Race: Sanford Stakes (Grade III)
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2025
Track: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Distance: 6 furlongs (Dirt)
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $175,000
Eligibility: 2-year-olds
Post Time: 6:17 PM ET
Race Number: 11
Field Overview & Entries
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire – Dam, by Dam Sire) | Odds |
| 1 | Mentee | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | City of Light – Fierce Boots (Tiznow) | 6/5 |
| 2 | Mr. Squeaky Wheels | Jose Ortiz | Kevin Rice | Gormley – Miss Squeaky (Smart Strike) | 15/1 |
| 3 | Baby Dukes | Jose Lezcano | Butch Reid Jr. | Maximus Mischief – Dukes of Melrose (Malibu Moon) | 12/1 |
| 4 | Soontobeking | Eric Cancel | George Weaver | King for a Day – Queen’s Parade (Harlan’s Holiday) | 20/1 |
| 5 | Three Echoes | Flavien Prat | Steve Asmussen | Echo Town – Echo Chamber (Bernardini) | 4/1 |
| 6 | Studlydoright | Xavier Perez | Jerry Robb | Nyquist – Peach of a Gal (Curlin) | 7/2 |
| 7 | War Tax | Javier Castellano | Carlos Martin | Outwork – Taxable Gift (Tapit) | 15/1 |
| 8 | Mo Plex | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jeremiah Englehart | Complexity – Mo Joy (Uncle Mo) | 6/1 |
Race Analysis & Contender Breakdown
Mentee
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Form: Debut winner at Belmont at the Big A in :56.97 (track record)
Pedigree: Full brother to Champion 2YO Fierceness
Outlook: The one to beat. Showed elite early speed and professionalism. Pletcher has won the Sanford a record 8 times.
Studlydoright
Trainer: Jerry Robb
Jockey: Xavier Perez
Form: Undefeated in 2 starts; won Tremont Stakes with 82 Beyer
Pedigree: Nyquist × Curlin mare
Outlook: Strong closer with proven stakes form. Dangerous if pace collapses.
Three Echoes
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Form: 3rd in Tremont Stakes; debut winner at Churchill
Pedigree: Echo Town × Bernardini mare
Outlook: Tactical speed and experience. Could improve second time in stakes company.
Mo Plex
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Form: 10-length debut winner vs. NY-breds
Pedigree: Complexity × Uncle Mo mare
Outlook: Huge debut win and sharp works. Irad has won this race 4 times since 2014.
Pedigree Spotlight
Mentee (City of Light × Tiznow): Full brother to Fierceness; elite dirt sprint/mile pedigree.
Studlydoright (Nyquist × Curlin): Classic stamina and late kick; bred to stretch out.
Three Echoes (Echo Town × Bernardini): Speed and class; Asmussen excels with Echo Town juveniles.
Mo Plex (Complexity × Uncle Mo): Complexity is a rising sire; dam line adds precocity.
Top Pick: Mentee – Track-record debut and elite pedigree make him the clear favorite.
Value Play: Studlydoright – Proven stakes winner with a strong closing kick.
Exacta Box: Mentee / Studlydoright / Three Echoes
Longshot to Watch: Mo Plex – Huge debut win and gets Irad Ortiz Jr.
