Check out my Friday (7-10-26) Saratoga Race Course Race 4 analysis below.
SAR 4 (OC-55k/1x, 8.5T) – Post Time 2:47 PM ET
Primary – #6 ELNAJD, #4 Favorable Scenario
Secondary – #7 Golden Channel, #2 Thirteen Colonies
Horse Comments:
#6 Elnajd (5-2) ran well in his first three dirt sprints. He moved to turf, stretched out, and had an uncomfortable start and trip at 8T June 6 (broke out and bumped, lost footing/stumbled/lost iron). He ended up 5th of 12 and was beaten less than 5 lengths last time. Dam has tossed two winners and his new rider Manny Franco is 24% with Brad Cox (33% with second route runners).
#4 Favorable Scenario (9-5) graduated in a local flat mile turf race last summer, and he was 4th and 2nd in his next two turf routes. He raced wide from post 11 and was off the board on synthetic ground Jan. 16, and he rallied for the place in a local entry level allowance affair at 8T June 6. Flavien Prat sticks with Chad Brown’s lightly raced 6-year-old gelding and he will try to get involved from off the pace.
#7 Golden Channel (7-2) was part of the trifecta in 5 of his last 6 starts and missed by a head and a neck in 2 of 3 starts this year. Jose Ortiz is his new pilot and he should be forwardly placed.
#2 Thirteen Colonies (6-1) has not been seen since September 2025 and this is his first start as a gelding. He landed the place in his lone local outing and fired in all three starts at 8.5T (3 1-1-1). He drilled a bullet for this July 8 and Ricardo Santana, Jr. is 2-for-4 with Phil Antonacci.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta box 4-6
Trifecta 4-6/2-4-6-7/2-4-6-7
July 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
July 1 – Kappa Kappa ($2.20)
July 3 – Anyway ($5.34)
July 5 – Capricious Outcome ($3.26)
July 6 – Corona de Oro ($5.78), Exacta ($29.08)
July 8 – Drive by Johnny ($2.20), Trifecta ($33.80)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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