2023 Saratoga Derby Preview

The New York Racing Association Turf Triple continues Saturday, August 5, at Saratoga Race Course with the Saratoga Derby Invitational, a Grade 1, $600,000 race for sophomore turf horses. The 1 3/16-mile race drew a field of nine runners: eight males plus Aspen Grove, the Belmont Oaks (G1) winner, who will try males for the first time in her career.

Far Bridge, who won the Belmont Derby (G1) at 1 ¼ miles on July 8, will try to win the second leg of the series. The third and final leg, the 1 ½-mile Jockey Club Derby (G3), will happen at Aqueduct on October 7. That race typically happens at Belmont, but that fall meet is again being contested in Queens.

2023 Saratoga Derby Information

• Race Date: Saturday, August 5
• Track: Saratoga Race Course
• Post Time: 5:01 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
• Distance: 1 3/16 miles
• Age/Sex: three-year-olds
• Where to Watch: TVG.com, Fox Sports
• Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing

Saratoga Derby Draw and Odds

This is the nine-horse field for the Saratoga Derby, including post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds:

Saratoga Derby Prep Race Results

Horses come into the Saratoga Derby from seven different races. Two different graded stakes races served as preps for this race. The Belmont Derby, the first race in the Turf Triple series, sends three of its runners here. Far Bridge, who rallied to win by a length, leads this contingent. Third-place Mondego, a length behind Far Bridge (and only a nose out of second), presses on with the series as does Webslinger, who overcame a wide trip to be only another half-length back in fourth.

The only other to come out of a graded stakes is Aspen Grove, who won the Saratoga Oaks Invitational last out and will face males for the first time in this spot.

Two other runners come out of handicap company in Europe. Lion of War was most recently second in the Golden Gates handicap on June 24 at Royal Ascot, while The Franchise won a handicap at The Curragh on June 30.

Program Trading won a first-level allowance against sophomores last out at Belmont, while Battle of Normandy was second in a first-level allowance that included older at Pimlico. Rounding out the field is Truly Quality, who leaps up to Grade 1 company out of a maiden special weight win at Belmont on July 7.

Saratoga Derby Contenders

These are the eleven runners in the 2023 Saratoga Derby, in order of their post position.

1. Mondego: This Christophe Clement trainee acquitted himself well in his stakes debut, setting the pace in the Belmont Derby and crossing the wire third, only a length behind the more seasoned Far Bridge despite having to steady late. The rail draw forces her to send to the front anyway, and leaves him hoping for a good break. But, if he can beat Program Trading to the lead, he will be the one they have to catch in the lane.
2. Program Trading: This Chad Brown trainee has made his way through his maiden and first-level allowance conditions and makes his stakes debut in this tough spot. In a race without a lot of speed, it is nice that he has some, and being drawn outside of Mondego (the only other real speed), he could get a good outside pressing trip. He has the talent and he comes from the right barn, but Chad Brown horses can get overbet, and he cedes a lot of seasoning to his foes.
3. Aspen Grove: In the Belmont Oaks, she was a perfect example of the old trope that European big-race also-rans can make excellent American turf horses: she is an Irish Group 3 winner who came up flat in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1), but rallied from midfield to post a smart score at Belmont. She didn’t have to sit back too far from the pace, she finished well into a downright sluggish pace, and she stayed the distance. The slight turnback and the likely modest pace should be no problem, making her an appealing value horse in this spot.
4. The Franchise: He broke his maiden last out in a handicap at The Curragh; it was his fifth career start but his first try over a mile. His pedigree gives him upside for the stretch out, and in 2021 Joseph O’Brien won this race with longshot State of Rest: a last-out winner of a minor race at The Curragh. Even so, State of Rest had more experience, including at the Group level, something The Franchise lacks.
5. Far Bridge: He was starting to look like an underneath type against these types of horses after second-place finishes in the American Turf (G2) and the Pennine Ridge (G2), but stepped into the limelight with a score in the Belmont Derby last time out. The pace was not swift, and yet he was still able to rally for the win after sitting toward the rear early. That ability could help him this time as well, with a modest-at-best pace likely, though the slight turnback in trip is a slight knock since he may be better going as long as possible.
6. Webslinger: Nothing went quite right for him last out: he was at the rear early, he had a wide trip, he got bumped around … and yet, he still finished fourth, beaten only 1 ½ lengths in the Belmont Derby. A win in the American Turf (G2) on Kentucky Derby day backs up the class he showed last out. A better trip—very likely in this smaller field, especially since he is versatile enough to sit closer to the pace if he needs—means he has a serious chance in this spot.
7. Battle of Normandy: The most interesting thing about Battle of Normandy is the fact that the often-cautious Shug McGaughey sees fit to run him here. He has not won since a debut maiden win at Saratoga last year, so he has shown ability over the course. However, he keeps finding runners too good not only in stakes company, but also in a pair of first-level allowance starts this year. The lack of early pace also compromises his later-running style.
8. Lion of War: He has class to prove in his first American attempt. He has tried Group-level company once in Europe, but that off-the-board finish can hardly be considered, given that it came over a year ago in a seven-furlong sprint. His last two starts in 1 ¼-mile handicaps have been strong, and he finished second, beaten only ½ length at that level in one at Royal Ascot last out. Even at the handicap level, those can tend a bit tougher than a usual weekday afternoon race, even if it isn’t a stakes.
9. Truly Quality: The only horse in the field who has yet to face winners, this Jonathan Thomas trainee won third-time out in a maiden special at Belmont on July 7, going 1 ¼. So, at least he has shown the stamina to try a spot like this, and he is improving with distance and seasoning. He also keeps leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. from that maiden win, always a good thing to see at Saratoga. He needs another step forward from that outing, though, and he has yet to prove he can run a winning race without some real pace unfolding in front of him.

Saratoga Derby FAQ

Q: When is the Saratoga Derby?
A: The Saratoga Derby happens Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 5:49 Eastern Daylight Time.

Q: Where is the Saratoga Derby?
A: The race happens at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is the 9th out of 12 races on the card, and one of three Grade 1 events.

Q: Which trainer has the most wins in the Saratoga Derby?
A: The Saratoga Derby has only been run four times, and no trainer has won it more than once. Two trainers in the 2023 edition have won the race before. Chad Brown, who trained 2020 winner Domestic Spending, brings Program Trading this year. Joseph O’Brien, trainer of 2021’s upset winner State of Rest, sends out The Franchise.

Q: Who is the favorite for the Saratoga Derby?
A: Off a victory in the Belmont Derby, Far Bridge is the morning-line favorite. Given that signature win and his strong form leading into that race, he should be a defined favorite in this field.

Q: Who is the best Saratoga Derby jockey?
A: No jockey has yet won the Saratoga Derby more than once. Among riders in the 2023 edition, Luis Saez (The Franchise), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (Truly Quality), and John Velazquez (Aspen Grove) have each won once.

Q: Who won the Saratoga Derby in 2022?
A: Charlie Appleby won the 2022 Saratoga Derby with Nations Pride. Neither he nor jockey William Buick return for the 2023 edition of the race.