How to bet the 2024 Hopeful Stakes

Nine fine prospects will jaunt seven-eighths on the Saratoga dirt in Monday’s $300,000 Hopeful S. (G1). The closing-day feature attracted a few juvenile colts who were especially impressive on the surface in their debut outings, and I’m expecting each to run big once again.

Hopeful Wagers

• $25 exacta: 2 with 8 ($25)
• $12 exacta: 8 with 2 ($12)
• $2 trifecta key: 2 with 3,7,8 ($12)

The Gustavo Delgado-trained #2 Ferocious was arguably the best debut winner at the meeting when he dominated a maiden special weight field on Aug. 3. By Flatter, the colt was purchased for a whopping $1.3 million at OBS in March and gave indication why he commanded such a hefty price in his unveiling.

Ferocious had a tricky rail post, combined with a slow start, but he recovered quickly to rate off of a clear leader to the top of the lane in the six-furlong dash. He found another gear in the stretch, as well, while pulling away with ease en route to a 7 3/4-length romp when registering a hefty 99 Brisnet Speed figure. While that performance came over a muddy, sealed strip, the two-year-old was still very professional and quite explosive, and he rates a big chance with any kind of forward move off of that showing. Javier Castellano retains the ride.

Conditioner Chad Brown has a pair of precocious ones in the contest, led by #8 Chancer McPatrick. The pricey $725,000 juvenile purchase was last early in his six-furlong debut, and he had just one horse beaten approaching the turn for home, but the February foal put in a superb late run to take the race in going-away fashion under today’s pilot Flavien Prat. The bay colt has posted a trio of nice morning drills in the interim, and while his running style is not often advantageous on the course, I still think that this is a very talented runner with a lot of room for improvement for a fine second-out trainer.

D. Wayne Lukas’ #3 Innovator ran into a good-looking colt when a clear second most recently, and he has appeal for the exotics at a nice price. The $900,000 son of Authentic will be in the mix from the start under Manny Franco. #7 Mentee, a full-brother to champion and recent Travers (G1) hero Fierceness, led at every call in his debut at Aqueduct on June 15 and could be dangerous with an expected forward move. John Velazquez has the call.