How to bet the 2025 Hopeful Stakes

A strong and well-matched field of eight juveniles will run seven-eighths on the Saratoga dirt in Monday’s $300,000 Hopeful S. (G1). Conditioner Todd Pletcher has a pair of major players in the field, including second timer #8 Ted Noffey, who drove home a solid winner in his unveiling on the oval. 

Hopeful Wagers

• $15 win and place #8 Ted Noffey ($30)
• $2 trifecta key 8 with 3,5,6 ($12)

By top sire Into Mischief, the $650,000 yearling went postward in a deep field of prospects on Whitney Day and drove home an impressive winner while recording a solid final time for 6 1/2 panels. He was fast late in his debut, and the move to seven furlongs will likely be advantageous for him, as will leaving from the outside post in the heat, as well. Ted Noffey, who is a Spendthrift color bearer, has posted a pair of useful half-mile morning moves on the surface in advance of his stakes debut and should have clear sailing throughout under Johnnie V. 

Bob Baffert will import sharp first-out winner #5 Buetane for the dash. By Tiz the Law, the $1.15 million spring purchase toppled a good one in his initial appearance, and I like the move to send the colt to Saratoga second time out. The chestnut colt is from a family with numerous precocious types in it, and the April foal drilled a bullet five-eighths in his latest morning move, as well. Kentucky-bred chestnut will be forcing the action from the opening bell with Flavien Prat taking the reins. 

#6 Soldier N Diplomat, a $950,000 juvenile purchase by Army Mule, got the job done at first asking here, and I expect a forward move from the colt for Steve Asmussen. The Kentucky-bred was heavily backed in his victory and ran like a horse who will get better with some experience, in my opinion, as many from this barn often do. Irad Ortiz picks up the mount. 

Impressive Bashford Manor S. romper #3 Romeo fetched a massive bid of $1.7 million following his dominant score at Churchill Downs and will go postward for Steve Asmussen for the first time. The dark bay son of Honor A. P. faces a big task on Monday, but he is very quick from the gate and proved last time that he can come home swiftly, as well. He zipped a bullet five panels on the Oklahoma training surface leading up to this and will have Joel Rosario in the stirrups.