The $225,000 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) is the Friday feature at Saratoga that serves as the gateway to the second weekend of the meet, setting the table for the Caress Stakes (G2) and the Bowling Green (G2) on Saturday.
Spendthrift Farms sends out a potent duo of Tommy Jo and Goodall in the Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies, although they hail from different barns.
Tommy Jo, trained by Todd Pletcher, already has two wins, including a Grade 1 victory over the track, having captured the Spinaway on closing weekend last year. Her quality is unquestionable, with a record of three wins in four career starts. The lone defeat came in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, where she was a tiring fifth.
She hasn’t been to the races since then, and a lack of race fitness could compromise her chances in this spot.
“She’s doing well and training well, and we’ve been very happy with her so far,” Spendthrift’s general manager Ned Toffey said. “She seems to be coming into things the right way, and it looks like it will be a tough enough spot for her to start back, but hopefully she does well.”
The nine-month layoff for Tommy Jo has us leaning in Goodall’s direction. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Goodall also has a sparkling record of three wins from five starts, including the Jersey Girl Stakes during Saratoga’s Belmont Stakes festival in June. That gives her the edge in recent fitness, and her style is a huge tactical advantage.
Speed on the main track was lethal over the July 4th weekend. If you have any doubts, check out Phileas Fogg’s 10-length front-running romp in the Suburban Stakes (G2) last Saturday. Goodall has plenty of early speed, having coasted to a pace-stalking win in the Jersey Girl despite jockey Flavien Prat losing his whip turning for home.
Goodall drew the outside slot, post 10, which is not a big handicap in a 6 ½ furlong race with a long straightaway start down the backstretch.
“Goodall has been running, and certainly you would think he would have a fitness edge in there,” Toffey said.
We don’t disagree.
In an odd coincidence, Iron Orchard is also making her first appearance here since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she stumbled and never got into the race.
She won all three starts prior to the California trip, including two wins against New York-breds at Saratoga. She punched her Breeders’ Cup ticket with a narrow win in the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct. The same question that applies to Tommy Jo also applies to Iron Orchard: Is she ready to come off the bench and win?
We have our doubts.
Since then, she has been transferred from Danny Gargen’s barn to Asmussen, who is off to a good start at the meet with a record of 1-1-1 from five starts. Pletcher, in contrast, didn't break from the gate quickly, with only a pair of thirds to show from his first eight starters.
Mythical is another runner who is accustomed to the Spa. She won the Tremont and the Adirondack (G3) here last summer and most recently ran third to Goodall in the Jersey Girl.
So, let’s kick off another weekend of Saratoga stakes action with our selections.
Post time for the Victory Ride is 5:40 p.m. ET
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sippin Pretty | R Santana, Jr. | I R Wilkes | 20/1 |
| 2 | Iron Orchard | J Rosario | S M Asmussen | 5/1 |
| 3 | Carmel Coast | T Gaffalione | D Beckman | 8/1 |
| 4 | Sneaky Good | J L Ortiz | B H Cox | 8/1 |
| 5 | Tommy Jo | J R Velazquez | T A Pletcher | 7/2 |
| 6 | Peach Tie | M Franco | B T Russell | 12/1 |
| 7 | Mythical | E J Zayas | J Delgado | 9/2 |
| 8 | Tessellate | D Davis | S A Joseph, Jr. | 20/1 |
| 9 | A Fine Chardonnay | B J Hernandez, Jr. | I R Wilkes | 12/1 |
| 10 | Goodall | F Prat | S M Asmussen | 3/1 |
Last Updated on 07/08/2026
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