Assessing the Prospects of a 10‑1 Longshot in the Ballston Spa Stakes

Stuart Williams, an English trainer, has announced an ambitious plan to ship his filly Sunlit Uplands to the United States for the $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on Saturday.

The four‑year‑old Ireland‑bred enters the eight‑horse field as a 10‑1 outsider, facing a competitive entry that includes multiple‑winner trainer Chad Brown, who is fielding three contenders in the 1‑inch‑and‑a‑quarter turf championship for fillies and mares aged three and older.

Williams explained that the plan, while ambitious, was deemed the optimal route for the filly. He expressed optimism, noting that several European contenders are familiar rivals and that the race presents a promising opportunity.

Williams, who has trained in Newmarket for over three decades, highlighted the recent success of European runners at Saratoga throughout the summer season.

Euro success at the Spa

European contenders performed strongly in recent graded stakes, with Ireland‑bred Kensington Lane capturing the Belmont Oaks (G1) under trainer Donnacha O’Brien, England‑bred Title Role winning the Belmont Derby (G1) for Simon and Ed Crisford, and England‑bred Glacius taking the Saratoga Derby (G1) for Hugo Palmer. Additionally, George Boughey’s Ireland‑bred Survie captured both the Glens Falls Stakes (G3) and the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1), the latter serving as a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the BC Turf on October 31 at Keeneland.

Chad Brown Goes for Ninth Ballston Spa Win with Three Entries

Brown’s entries include the 7‑5 favorite Segesta, the 8‑1 Grayosh, and the 15‑1 Play With Fire.

Additional competitors comprise 8‑1 Ozara (trained by Miguel Clement), 5‑1 Deep Satin (trained by Cherie DeVaux), 3‑1 And One More Time (trained by Mark Casse), and Long Ago (trained by William Morey).

Todd Pletcher also entered Scalable, a 5‑year‑old Speightstown mare, for main‑track only competition, with odds of 4‑5.

Saturday’s forecast predicts high‑70s temperatures with a 2 % chance of precipitation at post time, scheduled for 6:07 p.m. ET.

Segesta Seems Ready for Winner’s Circle

Brown is chasing a record‑extending ninth Ballston Spa victory, having captured eight of the previous nine runnings from 2012 through 2025.

Segesta, a Juddmonte homebred, enters the race with five consecutive Grade 1 placements, highlighted by victories in the 2025 Matriarch Stakes and the April Jenny Wiley Stakes. She finished third behind Classic Q in the Just a Game Stakes on June 6 and was runner‑up to Kathynmarissa in the Diana Stakes, both at Saratoga. Expectations are for her to lead or run just off the pace.

Grayosh has posted two wins in his last three starts, most recently capturing the July 18 Matchmaker Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. After an eight‑race winless stretch, he broke through with a victory in the 2024 Lake Placid Stakes (G3) at Saratoga and later tied for first in an April optional claimer.

Play With Fire, formerly trained by Brendan Walsh, is winless in four starts under Brown but has placed in three of those races. In her most recent outing on July 9 at Saratoga, the 4‑year‑old finished a close second to Queen of Hawaii in an optional claimer.

Ozara, who was sixth in the recent Grade 1 Diana Stakes, captured the 2025 Ballston Spa under jockey Dylan Davis, who will ride the 5‑year-old for trainer Miguel Clement.

And One More Time, guided by Javier Castellano, is coming off a gate‑to‑wire victory in the one‑mile De La Rose Stakes on July 17. In 2024, she defeated her stablemate Nitrogen in the Natalma Stakes (G1).

Post time for the Ballston Spa, race 10, is set for 6:07 p.m. ET, preceding the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1), where 1‑2 favorite Counting Stars is expected.

The Picks: 1 Segesta, 2 And One More Time, 3 Sunlit Uplands

The Field for the $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1. Ozara (Dylan Davis, Miguel Clement), 8-1
2. Sunlit Uplands (John Velazquez, Stuart Williams), 10-1
3. Deep Satin (Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux), 5-1
4. Play With Fire (Manny Franco, Chad Brown), 15-1
5. And One More Time (Javier Castellano, Mark Casse), 3-1
6. Segesta (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown), 7-5
7. Grayosh (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown), 8-1
8. Long Ago (Kendrick Carmouche, William Morey), 12-1

Also eligible (Main track only)

• Scalable (TBD, Tod Pletcher), 4-5

Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.

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