The True North Stakes (G3) is a longstanding sprint feature and traditionally run around Belmont Stakes weekend. The race has been contested since the 1970s (with earlier roots) and has produced several standout sprinters.
Notable winners include champions and top sprinters such as Phone Trick (1986), Groovy (1987), Dancing Spree (1989) Speightstown (2004), Benny the Bull (2008), Roy H (2017), Jackie’s Warrior (2022), Elite Power (2023), Baby Yoda (2024), and recent defenders like last year’s Eclipse Award winner Book’em Danno (2025).
It has often served as a key prep or target for horses eyeing the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Champions and Grade 1 winners filled the entry box.
For the 2026 renewal on Saturday, the field features several proven Grade 1-level sprinters returning from strong 2025 campaigns and international efforts, including Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Bentornato (8-5) and Book’em Danno (2-1).
The True North is one of seven graded stakes on Saturday at Saratoga; the six others are at the Grade 1 level, including the $2 million Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown.
| 2026 Belmont Stakes Odds | ||
| Official post positions set following the post-position draw on Monday, June 1, 2026. | ||
| PP | Horse / Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitruvian ManAntonio Fresu · D. O'Neill | 30/1 |
| 2 | PowershiftLuis Saez · T. Pletcher | 12/1 |
| 3 | Chief WallabeeJunior Alvarado · W. Mott | 3/1 |
| 4 | RenegadeIrad Ortiz Jr. · T. Pletcher | 2/1 |
| 5 | OttinhoDylan Davis · C. Brown | 20/1 |
| 6 | Growth EquityManny Franco · C. Brown | 12/1 |
| 7 | CommandmentJohn Velazquez · B. Cox | 6/1 |
| 8 | Emerging MarketFlavien Prat · C. Brown | 6/1 |
| 9 | Golden TempoJose Ortiz · C. DeVaux | 9/2 |
Last Updated on 06/01/2026
The Derek Ryan-trained Book’em Danno (2-1) gets the slight nod here as he won this race last year and is 4-for-5 at Saratoga, including 3-for-3 in 2025. The 5-year-old New Jersey-bred is a high-class stalker/closer with tactical speed who regularly churns out impressively high speed figures in addition to stunning graded stakes wins.
He dominated at Saratoga last year as he won the True North, the Alfred G Vanderbilt Stakes (G2), and the Forego Stakes (G1). He skipped the Breeders’ Cup -- his connections chose to rest the Bucchero gelding and protest the lengthy suspension handed down to his jockey, Paco Lopez.
“He likes that track. He seems to like the summer air up there,” Ryan said. “I didn’t think we’d be running him in all three last summer; it just worked out that way. The Vanderbilt was definitely his best effort of the year by far. He ran a big race, and he’s coming back good again this year.”
After seven months off, he returned with a solid second by a neck in the Carter Stakes (G2) in April after a tough trip, and Paco Lopez returns.
Bentornato returns to action off a nice second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan two months ago. The Valiant Minister ridgling is a high-cruising type who can press or stalk and one who has shown significant consistency, having never finished worse than third in his 12-race career.
“We gave him 60 days after Breeders’ Cup, so it was very impressive how he came off the layoff [in Dubai]. I know he needed that race,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “Also, we broke inside horses, and he was fourth or fifth and then later made his move.”
The biggest question facing Bentornato is a potential Dubai bounce. Frequently, horses who ship to the Middle East take an extended time to recover from the long trip, so it remains to be seen if this one is negatively affected by the voyage. Irad Ortiz, Jr. is back aboard.
Imagination (4-1), trained by Bob Baffert, won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia 3 ½ months ago, so he’s another with a travel question mark, especially after his flat fourth in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Derby Day.
The Into Mischief gelding, who is a come-from- behind type with a strong turn of foot, can produce big late runs but needs a good pace setup. Flavien Prat rides, and he is a threat if the speed falls apart.
Be You (12-1) is a Repole Stable color-bearer who is Grade 1-placed with the ability to benefit from a hot pace as a mid-pack or closer. Recent efforts from the gelded son of Curlin have been mixed, but trainer Todd Pletcher’s history in this race (four winners) and jockey John Velazquez add appeal for a bounce-back.
“It looks like a tough spot, but with his running style, he likes to settle and make one run, and hopefully he’ll get a really fast setup,” Pletcher said. “I think seven [furlongs] is his absolute optimal distance, but unfortunately, everything is six, six and a half. Maybe at six and a half there’s a hot pace, and it will all work out.”
Illuminare (10-1) also comes from Pletcher’s barn, and the son of City of Light is seeking his third straight win and first against graded stakes company. Manny Franco rides, and he’ll likely be part of the early pace, but he is unproven at this level.
Faust (15-1) is a son of Volatile exiting a second in the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) three weeks ago. Jose Ortiz will be aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, and this one is another versatile type who can stalk. Solid but likely needs to step up against this deep field for a piece.
Pentathlon (30-1) is a Shug McGaughey-trained veteran by Speightstown coming off a third in the Westchester Stakes. He is a reliable mid-pack runner with some class. Dylan Davis rides this grinder, who could pick up pieces if the top speed falters.
Acoustic Ave (30-1), trained by Linda Rice, is the more significant local threat. The Maclean’s Music gelding owns a pace-setting or pressing style and was a neck second in the John A. Nerud Stakes (G3) most recently. He is a consistent sprinter who could get an easy lead from post 1 on his best day, and could grab a piece with Jose Lezcano aboard.
Listenupshance (30-1) ships in from California and has some stakes placings but enters off a lower-level effort for trainer Doug O’Neill. Antonio Fresu rides, and he likely needs the race to fall apart up front to be a factor.
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.
