Best in the West Fresh off his first graded stakes triumph, Mo Speed Racing’s West End Kid looks to provide the fireworks in Saturday’s $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1T) at Saratoga. The 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy–To A Friend found his rhythm following a fourth-placed professional debut on February 8, rattling off three consecutive tallies, headlined by a 1 ¼-length Pennine Ridge (G3T) victory on June 4, also at Saratoga. Trained by William Walden, West End Kid has generated nearly $305,000 in earnings. Slotted into post eight of 10, the bay opens Belmont Derby betting as the narrow 3-1 choice. The Extra Point is… Fitz Right returns to Saratoga this Saturday eyeing a record-extending seventh $600,000 Belmont Oaks (G1T) crown for conditioner Chad Brown. Unbeaten through three starts this season, the sophomore Charlatan filly upped the degree of difficulty recently with a Memories of Silver Stakes score on April 26 and a well-earned Wonder Again (G3T) tally on June 5 at Saratoga. Closing in on $302,000 in total purse earnings for an ownership group led by Michael Dubb, Fitz Right (6:4-1-0) can add to those totals at 6-1 heading into 1 1/8-mile Belmont Oaks. Worth the Wait After missing out on last year’s Suburban (G2) by a head to Phileas Fogg, Antiquarian gets a second shot at his rival in the 2026 renewal of the $500,000 affair this Saturday at Saratoga. A three-time graded stakes winner for owner Centennial Farms, the 5-year-old son of Preservationist–Lifetime Memory put forth a valiant effort but came up painstakingly short in the 1 ¼-mile main track tilt. Now, Antiquarian, and his 5-3-0 line from 12 starts ($1,170,350) is back for revenge against his old foe. Standing at 3-1 on the morning line, the Todd Pletcher trainee holds the early advantage over Phileas Fogg, who enters at 8-1. Three for Me Topping the $200,000 Great Lady M (G2) at Los Alamitos Racecourse has become an annual tradition for Sweet Azteca, who eyes her third straight victory in the 6 ½-furlong sprint this Saturday. Pamela Ziebarth’s homebred superstar began her stretch of Great Lady M dominance with a five-length decision in 2024, one-upping herself with a record-setting gate-to-wire tally the following year (1:14.32). Ready for her season debut after compiling a 7-0-1 record and over $667,000 in prizes from nine starts, the 6-year-old Sharp Azteca mare most recently captured the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) on August 24, 2025, at Del Mar. Sweet Azteca unsurprisingly paces the early wagering at 3-5. Tip of the Cap Less than one month after capturing his first graded badge in the $300,000 Poker (G3T), Pass the Hat is hungry for seconds. The chestnut, bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s B. Flay Thoroughbreds, returns to Saratoga this Sunday for a rematch with veteran turf titan Zulu Kingdom (IRE) in the $225,000 Kelso (G3T). Triumphant by a nose at 10-1 while Zulu Kingdom landed in third as the Poker’s 2-5 favourite, Pass the Hat has been a reliable, gritty performer for Pin Oak Stud with a 4-1-2 line from 10 starts. Trained by Bill Mott, the 5-year-old son of Collected–Veronique has earned north of $344,000. At 6-1, Pass the Hat again cedes the early advantage to Zulu Kingdom (5-2). Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
