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Battle of the sexes looms in the Fourstardave at Saratoga

By NY Hot List Staff // Friday, August 13, 2021

While the Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington will be a focus of attention in the Midwest, closer to home at Saratoga another Grade 1 turf stakes will feature a lively battle of the sexes. Among a field of eight in the Fourstardave Handicap, there are three females lined up to take on the guys. One is Got Stormy, who won the 2019 Fourstardave, and another is Blowout, who has seven wins and has never been off the board in 12 career starts. The other is Daddy Is a Legend. How will they fare Saturday? That will be an interesting question to answer in a field that includes the multiple grade 1 winner Raging Bull.

Here’s the Hot List picks for the Fourstardave.

Saratoga, Saturday, Race 10, the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1):

(1) Raging Bull is back to his top form with two excellent efforts this year. His first start of 2021 was a two-length win at Keeneland in the Makers Mark Mile (G1) that earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. In the Poker (G3) he was a head behind in a 103 BSF race. Chad Brown will try and win the Fourstardave for the first time in his career. (5) Set Piece, like so many others, has found his best form for trainer Brad Cox. He won his last three starts which includes the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill going 1 1/16 miles. His last two wins have earned 100 BSFs. This is the hardest field that Set Piece has yet to face. (8) Blowout is one of three older mares that are taking on the boys in the Fourstardave. She uses her speed to win from the front including the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) under the Twin Spires in her last start. She is from the same connections as Raging Bull and she might be in the race to make sure that there is a fast pace for him. Brown has used this strategy in big races before. However, speed is dangerous on the turf and if she gets loose on the lead, she could be a threat to win. (7) Field Pass won a Grade 3 for Mike Maker in his last start and these days at Saratoga, Maker is a threat with all of his horses.

Analysis of the other NY Hot List races and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.