Saratoga Picks For This Weekend — H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes, Personal Ensign Stakes & Ballerina Stakes (Aug 29)

Horse Racing

Credit: AI Generated

A huge weekend on the Saratoga calendar is set for this weekend, as major clues ahead of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup could be on offer. Six graded stakes races will be available to bet on at the best horse racing betting sites, including the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, the Personal Ensign Stakes, and the Ballerina Stakes.

However, Saturday’s card is headlined by the star-studded G1 Travers, which will see the long-awaited return to action of Kentucky Derby hero Golden Tempo. You can find our picks for the big race here. However, our Saratoga picks for the other graded races on August 29 are below.    

Saratoga Graded Stakes Picks for this Weekend

H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Betting Preview & Picks

The first of the Grade Ones at Saratoga this weekend is the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, run over a seven-furlong distance. In truth, it could be argued that the most talented three-year-old in the U.S. lines up in this contest, as Cherie DeVaux-trained Englishman looks like a potential superstar. The Maxfield colt produced one of the performances of the season to land the G1 Woody Stephens, easily putting five lengths behind himself and the hugely talented Crude Velocity. Previous course and distance experience is a key advantage, and he is the standout horse over this trip in North America this season. Extremely hard to oppose back at Saratoga.

• Englishman to Win the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes

Personal Ensign Stakes Betting Preview & Picks

Next up is the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes for fillies and mares over a distance of 1 1/8 miles. This is likely a rematch from the G2 Shuvee Stakes, which saw Fully Subscribed beat Scottish Lassie. However, I’d be prepared to take a chance on that form being reversed. The Jorge Abreu-trained runner was excellent at the start of this season, winning over seven furlongs at Saratoga with a mighty speed figure. Backed that up with a bold showing last time, and this course and distance should suit in her rematch against Fully Subscribed after the selection was the winner of the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks in striking fashion when beating Immersive last year.

• Scottish Lassie to Win the Personal Ensign Stakes

Forego Stakes Betting Preview & Picks

The next Grade One on the Saratoga card this Saturday is run over seven furlongs, as a field of eight runners will take their chance in the G1 Forego Stakes. Book’em Danno looks set to fire for the Derek Ryan yard this Saturday, as he bids to retain the race that he won 12 months ago. The five-year-old has won impressively on back-to-back starts at Saratoga and Monmouth, and was most recently seen landing the Mr Prospector Stakes by over a length over Quint’s Brew. This step back up to seven furlongs should suit, having previously won over course and distance last year. Easy to overlook his return defeat in the G2 Carter Stakes, as he likely needed the run.

• Book’em Danno to Win the Forego Stakes

Ballerina Stakes Betting Preview & Picks

The penultimate graded race on the Saratoga card this weekend is the G1 Ballerina, run over seven furlongs by fillies and mares. Ways And Means is a likely contender, but at the prices, it could be worth taking a chance on Linda Rice’s Munnings Express, who will be overlooked in the betting. The filly made an impressive impression over course and distance at the start of the month to put just under two lengths between herself and Landed in the Johnstone Stakes. That was a mighty step up in class for the three-year-old, and the re-opposing Usha was well-beaten on that day. It is likely that she is still improving over this distance, and she could be available at odds of around +1800 on Saturday.

• Munnings Express to Win the Ballerina Stakes

Saratoga Picks for August 29