Race Details
Race: Ballston Spa Stakes (Grade II, Turf)
Track: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Distance: 1 1/16 miles (Turf)
Surface: Inner Turf
Purse: $300,000
Eligibility: Fillies & Mares, 4 years old and up
Post Time: 5:12 PM ET
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire x Dam) | Odds | Notes |
| 1 | Be Your Best (IRE) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Muhaarar (GB) × Kamakura | 9/5 | Classy Irish-bred; sharp win at Santa Anita |
| 2 | Whiskey Decision | Manuel Franco | Chad C. Brown | Into Mischief × Funny Song | 6/1 | Rail-skimming win at Monmouth; improving |
| 3 | Ozara (IRE) | Dylan Davis | Miguel Clement | Lope de Vega × Cercle d’Or | 6/1 | Saratoga stakes winner; versatile style |
| 4 | Edict (ARG) | John Velazquez | David G. Donk | Il Campione × Stormy Valery | 15/1 | Argentine-bred; needs pace to close |
| 5 | No Mo Candy | Tyler Gaffalione | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Uncle Mo × Sweet | 8/1 | Tactical speed; stakes-placed at Monmouth |
| 6 | Maggie Go (ARG) | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Winning Prize × Astrologa Surena | 4/1 | Game runner-up to Whiskey Decision |
| 7 | Ocean Club | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Thomas F. Proctor | Curlin × Theatre Star | 10/1 | Woodbine stakes winner; late kick threat |
| 8 | Freedom Speaks | Luis Saez | Heather Smullen | American Freedom × Wicked Speed | 30/1 | Outsider; needs career-best effort |
| 9 | Deep Satin | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | American Pharoah × Take the Ribbon | 5/1 | Saratoga stakes winner; sharp form |
| 10 | Bernietakescharge | Romero Maragh | Domenick Schettino | Take Charge Indy × Berning Rose | 4/5* | AE only; main-track specialist |
| 11 | Amanda’s Folly | Jose Ortiz | Linda Rice | Mendelssohn × Privacy | 6/1 | Solid allowance form; turf test here |
| 12 | Just Music | Jose Lezcano | Linda Rice | Audible × Nicholesluckycharm | 8/1 | Lightly raced; turf pedigree suggests upside |
Pedigree Highlights
Be Your Best (IRE) by Muhaarar, a top European turf sprinter, out of Kamakura, adds stamina and class.
Ozara (IRE) by Lope de Vega, a proven turf sire, brings European turf excellence.
Deep Satin by American Pharoah, out of Take the Ribbon, offers a blend of speed and turf stamina.
Whiskey Decision by Into Mischief, one of North America’s leading sires, adds versatility and class.
Trainer & Jockey Insights
Top Trainers
Chad C. Brown – Turf specialist with two entries (Whiskey Decision, Maggie Go); excels in graded stakes at Saratoga
Saffie A. Joseph Jr. – Fields Be Your Best and No Mo Candy; both have stakes credentials
Linda Rice – Sends out Amanda’s Folly and Just Music; known for developing fillies on turf
Leading Jockeys
| Jockey | Mount | Turf Win % | Notes |
| Irad Ortiz Jr. | Be Your Best | 22% | Elite turf rider; top choice |
| Flavien Prat | Maggie Go | 20% | Tactical rider; excels at Saratoga |
| Jose Ortiz | Deep Satin | 18% | Strong closer; fits horse’s style |
| Tyler Gaffalione | No Mo Candy | 17% | Aggressive pace rider |
Top Contenders:
Be Your Best (IRE) – Proven class, top connections, and tactical speed
Deep Satin – Sharp Saratoga form and closing ability
Ozara (IRE) – Versatile and consistent; dangerous late
Longshot to Watch:
Ocean Club – Woodbine winner with a strong late kick
Prediction:
Winner: Be Your Best (IRE)
Exacta: Be Your Best / Deep Satin
Trifecta: Be Your Best / Deep Satin / Ozara
