2016 Hopeful Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The prestigious Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes will be run this Labor Day Monday, September 5 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A group of two year old hopefuls will chase the winner's share of the $350,000 purse when they take to Saratoga's dirt track and race seven furlongs.

A field of seven will take to the track in the Hopeful Stakes - race 10 on Saratoga's Labor Day Monday card. Post time is 5:44 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all seven entries for this intriguing Grade 1 closing-day at Saratoga stakes.

2016 Hopeful Stakes Race Preview at Saratoga Race Course

Bitumen - Eddie Keneally trained colt has been impressive in his two race career - two wins. He enters off a 1 3/4 length win in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on this track after a maiden score at Churchill Downs June 30. Bitumen has been terrific, he fired a bullet work (best of 46) last time out August 29 and hopes for a second straight graded stakes score from gate 4 Monday. Javier Castellano has been tabbed with accomplishing that goal on the 122 co-highweight.

Classic Empire - Undefeated Mark Casse trained colt has been very good in his two race career - two wins so far. Last time out his win came in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes with an impressive 105 Beyer Speed Figure July 2 after a maiden score at first asking May 4 - both results at Churchill Downs. Classic Empire is one of two graded stakes winners in the field and will try to keep an impressive roll going from gate 6. Irad Ortiz has the mount.

Bet Saratoga Race Course Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Runaway Lute - has two career starts for trainer Gary Contessa and two convincing wins. He enters off a successful stakes debut - a win by an easy 8 1/4 lengths in the minor Rockville Center Stakes at Belmont Park after a win by an impressive 12 lengths in a five furlong maiden race on that track at first asking May 28. Runaway Lute hasn't been touched yet and hopes to remain unbeaten Monday from post 3. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on the 122 pound co-highweight.

Royal Copy - has three career starts for trainer D Wayne Lukas with a win and a second place finish. He makes his stakes debut Monday off a maiden score on this track in which he posted an OK 90 Beyer Speed Figure August 13 and a second in a MSW here July 23. He finished fourth in his debut at Churchill Downs June 11. Royal Copy has improved with every start and hopes to keep that trend going in his step up in competition. Luis Saez will be in the reins from post 5.

Pretty Boy Flash - has yet to post a win in three career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen but he does have a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a second behind Royal Copy in a MSW August 13 after a third behind Royal Copy again July 23 - both results on this track. His debut resulted in a fifth at Churchill Downs May 19. Pretty Boy Flash has improved every time out despite a pair of troubled trips and will be hoping for a breakthrough win from the outside post 7 Monday. John Velazquez has been scheduled to ride.

Practical Joke - Chad Brown trained colt has just one career start and it was a good one - a win by five lengths as favorite in a six furlong maiden race on this very track August 6. He looks to make it two straight to start his career in his first stakes action - from gate 2 with Jose Ortiz aborad.

Everybodyluvsrudy - Rudy Rodriguez trained colt has one career start and it resulted in a second place finish - by only 3/4 of a length at Belmont Park July 1. He looks to break his maiden Monday when he leaves from the rail with Angel Arroyo in the saddle.

2016 Hopeful Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Saratoga's Monday card with a Post Time of 5:44 PM.