Hopeful Stakes 2022: Odds, picks for Saratoga Grade 1

Gulfport is the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. Gulfport won the first two starts of his career at Churchill Downs. Brad Cox trains Mo Strike. Blazing Sevens won his debut at the Sar at his trainer Chad Brown's hands. Forte is trained by Todd Pletcher.

TimeformUS’ pace projections show Bourbon Bash going out to the lead and setting a fast pace.

John Imbriale's last as New York Racing Association's full-time track announcer. John Imbiale will continue to serve as primary track announcer at Belmont Park in 2023 and beyond. Bourbon Bash's victory in the Sanford was a pivotal race for him.

There are a pair of graded stakes taking place on Labor Day. Post times are EDT.

City Man seeks a second graded score of the 2022 Saratoga meet. Winters Back makes his first start since a seventh-place effort in July 2021 at Monmouth Park in the United Nations Stakes (G1). Ready to Purrform races at his seventh track in as many lifetime starts off a National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stake ( G2) win Aug. 5 at Sar at the track. Jockey Joel Rosario flies in from New York to ride the Kitten’s Joy colt for trainer Brad Cox. Rusty Arnold trains Double Clutch, who finished fifth in a Hall. of fame race. Grand Sonata ran eighth in Saratsoga Derby Invitational St. (1.5 miles) on August 6.