Ballston Spa Stakes

A well-matched field of turf distaffers will head to the post for Friday's GII Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga, and the Cherie DeVaux-trained Deep Satin (American Pharoah) will have to overcome the widest gate in this return to graded stakes compeitition. Dead-heat winner of last year's Virginia Oaks, the homebred missed by a neck to 'TDN Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah) when favored in a salty Keeneland allowance on seasonal debut Apr. 25, but couldn't overcome the 11 hole in the June 1 GIII Mint Julep Stakes, finishing an...

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle half of the six-horse field in the GII Ballston Spa S. at Saratoga Saturday. Brown's trio is led by GI Matriarch S. winner Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). The 5-year-old mare opened her stateside campaign with a fourth-place effort in last year's GIII Intercontinental S. before culminating a three-race win streak in the Matriarch last November. In her lone start this year, she was a troubled fourth in the Aug. 8 De La Rose S. "She had a lot of trouble last time, but she...