Virginia-bred Sticksstatelydude will compete in a field of eight two-year-olds in tomorrow’s $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (Gr. I) at Saratoga. The 7 furlong stakes serves as an early preview of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile division and of the 2016 Triple Crown series.
Bred by Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds, Sticksstatelydude is fresh off a maiden special weight victory at Saratoga on August 1st. The First Dude colt collected a runner-up in similar company in his only other lifetime start and sports a bankroll of $57,860 heading into Monday’s stakes. He is out of the Gilded Time mare Placerita and has been assigned odds of 12-1 in the morning line. Uncle Vinny, fresh off a win at Saratoga in the Grade III Sanford Stakes, is the early 5-2 favorite.
Jockey Joel Rosario will guide Sticksstatelydude. The race, carded as the 10th of Saratoga’s 11 scheduled on holiday Monday’s meet closer, will be broadcast live from 5-6 PM as part of the Jockey Club Tour on Fox Sports 1.