Fourstardave Handicap 2018: Odds and analysis

The very mention of Fourstardave brings a smile to the face of Saratoga racing fans because no horse stamped his presence at the Upstate New York track for more years than venerable turf star.

Nicknamed the "Sultan of Saratoga," Fourstardave won at least one race at the Spa for eight consecutive years from 1987 to 1994 including five stakes races. As a result, in 1996, the Daryl’s Joy, which he won in 1990 and 1991, was renamed the Fourstardave in his honor.

This year the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Stakes drew a small, but very competitive field of six to run on the turf, plus one main track only entrant. Here is the full field analysis and morning line odds by Horse Racing Nation.

Weekend Hideaway [MTO only – Speightstown – Serpe/L. Saez – 48: 13-7-9 - $1,134,212] Entered for Main Track Only.

Delta Prince [ML 7-2 – Street Cry – J. Jerkens/J. Castellano – 8: 4-2-2 - $263,626] This Jimmy Jerkens trainee made a rousing 2018 debut with a victory in the King Edward (G2) at Woodbine back on June 30. He ran a stalking trip going a mile in a smart time of 1:32.35 that earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. Last year, he was third in the Bernard Baruch (G2) at Saratoga on a yielding turf, but Jerkens feels he is better suited to firmer going. Delta Prince has never finished out of the money while running on the grass. 2018 debut was his best race ever.

Divisidero [ML 8-1 – Kitten’s Joy – Rubley/Toledo – 19: 6-3-3 - $1,244,750] This 6-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy returned to the winner’s circle in the Arlington Handicap (G3) at the beginning of July. It was the first win for his new trainer, Kelly Rubley, who is based at Fair Hills training center in Maryland. Last year, Divisidero raced extensively in Grade 1 company and returns to that level in the Fourstardave. His running style is more of a deep closer, and he is without a win at the one-mile distance. Former Grade 1 winner.

Made You Look [ML 10-1 – More Than Ready – C. Brown/L Saez – 11: 4-2-1 - $381,797] You can’t have a major turf stake at Saratoga, or anywhere in the country for that matter, without a Chad Brown runner. Made You Look ran an impressive second in the Poker (G3) behind the division leader Oscar Performance and ahead of Voodoo Dancer. That mile race was contested on a very firm and fast turf course at Belmont Park, where he was able to rally to within a half-length of the winner. His last race was quite good.

Heart to Heart [ML 8-5 – English Channel – Lynch/Leparoux – 36: 15-6-3 - $1,997,290] The leading money winner in the field is also the likely pacesetter, too. Heart to Heart is an established miler that likes to run on the lead. The now 7-year-old brings his race with him as he travels all over the country. He is 2-for-2 at Saratoga including last year’s Bernard Baruch. He can handle firm going or softer turf courses, which is good considering the amount of rain that has hit the New York track this summer. He comes to the Spa just a neck shy of having won three straight Grade 1s. Speedy veteran miler.

Voodoo Song [ML 6-1 – English Channel – L. Rice/Lezcano – 15: 7-2-1 - $581,685] If you like the angle of “horses for courses,” then Voodoo Song should be your pick. This New York-bred won four straight races at Saratoga last year beginning with a claimer and ending with the Saranac (G3). He is back to his winning ways in 2018 with a front-running victory in the Forbidden Apple, which came after his third place in the Poker (G3). The Fourstardave is Voodoo Song’s first try in a Grade 1 race. Will ensure a fast early pace.

Yoshida (JPN) [ML 9-5 – Heart’s Cry (JPN) – Mott/Franco – 9: 4-3-0 - $869,770] The Japanese-bred debuted in 2018 with his first Grade 1 victory in the Turf Classic on a yielding turf course at Churchill Downs. That win earned Yoshida at trip to Royal Ascot and a fifth-place finish in the 15-horse field of the Queen Anne Stakes (G1). Since returning from England, he has been training at Saratoga for Bill Mott. Yoshida runs from off the pace and has won at distances from a mile to a mile and an eighth. Returns from Royal Ascot.

Summary: The Fourstardave sets up as a very interesting race to handicap, where class and pace factors play a major role even though the field is small.

Heart to Heart and Voodoo Song are confirmed front runners, and they will ensure that there is a very fast pace in this turf mile. Heart to Heart, with his Grade 1 victories has a bit of a class edge on Voodoo Song, but the latter has never lost on the Saratoga grass. The question is whether either of them can win the speed battle and survive to find the winner’s circle.

Then there are Delta Prince, Divisidero, Made You Look and Yoshida who will be running late hoping for the pace setters to tire. If Yoshida can bounce back from the trip to Royal Ascot, he seems to have a class edge over the other closers. Divisidero may have lost a step from his best races of last year. Made You Look hasn’t won a graded race since 2016, although he has been close several times. Delta Prince may be improving after his 2018 debut victory in the King Edward (G2) at Woodbine.