An excellent field was entered for Saturday’s $750,000, Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, a one-mile grass race awarding a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Nov. 1 Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Grade 1 winner Johannes (BENOIT photo)

The field features a bevy of Grade 1 winners. #3 Johannes (5-2) won five out of six starts last year, with his lone miss being a second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. #7 Spirit of St Louis (6-1) boasts stretch-running successes in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Qatar Racing and Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic this year. #8 Deterministic (9-2) exits a front-running win in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes.

But I’m going to side with a horse who has yet to win at the Grade 1 level: #4 Think Big (6-1), a Godolphin homebred with a near-perfect 5-for-6 record on turf. By opposing the more accomplished favorites, we can aim for bigger betting payoffs.

Think Big demonstrated talent as a turf sprinter during the spring, when he posted back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Valvoline Global Shakertown Stakes and Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes Presented by Accenture. But following a subpar seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes, trainer Michael Stidham elected to stretch Think Big out to one mile in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Kelso Stakes.

The result was eye-catching. Think Big got caught up in some traffic around the final turn and had to wait for racing room, but once he found an opening between rivals, he exploded through to win by one length in the sharp time of 1:32.81. According to the Equibase GPS result chart, Think Big blazed his final quarter-mile in :22.48.

The speed Think Big showed sprinting served him well in the Kelso, giving him a terrific burst of acceleration down the homestretch. He has every chance to work out a similar trip while breaking from post-position 4 in the Fourstardave. If he saves ground behind the early leaders and finds a seam turning for home, Think Big can bring his record racing one mile to a perfect 2-for-2.

Think Big is unlikely to start as the Fourstardave favorite, so horseplayers looking to bet the race on a small budget can catch a respectable return with a win bet. However, betting Think Big on top of exacta and trifecta tickets has the potential to yield an even greater payday.

Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget

$10 to win on #4 Think Big

What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, Race 8, $10 to win on 4

Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget

$15 to win on #4 Think Big

What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, Race 8, $15 to win on 4

$4 exacta: 4 with 3,7,8 (total cost: $12)

What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, Race 8, $4 exacta 4 with 3,7,8

$0.50 trifecta: 4 with 3,7,8 with 3,7,8 (total cost: $3)

What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, Race 8, $0.50 trifecta 4 with 3,7,8 with 3,7,8

Good luck, and enjoy the race!