2026 Woody Stephens Stakes: Win, place and exacta picks from horse racing guru

The Bob Baffert-trained Crude Velocity will look to stay undefeated when he leaves the starting gate in the Woody Stephens Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. A perfect 3-for-3 in his career, Crude Velocity is coming off a victory in the Pat Day Mile Stakes on the Kentucky Derby day undercard. For Saturday he has been installed as the 9-5 favorite in the Woody Stephens Stakes odds. Englishman (3-1), Solitude Dude (6-1), Gilded Bandit (8-1) and Obliteration (8-1) round out the top five choices on the odds board among the nine Woody Stephens Stakes horses. Post time for the Woody Stephens Stakes 2026 is 4:52 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Woody Stephens Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 41 Triple Crown races. He nailed Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Woody Stephens Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Woody Stephens Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman is high on Solitude Dude, a 6-1 shot. "I like this horse quite a bit and nearly made him my top pick," Hochman told SportsLine.

Moreover Hochman's top pick is an "explosive colt." He also is high on a double-digit longshot who "could rebound" from his last race. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Woody Stephens Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Woody Stephens Stakes? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Woody Stephens Stakes picks, all from the expert who has NAILED Triple Crown races!