SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gabaldon was one of the few horses to beat Governor Sam on turf, something he did when they both debuted as 2-year-olds in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream in May 2024. Since then, Gabaldon has run just twice – including a second-place finish in the 2024 Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot – and has been hampered by myriad issues that his trainer, Jose D’Angelo, hopes are behind him. Meanwhile, Governor Sam has developed into a four-time stakes winner for trainer George Weaver and the ownership group of Alex Bregman and Swinbank Stables. In Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga, Governor Sam will be a deserving favorite, while Gabaldon will be a potential value play in a field of nine 3-year-olds. Gabaldon has undergone a few procedures since he last ran, a third-place finish in the Texas Glitter Stakes on March 22 at Gulfstream Park. To correct a breathing problem, Gabaldon has undergone a tie-back surgery, designed to open up his airwaves. He also has been gelded. :: Bet Smarter at Saratoga. Unlock DRF data and expert analysis all meet long. Save with a Saratoga Handicapping Package from DRF.  D’Angelo said Gabaldon also was sidelined last year due to bone bruising, which forced him to give the horse more time than he had planned after the Royal Ascot meeting. Later, Gabaldon developed a breathing issue that D’Angelo believes caused him to bleed in the Texas Glitter, a race in which he exerted a big effort and was only beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Incanto. Since the surgery, D’Angelo said Gabaldon hasn’t bled. “He was making noise before and running good. Now he’s not making any noise and working better, so for sure he’s improving,” D’Angelo said. Gabaldon, who will be ridden for the first time by Jose Ortiz, has plenty of speed, though D’Angelo doesn’t feel his horse is a need-the-lead type. He is drawn in post 8, inside of Governor Sam and outside of Ortley Avenue. Both of those horses are trained by George Weaver and were the one-two finishers of the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes on July 13. Governor Sam strung together four consecutive wins at 2 before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. In his first two starts this year, he ran third in the William Walker Stakes at Churchill before running fourth in an off-the-turf allowance. He then chased Ortley Avenue before drawing away to win the Quick Call by 3 1/2 lengths, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. “He jumped up and ran a speed figure like I thought he would earlier in the year,” Weaver said. “He’s bigger, stronger, sounder than he was last year. I was scratching my head why he hadn’t run that fast yet. Hopefully, he’ll keep going, keep that upward trajectory.” Ortley Avenue will likely either be the speed or be keeping Gabaldon company on the front end. No Evidence, trained by Miguel Clement, has twice finished third behind Governor Sam, including a four-length defeat in the Quick Call. No Evidence finished a length in front of Gabaldon when second, beaten a neck by Incanto, in the Texas Glitter. Saturday Flirt, trained by Wesley Ward, is 2 for 2 this year with an allowance win on turf at Keeneland and a 3 3/4-length victory in the Soaring Softly, a race scheduled for turf here June 8 but moved to dirt due to rain. Innovator, previously in the barn of D. Wayne Lukas, makes his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen. He is coming off a second-place finish in an allowance race at Ellis Park behind Litigation, who came back to win another allowance in his next start. Spiced Up, a maiden winner in his turf debut June 20 at Aqueduct for Bill Mott; Jet Sweep Joe, who was fifth in the Quick Call; and Ancient World, who makes his turf debut after four starts on dirt for Joe Sharp; complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.