Some of the best turf sprinters in North America – and even the world – will face off over 5 ½ furlongs (11/16ths of a mile) in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes Presented by Resolute Racing.

The Jaipur is one of six Grade 1 races taking place at Saratoga Race Course as part of a spectacular racecard headlined by the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. The races are normally held at Belmont Park, where the Jaipur is contested over three-quarters of a mile, but due to renovations at Belmont the races have been shifted to Saratoga. The Jaipur is a “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

The change in configuration should perfectly suit #8 Cogburn (2-1), the morning line favorite whose 4-for-5 lifetime record on turf includes a 2-for-2 tally sprinting 5 ½ furlongs. At Saratoga last summer, he started as a 7.50-1 longshot in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on grass, but rallied gamely from midfield to defeat future Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals by three-quarters of a length.

That victory followed rallying triumphs in the Chamberlain Bridge Stakes and Grand Prairie Turf Sprint Stakes dashing five-eighths of a mile at Lone Star Park. And while Cogburn ended 2024 with a defeat, he didn’t run badly by any means in the Grade 2 Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes traveling three-quarters of a mile over the tricky European-style course at Kentucky Downs, finishing fifth while beaten by only three-quarters of a length.

Cogburn subsequently spent eight months on the sidelines before returning to action in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet racing 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs last month. The result? Arguably a career-best performance. Cogburn broke alertly, showed much more early speed than usual while pressing the pace, and then kicked clear in the homestretch to beat a strong field by 2 ¼ lengths.

If Cogburn can repeat his Twin Spires Turf Sprint performance while returning to Saratoga for the Jaipur, he’ll be tough to beat for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. He’s retaining the services of five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortz Jr., a two-time Jaipur winner who was aboard for the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, so the stage is set for Cogburn to secure his first Grade 1 win.

Since a full field is expected to contest the Jaipur, Cogburn’s odds shouldn’t dip too low, and a straightforward win bet can be a viable strategy for bettors playing on small budgets. But for bettors seeking a bigger score, we recommend playing Cogburn on top of an exacta using #2 Arzak (9-2), #6 Star of Mystery (6-1), and #12 Mischief Magic (8-1) for second place.

Arzak is perhaps the biggest threat to Cogburn; in fact, for our largest betting strategy we’ll include a backup exacta playing Arzak on top of Cogburn. At Saratoga last summer, Arzak won an $80,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting 5 ½ furlongs before dominating Keeneland’s Grade 2 Woodford Stakes Presented by FanDuel over the same distance by two lengths. He wrapped up the year with a solid sixth-place finish (beaten two lengths) in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, then started 2024 with a one-length triumph in Keeneland’s 5 ½-furlong Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes.

The rallying runner-up in the Shakertown was Mischief Magic, a Charlie Appleby trainee best known for winning the 2022 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He’s spent much of his career competing in the United Kingdom and Dubai, but he’s currently based in the United States and finished third by three lengths against Cogburn in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint last time out.

Appleby also trains Star of Mystery, a 3-year-old filly who enjoyed a productive winter campaign in Dubai, winning the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint Stakes before finishing second in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored by Emirates Skywards and Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments. In the latter race, she lost by only three-quarters of a length to the top-tier 6-year-old gelding California Spangle, so facing older male rivals in the Jaipur shouldn’t be a major obstacle.

Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget

$10 to win on #8 Cogburn

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $10 to win on 8

Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget

$10 to win on #8 Cogburn

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $10 to win on 8

$5 exacta: 8 with 2,6,12 ($15)

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $5 exacta 8 with 2,6,12

Wagering Strategy on a $50 Budget

$17 to win on #8 Cogburn

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $17 to win on 8

$7 exacta: 8 with 2,6,12 ($21)

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $7 exacta 8 with 2,6,12

$12 exacta: 2 with 8

What to say at the betting window: Belmont at Saratoga, 9th race, $12 exacta 2 with 8

Good luck, and enjoy the race!