HORSE RACING: Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Saratoga Derby began life five years ago as part of the New York Racing Association’s Turf Triple, three well-funded turf races for three-year-olds, one each in the spring, summer and fall at New York tracks – that it was hoped would increase American interest in racing and breeding turf horses. It was also hoped that the lucrative purses would result in horses from Europe and elsewhere shipping in. The Saratoga Derby results from 2019-2023 show three US-based winners – two trained by Chad Brown, one by Kiaran McLaughlin) – and one each by Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien (Aidan O’Brien’s son) and Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby.

The morning-line favorite in this year’s Saratoga Derby is Diego Velazquez (2-1), an Irish-bred colt conditioned by Aidan O’Brien. The son of Frankel failed to hit the board in his first three starts of 2024 (including an eighth in the French Derby) but exits a win in Ireland’s Meld Stakes (G3). This will be Diego Velazquez’s first U.S. start.

Godolphin counters with Legend of Time (7-2), a Sea the Stars colt who has a win in the G3 Pennine Ridge and a third-place finish in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational – the first race of the year’s Turf Triple – in three American starts.

The Chad Brown-trained White Palomino is listed at 8-1 despite being beaten only a head in both the Pennine Ridge (by Legend of Time) and Belmont Derby Invitational (by Trikari).

Shug McGaughey’s Cugino is the third choice on the morning line at 3-1. The Twirling Candy colt comes in off an open-lengths win in the ungraded Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs. His best finish in two graded stakes was a nose loss in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland.

Deterministic (6-1), Carson’s Run (8-1), Royal Majesty (12-1) and Izzy d’Oro round out the field of eight sophomore turfers.

Originally Published: August 2, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.