Fourstardave was one of the most beloved horses to compete at Saratoga. He won the hearts and wallets of fans at the Spa by winning at least one race at the track every season from 1987-1994.
Buried at Saratoga, Fourstardave is honored with a race in his name. This year’s edition of the $750,000 Fourstardave Stakes (G1) on Saturday is a fitting tribute to the departed hero with a star-studded lineup set for the 1-mile turf test. In addition to the prestige that comes with winning a Grade 1 at Saratoga, the Fourstardave also offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in October at Keeneland.
The consideration of leading contenders must start with Deterministic, back to defend his victory in last year’s Fourstardave. Deterministic is one of four Grade 1 winners in the field along with Rhetorical, Zulu Kingdom and the filly Classic Q.
Now 5, Deterministic has won his last five outings -- all stakes -- including the Manhattan Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. He loves the course with a record of 3-0-1 in four races here.
Trainer Miguel Clement dismisses concerns about the cutback in distance from the 1 3/16-mile Manhattan to this 1-mile spot.
“He’s giving us every indication yet again that he is set for a very big performance,” said Clement. “Everyone is worried about the cutback in distance. They said the same last year, and he was very impressive when he won the Fourstardave. I think when they are that good, distance doesn’t become a limitation. You are able to both stretch them out and cut them back, and they’re still able to perform at the highest level.”
There is no question Deterministic is very good, but he is not the only streaker in this race. Lagynos has also won five straight stakes, including the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, his latest triumph. He was seventh to Deterministic in last year’s Fourstardave.
If you are looking for the pace in the race, look no further than Rhetorical on the rail. He set the fractions in the Manhattan, finishing fourth only 1 1/4 lengths behind Deterministic.
The reigning New York-bred Horse of the Year, Rhetorical wore an aluminum pad in the Manhattan to protect a tender foot.
“He ran his tail off. He did the big body of the work up front and took nothing away from him – he gave everything he had, and I think he ran a terrific race in defeat,” said trainer Will Walden.
On the opposite end of the projected pace scenario stands Capitol Hill, a closer who would love to see ambitious fractions up front to set the stage for his stretch rally. His trainer, Bill Mott, has won this race a record six times.
Never count out Zulu Kingdom, 8-for-11 in his stellar career. He most recently dead-heated for the win in Mi Bago (who is also in the race) in the Kelso Stakes (G3) here last month. He loves this course with a record of 3-0-1 in five tries on the Saratoga lawn, and a grass mile suits him perfectly (4-0-1 in seven races).
And the filly Classic Q is no slouch as she looks to build on her victory in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) here in June.
It’s a high-quality group of seven, and Clement summed it up succinctly: “This is a small field, but a spectacularly good one in terms of their ratings. This will be a great betting race for sure.”
Post time for the Fourstardave, race 10, 5:14 p.m. ET. The race is one of the featured undercard events leading up to the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1), featuring a star-studded field of eight including Magnitude, Sovereignty and the filly Nitrogen.
Which brings us to selection time for the Fourstardave:
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhetorical | I Ortiz, Jr. | W Walden | 5/2 |
| 2 | Mi Bago | L Saez | M E Casse | 12/1 |
| 3 | Zulu Kingdom | F Prat | C C Brown | 7/2 |
| 4 | Classic Q | J R Velazquez | M E Casse | 8/1 |
| 5 | Deterministic | K Carmouche | M Clement | 2/1 |
| 6 | Capitol Hill | J Alvarado | W I Mott | 10/1 |
| 7 | Lagynos | J L Ortiz | S M Asmussen | 5/1 |
| 8 | Gran Oriente | P Lopez | S A Joseph, Jr. | 10/1 |
Last Updated on 08/03/2026
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
