The National Museum of Racing – (Grade ll)

Purse $400.00 – For Three Year Olds

One Mile – InTurf

Saratoga – August 7, 2026

The 23rd edition of The National Museum of Racing brings together an eclectic group of three-year-olds competing for a healthy purse. Some enter with graded stakes credentials, others with black-type success, while a few have yet to win beyond the maiden ranks. This Grade Two event has gradually shortened in distance over the years, debuting at 1⅛ miles in 2004 before being reduced to 1 1/16 miles in 2011. Since 2019, it has been contested at one mile on the inner turf course. Mb Stables has dominated The National Museum of Racing—leading all owners with six victories, while jockey John Velazquez shares the all-time lead among riders with six wins. The stable added another chapter to its legacy last year when McWicked established the stakes record, covering the mile in 1:32.75. The stage is set to find out whether a new face breaks through or an established contender further cements its reputation. It’s worth mentioning that the future weather forecast is predicting some wet conditions later in the week. With that said, let’s take a deep dive into this year’s field!

1. Perfect Folly – (La Canada Racehorses, S X. Bridgmohan) After breaking his maiden last summer, Perfect Folly spent the next several months competing in allowance company before moving up in class in April 2026. He had some formidable efforts routing on the grass, so connections entered this gelding in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park. Perfect Folly was the favorite that day in a seven-horse field and kicked away late in the stretch to score by a length. Last time out, this son of Perfect Devil ran in The Saranac going 1 1/16 miles on the grass. He looked to be in a perfect striking position but never seemed to get out of first gear. With some quick works and the right setup, this is an upset contender.

2. Renard – (Bigchief Stables, P. Lopez) Has never finished worse than second in five straight races since switching to the turf. Connections made the surface change late last year, and that came with an impressive two-length allowance win. Renard then jumped up in class at the start of 2026 to run against some stiff stakes company. He had back-to-back second-place finishes before breaking through with a one-length victory in The Murphy Stakes at Laurel Park. This California-bred settled in eighth, about four lengths off the pace and came with a huge late run down the stretch. That’s what Renard did last time out as well in the American Derby, but he fell short by a neck to get second. My top pick.

3. Private Affair – (TwinTowersRacing, M J. Sanchez) The first of two entrants this year who will be trying the grass for the first time. This son of Van Gogh is a half-brother to four turf winners and posted a sharp workout over the sod a few months ago. With both pedigree and morning drills pointing in the right direction, the surface switch makes plenty of sense. Private Affair’s last three starts have been routing on the dirt against N1X company. Two of those efforts resulted in last-place finishes. He was in good striking distance last time out at Ellis Park, but there was no response when asked to go down the stretch. It’s worth noting that this colt will remove blinkers and add a shadow roll for this race.

4. No Prince – (Mb Stables, J R. Velazquez) Bought privately from Bigking earlier this year for $200.00. No Prince had an impressive two-year-old season, not finishing worse than second in five starts on the grass. He switched barns at the start of 2026 and immediately went into stakes company. The son of Prince George continued to be camera-shy despite going off as the favorite in his last couple of races. However, things changed last time out when this Florida-Bred drew an outside post in The Saranac at Saratoga. No Prince found himself on the lead and won convincingly going wire-to-wire. Mb Stables and jockey John Velazquez are an unstoppable force when teamed up together. Watch out!

5. Cumberland Blue – (Jerry Garcia Racing, R M. Hernandez) This colt is the only graded stakes winner in the field and will be making his turf debut. Cumberland Blue is a half-brother to seven turf winners, giving him every chance to handle the surface. He made headlines earlier in the year taking down The Gotham and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct—punching his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. The son of Excoriator is a habitual deep closer and found himself in last, twelve lengths behind the field on the first Saturday in May. He tried to weave his way through traffic but ended up finishing ninth. Connections continued down the Triple Crown trail with fifth-place efforts in the Preakness and Belmont. A horse with plenty of appeal.

6. Livingstone – (Luz International, I. Ortiz Jr.) After two starts on the main track, this Lone Star-bred tried the sod for the first time five months ago around two turns. There was plenty of improvement as Livingstone finished second by a half-length. He then was entered in another state-bred Maiden Special Weight, but this time it was going 7½ furlongs. The turf was soft that day and this colt just couldn’t catch the pacesetter who was loose on the lead. Last time out, we saw Livingstone up at Woodbine on yielding ground. Luz International put this guy on the lead and he never looked back, scoring by just under a length. It’s a big ask to jump from an MSW victory to a Grade Two. I would be surprised if he sprung an upset.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES