Race Overview
The Birdstone Stakes is a $150,000 listed stakes race for 4-year-olds and up, run over 1¾ miles on dirt at Saratoga Race Course. Scheduled as Race 7 on the card, post time is 4:31 PM ET. Known for testing stamina and grit, this marathon event often favors seasoned distance runners and tactical jockeys.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Odds |
| 1 | Strapped | Luis Saez | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Candy Ride (ARG) × Buster’s Ready | 15/1 |
| 2 | Parchment Party | John Velazquez | William I. Mott | Constitution × Life Well Lived | 7/5 |
| 3 | Game Warden | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Norm W. Casse | Tapit × Glory and Power | 9/2 |
| 4 | Lambeth | Jose Ortiz | Joe Sharp | Arrogate × South Bank | 5/2 |
| 5 | Time for Trouble | Jose Lezcano | Jeff A. Hiles | English Channel × Starstruck (IRE) | 12/1 |
| 6 | Digital Ops | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Nyquist × Flora Dora | 3/1 |
Top Contenders
Parchment Party (7/5 Favorite)
Pedigree: Constitution × Life Well Lived (Tiznow)
Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: John Velazquez
Form: Won Belmont Gold Cup by 8½ lengths over same distance
Strengths: Proven marathoner, tactical speed, elite connections
Lambeth (5/2)
Pedigree: Arrogate × South Bank (Tapit)
Trainer: Joe Sharp Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Form: Consistent at 10+ furlongs, improving figures
Strengths: Strong closing kick, bred for stamina
Digital Ops (3/1)
Pedigree: Nyquist × Flora Dora (First Dude)
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Form: Runner-up in last two stakes tries
Strengths: Tactical speed, Ortiz’s aggressive riding style
Value Plays
Game Warden (9/2)
Pedigree: Tapit × Glory and Power (Medaglia d’Oro)
Trainer: Norm Casse
Note: Gelding with solid late pace figures; could surprise if pace collapses
Time for Trouble (12/1)
Pedigree: English Channel × Starstruck (Galileo)
Trainer: Jeff Hiles
Note: Veteran marathoner, 2023 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year; excels in off-track conditions
Predicted Finish:
Parchment Party
Lambeth
Digital Ops
Betting Tips:
Win Bet: Parchment Party
Exacta Box: Parchment Party / Lambeth / Digital Ops
Longshot Play: Time for Trouble (across the board)
Track Condition Factor: If rain softens the track, favor English Channel and Tapit progeny
Final Thoughts
The Birdstone Stakes 2025 at Saratoga promises a thrilling test of endurance, pedigree, and strategy. With elite trainers like Bill Mott, Joe Sharp, and Saffie Joseph Jr. fielding top-tier distance runners, this race could shape the late-season stakes landscape. Keep an eye on Parchment Party, whose Belmont Gold Cup win makes him the one to beat.
