How to bet the 2026 Awad Stakes

A field of nine juveniles will jaunt six panels over the Belmont Park turf course in Saturday’s $175,000 Awad S. #9 Arctic Wolf is swift from the gate and makes his way back to the Empire State for this heat for trainer Jack Sisterson. Purchased for $47,000 as a yearling, the son of Frosted was a debut winner on the Aqueduct lawn in June prior to transferring to this barn, and he is a talented, well-traveled youngster with a big chance in his local debut. 

Awad Wagers

• $12 win and placed #9 Arctic Wolf ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta box 2,4,5,9 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta box 2,4,5,9 ($12) 

The speedy gray was equipped with blinkers two starts back and led early before eventually finishing a solid fourth in a lucrative sprint at Kentucky Downs, which preceded a facile score in the Speakeasy S. at five-eighths at Santa Anita most recently. Arctic Wolf ships in from California for the heat and has the right running style and post to secure a great trip in the tilt. The Kentucky-bred will press the pace while in the clear from the break, and he will be tough to upend if he proves capable at six panels with Kendrick Carmouche on board. 

#4 Riyadh Way, one of two in the group for trainer Tareq Moubarak, is two-for-two on the grass led by an impressive tally in the Hollywood Bach S. at Gulfstream Park last time out. The Karakontie gelding led at every call in his turf unveiling, and then showed his versatility when breaking last and overcoming adversity in his stakes debut on Sept. 26. Purchased for just $7,000 as a yearling, the March foal comes in fresh with regular pilot Heriberto Figueroa in the irons. 

The Brad Cox-conditioned #5 Titan Ready broke through with a big maiden win on the local lawn in his last performance and might be the one to beat off of that showing. The Title Ready colt, who rallied to be a clear second in the Skidmore S. over the Saratoga green two back, has never run a bad race in four career starts, and the colt will benefit from having an outing over the surface, too. The Kentucky-bred will be prominent from the break with Manny Franco signed on. 

#2 More Champagne will face the boys in the dash and can’t be dismissed. Third in the Matron (G3) behind two good ones most recently, the Tom Morley pupil drilled a bullet four panels in anticipation of the grass sprint and fits in this winnable spot with her best performance. Edgar Zayas will have the Golden Pal filly rallying from off the pace in her local bow.