How to bet the 2026 Sycamore Stakes

An especially well-matched and full field of turf stayers will go 1 1/2 miles over the Keeneland green in Friday’s $400,000 Sycamore (G2). I have to use multiple runners in a cast that lacks a standout, led by Shug McGaughey’s #7 Limited Liability (8-1). By Kitten’s Joy, the seven-year-old gelding is winless at the trip but has run some big races against very good ones at 12 furlongs in his lifetime, and he also sports a 4-2-1-1 lifetime line at this venue. 

Sycamore Wagers

• $10 win and place #7 Limited Liability ($20)
• $3 exacta key box 7 with 4,10,11 ($18)
• $.20-cent superfecta 7 with 4,10,11 with 4,10,11 with all ($10.80)

Limited Liability will make his second run of 2026 and should be fit after traveling 2 1/16 miles at Kentucky Downs in his seasonal debut. He missed by just a head in the 2025 Elkhorn (G2) on the course and at the distance in his last attempt locally, and I expect him to perform well in the contest with Luis Saez taking the reins. 

Defending champ #11 Desvio (8-1) is far from the most consistent horse in training, but the Madison Meyers pupil has been first or second in two lifetime runs on the surface and offers value in this heat. The gray son of Yoshida was second to the excellent Burnham Square on the course in the spring, and a similar effort will have the five-year-old in the hunt late at a nice price. Luan Machado has the call. 

#10 Vote No (6-1) is not the winning type in general, but the Kelsey Danner trainee has plenty of ability and could also sit a fine trip from well off the pace in a field with an unusual amount of early speed. The Divisidero five-year-old ran an even fourth in Louisville (G3) at Churchill in May in his latest run at the distance, and he had a fine prep when a rallying second in the Tapit S. at Kentucky Downs in his latest effort, too. Good turf pilot Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks. 

#4 Navy Seal (6-1) has no distance limitations and cuts back in trip after a pair of runs covering more than two miles in succession as of late. The Dubawi gelding has hit the board in both career runs on the Keeneland green and has a versatile running style to adapt to virtually any pace scenario. Jose Ortiz will be in the stirrups once again.