Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes

Aug 13, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Dornoch wins the Belmont S. (G1) during Belmont at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Amira Chichakly)

An excellent field of seven classy long-distance turf runners will travel 1 1/2 miles over the Saratoga inner lawn in Saturday’s lucrative, $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf (G1). The George Boughey-trained Survie made a fine impression in her stateside debut when comfortably winning the Glens Falls (G2) on the grounds and at the distance and could improve second time on the surface.

Survie faced off against some of the top distaffers on the lawn in Europe in 2025 with solid results and has carried that form into her 2026 season. The five-year-old daughter of Churchill is a two-time heroine at the 12-furlong trip in her lifetime and has posted a maintenance four panels in advance of her second run at The Spa, as well. She will face males in a more difficult spot on Saturday, but the mare will have a clear voyage from the outside post slot and was a Group-1 third the last time she faced the boys in Saudi Arabia in February. Manny Franco will ride for the first time.

🚨$𝟑𝟏𝟗,𝟎𝟎𝟎.𝟏𝟔 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐘!🚨

A TwinSpires retail player turned a $2,464 Pick 5 ticket into a $319,000.16 CASH! 🤯💰

Saratoga was good to one lucky player yesterday. 🏆
$2,464 IN. $319K OUT.#WherePlayersWin pic.twitter.com/aZuc7ANZwE

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 10, 2026

Grade 2 victor Minaret Station has never run a bad one in his lifetime and checked in a clear third on the grass last time here in his first extended trip on the lawn. The William Walden trainee possesses a stout late kick that was still powerful at 1 3/8 miles in his latest endeavor, and the four-year-old will be fit following a trio of solid morning workouts in advance of his second local assignment. The Instilled Regard colt retains top pilot Jose Ortiz and will be making one run off the early tempo.

The Miguel Clement-conditioned Tawny Port is two-for-three on the Saratoga green and was last seen driving home to a decisive tally in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) over two miles on June 4. By Pioneerof the Nile, the $2.3 million earner is a proven stayer with an affinity for the course, and the Kentucky-bred comes in fresh, too. Kendrick Carmouche will guide the classy veteran.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #7 Survie on top of #2 Tawny Port and #6 Minaret Station in the 2026 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.