Exotics Plays for the 2026 Paradise Creek Stakes

A sharp field of nine three-year-olds will race six panels on the outer lawn at Aqueduct in Saturday’s $150,000 Paradise Creek S. Grade 3 winner #3 Intricate Spirit flashed a ton of ability as a juvenile sprinting on the turf for conditioner Miguel Clement. A dominant winner on the Saratoga green in his unveiling, the son of Complexity was a close second to the very good Street Beast in a subsequent allowance heat at Kentucky Downs, which preceded a measured victory in the Futurity (G3) on this course on Oct. 3. He closed out 2025 with an unplaced run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). 

Paradise Creek Exotics Wagers

• $10 exacta 3 with 6,8 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 3 with 6,8 with all ($14)
• 50-cent trifecta 3 with all with 6,8 ($7)

Intricate Spirit finished a solid third behind two good ones in the Texas Glitter S. to commence his sophomore season and was last seen finishing an uncharacteristic ninth in the deep Palisades S. at Keeneland. The gelding landed in a more reasonable spot in his return to the Empire State and will also race with the blinkers on for the initial time, as well. His pair of morning moves on the Belmont training surface as of late were positive, and I’m expecting a big move forward third time off the shelf on Saturday with Manny Franco taking the reins for the initial time. 

The George Weaver-trained #6 Azizam is winless in five straight since his smart debut win in May of his two-year-old campaign, but the Euro import has faced stakes foes in five straight and is battle-tested in advance of his local bow. The Havana Grey colt rallied from well back to grab third in the aforementioned Palisades S. in his 2026 unveiling and will be a major player inside the final furlong on Saturday with expected improvement second time off the bench. Javier Castellano stays in the silks atop the colt. 

#8 Twilight Delight performed well from a trio of grassy dashes last season and will be in the mix if he’s ready to fire his best shot for Leitch. The Twirling Candy colt capped his two-year-old campaign with a nice third behind a pair of good ones in the Speakeasy S. at Santa Anita in October, and the bay has posted 10 morning moves in advance of his return, too. I expect the colt to be fit and ready, and a forwardly placed voyage is likely under the guidance of Jaime Rodriguez.