The $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G2), a 6-furlong sprint for older horses, is set for its 27th running on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, with Built the morning-line favorite at 8-5.
For some, the race has been a springboard to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) later in the year, and for others, a stepping stone to prominent sprint success moving forward.
A year ago, fan favorite Book’em Danno came out on top in the Vanderbilt after a bobble and some bumping at the start, then won the Forego Stakes en route to being voted the Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter.
On Saturday, Built seeks his first graded stakes victory as he takes on seven rivals in the race renamed for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr., a prominent figure in horse racing who died in 1999.
Until 2000, the race began in 1986 as the A Phenomenon Stakes -- named for the top sprinter who won the 1983 Jim Dandy Stakes, and a year later broke down while leading the 1984 Forego Handicap and was euthanized.
The race has produced three Vanderbilt-Breeders' Cup Sprint winners – Orientate in 2002, Speightstown in 2004 and Elite Power in 2023.
The big question is whether Built, trained by Wayne Catalano, is ready to return to the form that had him on the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for a while?
While he didn’t run in the Triple Crown races, he ran last of nine in the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Derby Day. He resurfaced seven months later, cut down in distance, and won a 6-furlong allowance race at the Fairgrounds. He’s won 3-of-6 sprinting with his stalking-pacesetting style, and Catalano is confident his son of Hard Spun is back in top form.
“He’s been a very nice horse for us, and he’s been a lot of fun,” Catalano said. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger and has filled out a bit.
“I think we had some Derby fever, and we got him in the Derby, but he wasn’t up to par, and he needed some time. We cut him back for the race [off the layoff], and he ran so well that we just kept him that way.”
Last out, Built was beaten a half-length by Harrodsburg in the 6 1/2-furlong Bango Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 22. Prior to the narrow loss, Built won a 7-furlong allowance optional claimer at Churchill.
“He’s doing great. It’s hard to run a 103 Beyer and get beat [in the Bango], but the best horse doesn’t always win,” Catalano said. “The other horse did run big, and I’m happy for the connections.”
Built, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, leaves from post 8 and will again be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was aboard the colt in his last two races.
Just Beat the Odds (9-2) and Crazy Mason (8-1) give trainer Gregg Sacco two solid chances at securing his first graded stakes win of 2026.
Just Beat the Odds won the Elite Power Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Dec. 6, then was sent to Saudi Arabia and ran a strong second to Imagination in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in February. He was back racing again in June and finished third in the 6-furlong Alapocas Run at Delaware Park. He pressed the pace and weakened late to finish two lengths behind winner Quint’s Brew.
“We brought him back [from Saudi Arabia] at his own pace, and we thought he’d be a little short last time, but those are two good horses that beat him, and they had been running through the winter and were dead-fit,” Sacco said. “We were a little compromised with just three [half-mile works at Delaware] going into the race, but all-in-all, we were very happy with his effort. The main thing is he benefited from that race and has had nice works since.”
Just Beat the Odds, a 6-year-old gelding, has hit the board in 14-of-15 lifetime starts with a record of 15-5-7-2 and earnings of $756,495.
Manny Franco has the call, leaving from post 4.
Crazy Mason, winner of the 2025 Carter Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct last April, hasn’t won since and is 0-for-8 coming into the Vanderbilt. The 5-year-old colt will add blinkers for the first time and will be ridden by John Velazquez, leaving from post 2.
Last out, Crazy Mason was a closing sixth in the 1-mile Hanshin (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 28 – a rare off-the-board finish. Although winless in his last eight races, he’s finished second or third six times.
“I’m hoping the blinkers help keep him that much closer,” Sacco said. “With any horse, you can’t drop back 15 lengths. Good horses run through the wire. In average races, you can give some [lengths] up, but you can’t give up what he does in these races. He comes charging, but he’s too compromised early on.
“I kind of don’t know where it came from because he did go wire-to-wire when he broke his maiden. We don’t want to see him up near the pace because you don’t want to take away his running style; we just want to see him engaged early on so he’s within striking distance when he starts his run.:
Hymm (5-1), trained by Ron Moquett, comes into the race seeking a fourth straight win. The 4-year-old won the 6-furlong DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes at Laurel Park on June 27 by 5 ½ lengths. Ricardo Santana, Jr., picks up the mount, leaving from post 6.
A 5-year-old son of Runhappy, Nutella Fella (15-1) seeks his first win since last year’s Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8. He’ll be running for the first time for trainer Joe Sharp. He was previously trained by Gary Contessa and Gregg Sacco. Last out, Nutella Fella finished seventh in an optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs last November with Sacco as the trainer.
He’s had gate issues in the past, and if he can overcome that, he could be in good hands under Jose Ortiz leaving from post 5.
Post time for the Vanderbilt is 5:07 p.m. ET.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
