How to bet the 2024 Ballston Spa Stakes

Conditioner Chad Brown has two of the four fillies entered for the lawn in the $200,000 Ballston Spa S. (G2) at Saratoga on Thursday. 

Of the four females from his mighty shed row, I’m going to side with the longest price of the quartet in #3 Delahaye (4-1). By Medaglia d’Oro, the four-year-old didn’t run her best race at Monmouth last time out. However, she has an affinity for a surface with some give in it that she should receive in this affair. 

Ballston Spa Wagers

• $30 win #3 Delahaye ($30)
• $12 exacta 3 with 5 ($12)

The lightly raced filly has yet to run at Saratoga but brings a level of class and consistency to the field, even if she hasn’t faced the deepest of competition leading up to this affair. 

This $550,000 yearling purchase has been quite good in 2024 while compiling a 5-3-0-2 line, and her clear third in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day might have been the best of the five. 

Delahaye likes a target to run at, but she also has the gate presence to be in range early on, and she should sit in second or third while always close in this race. 

The dark bay is a sterling 4-for-4 at the distance and should make it five in succession at the trip against this talented group. Tyler Gaffalione has the assignment. 

#5 Gina Romantica (9-5), a dual Grade 1 heroine, has improved with each attempt in 2024 and gets a long look in this one from the outside post. 

The Brown pupil closed last season with a one-length setback in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). While she has yet to regain her form of 2023, the Into Mischief mare showed signs of last season when a close third in the deep Diana (G1) locally last time out. 

She lacks the consistency of her foes in the affair, but the morning-line choice can be very good on her best day. This appears to be a fine spot for her in her fourth run off the shelf. Flavien Prat taking the reins adds to her appeal.