2023 Fourstardave Handicap Preview

Seven of the leading turf milers in the country line up Saturday, August 12, at Saratoga for the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap. The race is the most important turf mile in the United States in the summer, and the winner not only earns a rich purse but also an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Casa Creed, a multiple Grade 1 sprint winner who stretched out to win this race last year, will try to become the first two-time winner of this race since fan favorite Got Stormy (2019, 2021).

The race has been a fruitful prep for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and some of the best horses in recent decades have swept the double. Those include Lure (1993), Da Hoss (1996), Wise Dan (2012, 2013), Tourist (2016), and World Approval (2017).

2023 Fourstardave Handicap Information

• Race Date: Saturday, August 12
• Track: Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY
• Post Time: 5:44 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
• Distance: one mile on the inner turf track
• Age/Sex: three-year-olds and up
• Where to Watch: TVG.com, Fox
• Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing

Fourstardave Handicap Draw and Odds

This is the field for the 2023 Fourstardave Handicap, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds.

Fourstardave Handicap Prep Race Results

The seven horses in the Fourstardave come out of five different races. The only last-out race that accounts for more than one runner is, unsurprisingly, the local prep for this race: the Kelso (G3) on July 15. Casa Creed made a smart move to take the lead in the upper stretch and win by a length over Annapolis, who he also faces here. After a troubled start, Ice Chocolat was fourth in that race; he presses on as well.

The only horse other than Casa Creed who comes in off of a graded stakes victory is Emmanuel, who won the Poker (G3) at Belmont Park on June 10. So High also comes in from graded stakes company; he cuts back in trip after setting the pace and fading to seventh in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth.

The other two runners, both stablemates of Ice Chocolat in the Mark Casse barn, come from non-stakes engagements at the Spa. Full Screen flattened late for fifth in a second-level allowance on July 20, while My Sea Cottage wired a $50,000 starter allowance on July 13.

Fourstardave Handicap Contenders

These are the runners in the 2023 Fourstardave Handicap, in order of their post positions.

1. Emmanuel: After looking like a serious dirt prospect with credible efforts in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Blue Grass (G1) last year, Emmanuel has emerged as a serious turf horse. He has the speed to be a frontrunner, as he showed in the Pennine Ridge (G2) last year, but as he has gotten older, he has shown the ability to stalk or even rally from the rear and still win. This versatility should serve this Todd Pletcher trainee well, given that he is mired on the rail. And, though he is the “B” entrant for the barn behind Annapolis, he does not need a huge step up to run with the leaders.
2. Full Screen: One of three from the Mark Casse barn, he has a lot to prove in this spot. He is a winner in both open and Ontario-bred stakes company at Woodbine last year, but those were against sophomores. In three starts against open allowance company this year, he has yet to hit the board. He has a bit of upside this year, coming second off the lay and coming off a bad trip last out. And, he has tactical speed. But, he has yet to run a race that fits with the top of this group, and it would be surprising to see even the blinker change move him up enough.
3. My Sea Cottage: Another of the three-deep Casse brigade, he comes off of a wire-to-wire win in a $50,000 starter allowance. Note that he is owned by Gary Barber: an owner of Ice Chocolat, as well. He has yet to run a race that puts him in the league of the serious contenders. On paper, My Sea Cottage reads like a rabbit entered to make some space for Ice Chocolat.
4. Annapolis: The conqueror of older in the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) as a sophomore last year, he has returned to a high level this year with a win in the Opening Verse at Churchill Downs in May, followed by a second-place finish behind Casa Creed in the Kelso. He will have to step up to turn the tables last year, or perhaps try to get going a little earlier. But, it’s a positive that Irad Ortiz, Jr. elects to ride him instead of sticking with stablemate Emmanuel. It’s also good news that he is tactical enough to work any kind of trip, and that he has never been worse than second in four races on the grass at Saratoga.
5. So High: The 1 ⅜-mile trip proved too long for him in the United Nations last out, so it makes sense for him to cut back. However, he still has to prove he can cut this far back against this quality of company. He is mostly unproven at a mile, with only one try at the distance, but that was a “set-the-pace-and-fade” effort against a first-level allowance company earlier this year. Expect him to be up front fighting it out with Sea Cottage early, and not a major factor late.
6. Casa Creed: The defending champion looks to be finding his best at just the right time. It’s not as if he has run a bad race this year, even: he started by losing by just a head to Japan-based Bathrat Leon in the 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February. He missed the three-peat in the Jaipur (G1) after that, but was still only a length beaten by the red-hot Caravel in that race. A perfectly-timed move behind a sharp pace got him the jump and the win in the Kelso last out, and a well-timed closing move into likely hot early fractions should make him a formidable foe this time, too.
7. Ice Chocolat: He finished only fourth behind Casa Creed in the Kelso last out, but he has some upside to move forward in this spot. A better start should give us a truer idea of what he can do at the flat mile, and once again, he stands to have a sharp pace to rally into late. He will have to run his best race to be a win candidate, but that would not require an unreasonable step up, and even a match of one of his best efforts (combined with the favorable pace scenario, thanks to a likely rabbit stablemate) puts him in the money.

Fourstardave Handicap FAQ

Q: When is the 2023 Fourstardave Handicap?
A: The 2023 Fourstardave Handicap happens on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Post time is scheduled for 5:44 p.m., and it is the ninth race on the 11-race card.

Q: Where is the Fourstardave Handicap?
A: The Fourstardave Handicap happens at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Fourstardave Handicap?
A: Bill Mott leads all trainers with five wins in the race. His first came in 2000 with Hap, while his most recent came in 2022 with Casa Creed, who Mott sends back out this year.

Q: Who is the favorite for the Fourstardave Handicap?
A: Casa Creed is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the Fourstardave off of a win in the Kelso, while Annapolis is just behind at 8-5 after a good second in that same race. Casa Creed is the most likely morning-line favorite, though take notice if either Annapolis or Poker winner Emmanuel (3-1 on the morning line) take heavy action.

Q: Who is the best Fourstardave Handicap jockey?
A: John Velazquez has won an incredible nine editions of the Fourstardave (or its predecessor, the Daryl’s Joy) between 1992 and 2013. Velazquez is still active, but does not have a call in this year’s Fourstardave. Among jockeys slated to ride the race this year, Luis Saez leads with three wins. He returns this year with Casa Creed.

Q: Who won the Fourstardave Handicap in 2022?
A: Casa Creed won the 2022 Fourstardave for trainer Bill Mott and jockey Luis Saez, and they all return for the title defense.