On America's 250th birthday, there will be some fireworks from a lively international battle at Saratoga Race Course.
A field of 10, with two talented overseas shippers, will square off July 4 in the expected final running at the Spa of the $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1T) for 3-year-olds.
With the race slated to return home to Belmont Park next year, Saturday's renewal features an evenly matched contingent of American runners reenacting the Revolutionary War against formidable rivals who have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean.
The visitors in the 1 1/8-mile turf test are led by Will Stroud and the Coolmore partners' Title Role, who arrives on American shores after winning the May 25 German Two Thousand Guineas (G2) at Cologne-Weidenpesch Racecourse.
Trained by the father-son duo of Simon and Ed Crisford—though entered at Saratoga under only the elder Crisford's name—the Too Darn Hot colt has captured four of seven starts, including the Jumeirah Two Thousand Guineas in Dubai earlier this year. But he has yet to race beyond a mile.
"He's always shown to be quite a decent horse and then when he came to Dubai, he did super well. He won those races and improved throughout the whole winter," Ed Crisford said. "He's just a very straightforward individual and likes turning tracks, especially over quick-ish ground, as he's the sort of horse who's quite nimble and well balanced. We didn't really feel like there was anything for him at (Royal) Ascot, so we made the Belmont Derby the aim."
Trainer Charlie Appleby has sent over Godolphin's Pacific Avenue, who was third in the prestigious Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
The homebred son of Dubawi was second in the Jumeirah Two Thousand Guineas, a length behind Title Role.
This will also be his first race beyond a mile.
The home team features Mo Speed Racing's West End Kid, who collected a third straight victory, taking the June 4 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at the Spa, the local prep race for the Belmont Derby.
That was the stakes debut for the son of Twirling Candy , bred by Fred Hertrich III and trained by William Walden.
"This is the logical spot in the progression of his races. He hasn't done anything wrong since his first start. We're excited to see him out there," Walden said. "He's a good-feeling 3-year-old colt. I feel like, it is not a certainty, but it is possible that holding him down and waiting for another race in six weeks would do him more harm than good. When they tell you they are ready to run, I've learned that you are best to just run them."
Trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz teamed to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) with Golden Tempo and they will try to add the Belmont Derby to that list with C R K Stable's Remember Mamba.
The Kitten's Joy colt rallied from 12th to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile American Turf Stakes (G1T) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs and should benefit from the added distance Saturday.
Gary Barber's Blackmail (Not This Time ) and Dahman's Bottas (Vekoma ), who were second and third, respectively, in the Pennine Ridge, will return to face West End Kid again in Saturday's grade 1 test.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 4, 2026, Race 9Entries: Belmont Derby S. (G1T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Blackmail (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Mark E. Casse 12/1 2 2Bottas (KY) Manuel Franco 122 Miguel Clement 10/1 3 3Remember Mamba (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Cherie DeVaux 7/2 4 4Third Coast (KY) Jose Lezcano 122 Thomas F. Proctor 20/1 5 5Turf Star (KY) Dylan Davis 122 H. Graham Motion 30/1 6 6Pacific Avenue (IRE) William Buick 122 Charles Appleby 6/1 7 7Tiernanogue (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Brendan P. Walsh 10/1 8 8West End Kid (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 William Walden 3/1 9 9Title Role (GB) John R. Velazquez 122 Simon Crisford 5/1 10 10Touch of Fire (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Brad H. Cox 5/1
