2024 Vosburgh Stakes at a Glance

September 25th, 2024 by Bob Ehalt

Vosburgh Stakes, Belmont at the Big A, Eclipse Sportswire

Horses compete in the stretch of the 2023 Vosburgh Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The Vosburgh Stakes may not have a star-studded field but there could be a Breeders’ Cup starter in an evenly matched field of seven. The seven-furlong stakes offers the winner an expenses-paid-spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 2 at Del Mar via the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series for the World Championships.

Racetrack: Aqueduct Racetrack, Ozone Park, N.Y.

Date: Sept. 28

Purse: $250,000

Distance: 7 furlongs

Race: 9

Post Time: 4:14 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Cody’s Wish (2023), Elite Power (2022), Imperial Hint (2018, 2019), Ghostzapper (2003), Artax (1999), Rubiano (1992), Housebuster (1991), Groovy (1987), Track Barron (1984), A Phenomenon (1983), Plugged Nickle (1980), General Assembly (1979), Dr. Patches (1978), My Juliet (1976), Forego (1974), Triple Bend (1972), Duck Dance (1971), Ta Wee (1969), Dr. Fager (1967, 1968), Bold Ruler (1957).

First held: 1940

1. Seven’s Eleven (10-1 morning-line odds): Maryland-bred exits an allowance optional-claiming win but only shows one graded stakes placing when he was third in the Grade 3 General George Stakes in February. Could be competitive on his best try.

JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Michael Simone

2. Scotland (7-2): Won an allowance optional-claiming race at Saratoga in fast enough time to win this race. He’s on the upswing and seems to be back in the same solid form of year ago. Should be a major player.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

3. Baby Yoda (9-2): You know who Star Wars fans are going to bet. His career is marked with inconsistency as shown by two flops after winning the June 8 True North Stakes Presented by F. W. Webb. His top race makes him a win candidate, but is today that day?

JOCKEY: Dylan Davis; TRAINER: Bill Mott

4. Dean Delivers (4-1): He’s won four straight races, all in stakes company out of town, but none were graded stakes. He certainly seems capable of turning in a big performance here, though seven furlongs may not be his best distance.

JOCKEY: Jaime Rodriguez; TRAINER: Ned Allard

5. Comedy Town (5-2): Comes off a pair of quick stakes wins in Florida. He’s made considerable progress since being claimed for $25,000 in March. In a very competitive field, he cannot be overlooked.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

6. Mufasa (3-1): Chilean import took a nice step forward in a win at Colonial Downs in his second U.S. start. If he doesn’t bounce, he’s another who seems as good as anyone else on his best try.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Ignacio Correas IV

7. Lord Miles (20-1): He won the 2023 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino on this track at 59.25-1 odds. Doesn’t have much experience sprinting and lost his last race by 26 lengths. We’ll pass.

JOCKEY: Eric Cancel; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

THE PICK: Scotland

LIVE LONGSHOT: Seven’s Eleven

SUPERFECTA: 2-5-4-6