First Look: July 4 week celebrates 15 stakes at 6 tracks

Forget the hot dogs and fireworks this July 4 week. Racing's serving up its own American celebration with 13 graded stakes across the country. Opening week at Saratoga steals the show, hosting seven of those races.

Nitrogen gets the spotlight Saturday in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, where the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro looks to make it six straight victories since the Breeders' Cup. Elsewhere, the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker (G3) brings back last year's one-two finishers Red Route One and Unload for a rematch, though both horses enter off disappointing efforts that have them searching to find their previous form.

From Thursday's opener through Saturday's coast-to-coast action, this holiday week serves up 15 stakes races with enough betting opportunities to satisfy any horseplayer's appetite for action and value plays.

Thursday

Victory Ride (G3), Saratoga, 6 1/2 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Echo Sound and Hollygrove renew acquaintances after meeting in the Miss Preakness (G3) at Pimlico, where Echo Sound won by two lengths and with Hollygrove finished third. Echo Sound has won four of five career starts, including the Myrtlewood at Keeneland before finishing second in the Fern Creek at Churchill Downs. Hollygrove enters off that Miss Preakness (G3) effort, her first graded stakes attempt after capturing the Valdale at Turfway Park in February. The daughter of Complexity ended up third in the Serena Song in March at Turfway Park.

Friday

Belmont Derby (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 miles, turf, 3-year-olds

Tank enters on a three-race win streak including the Not Surprising at Gulfstream on June 7 and the English Channel Stakes in May. The David Carlos runner took the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs in March. Final Gambit brings graded stakes experience from his Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) score at Turfway in March, though his recent Kentucky Derby and Matt Winn (G3) efforts on dirt were disappointing. The Brad Cox-trained colt returns to turf for the first time since his career debut, when he finished third.

Suburban (G2), Saratoga, 1 1/4 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Locked comes off a fourth-place finish in the Alysheba (G2) at Churchill Downs but showed his class before that, dominating the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) by 8 1/2 lengths. The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner earned his career best Beyer Speed Figure of 109 in that Santa Anita Handicap (G1), according to Daily Racing Form. Earlier this year he was a close second in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1). Antiquarian bounced back to form with a runner-up showing in the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt captured an optional claimer at Gulfstream in April to start his 2025 campaign.

Manila (G3), Saratoga, 1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds

The Columbia Stakes exacta returns with Zulu Kingdom and Reagan's Wit reuniting after their thrilling one-two finish. Zulu Kingdom extended his win streak to two with his American Turf (G1) victory at Churchill Downs. The Ireland-bred has won four of his last five starts with the lone miss a disappointing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Reagan's Wit enters off his James W Murphy score at Pimlico, rebounding from a fourth-place finish in the Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. The son of Authentic seeks to reverse their previous showdown at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saturday

Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3), Delaware Park, 1 3/8 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Gary Capuano's veteran Malibu Beauty has found her best form this year with back-to-back front-running victories. The 7-year-old mare enters off a wire-to-wire score in the Obeah at Delaware Park on June 14, winning by three lengths. Before that triumph, she captured a Laurel allowance on May 4, also leading throughout. She wound up fourth in the Carousel at Laurel on Dec, 21, setting the pace before weakening late.

Indiana Derby (G3), Horseshoe Indianapolis, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Instant Replay enters off back-to-back stakes wins, capturing the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park in May and the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn in April. The 3-year-old colt stalked the pace early in both starts before taking command in the stretch. The son of Maximum Security came home third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in March. He has won four of his last six starts and appears to be hitting his stride for trainer Brad Cox.

Indiana Oaks (G3), Horseshoe Indianapolis, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 3-year-olds

Margie's Intention comes off a runner-up effort in the Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park, adding to her Black-Eyed Susan (G2) victory at Pimlico in May. The Brad Cox-trained filly has proven effective in graded company this season, with additional runner-up finishes in the Crescent City Oaks on March 22 and Louisiana Broodmare Of The Year Flashy Prize Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 1.

Great Lady M. (G2), Los Alamitos, 6 1/2 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Kopion enters on a dominant three-race win streak that includes Grade 1 victories in the La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita and the Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs plus the Santa Monica (G2). The 4-year-old filly has been unstoppable since December, defeating quality competition including Hope Road twice during her current streak. Her last two starts have produced Beyer Speed Figures in the 100s with a 110 in the Santa Monica and 109 in the Distaff.

Prairie Meadows Cornhusker (G3), Prairie Meadows, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Red Route One and Unload renew their rivalry from last year's running, where Red Route One edged Unload for the victory. Red Route One arrives off a disappointing ninth in the Pimlico Special (G3) where he was eased late. The 5-year-old son of Gun Runner bounced back from a similar poor showing earlier this year to capture the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn in March. Unload has struggled since his runner-up effort here last year, managing just one win in nine subsequent starts and ending up fifth in allowance company on the turf at Lone Star when last seen, showing little of the form displayed when he led most of the way in last year's rendition before being caught late.

Iowa Derby, Prairie Meadows, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Magnitude arrives following a dominant 9 3/4-length score in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds earning a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure. The Steven Asmussen runner rebounded from a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Lecomte (G3). The son of Not This Time broke his maiden at Ellis Park before placing second in the Gun Runner in December.

Iowa Oaks, Prairie Meadows, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 3-year-olds

Quickick finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and second in the Alcibiades (G1) as a 2-year-old, earning $364,000 in 2024. The Tom Amoss runner has struggled in 2025, finishing sixth in the Acorn (G1) last time out and seventh in the Kentucky Oaks after disappointing efforts in graded company. Heavenly Sunset comes off a second-place showing in Churchill Downs allowance company, beaten a length. The Brad Cox-trained filly broke her maiden at Keeneland in April, winning by 4 1/2 lengths in her second career start.

Belmont Oaks (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Nitrogen looks to make it six straight after capturing five consecutive graded stakes since her third-place performance in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has shown remarkable consistency, winning the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream, Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa, Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland, Edgewood (G2) at Churchill Downs and most recently the Wonder Again (G3) at Saratoga.

Sanford (G3), Saratoga, 6 furlongs, 2-year-olds

Blinging It Back broke slowly and displayed greenness in his Churchill Downs debut, finishing third. The 2-year-old colt showed improvement in his second career start, finishing a strong second in the Tremont (G2) at Saratoga on June 5. He overcame early trouble to finish 3 1/2 lengths behind Mythical.

Kelso (G3), Saratoga, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Donegal Momentum arrives following a victory in the Poker (G3) at Saratoga, where the 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo led the entire way over Intellect. The Tom Morley runner has two wins from four starts this year, including a score at Fair Grounds in March and a fifth in the Carter (G2) at Aqueduct.

Hendrie (G3), Woodbine, 6 1/2 furlongs, synthetic, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

The 5-year-old Ontario-bred mare Ticker Tape Home comes off a third-place performance in the Royal North (G3) at Woodbine last time out. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro came home fifth in the Whimsical (G3) and wound up fourth in the Ontario Fashion (G3) in recent starts. Her last win came in the Seaway (G3) at Woodbine in August 2024.