The Miguel Clement-trained Bottas will look to return to the form he showed as a juvenile when he takes on nine rivals in the $300,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) June 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
The Vekoma colt showed a lot of promise early in his career, breaking his maiden on debut at Saratoga by 2 1/4 lengths and following with a win in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T). He was last seen finishing a troubled ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).
"I'm very excited for this race. He's a very good horse," Clement said. "Hopefully, I didn't get it wrong, that I didn't leave him short. It's that simple. He's doing very well."
Of those looking to upset Bottas is Gary Barber's Blackmail, who won the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack April 25. The gelding by Not This Time put in a game stretch run to win by a neck over the favorite Instability.
"It was a great ride by Javier (Castellano); he sat on him and made the late run," said trainer Mark Casse. "He's by one of the hottest sires in the world, and I find they tend to get better with age as well."
Casse also enters graded stakes-placed Blinging it Back, who finished fifth in the American Turf Stakes (G1T).
Impressive maiden winners Glavine and West End Kid also are among the top threats in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Talk to Me Jimmy is entered for the main track only.
Entries: Pennine Ridge S. (G3T)
Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, June 4, 2026, Race 3
- Grade III
- 1 1/16m
- Inner turf
- $300,000
- 3 yo
- 1:40 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Bottas (KY) | Manuel Franco | 124 | Miguel Clement | 7/2 |
| 2 | 2Chips and Fish (KY) | Christopher Elliott | 120 | Antonio Arriaga | 50/1 |
| 3 | 3Time for America (KY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 120 | Michelle Nihei | 15/1 |
| 4 | 4Noble Dynasty (KY) | Junior Alvarado | 120 | William I. Mott | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Blackmail (KY) | Javier Castellano | 122 | Mark E. Casse | 8/1 |
| 6 | 6Blinging It Back (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 120 | Mark E. Casse | 6/1 |
| 7 | 7Asked and Answered (KY) | Ruben Silvera | 120 | Antonio Arriaga | 50/1 |
| 8 | 8Glavine (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 120 | Thomas Morley | 4/1 |
| 9 | 9West End Kid (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | 120 | William Walden | 9/5 |
| 10 | 10Talk to Me Jimmy (NY) | Rider TBA | 124 | Rudy R. Rodriguez | 6/5 |
