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The first weekend of August brings an exciting slate of Breeders’ Cup Challenge races, highlighted by the Grade 1 Whitney and the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Racecourse on August 2nd. These races offer a preview of potential upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic and Mile contenders.
Saratoga’s Saturday card includes the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, a turf race for three-year-olds covering just over 1 3/16 miles, alongside the G2 Saratoga Special, a 6½ furlong sprint for two-year-olds. Sunday’s events feature the G2 Troy Stakes for older turf sprinters over 5½ furlongs and the G3 Adirondack Stakes, a 6½ furlong race for two-year-old fillies.
At Del Mar, the mile-long G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes for Distaff mares takes center stage, spotlighting standout sprinter Kopion Gauge. This race is an important Breeders’ Cup Challenge event for the Distaff division. Ellis Park also hosts Kentucky Downs Preview weekend, offering seven races across two days, including the return of G1 winner East Avenue in the G3 West Virginia Derby.
In the Fourstardave Stakes at 3:52 PM at Saratoga, California-based Miller Johannes faces off against top turf specialists from the East Coast. Johannes, who finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, will contend with this year’s G1 winners Decisionistic and Spirit of St. Louis, alongside a French turf import trained by Chad Brown.
At 5:41 PM, the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga attracts the nation’s best older horses. The competition includes the fierce G1 Travers winner Sierra Leone, who also won the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and other heavyweights like the 2023 Whitney winner and champion Highland Falls. Mind Frame, the G1 Stephen Foster winner, is entered but may scratch depending on fitness.
Del Mar’s 9:30 PM G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes features Kopion, winner of the G1 Derby City Distaff, leading a strong seven-horse field. Spendthrift Farm-bred Royal Spa, a G3 winner shipping in from Kentucky, and Little Hiddenport, making her U.S. debut after success in Argentina, also highlight the race.
This report was originally published by the Paulick Report on July 31, 2025.
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Fan Take: This weekend’s line-up is a thrilling showcase of top-tier talent that offers a glimpse into the stars shaping the upcoming Breeders’ Cup events. Horse racing fans should watch closely, as these races could redefine the hierarchy of this season’s elite runners and add memorable chapters to the sport’s storied history.
