SARATOGA – 6/8/2025
By Nick Tammaro | @NTamm1215
Belmont Racing Festival analysis brought to you by NY Thoroughbred Breeders! Check out more at nytbreeders.org
RACE 1: 3-4-6-2
#3 GORRONO RANCH has racked up two defeats in as many starts in Kentucky for Wesley Ward and now has to negotiate another sixteenth of a mile in search of a maiden score. She is clearly quick, and Ward will take off the blinkers in an effort to get her to finish the job. Hot-riding John Velazquez is in the irons once again and he has had an excellent run at the current Saratoga meet, hitting at a near 40% clip.
RACE 2: 2-1-5-3
#2 CASTLE ISLAND bids to get a second win off the claim on the class jump today for Gustavo Rodriguez. This barn has heated up as the temperatures climbed and this son of City of Light looks to be coming into his own. His speed is significant and he should be able to use it to procure a forward position going a trip that’s kind to frontrunning types.
RACE 3: 5-3-4-1
#5 DIBLASI is a second time starter who was beaten to the punch early on debut and wound up chasing home a blowout winner. He has every right to improve at second asking and looks to be training well for this engagement. Wesley Ward’s horses are usually ahead of the game earlier in the year and this gelding looks to be just that.
RACE 4: 13-9-11-12
The claim of #13 TABEGUACHE by Ilkay Kantarmaci looks to be panning out just fine given the recent miss against 32k sellers. He was a near stakes caliber horse before being entered for a tag and should be able to take another step forward here with a pace-stalking trip. The price should be fair as well given the competitive nature of this field, even off the turf.
RACE 5: 8-11-5-6
As boring as it is to take the favorite in a big field such as this, #8 AMUNDSON looks like the one to beat. He is quick enough to get well clear early and he has always been at his best at Saratoga with 4 wins in 9 starts. Trainer Rob Atras is good off the claim and today’s rider, Kendrick Carmouche, knows how to get one to a comfortable early lead.
RACE 6: 1-2-5-6
There’s enough pace to set up the late bid of #1 BRACIOLE in this affair. He was a rallying third last time out against similar foes and had no pace to run at that afternoon whatsoever. The non-descript connections here will keep him from getting too much support at the windows, and that is undoubtedly a positive.
RACE 7: 6-11-2-7
The move to turf clearly brought out the best in #6 HEY BERTIE, who is now back on dirt with this race coming off the turf. She was a solid debut winner for Cherie DeVaux at Fair Grounds and can clearly handle the main track. There’s plenty of pace signed on in here that should set the table for this filly.
RACE 8: 2-15-6-10
#2 DANNEEL is in improving form for trainer Steve Schauer, who has quietly amassed very good numbers in 2025. This filly needed this race to come off the turf and moves up in class, but the race being moved off the turf levels the playing field in a substantial way. The pace stalking trip she’ll get will put her in a great spot to win.
RACE 9: 2-1-5-3
#2 BEAUTY REIGNS was very sharp in victory last time out at Churchill Downs and now moves up in class back to stakes company. She was quick into stride last time out and gradually wore down a leader that had a great trip on the lead. The third place finisher from that affair came right back to win her next start and this gal figures to get a strong pace to target in the closing stages today.
RACE 10: 3-4-1-7
The Arkansas invader #3 I’M WIDE AWAKE looks ready to take this field gate-to-wire as the main speed from an inside draw. This is a significant upgrade at trainer as well with Norm Casse taking over for John Haran. The lead should be his for the taking and he has largely held his form well throughout the winter and spring.
RACE 11: 6-14-15-16
#6 ACOUSTIC AVE goes 2nd off a claim here after a blowout win last time out at Aqueduct. He should be in a spot to stalk and pounce this afternoon and is training well for Linda Rice. If he can run his last, he’ll be very tough to handle today.
RACE 12: 9-2-8-10
#9 AG BULLET endured a brutal trip last time out in the Unbridled Sidney, as jockey Umberto Rispoli allowed her to take back early after breaking sharply. She wound up in tight and was steadied inside the eighth pole. Her race was likely over at that point, but the trip was beyond awful. The outside draw is ideal and she can fully utilize her early speed to get a forward position and get the jump on #2 THINK BIG, who is the horse to beat in here.
RACE 13: 2-6-3-5
#2 INTEGRATION hinted at being Grade I caliber as a 3YO back in 2023. He never really panned out as a top level performer, but is an interesting player here off a brutal trip last time out at Churchill Downs. He was stuck in behind a wall of horses in deep stretch and wound up finishing deep in the pack. This is a major rider change to Flavien Prat, who was aboard for his last win in the Red Smith. The other edge he possesses on many of his main rivals is the ability to race closer to the early pace.
