The boutique race meets of the summer will officially be over after this weekend's action: Saratoga's final day was Monday, and Del Mar's final day will be this coming Sunday.
Closing weekend at Del Mar features a pair of Grade 1 contests for 2-year-olds, the Debutante on Saturday and the Futurity on Sunday, as well as three additional stakes races over the two cards. The blockbuster Kentucky Downs meet also continues on both Saturday and Sunday, with six stakes on Saturday's card and another on Sunday.
Saturday also features big days at Pimlico, Canterbury, and Hastings Park. Pimlico's card is highlighted by the G3 BWI Turf Cup and has three additional stakes, while Canterbury's Minnesota Festival of Champions features six stakes races for state-breds. Hastings Park will host its biggest day of the year with the G3 British Columbia Derby topping the docket.
Seven “Win and You're In” races will be contested this weekend, including two from Kentucky Downs and five from Ireland – three from Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday, and two more from the Curragh on Sunday.
Also worth noting are the third and final leg of Canada's Triple Tiara to be held at Woodbine on Sunday, and the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown to be held at Fort Erie Racetrack on Tuesday next week.
Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's graded stakes:
Saturday
5:10 p.m. – Grade 2 FanDuel Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs
The six-furlong FanDuel Turf Sprint drew a full field of 12 starters and three also-eligibles. The race winner will receive an invitation into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Trainer Wesley Ward, who won last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with Golden Pal, is saddling Lael Stables' 4-year-old Arrest Me Red, the 9-5 morning line favorite. A six-time winner in 10 starts, Arrest Me Red took the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) in May at Churchill Downs and finished second by a half-length to Casa Creed in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 11, which was also a Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
The well-traveled Sonata Stable's 4-year-old Arzak, who has raced at 11 tracks, will be making his Kentucky Downs debut on Saturday. Trained by Michael Trombetta, Arzak has won two of four starts this year, both at Woodbine in Canada, taking the black type Thornhill Stakes and the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes. He comes into the race off a fourth-place finish in the Troy Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 5, less than a length behind winner Golden Pal.
Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Jerry Zaro's 7-year-old gelding Chewing Gum started the year off right with a victory on Jan. 1 in the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bill Mott. He did not race again until July 23 in the Connaught Cup Stakes (G2) at Woodbine, where he finished fourth.
5:45 p.m. – Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs
The remarkable 8-year-old Arklow, who has earned more than $3 million in career earnings, will be running in his fifth consecutive Kentucky Turf Cup, which gives the winner an automatic starting position into the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Owned by Donegal Racing and Joseph Bulger, and trained by Brad Cox, Arklow won the 1 ½-mile Turf Cup in 2018 and in 2020 and finished second in 2019 and in 2021. Arklow has run in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf three times, with his best finish being a fourth-place effort in 2018. He made his 2022 debut in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on July 31, finishing second, a half-length behind Rockemperor (IRE).
Otter Bend Stable's Gufo, the 7-5 morning line favorite, earned a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf when he captured the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, coming from seventh place at the top of the stretch to win by a half-length. Trained by Christophe Clement, Gufo has won nine races in 19 starts, including this year's Pan American Stakes presented by Rood & Riddle (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Another veteran in the field is Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's 6-year-old gelding Temple. Trained by Mike Maker, Temple finished third, less than a length behind the winner, in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 23. In March, Temple won his seventh career race, taking the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Maker is also starting Trinity Farm's 6-year-old New York-bred gelding Red Knight, who won his 2022 debut after an 11-month layoff, capturing the black type 1 ½-mile Colonial Downs Stakes on July 27.
7:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar
The Debutante, which is contested at seven furlongs out of the chute on the main track, has drawn eight promising fillies for what is considered the meet's championship race for their bracket.
Not surprisingly, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert – a specialist with young horses who has won the Debutante 10 times previously, including the last three runnings – has the race's solid favorite at 9/5 in Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Home Cooking, who'll have the saddle services of Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith. He'll also saddle Fast and Shiny, owned by the same trio.
Sunday
8:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar
Nine juveniles have been entered for this seven-furlong contest on the main track, of which three are trained by Baffert, including G3 Best Pal winner Havnameltdown, the likely favorite. Baffert's other runners are recent maiden winners Newgate (Into Mischief) and Cave Rock (Arrogate), who graduated by 3 1/2 lengths and six lengths, respectively.
Best Pal runner-up Agency also enters the field for trainer Mark Glatt, as does last-out listed stakes winner and most experienced runner in the field, The Big Wam for trainer Luis Mendez.
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