The Fourstardave is part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, with the winner getting a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2. This is a seven horse race for $500,000 at Saratoga. It is a one-mile turf race with the winner getting an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 2 at Del Mar.
Each of these seven entrants have won stakes races and some have won more than one. Let’s look at the entries by post position and what The Horse Guy has for winning picks this week.
** Also this weekend The Horse Guy has his picks for the Arlington Million.
1– Strong Quality is the son of Quality Road and is trained by Mark Casse and has an early odds of 8-1 to win. In June, this horse finished eighth in the Grade 1 Manhattan and later won a restricted stakes at Churchill Downs and then went to the Fair Grounds and won the Colonel Bradley. Not likely for this horse to win but could fit underneath.
2- Master of the Seas has been scratched.
3. Major Dude- Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velasquez, this is the son of Bolt d’ Oro and is 8-1 to win. This horse won the Penn Mile and Kitten’s Joy in 2023. This will be his second start this year. He won an allowance race just a few weeks ago. This horse isn’t seen as a contender.
4.Carl Spackler is the son of Lope de Vega- is a Chad Brown trained horse and will have Tyler Gaffalione on board. This is the top choice at 9-5 odds with three graded stakes wins at Saratoga. in the Kelso, the Saranac and the Hall of Fame. He has been the favorite in his last seven races. Likely winner.
5. Money Supply is 10-1 odds to win and will be ridden by Manny Franco. This son of Practical Joke won the Horseshoe Invitational in Indiana along with the Grade 1 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds. He has won five in a row. Could be a top four finisher
6. Ottoman Fleet- is 8-5 odds to win this race. He has won three graded stakes in the USA and three group stake in Europe. He was won 2 of his previous 4 races. He is a contender.
7. More Than Looks is 7-2 to win the Fourstardave. He is the son of More Than Ready and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. as his mount. This is his first start since last year when he finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Could lead the chase before falling back to a spot out of the money.
Pick and Prediction
When Master of the Seas scratched, many things changed. Now, look for Ottoman Empire to take the race and Carl Spackler getting into a second position. Be sure to check the latest odds from the track before betting.
Check out what The Horse Guy has to say each and every Friday on the graded stakes races.