s the setup.
A Wild Opening Day
Saratoga got its 163rd meet underway Friday on one of the hottest opening days the Spa has seen — and it was eventful from the jump. In the Wild Applause, I Love Giraffes appeared to clip heels and go down on the turn, setting off a four-horse spill that also brought down Paris Carver, Smexy, and Lovely Grey. Riders Paco Lopez, Tyler Gaffalione, and Dylan Davis all walked off; Javier Castellano was taken to Saratoga Hospital, released later in good order, and will sit out the rest of his weekend mounts pending a follow-up on Monday. The full opening-day recap →
Remarkably, Lopez was back in the irons about 40 minutes later to win the day’s feature, the $200,000 Schuylerville, where 12-1 Harper’s Corner wired the field by 5¼ lengths and gave freshman sire Speaker’s Corner his first stakes winner. Even-money favorite Luminous Beauty faded to fifth.
The Main Event: Three Graded Stakes at the Spa
Today’s card is built around three graded stakes — two Grade 1 turf features with automatic Breeders’ Cup berths on the line, plus a deep older-horse handicap.
Suburban (G2) — 4:42 p.m. ET. Eleven older horses go a mile and a quarter on the dirt, and last year’s top two are back: Phileas Fogg, who edged Antiquarian by a head in the 2025 running, and morning-line favorite Antiquarian, who won the Jockey Club Gold Cup over this track and trip last summer for Todd Pletcher and figures to get a stalking trip behind the speed. The chief threats are Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Forged Steel, who romped the Santa Anita Gold Cup by nearly 10 lengths before scratching out of the Stephen Foster to point here, and Brad Cox’s Hit Show, the 2025 Dubai World Cup winner. A Pletcher victory would tie the Suburban’s all-time trainer record.
Belmont Oaks (G1). A wide-open renewal for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and an eighth on the turf, with an automatic Filly & Mare Turf berth to the winner. Chad Brown’s unbeaten-in-2026 Fitz Right drew Flavien Prat, who chose her over stablemate Just Aloof; Brendan Walsh sends out the improving two-time Grade 2 winner Imaginationthelady; and Godolphin’s Frankel filly Abashiri ships in for Charlie Appleby. PTF previewed the full field for Sky Sports Racing — guide linked below.
Belmont Derby (G1) — 5:20 p.m. ET. Ten sophomores go a mile and an eighth on the turf for a Breeders’ Cup Turf berth, in a field with no previous Grade 1 winner. Will Walden’s West End Kid is the morning-line favorite off a three-race turf win streak that includes the Pennine Ridge over this course. Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux counters with Remember Mamba — named for the late Kobe Bryant — a three-time winner who was second in the American Turf on Derby Day. European raiders Title Role and Pacific Avenue, who squared off in Dubai, give it an international edge.
Set Your Tickets
PTF at the Races. Peter previewed both Grade 1s, horse by horse, for Sky Sports Racing: the Belmont Oaks and the Belmont Derby.
The Late Pick 5. On The Gallop Out, Ryan Anderson and Jackson Muniz attack Saratoga’s July 4th Late Pick 5 — the Oaks, the Derby, and the Suburban among the legs. ▶ Watch on YouTube →
Today’s Cards
Monmouth Park. The Jersey Shore is back after Friday’s heat cancellation, with a Saturday card led by the $75,000 Irish War Cry Handicap for state-breds (one mile, turf; first post 12:50 p.m. ET). Eric Solomon has the full card, and PTF joined Dean Keppler to go through the late Pick 5.
Los Alamitos. Dean Keppler’s Saturday selections out West, with Jonny’s Cap (Race 2) his best bet. Read →
Start Your NHC Journey: LRF Cares Feeders
A cheap way to chase a big prize for a good cause: HorsePlayers.com runs low-cost ($14) Pick & Pray feeders into the LRF Cares Charity Challenge Qualifier — an on-ramp toward Little Red Feather’s July 18 LRF Cares contest at Del Mar, which benefits Thoroughbred aftercare and puts a path to the 2027 NHC in play. Fresh feeders post regularly, so check the board every day. Find the LRF Cares feeders on HorsePlayers.com →
ITM Plus
Nick’s Notebook Is Here for Saratoga
Churchill Downs morning-line maker Nick Tammaro brings his Saratoga notebook to ITM Plus — detailed written analysis and angles every day of the meet, alongside exclusive podcasts and premium selections right through to the Breeders’ Cup.
More all weekend at inthemoneypodcast.com, with daily previews on the ITM YouTube channel and premium tips on ITM Plus.
