How to bet the 2023 Birdstone Stakes

A total of seven horses will travel a daunting 1 3/4 miles on the Saratoga dirt in Thursday’s $150,000 Birdstone S. Two multiple graded stakes winners will lead the cast, and it’s difficult to look past the top duo.

I’ll give the slight nod to the Robertino Diodoro-trained #6 Lone Rock (7-2) in the marathon. By Majestic Warrior, the eight-year-old really elevated his game when stretching out to these extended trips, and while he hasn’t been razor-sharp from two tries this campaign, I expect him to deliver his best against this cast. The bay gelding was a good third in the race while making his 2022 finale and has trained forwardly in advance of his return to the Spa, putting in an octet of morning moves while preparing for this contest.

Lone Rock loves to be forwardly placed, and he could sit a dream trip while in third early behind a pair of speedsters. Luis Saez picking up the mount is a major bonus, in my opinion.

#7 Next (4-5) has turned out to be a fantastic claim for conditioner William Cowans. The gray gelding has earned a pair of Grade 2 victories from his last trio of assignments, led by a fine, 2 1/4-length score in the Brooklyn S. (G2) at Belmont Park last time out. The Not This Time five-year-old has surely found his niche since moving to marathon events and also possesses the early speed to take the race to his foes early on, as well.

The Kentucky-bred has yet to run locally, he draws widest in the field, and the local inexperience of his pilot Luan Machado all make him worth trying to defeat as the short-priced favorite, though. He will be used in all exotics wagers, nonetheless.

The Jeff Hiles-trained #5 Time for Trouble (10-1) shows a 5-3-1-0 line on the dirt and was game in defeating a solid allowance field at Keeneland two races back, earning a hefty 109 Brisnet Late Pace figure while running nine furlongs. The chestnut gelding is bred top and bottom to thrive at a distance of this nature, and he seems like a decent option for those seeking an upset with Ricardo Santana Jr. taking the reins.

Birdstone Wagers

$30 win: #6 Lone Rock ($30)

$5 trifecta box: 5, 6, 7 ($30)