Exotics Plays for the Saratoga Derby

An octet of three-year-olds will travel 1 3/16 miles on the inner lawn at Saratoga in Saturday’s $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1). Two of the last three winners of the lucrative race were European-based runners, and I’m expecting more of the same in 2024. 

Saratoga Derby Wagers

• $12 exacta 4 with 6,7 ($24)
• $2 trifecta key 4 with 6,7 with all ($24)
• $1 trifecta key 4 with all with 6,7 ($12)

#4 Diego Velazquez (2-1) made headlines as a yearling when he brought in excess of $2.8 million, and the son of Frankel has given a few glimpses of why he was so coveted as a youngster in his career. 

A half brother to Irish champion Broome and five-time Group victor Point Lonsdale, the colt comes off a runaway score in the Meld S. (G3) at Leopardstown and seems well spotted for his U.S. debut. 

The Aidan O’Brien pupil should handle the distance well, and it’s a great sign that regular jockey Ryan Moore comes in to pilot him. The three-year-old has shown some early interest on occasion, and the Irish-bred looks like the key to the race. 

#6 Carson’s Run (8-1) dusted some pretty nice horses at Monmouth Park last time while making his second run of the season, and he is intriguing going beyond 1 1/16 miles for the initial time. 

The Christophe Clement trainee ran two sharp races on this turf as a juvenile and could improve even more Saturday while making his third appearance of the year. The Cupid colt posted a quartet of maintenance morning drills in anticipation of the race, and Dylan Davis has a lot of experience on the contender.

#7 Royal Majesty (12-1) is too big of a price to ignore in the heat for Bill Mott. By Frankel, the talented sophomore was just 1 3/4 lengths back in the Belmont Derby (G1) at this distance in his latest offering, and the bay will be right there late with a forward move in his local debut. Junior Alvarado will guide the value contender.