Tipsheet: 2026 Dwyer Stakes

Unbeaten champion Ted Noffey will make his 2026 debut in the deep, $200,000 Dwyer S. at Belmont Park on Saturday.  

2026 Dwyer Stakes Picks

• #9 Sea Strike
• #6 Ted Noffey
• #7 Decisive Win
• #3 Stimulate

2026 Dwyer Stakes Wagers

• $20 win #9 Sea Strike
• $10 exacta box 6-9
• $.20-cent superfecta 9 with 3,6,7 with 3,6,7 with all 

2026 Dwyer Stakes Contenders

#1 BRAVARO: Upstart colt from the Joseph shedrow was last seen driving home a smart winner in a lucrative tilt at Charles Town and rates a top-three chance in this spot. The New York-bred bay has generally done his best work at similar middle distances, and the move back to one turn could be a benefit. Paco Lopez retains the ride. 

#2 OVERTIME RULES: Rapidly improving gelding from the barn of Arnaud Delacour led throughout in a strong score at Keeneland while facing his elders last time and will add some pace to the race from this post slot. The Complexity three-year-old has a seemingly high ceiling and will factor in this tough assignment with another step forward beneath Samuel Marin. 

#3 STIMULATE: Blue-blood from the Mott shedrow was third behind a very sharp winner in his stakes debut at Churchill most recently and fits well in this spot with improvement. The Tapit colt is pretty quick from the gate and figures to be well placed throughout with Junior Alvarado in the silks. 

#4 WHITE SMOKE RISING: Volatile colt was third in a local allowance race on the course in his first run with blinkers on and will make his second run at one mile on Saturday. The talented sort would be a surprise to upset the field, but he is not without a chance for the exotics at an expected big price under Carmouche. 

#5 STOP THE CAR: Grade-2 placed son of Maximum Security has never been a serious factor late when facing stakes foes, but the Brendan Walsh charge has a nice closing punch and could challenge for a minor award if the pace falls apart in the stretch. Dylan Davis will guide the colt. 

#6 TED NOFFEY: Pletcher pupil will make his much-anticipated return to the races in a difficult spot. The gray son of Into Mischief was a brilliant juvenile who has yet to be upended, and his works leading up to his comeback suggests he will be ready to run his race off the long absence. Regular pilot John Velazquez will take the reins. 

#7 DECISIVE WIN: Fleet one from the O’Neill shedrow will have blinkers on for the initial time on Saturday, and I feel that he will be dangerous from the opening bell at a fair number. The $600,000 Nyquist colt has trained steadily in preparation for his local debut, and I think the one-turn mile is ideal for his running style, too. Antonio Fresu retains the ride. 

#8 IGNITER: Two-time stakes hero can be very good on his best day and is yet another that can make the frame with a sensible voyage in the heat. The chestnut son of Volatile has a versatile running style and should have a clean trip throughout from this post with Manny Franco picking up the mount atop the Three Chimneys homebred. 

#9 SEA STRIKE: Midshipman colt didn’t live up to expectations in the deep Travers (G1) in his latest showing, but the Chad Brown pupil looked like a budding superstar in his Curlin S. romp two back and gets the nod in this one. The $650,000 juvenile purchase cuts back in trip to eight panels on Saturday, which is a slight concern, but he landed in a field with ample early speed, and the colt’s powerful late kick will be difficult to fend off in the lane with Prat in the silks. 

#10 MAILATA: Parx-based gelding has been sharp when facing softer but has been outrun in his pair of tries with stronger foes in advance of the tilt. The Pennsylvania-bred gelding has fine speed from the gate, however, and he will be forcing the action from the break beneath Mychel Sanchez.