Sword Dancer Stakes Picks, Odds, and Preview (Aug 9)

The featured race at Saratoga this weekend comes on the turf, as the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes could offer clues for the Breeders’ Cup Turf later this season. A high-quality international field of 12 runners is expected to go to post, and they will compete across a distance of 1 1/2 miles. You can find the odds and picks here.

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How To Watch

• When: Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 5:44 P.M. ET
• Where: Saratoga, New York
• How To Watch: FanDuel TV

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Sword Dancer Stakes Odds

Driver	Odds
Far Bridge	+225
Nations Pride	+275
El Rezeen	+650
El Cordobes	+700
Utah Beach	+800
Rebel Red	+1400
Other Selections	+1600 & Bigger

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Recent Winners of the Sword Dancer Stakes

Year	Winning Driver
2024	Far Bridge
2023	Bolshoi Ballet
2022	Gufo
2021	Gufo
2020	Channel Maker
2019	Annals of Time

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Race Preview

A weekend of high-quality turf action is set for the U.S. this Saturday, with the Arlington Million forming the headline at Colonial Downs. However, at Saratoga, it will be all about the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes, which will see a high-quality field compete across a mile and a half.

Far Bridge will be a red-hot favorite for the Miguel Clement yard, as he bids to go back-to-back in the Sword Dancer Stakes. The five-year-old has maintained his strong form on track this season, and was a recent winner over a slightly shorter trip when getting the better of El Rezeen in the G2 Bowling Green Stakes.

READ More: The Open Championship Odds, Preview, and Picks (2025)

Nations Pride has been a notable raider in international races throughout his career, notably winning the Arlington Million last year. The Charlie Appleby runner is the choice of stable jockey William Buick, but it remains to be seen whether he stays this trip after competing over shorter distances throughout much of his career.

Utah Beach is worth a mention despite a below-par showing at Churchill Downs in June when finishing only seventh in the Cherrywood Stakes. Prior to that effort, he looked hugely exciting over a mile and a half, winning the G2 Elkhorn and G3 Louisville Stakes on back-to-back starts at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

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Sword Dancer Stakes Picks

At the prices, El Cordobes is hard to ignore for the Appleby yard. Flavien Prat takes the ride on the progressive four-year-old, who has already won over a mile and a half in top company this year after landing the G2 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket last month.

This trip suits him perfectly, and he has already run strong races internationally this year after taking seconds on a pair of starts in the Middle East.

Free Picks:

• El Cordobes (+750)