Fourstardave Handicap 2024: Odds and analysis

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, which was scheduled to be run Saturday at Saratoga, will now be run on Sunday as race 10 due to heavy rain from tropical storm Debby.

The Fourstardave is part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, with the winner getting a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

This race is named for the New York-bred gelding Fourstardave, who was nicknamed the sultan of Saratoga. He won at least one race at Saratoga every year from 1987 to 1994, including five stakes races.

Here is a full-field analysis for the Fourstardave with the official track morning-line odds, which reflect the early scratch of Master of The Seas. It is now scheduled as race 10 of 11 on Sunday with post time set for 6:16 p.m. EDT.

1. Strong Quality, 8-1. Quality Road – Mark Casse / Dylan Davis – 20: 6-5-3 - $643,060. Strong Quality was eighth in the Manhattan (G1) at the June Saratoga meeting. In 2024 he won a restricted stakes on the main track at Churchill Downs and the Colonel Bradley on the turf at Fair Grounds. Both of those wins were with front-end efforts. Mark Casse won the Fourstardave three times between 2017 and 2021, with Got Stormy winning in 2019 and 2021. Use underneath.

2. Master of The Seas. Dubawi – Charlie Appleby / Flavien Prat – 17: 9-3-2 - $2,520,582. Scratch.

3. Major Dude, 8-1. Bolt d’Oro – Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez – 15: 5-3-2 - $852,712. Major Dude won the Penn Mile (G2) and the Kitten’s Joy (G3) in 2023. In his second start this year, he won an allowance at Saratoga three weeks ago. Todd Pletcher also won this race three times, most recently in 2020 with Halladay. Toss.

4. Carl Spackler, 9-5. Lope de Vega – Chad Brown / Tyler Gaffalione – 8: 5-1-0 - $704,475. Carl Spackler is named for the Bill Murray character in the movie "Caddyshack". His three graded-stakes wins happened at Saratoga in the recent Kelso (G3), the Saranac (G3) and the Hall of Fame (G2). Overall, the 4-year-old won 4 of his last 5 starts. He was the favorite in his last seven races. The Fourstardave is a rare Grade 1 turf race that Chad Brown has not won. Top choice.

5. Money Supply, 10-1. Practical Joke – Joe Sharp / Manny Franco – 19: 8-2-3 - $717,481. Money Supply prepped for this race with a victory in the Schuster Mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month in the first turf race of his career. Before that he was the winner of the Mineshaft (G3) on the main track at Fair Grounds. Money Supply was claimed last summer at Saratoga for $35,000 and has won six times since, with five in a row during the fall and winter. Use underneath.

6. Ottoman Fleet, 8-5. Sea The Stars – Charlie Appleby / Joel Rosario – 19: 7-5-5 - $1,088,717. Ottoman Fleet is the other Charlie Appleby runner in the field. He is the winner of three graded stakes in America and three group stakes in Europe. Ottoman Fleet won 2 of his last 4 starts, scoring in the Arlington (G2) and the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill. Win contender.

7. More Than Looks, 7-2. More Than Ready – Cherie DeVaux / Irad Ortiz Jr. – 8: 4-1-1 - $493,215. More Than Looks will make his 2024 debut after finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile when he rallied from far back. Last year as a 3-year-old he won the Manila (G3) at Belmont Park and the Jefferson Cup at Churchill. He has been training sharply at Keeneland for his return to racing but finds a field without much pace. More Than Looks was a $2,500 supplemental nomination into the race. Use underneath.

Summary: The heavy rain that caused the Fourstardave to be moved to Sunday will certainly leave a wet turf course that handicappers should consider to be a significant factor.

Carl Spackler and Ottoman Fleet became the favorites when Master of The Seas scratched. They both come to the race after a graded-stakes victory and with past races that show that they can handle a less than firm turf course.

Jockey Flavien Prat, who had been slated to ride Master of The Seas, is expected to replace Joel Rosario on Ottoman Fleet, according to Daily Racing Form. Prat rode Ottoman Fleet to victory in his last two starts.

Carl Spackler found the winner’s circle in 4 of his last 5 races, with three of those wins coming at Saratoga. Four of his victories were at the mile distance on the grass. For all of those reasons, Carl Spackler is the top choice.