Sword Dancer Stakes Official Odds: Ultimate Betting Guide
Saratoga’s Turf Challenge: Your Guide to the 2025 Sword Dancer Stakes
The Sword Dancer Stakes is a marquee event of the Saratoga summer meet, showcasing top-class older turf runners. This Grade 1, $750,000 race is a demanding test of stamina over 1 1/2 miles on the renowned inner turf course, and it serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. This guide provides an in-depth look at this year’s contenders and what to expect on race day.
Date, Schedule, and How to Watch
The 2025 Sword Dancer Stakes is a featured race on the highly anticipated Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, scheduled for Saturday, August 09, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course. The post time for the Sword Dancer is set for 5:30 PM ET, with a full card of elite racing throughout the afternoon.
The best place to catch all the action is on our BUSR Experience feature, which allows you to access the entire race day card, and others like the Arlington Million.
Weather and Track Conditions
As of today, the weather forecast for Saratoga Springs, New York, on Saturday, August 09, calls for ideal racing conditions. The prediction is a high of 81°F with partly cloudy skies and only a minimal chance of rain. This suggests a firm and fast turf course, which will suit horses with an explosive turn of foot and allow for a true test of the contenders’ abilities.
A Look at Past Winners
The Sword Dancer has a rich history, with its winners often going on to achieve greatness in the Breeders’ Cup and beyond. The race has been won by some of the most decorated turf stars in the world.
Recent Winners Circle Includes:
- 2024: Far Bridge
- 2023: Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)
- 2022: Gufo
- 2021: Gufo
- 2020: Channel Maker
- 2019: Annals of Time
- 2018: Glorious Empire (IRE)
- 2017: Sadler’s Joy
- 2016: Flintshire (GB)
- 2015: Flintshire (GB)
This list highlights the importance of proven stamina at this distance, as well as the international appeal of the race, which often attracts top competitors from Europe.
The Full Field with Expert Analysis
The 2025 Sword Dancer field is deep and competitive, with a few familiar faces and a couple of intriguing new challengers. Here is a breakdown of the key contenders and their data:
Far Bridge (9/5) (Jockey: Joel Rosario, Trainer: Miguel Clement)
The defending champion returns to Saratoga to defend his title. With a career record of 18 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds, and earnings of over $2.3 million, he has an undeniable affinity for this course. He won the 2024 Sword Dancer in a wire-to-wire effort but has also shown the ability to close from the back of the pack. His tactical versatility and strong late kick make him the horse to beat.
Nations Pride (3/1) (Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby):
This globetrotting 6-year-old is a true international star, with a career record of 22 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds, and earnings of over $3.7 million. He is a proven winner at Saratoga, having taken the 2022 Saratoga Derby, and he’s also a Grade 1 winner on American soil. While his last start in the Dubai Turf was a dud, he has since been given a break and is primed for a big performance. He’s a formidable threat if he brings his “A-game.”
El Cordobes (4/1) (Jockey: Flavien Prat, Trainer: Charlie Appleby)
A stablemate of Nations Pride, this 4-year-old gelding is an emerging star from Europe. He has a solid career record of 18 starts, 3 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds, and earnings of over $543,000. He is coming off a career-best performance in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes in the UK, a victory that showcased his impressive stamina. This will be his first start in the US, but with a top jockey like Flavien Prat in the saddle, he cannot be discounted.
Grand Sonata (10/1) (Jockey: M. Franco, Trainer: Todd Pletcher)
A seasoned veteran of turf racing, this 6-year-old has a career record of 29 starts, 5 wins, 7 seconds, and 2 thirds, and earnings of over $2.1 million. He recently finished a close second in a Grade 2 at Saratoga, a performance that indicates his form is excellent. While he’s a consistent Graded Stakes competitor, he hasn’t won a Grade 1 since his 3-year-old season. He’s a solid exotics play who could upset if the favorites falter.
Utah Beach (8/1) (Jockey: Jose Ortiz, Trainer: Ignacio Correas IV)
This 5-year-old gelding consistently performs in Graded Stakes races, having won four of his 18 career starts and earning over $870,000. He also has multiple Graded Stakes wins, including the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes and Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes earlier this year. As a powerful late-running horse, he will look to take advantage if a fast early pace causes the frontrunners to tire.
El Rezeen (15/1) (Jockey: Dylan Davis, Trainer: Todd Pletcher)
A stablemate of Grand Sonata, this 4-year-old gelding is an up-and-coming talent in the distance turf division. With a career record of 10 starts, 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds, and earnings of over $400,000, he is facing the toughest test of his career. He was a runner-up to Far Bridge in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes and will need to take a big step forward to compete with the top runners in this field.
Vote No (15/1) (Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche, Trainer: Kelsey Danner)
This 4-year-old gelding enters with a career record of 15 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds, and earnings of over $628,000. He is a Grade 2 winner with a consistent record but has often fallen just short in top-tier company. His last outing was a gritty win at Delaware, which shows his current form is strong. He’s a dangerous contender at a distance he should love.
Rebel Red (8/1) (Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr., Trainer: Cherie DeVaux)
This 5-year-old gelding has a career record of 12 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, and 1 third, and earnings of over $1.3 million. He is known for his front-running speed and has shown flashes of brilliance, including a Grade 2 victory at Churchill Downs. He will likely try to get to the front early and set a demanding pace, which could be his path to victory if he can withstand the late challenges from the closers.
Padiddle (30/1) (Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr., Trainer: Fernando Abreu)
A longshot with a career record of 14 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds, and earnings of over $240,000. Padiddle is a deep closer who seems to have finally found his footing on the turf, with his last two starts being the best of his career. Although a win would be a major upset, his late-running style could earn him a spot on the board if a hot pace causes the leaders to falter.
Your Winning Ticket Awaits!
The 2025 Sword Dancer Stakes is shaping up to be a true championship contest at the height of the Saratoga meet. A returning champion, seasoned veterans, and international challengers will all compete in the field, setting the stage for an unforgettable afternoon of racing. Now is the time to leverage this in-depth analysis, consider the unique strengths of each contender, and make your informed selections.
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