Tipsheet: 2026 Saratoga Derby

An excellent and well-matched field of 10 sophomores will travel 1 3/16 miles on the lawn in Saturday’s $750,000 Saratoga Derby (G1) at Saratoga. 

Saratoga Derby Picks

• #5 Pacific Avenue
• #3 Remember Mamba
• #10 West End Kid

Saratoga Derby Wagers

• $15 win and place #5 Pacific Avenue

• $5 exacta key box 5 with 3,10

• $2 trifecta box 3,5,10

Saratoga Derby Contenders

#1 GLAVINE (12-1): Chestnut son of Not This Time closed well in two stakes races on the course this season and stretches out to this distance for the initial time. Thomas Morley trainee will be able to save ground throughout this demanding spot and could grab a share late with a well-timed ride from Kendrick Carmouche. 

#2 HEEERE’S JOHNNY (12-1): Saranac S. winner from the Handal shedrow has been first or second in each of his three career runs on the oval and possesses the turn of foot to be a contender on his favorite surface. The exotics contender will save ground and make one run late beneath Dylan Davis. 

#3 REMEMBER MAMBA (3-1): Stout late runner was a neck shy in third in the recent Belmont Derby (G1) in his latest performance and rates a big chance with even slight improvement for Cherie DeVaux. The consistently good Kitten’s Joy colt drilled a swift half-mile on the Oklahoma in advance of the tilt and looms large under Jose Ortiz. 

#4 TITLE ROLE (9-2): Belmont Derby (G1) victor the tactical speed and closing ability to run with any kind in his U. S. debut and rates an obvious chance in his second run at this venue. The Simon Crisford pupil has stayed in the U. S. to train for the heat and could improve on Saturday with John Velazquez retaining the mount. 

#5 PACIFIC AVENUE (5-1): Top pick lost all chance when breaking slowly in the Belmont Derby but still rallied to fall less than two lengths short across the wire. The Charlie Appleby trainee will race with blinkers on for the event and I expect him to be close to a moderate early pace under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Dubawi colt will be formidable with a step forward in his second run in the states. 

#6 GLACIUS (8-1): Multiple Group-3 placed son of exciting sire Too Darn Hot will come in for his first run on U. S. sod in his third run of 2026 for conditioner Hugo Palmer. The colt has a pair of 10-furlong races under his belt this campaign and will likely be running from off the pace as a win threat under Luis Saez. 

#7 THE BIG CON (15-1): Lightly raced sort from the barn of Miguel Clement is two-for-two on synthetic surfaces and will make his three-year-old debut in an especially ambitious spot. The gray son of Dark Angel is obviously very talented, but the Grade 3 winner landed in a tough spot at an extended distance for his sophomore bow, and others seem more likely. 

#8 MCCREADY (20-1): Mac Robertson trainee won the off-the-turf Kent S. at Delaware Park last time and gets back on the green for his local debut. Practical Joke colt has won or placed in each lifetime run to date, but he will need a lifetime-best performance to hit the board in this deep field with Ricardo Santana, Jr. on board. 

#9 BOTTAS (10-1): Grade 2 winner has closed late in two runs this season at shorter distance and might appreciate getting more ground to work with in his third run off the shelf. Also from the Clement barn, the Kentucky-bred is not far behind the top runners in the field and is worth a look at a big price beneath regular rider Manny Franco. 

#10 WEST END KID (7-2): Will Walden charge was just a nose shy in the Belmont Derby (G1) most recently and is an obvious contender in this one. Twirling Candy sophomore will run with blinkers off, but he still has the tactical speed to be close early and wouldn’t be a surprise. Flavien Prat picks up the ride atop the Grade 3 victor.