Sword Dancer Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2020 Sword Dancer Stakes is set for Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Sword Dancer Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Sword Dancer Stakes
- Purse: $600,000
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: August 29
- Post Time: 5:43 PM (ET)
- Live: Sword Dancer Stakes Odds: Click Here
2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Handicapping
Run at a challenging 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga turf course, the (G1) Sword Dancer Stakes serves as a ‘Win And You’re In’ race for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf race, to be held November 7 at Keeneland Race Course.
Open to horses aged four and older, the Sword Dancer has drawn a well-balanced international field of veteran runners, including many with graded-stakes wins on their resume, and includes one past winner.
Odds listed here are provided by the Saratoga track handicapper.
2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Sadler’s Joy Race Odds: 5-2
The 2017 winner of the Sword Dancer, Sadler’s Joy comes into this year’s race still looking for his first win of 2020 despite making five starts, with four of those coming in Grade 1 or 2 races.
Last out in the (G1) Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga he actually crossed the finish line first, but was DQ’d to fourth for interference with two other horses in the stretch drive. Prior to that he finished third in three consecutive races.
He’s trained by Tom Albertini, Javier Castellano gets the call to ride.
2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Cross Border Racing Odds: 3-1
The winner of the Bowling Green with the DQ of Sword Dancer, the New York-bred Cross Border lived up to his name by starting his career at Woodbine in Toronto, where he took a remarkable nine races to score is first career win. He then ran another nine times before moving up to the graded-stakes level.
He’s been good lately, coming into this one on a two-race winning streak. He also appears to like the Saratoga turf, as he’s undefeated in five starts on the grass at The Spa.
Michael Maker is the trainer, Jose Ortiz will be in the saddle.
2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Channel Maker Odds: 6-1
Making his third consecutive start in the Sword Dancer, Channel Maker was fourth in the race last year after a runner-up finish in 2018.
He’s another looking for his first win of 2020, although he was part of a very close finish last out in the Bowling Green, grabbing the third-place money in a race where the top five runners were all within two lengths of each other. Prior to that he was fourth in the (G1) Manhatten Stakes but again less than a length off the winner.
Bill Mott trains, Manny Franco is tapped to ride.
2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Pedro Cara Odds: 10-1
French-bred colt Pedro Cara ships in from the United Arab Emirates where he most recently ran third in the Group 1 Amir Trophy behind a very good winner after closing out 2019 with a win in the Group 2 Qatar Derby.
He’s a three time winner on his native soil, and will be making his second US start after running second by a nose in the Belmont Derby Invitational last November.
Graham Motion is his trainer stateside, while Johnny Velazquez is the jock.
Here’s my 2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Free Pick.
With all of the top entries here recently struggling to find the winner’s circle, I smell an upset and will bet Pedro Cara for both the win and place at what should be good odds.
Typically there are questions with horses coming over from the UAE and trying to adapt to North American racing, but I think his run in the Belmont Derby Invitational shows he belongs with these.
I’ll also put him on top of the exacta, with Sadler’s Joy and Channel Maker underneath.
Full Field: Sword Dancer Stakes Betting Odds
- Sadler’s Joy 5-2
- Cross Border 3-1
- Aquaphobia 4-1
- Channel Maker 6-1
- Corelli 6-1
- Marzo 10-1
- Pedro Cara 10-1
- Highland Sky 12-1
What do you think of our 2020 Sword Dancer Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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