SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Before he won two Grade 1 races in 2025, Spirit of St Louis was the dominant turf male among New York-breds, winning five stakes in the division in 2023 and 2024. A return to that level of competition in Wednesday’s $200,000 Kingston Stakes at Saratoga may end a five-race losing streak over 13 months for Spirit of St Louis, a 7-year-old gelding. “The horse is a year older, and off his last couple of efforts, it looks like he may have lost a step so we’re putting him in an easier spot,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He seems happy and healthy to continue running.” The Kingston Stakes is one of six stakes for statebreds on a 10-race program. The Kingston, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, drew a field of seven, with five others entered if the race is switched to the main track. Spirit of St Louis, who won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic last year, has the outside post of the turf-only runners, which should complement his closing style. :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Betting Strategies by Mike Beer and David Aragona feature exclusive wager recommendations! Spirit of St Louis has started twice this year, finishing fourth of seven in the Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 28 and second by a half-length in an allowance race for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct on April 24. “I thought it was a positive effort, much better than his previous start,” Brown said of the April 24 race. “He could be coming back to some sort of form. I thought it was a good effort.” The outcome of the Kingston Stakes will determine how Spirit of St Louis is raced this year, his last on the track. “If he steps up, we could go back in open company,” Brown said. “We’d be happy to do it. If not, he can run against New York-breds in his final year. “He’s always been an overachiever. We plan on campaigning him and retiring him. He’ll have a nice second career. “He’s a beautiful horse. He’ll do something meaningful.” To win the Kingston, Spirit of St Louis must catch the stalker George Briggs, who won an allowance at 1 1/16 miles on turf for trainer Miguel Clement at Aqueduct on May 17. George Briggs was trained by Brown until earlier this year. Clement said the racing schedule dictated that George Briggs start in the Kingston despite a quick turnaround. “We’re bringing him back on short rest,” he said. “Nevertheless, good horses can overcome it. We have no other alternative for a while.” Clement also starts Bettrluckythangood, who was fourth in the 2025 Kingston. In his lone start this year, Bettrluckythangood was last of six in an allowance race at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Aqueduct on May 7 after racing near the front early. “The horse was keen off a layoff,” Clement said. “He’ll be ridden more patiently.” Five G returns to turf Five G, a two-time stakes winner in 2025, will start on turf for the first time in more than 18 months in Wednesday’s $200,000 Mount Vernon Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares. Five G has had mixed results in two starts this calendar year. She won an allowance race at a mile at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 13, but was eight of nine in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 11 in her last start. “The Apple Blossom was a disappointment,” trainer George Weaver said. “She’s capable of more.” Five G is part of a field of eight in the Mount Vernon, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf. “The hopes are pretty clear,” Weaver said. “I’d like to win. We have reason to think she’ll be right at home [on turf.]” Five G was second in the Tepin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct in November 2024 in her last start on the surface. Spinning Colors and Awesome Czech, who were first and third in the 2025 Mount Vernon, start on Wednesday. Spinning Colors has lost her last eight starts, and is rated as an outsider. Awesome Czech won the Ticonderoga Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at Aqueduct last November. She was sixth of eight in the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16 in her first start in nearly four months. Awesome Czech, trained by Horacio De Paz, is a three-time stakes winner. She is most effective as a stalker. Midnight Concerto, trained by Kenny McPeek, is more of a closer. She won an allowance race for statebred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Aqueduct on May 1 in that fashion, her first start since late November. “She started the year off right,” McPeek said. “We’ve prepared her to be ready for spring and summer racing.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.