Pinpointing the clear frontrunner in the $300,000, Grade 1 Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes, scheduled for Labor Day at Saratoga Race Course, presents a challenge. The event has drawn eight promising 2-year-old contenders, each arriving fresh off a previous triumph.
Nonetheless, three horses under the guidance of Hall of Fame-inducted trainers seem to stand out.
#3 Romeo, trained by Steve Asmussen, a three-time Hopeful Stakes victor, could emerge as the favorite. Romeo enters as the most seasoned runner in the group, having secured a wire-to-wire victory in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs. Romeo’s win was by a margin of 3 3/4 lengths over Comport, who later triumphed in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes. Romeo leads the Hopeful field in Beyer Speed Figures and Brisnet Speed ratings, marking him as a significant contender for the win.
#1 Curtain Call, conditioned by trainer Mark Casse, also boasts impressive credentials. In his debut at Churchill Downs, he secured second place behind Obliteration, the subsequent Sanford Stakes winner and Saratoga Special Stakes runner-up, while outpacing Clocker Special, who went on to win his next start. Curtain Call then traveled to Saratoga, where he dominated a maiden special weight race by 8 1/2 lengths, earning strong Beyer and Brisnet figures.
Curtain Call is sired by Tiz the Law and out of a mare by Into Mischief. Considering that both Tiz the Law and Into Mischief achieved Grade 1 victories as juveniles, Curtain Call’s lineage suggests early development, making him well-suited for the Hopeful.
The chances of #5 Buetane should also be considered. Acquired for $1.15 million as a 2-year-old in training, Buetane made a noteworthy debut in a Del Mar maiden special weight, winning by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Bob Baffert. Since 2020, Baffert has maintained a solid record at Saratoga, with 7 wins out of 33 starts (21%), which includes a 1-for-3 (33%) record with 2-year-olds.
It is advised that bettors explore an exacta wager involving Romeo, Curtain Call, and Buetane. These wagers will be “boxed,” meaning a payout will occur if any two of the three horses finish in the top two positions, regardless of the order.
For those willing to invest more for a potentially larger return, consider boxing Romeo, Curtain Call, and Buetane in a trifecta. A winning ticket will be secured if they finish in the top three spots in any sequence.
Wagering Plan with a $12 Budget
$2 exacta: box 1,3,5 (total cost: $12)
Verbalize the following at the betting counter: Saratoga, Race 9, $2 exacta box 1,3,5
Wagering Plan with a $36 Budget
$5 exacta: box 1,3,5 (total cost: $30)
Verbalize the following at the betting counter: Saratoga, Race 9, $5 exacta box 1,3,5
$1 trifecta: box 1,3,5 (total cost: $6)
Verbalize the following at the betting counter: Saratoga, Race 9, $1 trifecta box 1,3,5
Best of luck, and enjoy the excitement of the race!
