The Grade 1, $750,000 dollar Sword Dancer is Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

The race is a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf November 1st at Del Mar.

Here is a brief look at the field of nine runners:

1. EL CORDOBES [ML 4-1] Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: Flavien Prat. This is his first trip to America. The 4-year-old won a Group 2 at Newmarket in July when he raced close to the pace, had to wait for room and then got clear by two lengths going 1 1/2 miles. That first victory in a Group 2 was part of a field of four. His career began at Kempton Park where he raced on the synthetic track and broke his maiden second time out.

2. REBEL RED [ML 8-1] Trainer: Cherie DeVaux. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Broke his maiden in his second race in America at Churchill Downs in June 2024 as a 3-year-old. He has raced in a series of Graded Stakes, with his best finish was a 3rd at Aqueduct with a front-end victory. After he clipped heels and fell in the Louisville (G3), he won a listed Stakes in Kentucky when he rallied from the back of the field. Last month, he was 7th in the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth Park. 

3. VOTE NO [ML 15-1.] Trainer: Kelsey Danner. Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche. Seems in the best form of his career after being claimed for $40,000 in March. He won an Allowance at Horseshoe Indianapolis in May and became a Stakes winner in the Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park. He was 4th in the United Nations (G2) last month while earning a career-best speed figure. Once again, he steps up in class to a level at which he has yet to Win. 

4. PADIDDLE [ML 30-1] Trainer: Fernando Abreu. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. A 5-year-old with only one victory to his credit, which happened in his 8th start after moving from dirt to turf at Gulfstream. 

5. NATIONS PRIDE [ML 3-1] Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: William Buick. He is a multiple Grade 1 winner in America in the Arlington Million and the Saratoga Derby. He has won the Canadian International at Woodbine as well as a Stakes in Germany. The 6-year-old is the leading money winner in the field. His last two starts were at Meydan in Dubai with a win in the Singspiel (G2) and a 10th place finish in the Dubai Turf (G1). 

6. FAR BRIDGE [ML 9-5] Trainer: Miguel Clement. Jockey: Joel Rosario. Won this race last year for Christophe Clement, who won the Sword Dancer five times in his career. This year FAR BRIDGE has won three times, taking the Pan American (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Man O’War (G1) and Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga on a yielding turf course. 

7. EL REZEEN [ML 15-1] Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Dylan Davis. Broke his Maiden and then won an Allowance for the only wins in his career at Saratoga last summer. This year he was 2nd in an Allowance after a winter break and then was 2nd in the Bowling Green. Pletcher won the Sword Dancer in 2006. 

8. GRAND SONATA [ML 10-1] Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Manny Franco. He’s also entered in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs. The 6-year-old last was seen finishing 2nd in the United Nations. His most recent victory was almost a year ago in the Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs. Regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. is listed to ride REBEL RED, which seems to indicate he will be at Colonial on Saturday. 

9. UTAH BEACH [ML 8-1] Trainer: Ignacio Correas. Jockey: Jose Ortiz. He won the Elkhorn and the Louisville in a fashion that makes him a threat in this field. In June he checked in the later stages of a Stakes race at Churchill and came up empty. Ortiz, who is having an excellent Saratoga meet, gets back on board. 

The Sword Dance Stakes is slated as race ten on a card of twelve with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.

Best of luck however you play it.