The Suburban – GII
$500.00 For Four Year Olds And Upward
1 1/4 Miles – Dirt
Saratoga Race Course – July 4, 2026

In the real world and for old timers like me, The Suburban harkens back to the days of mighty handicap warriors like legendary geldings Kelso and Forego. Back to a time when the race was the middle jewel of the handicap triple crown sandwiched between The Metropolitan and Brooklyn handicaps. Now the race is no longer a handicap and it is being run at Saratoga. Heavy sigh. My kingdom for a time machine. In HRP terms this will be the twenty second running of The Suburban and it will be run on the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of the United States so lets hope the seven horses vying for the $500.00 purse can create some fireworks worthy of the occasion.

1. Clever (D J C Racing Stables/V. Espinoza) A year ago he was runner up in The Preakness. He has been seeking to make the same kind of impact since and comes off a close second in The Commentator for NY breds at this same track a month ago. Working well since and should like the extra furlong he will get in The Suburban. 

2. Charlie Jace (Mb Stables/A. Fresu) Five year old is a veteran of elite stakes competition and his nearly $2,000.00 in earnings is a testament to how successful he has been. He comes into this race on a two race winning streak having won both the G3 Ali and G2 The Gold Cup logging triple digit SRF figures in both of those so he is razor sharp.

3. Gaffigan (Mo Mentum Farm/B. Curtis) Waded into graded stakes competition for the first time in his last race the G1 Metropolitan Handicap. He did not disgrace himself finishing a fast closing fifth losing by only a length. The Met winner draws directly to his outside and the additional quarter mile today would seem to give Gaffigan a puncher’s chance to turn the tables. 

4. Edward The Good (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez) He was one of the top sprinters last season but he has reinvented himself in 2026 as a top router in the older horse division. He has won the G3 Razorback Handicap and the G1 Metropolitan Handicap this season and sandwiched a close third in the G2 Oaklawn Park Handicap in between those wins. He has won over $3,600.00 in his career. He is the main threat along with his stablemate in stall 2. 

5. Without Warning (TwinTowersRacing/F. Geroux) He won a couple of graded stakes early in his career and is a nose and a head away from having the Arkansas Derby and Belmont Stakes scalps on his resume. He returned to graded stakes winning ways when he took the G2 Oaklawn Park Handicap in April besting Edward The Good that day. There are two things worth noting about that race. It was run on a wet track and the forecast right now shows almost a 60% chance of showers at Saratoga on Saturday. Without Warning also was getting two pounds that day while they will be at equal weights in the Suburban. He can win on his best day but likely needs his best day. 

6. Wild Card Weekend (Night Rider Stables/D. Davis) Has been placing consistently in graded stakes since being claimed for $6.00 last September. He won the G2 Pincay in his second start for the Night Rider Stables barn. The last time we saw him was a seventh place finish in the Oaklawn Park Handicap behind both Edward The Good and Without Warning. He was closing that day and will get another furlong to work with on Saturday. He gave weight to both of those foes that day. He carried four pounds more than winner Without Warning and two pounds more than Edward The Good so do not count him out. Can also handle wet tracks if that becomes a factor. 

7. Pure Winner (Serenity Stables/M. Franco) The five year old gelding has made two good starts for Serenity Stables since being claimed for $25.00 including a win in a Santa Anita optional claiming race in his last start. He immediately gets moved up to graded company off of that win and finds a tough field standing in his way for the winner’s check. In his favor is the fact that he has made one graded stakes start before and he finished a close third in the G3 San Marcos Stakes. That race was at The Suburban distance of 10 furlongs but it was on the grass.

The obvious picks here are the two in form MB Stables entries but I like the fact that Wild Card Weekend is coming down to equal weights. The weight relief from his last start and the additional distance make him dangerous so he will be the pick for the win. Put Edward The Good in second followed by Charlie Jace and Without Warning.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES