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Thursday afternoon’s card in Saratoga that starts at 12:35 PM eastern is headlined by a trio of graded stakes races spread over the 11-race slate. Of the three, the Intercontinental (G2) over the grass is the one that intrigues the most. Here are a few horses I plan to build my Day 2 of the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival around.
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Race 1:
My best bet of the afternoon comes in the lid lifter where I love the chances of second-time starter #6 Margie’s Girl. The $345k FTK July ’25 purchase was not expected to take much money in her first start based on human connections and other data, but took a ton of support at the windows suggesting there was more to her than one might think. The daughter of Vekoma broke well in Louisville at first asking, but was outsprinted early forcing jockey Luan Machado to make a wide before she was able to find her best stride late. A big move forward should be expected with the start under her belt and a rider switch to the hottest rider on the continent. Hopefully, the Kenny McPeek trainee can start the day off the right way in this 5.5-furlong dash over the main track.
Play: #6 Margie’s Girl (3-1 ML)
Race 2: Jersey Girl
The lone non-graded stakes event on the Thursday slate is this 6-furlong dash for 3YO filly sprinters where #6 Mythical is expected to go off the prohibitive favorite. The Florida-bred heads back to New York after rattling off a pair of easy victories at Gulfstream Park this spring for trainer Jorge Delgado. There is no doubt the daughter of St Patrick’s Day is the one to beat, but I will take a swing against her with #4 Paige Turner. The Cherie DeVaux trainee was clearly well-meant in her first race off the layoff on May 1 at Churchill Downs, but it was #1 Carmel Coast who got the jump and had no desire in stopping. Carmel Coast also returns in this spot, but draws the rail and should have things a bit tougher in the early stages. This would bode well for the $350k OBS March ’25 purchase that has done little wrong thus far through four starts. Paige Turner is a filly I have always been extremely high on and should be the best price of her career since being sent off at 6-1 over this surface last August on debut.
Play: #4 Paige Turner (4-1 ML)
Race 8: Intercontinental (G3)
My final play of the afternoon comes in this aforementioned 5.5-furlong turf dash for older fillies and mares where 3-1-ML favorite #3 In Our Time (pictured) should be a tough customer. The daughter of Not This Time cut back in distance in April in the Giant’s Causeway (G2) at Keeneland after a pair of starts against quality competition going two-turns. Saffie Joseph Jr. turned to jockey Flavien Prat in Kentucky last out and it paid dividends. Prat found a perfect spot early after breaking well and cruised home to an easy victory in the end. Often times fading runners off favorable trips can be a winning strategy, but In Our Time projects to get the same trip here against a field she should be able to handle. I will key her on top in verticals and single her in late horizontals.
Play: #3 In Our Time (3-1 ML)
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