Hopeful Stakes Betting Guide: Strategies, Statistics & Picks

2024 Hopeful Stakes Preview

The Grade I Hopeful Stakes can serve as an important prep race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, this is restricted to two-year-old runners only and is contested over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track at Saratoga. Inaugurated in 1903, the race is a chance for the best east coast two-year-olds to go head-to-head.

Hopeful Stakes Picks

Why not use the trends below to help you narrow down the field and then head over to the dedicated Saratoga Betting Picks page to see which runners are being supported by the OLBG expert handicappers to find yourself a wager? Before placing your wager on the 2024 Hopeful Stakes see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.

Hopeful Stakes Content

• Hopeful Stakes Past Winners
• Hopeful Stakes Trainer Statistics
• Hopeful Stakes Jockey Statistics
• 2024 Hopeful Stakes Trends
• Hopeful Stakes Trend Analysis
• Other Graded races at Saratoga Racetrack

Quickest Run Hopeful Stakes Renewals

Over the last 10 renewals, it was the Steven Asmussen trained Jackies Warrior ridden by Joel Rosario who set the fastest winning time in the Hopeful Stakes, the runner won the race in a time of 1:21.29 was set when winning the race in 2020. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Gary Contessa and jockey Junior Alvarado with Nutella Fella who set the slowest winning time, the race-winning time was 1:24.41 in the 2023 renewal. Below are the top five quickest-run Hopeful Stakes over the last 10 renewals.

• 2020 - Jackies Warrior (1:21.29)
• 2015 - Ralis (1:22.30)
• 2022 - Forte (1:22.58)
• 2018 - Mind Control (1:22.99)
• 2021 - Gunite (1:23.08)

Hopeful Stakes Past Winners

Here are the Hopeful Stakes past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the winning time, and the horse that won along with the cloth number, age, sex, the weight of the horse & which starting gate the horse came from. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Hopeful Stakes as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the moneyline odds the horse was sent off.

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Hopeful Stakes have been based:

• USA: 10 winners with an additional 14 placings from 73 runners
• CAN: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 4 runners

Hopeful Stakes Trainer Statistics

The leading trainer in the Hopeful Stakes over the last 10 renewals is Steven Asmussen who has won the race 3 times. Those 3 winners came from Basin (2019), Jackies Warrior (2020) & Gunite (2021). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Hopeful Stakes is Todd Pletcher (2 wins).

Here are some of the most active Hopeful Stakes trainer statistics over the last 10 renewals.

Hopeful Stakes Jockey Statistics

There are two leading jockeys in the Hopeful Stakes over the last 10 renewals with both Jose L Ortiz & John R Velazquez who have both won the race 2 times. Jose L Ortiz's winners have been with Practical Joke (2016) & Basin (2019). John R. Velazquez's winners have been with Competitive Edge (2014) & Mind Control (2018).

Here are some of the most active Hopeful Stakes jockey statistics over the last 10 renewals.

2024 Hopeful Stakes Trends

Favorites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, 2, UR, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2

The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones as you would expect them to do well. The trend information is based on the available information on the racing post in terms of previous runs etc.

• 10 / 10 (77%) - Not CH/RG in color
• 10 / 10 (81%) - No more than +2lbs (Vs Min Weight)
• 10 / 10 (81%) - No bigger than 38/5 (LTO)
• 10 / 10 (86%) - Furthest ran 5½f - 6½f
• 10 / 10 (87%) - Off a break of 22 - 51 days
• 10 / 10 (88%) - No bigger than 131/10 (Career)
• 9 / 10 (60%) - No bigger than 58/5
• 9 / 10 (65%) - Within the first 5 of the market
• 9 / 10 (65%) - Break of 22 - 44 days (Last Place)
• 9 / 10 (77%) - Carried no more than 120lbs
• 9 / 10 (84%) - No bigger than 131/10 (Career Place)
• 9 / 10 (88%) - Beaten no more -3¼l (Debut)
• 8 / 10 (53%) - No bigger than 43/10 (Career Win)
• 8 / 10 (57%) - Won by at least 1¼l (Last Win)
• 8 / 10 (69%) - Carried 118 - 120lbs (Last Win)

Remember to use the trends listed above along with the Saratoga racing predictions to see if you can find the winner of the Hopeful Stakes. Are you already a member? If not, then why not?! With over $9,000 given away each month in the picks contest, why not get involved? Remember, It is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then why share your thoughts on the Hopeful Stakes by adding a pick on the race here?

Hopeful Stakes Trend Analysis

How competitive is the Hopeful Stakes market?

When looking at the over-rounds for the last 10 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2023 when the race had an over-round of 120%. The race in 2014 was a race that was most in the bookie's favor with an over-round of 124%, whilst on average over the last 10 renewals of the Hopeful Stakes, the over-round has been 121%, which means the bookie expects to pay out $100 for every $121 which is bet.

Post Positions of the Hopeful Stakes Winners, Places & Shows

Here are the most recent winning draws along with those who placed and showed:

Best Course for a Hopeful Stakes Prep Run?

The course which has produced the most winners of the Hopeful Stakes is Saratoga, there has been a total number of 7 winners of this race who ran at Saratoga last time out.

Biggest Priced Winners of the Hopeful Stakes & Performance of Favorites

Looking at the winning odds over the last 10 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Nutella Fella in 2023, winning for Gary Contessa at odds of 55/1 under the guidance of Junior Alvarado. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 10 renewals there has been a total of 1 winning favorite in the race. Remember to bookmark the best racing handicappers page so you can get easy access to the best OLBG racing handicappers. All figures and trends above, such as the horse's previous runs are based on the information that is available on the racing post.

Other Graded races at Saratoga racetrack

Here are some other notable races at the Saratoga racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.

Races in July

• A P Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes
• Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap
• Coaching Club American Oaks
• Diana Stakes

Races in August

• Alabama Stakes
• Ballerina Handicap
• Forego Stakes
• Fourstardave Handicap
• H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes
• Jonathan Sheppard Hurdle
• Personal Ensign Stakes
• Saratoga Derby
• Sword Dancer Stakes
• Test Stakes
• Travers Stakes
• Whitney Stakes

Races in September

• Flower Bowl Stakes
• Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Spinaway Stakes

Hopeful Stakes FAQs

Where is the Hopeful Stakes run?

The Hopeful Stakes is run at the Saratoga racetrack each year, you can get Saratoga racing predictions all season long as well as for Hopeful Stakes.

When is the Hopeful Stakes?

The Hopeful Stakes takes place around September of each year at Saratoga.

Who won the Hopeful Stakes?

The 2023 renewal of the Hopeful Stakes was won by the Gary Contessa trained Nutella Fella who was ridden by Junior Alvarado in a time of 1:24.41, owned by Bell Gable Stable Llc it was sent off at an SP of 55/1. You can view all the recent winners in the Hopeful Stakes Past Winners section of the blog.

Who will win the Hopeful Stakes?

On the day of the race, use the trends in this blog and then compare them to the OLBG racing handicappers' predictions for the Hopeful Stakes, you can do this on the Saratoga Picks page which not only will have picks for this race but also picks for Saratoga all throughout the season. You may also be interested in the Horse Racing Picks page where you can get daily horse racing predictions from all of the US courses.

Who is the top trainer in the Hopeful Stakes?

With a total of three winners over the last ten renewals, it is Steven Asmussen who holds the claim as the leading trainer in the Hopeful Stakes. To see which other trainers have a good record in the race, head over to the Hopeful Stakes Trainer Statistics section of the blog.

Who is the top jockey in the Hopeful Stakes?

We have joint leading jockeys in the Hopeful Stakes over the last ten renewals, both with two wins are Jose L Ortiz & John R Velazquez. To see which other jockeys have a good record in the race, head over to the Hopeful Stakes Jockey Statistics section of the blog.

Do we have trends for the 2024 renewal of the Hopeful Stakes?

The simple answer is Yes! We have a total of fifteen trends for the Hopeful Stakes which can be found under the Hopeful Stakes Trends section.