SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A summer after he placed in two Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga, including a third-place finish in the Whitney, the Maryland-bred and -based Post Time is back to try again as part of a star-studded field entered in Saturday’s $1 million Whitney Stakes.

Post Time, a 5-year-old son of Frosted, is as consistent as they come, having won 11 of 18 starts and never finishing worse than third. He’s a seven-time stakes winner, his biggest victory coming in the Grade 2 Carter at Aqueduct in April 2024.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Zulu Kingdom is the acknowledged favorite and horse to beat in Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, but two of his opponents – one logical, the other a longshot – could benefit from the expected dynamics of the one-mile turf race and potentially upset.

In a race seemingly loaded with speed, Luther, the third-place finisher from the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, and Tiz Dashing, third at 24-1 to Zulu Kingdom in the Manila Stakes, could get the setup they need to be most effective.

DEL MAR, Calif. – First looks are deceiving, case in point the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes on Friday at Del Mar. Even though the field of California-bred 3-year-old sprinters appears evenly matched, a closer look reveals a potential gem.

Speedy Wilson, whose older sibling Lovesick Blues upset the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes last week, returns from a long layoff as the most likely winner of the seven-furlong Real Good Deal. Speedy Wilson does not jump off the page, but he is jumping out of his skin.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Marty Drexler sends out the 124-pound co-highweights Kitten’s Romance and Zisisit in Friday’s $60,000 Midsummer Handicap at Woodbine. The one-mile inner turf event is a starter limited to fillies and mares who competed for $25,000 or less in 2024-25.

Kitten’s Romance has only been worse than second once in her last seven outings, dating back a year. Fortunately for Drexler, there was a $15,000 claim voided on her when she won for fun in late October, after which she went to the sidelines.

The starting gate in $3,500 claiming races at Emerald Downs can have the feel of an equine old folks’ home. But there are few athletes more lovable than old warhorses, and the 10-year-old gelding War Chest, who will make his Emerald debut on Friday night in his 78th career race, is as cuddly as they come.

“He’s just so kind. He’s happy to train. We call him grandpa,” said Eliana Thompson, assistant to trainer Jorge Rosales, who happens to be her boyfriend. “Anyone could get on him.”

Thoroughbred racing is referred to as the Sport of Kings, but every now and then a commoner breaks through. Such was the case with Smarty Jones, who rose from humble beginnings in Pennsylvania to become a dual classic winner.

Fittlingly, as Smarty Jones enters the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Friday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., common racing fans will be mingling with some of the sport’s elite during a weekend that serves as a love letter to the sport.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Theoretically, taking a horse competing against graded stakes competition and putting them back in with statebreds would be considered significant class relief. But that might not be the case when The Wine Steward starts against New York-breds for the first time in nearly two years in Thursday’s extremely competitive John Morrissey Stakes.