This year’s Bowling Green Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course drew a main group of eight contenders plus three additional entrants entered for the main track only in the event rain forces the turf stakes onto the main track. Weather forecasts can change quickly, but the outlook for opening weekend of the summer meet at Saratoga looks mostly clear.

The Bowling Green was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course in 2015, and this race has a rich history dating back to its first running in 1958. Highlights include a half-length victory in 1970 by Fort Marcy during his Horse of the Year campaign and With Approval setting a North American record for 1 3/8 miles in 2:10.26 in the 1990 Bowling Green, a record that stands today.

1. Starting Over (15-1 morning-line odds): He showed more early speed in his second start of 2025 and the result was an improved performance when third by three-quarters of a length in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park. A Grade 2 winner on grass in 2024 and a candidate for a top-three finish.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Brittany Russell

2. El Rezeen (8-1): Closed very well for third in the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes in October 2024 with a final quarter-mile in :22.92. Was sharpened for this race with a runner-up finish at 1 1/16 miles in his first race after more than 6 ½ months off and has plenty of upside in his second race of the year.

JOCKEY: Dylan Davis; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

3. Tawny Port (12-1): Draw a line through his most recent start when he was eased in a stakes race that was washed off the turf onto a sloppy main track, but he still has not won in his last 11 starts. Lone turf win did come in a route at Saratoga and he’s fast enough to be competitive at his best.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Miguel Clement

4. Tucson (15-1): Three-race winning streak halted in his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes June 8. This race is a bit easier in terms of quality of competition, but this 4-year-old must improve to be a factor in his sixth career start.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

Webslinger winning at Churchill Downs in June 2024. (Coady Media)

5. Webslinger (7-2): He’s a consistent and fast gelding with 14 top-three finishes in 18 career starts on the grass and earned his best career Equibase Speed Figure (112) at this distance. Prepped nicely for this race with a runner-up finish by three-quarters of a length in a Grade 2 stakes on the all-weather surface at Woodbine in his first start in more than 8 ½ months.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Mark Casse

6. Harrow (8-1): He has improved markedly into a stakes-caliber racehorse under the care of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Won the Barbados Gold Cup in March and followed with a runner-up finish, beaten by three-quarters of a length, in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park June 14, edging Starting Over by a head for second.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

7. Far Bridge (6-5): Three-time Grade 1 winner and five-time graded stakes winner is the obvious top win candidate and the logical favorite. He earned the best Equibase Speed Figure (119) of his career and the best among this field when third by a neck in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes June 8 on this Saratoga inner turf course.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Miguel Clement

8. Corruption (5-1): Four-year-old gelding has emerged as a quality turf runner this year with a pair of allowance wins and a second in the Grade 3 Pan American Stakes Presented by Rood & Riddle in March at Gulfstream. Was fourth most recently, 4 ½ lengths behind Far Bridge, in the Manhattan Stakes and must take a step forward to win the Bowling Green.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

MTO (Main Track Only) - 9. Yo Daddy (9-5): He’s multiple graded stakes-placed on wet dirt tracks and has finished in the top three in 11 of 14 races on dirt. If the Bowling Green is moved to the main track because of inclement weather, Yo Daddy becomes a top threat.

JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Linda Rice

MTO - 10. Kuchar (6-1): He’s the second of three horses entered for the main track only but lacks the consistency and recent form of the other two, having lost his last three races by 10 lengths or more.

JOCKEY: TBD; TRAINER: Rudy Rodriguez

MTO - 11. Game Warden (2-1): Enters off back-to-back top-three finishes in 1 ½-mile stakes on the dirt and would be a win candidate if the race comes off the grass onto the main track because of rain.

JOCKEY: Ricardo Santana Jr.; TRAINER: Norm Casse

THE PICK: Far Bridge

LIVE LONGSHOT: El Rezeen

SUPERFECTA: 7-2-5-8