Saratoga’s Fourstardave Handicap (G1) Takes Center Stage This Weekend
The prestigious Fourstardave Handicap (G1), a $500,000 turf mile event, will be the highlight of the racing weekend at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, August 11. This race offers an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile for the winner, making it a crucial stop on the road to the prestigious fall championship.
Originally run as the Daryl’s Joy Stakes, the race was renamed in 1996 to honor the local favorite, Fourstardave, who won the event in both 1990 and 1991. The Fourstardave Handicap has a rich history of producing Breeders’ Cup Mile winners, with champions such as Lure, Da Hoss, Wise Dan (twice), Tourist, and World Approval all having won this prestigious race.
This Year’s Edition
This year’s edition has drawn a field of six contenders after the scratch of Master of the Seas due to a foot bruise. The morning-line favorite is Ottoman Fleet (8-5), trained by Charlie Appleby, who brings a strong pedigree of graded and group stakes victories, including success over soft ground. However, the mile distance may prove a new challenge for the five-year-old.
Trainer Chad Brown’s Carl Spackler (9-5) is the second choice and looks poised for a breakthrough at the Grade 1 level. With three graded stakes wins already, including the recent Kelso Stakes at Saratoga, Carl Spackler has shown the talent to handle this elite competition.
Rounding out the field is Strong Quality (8-1), trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse. While the Manhattan (G1) was a disappointing effort, the shorter mile distance and potential for wet conditions may play to Strong Quality’s strengths, as evidenced by his near-miss in the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) over soft ground earlier this year.
“This year’s Fourstardave Handicap promises to be an exciting showdown on the Saratoga turf. Don’t miss the chance to witness the crowning of the next Breeders’ Cup Mile contender.”
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