Ag Bullet Returns to Saratoga to Defend Her Crown in the Jaipur Stakes

The sprinter trained by Richard Baltas will seek to repeat her historic triumph against the males and secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special to Turf Diario).– Exactly one year ago, Ag Bullet starred in one of the great stories of the North American summer by defeating the males in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) and securing the first G1 victory of her career. This Saturday, at the very same venue where she reached the pinnacle of racing, she will attempt to repeat the feat.

The daughter of Twirling Candy, trained by Richard Baltas, will anchor a field of 14 runners that will spice up a new edition of the traditional 1100-meter turf sprint at Saratoga, a race that additionally forms part of the Win and You're In program for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

With John Velazquez back in the irons, the representative of Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran will make her season debut, a situation that, far from worrying her connections, inspires confidence.

"We are going to try it again," Baltas commented. "It will be a very tough race, but she is tough too. Johnny is back aboard and that is always an advantage. She runs very well fresh and has always performed after layoffs. The key is arriving on time and in good shape, and we believe she is ready."

The 6-year-old dark bay enters following an outstanding 2025 campaign in which she captured five victories from nine outings. After reigning supreme in the Jaipur, she duplicated that success in the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky Downs and capped off the year with a massive performance to finish second behind Shisospicy (Mitole) in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) contested at Del Mar. She even demonstrated versatility by testing the mile thereafter in the Matriarch Stakes (G1), where she crossed the wire in third.

Baltas still remembers the thrill of that afternoon at Saratoga: "I was in the grandstand and suddenly I saw her ahead by two or three lengths in the stretch. I thought, 'This is actually happening.' We had gone to run against the males looking for a G1 and we got it. She is an extraordinary mare and has given us so many satisfactions."

Among her main rivals looms Reef Runner, the millionaire Florida-bred sprinter trained by David Fawkes, who comes fresh off competing successfully in the Middle East. Winner of the 1351 Turf Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia and subsequently fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan, the son of The Big Beast will arrive with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle and with every intention of capitalizing on his excellent form.

Another heavy hitter will be the Canadian-bred My Boy Prince, a pupil of Mark Casse who was precisely the runner-up to Ag Bullet in last year's Jaipur. The son of Cairo Prince boasts nearly $1.5 million in earnings and enters on the back of a victory in the Shakertown Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

Also in the line-up will be Litigation, another son of Twirling Candy and one of the most consistent short-distance turf specialists, as well as Governor Sam (Improbable), remembered for his third-place finish in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), and the veteran Bold Journey (Hard Spun), who returns to the lawn following a recent campaign on the dirt.

For Ag Bullet, however, the goal is clear. She has already proven she can beat the finest sprinters in the country, and now she will look to confirm that she remains one of the queens of the division.