After an unsuccessful trip to Royal Ascot in June, sophomore turf sprinter Outfielder is back in America and ready to reassert himself atop the division in the $225,000 Mahony Stakes (G3T) Aug. 16 at Saratoga Race Course.
The son of Speightstown was outpaced when traveling a straight 6 furlongs in the June 19 Commonwealth Cup Stakes (G1), finishing 10th while beaten 6 1/4 lengths. Hall of Famer John Velazquez now returns to the saddle for trainer Wesley Ward as Outfielder shortens back to 5 1/2 furlongs and a turn.
Racing for Amo Racing USA, Two Eight Racing, and Ward, Outfielder is a perfect 4-for-4 sprinting in America and picked up two stakes wins to start his season before traveling overseas.
Outfielder will have to field challenges from six quality opponents, including the winner of the last 3-year-old turf sprint stakes at Saratoga: Mark Dobbin's Learntodiscover. The British-bred son of Havana Grey unleashed a devastating turn of foot in the stretch to close from last and win the July 19 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) by a neck under Tyler Gaffalione.
The win was his first in four starts since moving to the United States from Ireland and joining Brendan Walsh's barn.
"He's been improving every run over here," Walsh said in the Quick Call winner's circle. "I think sometimes when they come here, they need a couple of races to adjust to the style. I could see him gradually doing it."
West Point Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, and Kenneth and Gail Beitz's graded stakes-winning Intricate Spirit exits a fifth-place finish in the Quick Call and is one of two entered by trainer Miguel Clement Sunday. The other is LJSS Thoroughbreds' Big Destroyer, who exited a debut maiden win to finish second in the My Frenchman Stakes July 11 at Monmouth Park over Sunday's 5 1/2-furlong distance.
Winning the My Frenchman was Tristar Farm's Rebel With a Cause for trainer Lauren Robson. The son of Leinster , who was fourth behind Outfielder in the May 9 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs, stalked the pace at Monmouth and moved forward for a 1 1/4-length win. Javier Castellano takes the saddle for the first time as he breaks from the rail.
Michael McLoughlin's Oscar's Hope will make his first career start on grass Sunday for Kinnon LaRose. The dual stakes winner was most recently sixth in the 7-furlong Maxfield Stakes (G3), his graded debut, June 28 at Churchill Downs. Although the Mahony's distance will be his shortest race to date in his 11th start, LaRose is willing to switch things up with the Twirling Candy colt after he worked well on the Oklahoma training track turf course this summer.
"We were able to work him over the Oklahoma course twice, trying something different with him," LaRose said. "It's an experiment. It's certainly a small field, but a tough race. He's handled the grass well in the morning so we're willing to give him a shot. He looks like he's got some grass in his pedigree, so a little change of surface might not hurt him."
The Quick Call was the turf debut for Kaleem Shah's Stradale, and he ran well to finish fourth, beaten 3 lengths from off the pace. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sticks with the grass for the son of Yaupon in the Mahony.
Saratoga Race Course, Sunday, August 16, 2026, Race 9Entries: Mahony S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Rebel With a Cause (FL) Javier Castellano 122 Lauren Robson 8/1 2 2Outfielder (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Wesley A. Ward 1/1 3 3Oscar's Hope (KY) Junior Alvarado 122 Kinnon LaRose 8/1 4 4Intricate Spirit (KY) Manuel Franco 124 Miguel Clement 6/1 5 5Big Destroyer (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Miguel Clement 5/1 6 6Learntodiscover (GB) Tyler Gaffalione 124 Brendan P. Walsh 6/1 7 7Stradale (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Steven M. Asmussen 8/1
