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Sconsin Runs Down Favorite Four Graces In Eight Belles

Lloyd Madison Farms IV's homebred Sconsin overhauled favored Four Graces at the eighth pole to win the 65th running of the $300,000 Eight Belles Presented by TwinSpires.com (GII) for 3-year-old fillies by 2 ¼ lengths.

Trained by Greg Foley and ridden by James Graham, Sconsin covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:21.30.

“When this race came up on paper we sort of thought the pace scenario could work in our favor,” Foley said. “This filly was very impressive at Keeneland against Four Graces. She got a great ride by James (Graham) and cruised home. It's very exciting winning with a filly like this on such a big stage as the Kentucky Oaks. Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow with Major Fed in the Derby.”

Mundaye Call and Four Graces dueled through early fractions of :22.11 and :44.14 as Sconsin trailed in the field five. On the far turn, Sconsin began to pick off horses, drew even with Four Graces at midstretch and drew off for the victory.

Sconsin, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Include out of the Tiznow mare Sconnie, earned $186,000 with the victory to increase her bankroll to $301,512 with a record of 8-3-2-1.

“She ran huge. She likes this racetrack evidently,” Graham said. “They ran fast in front of her and she picked them off. Can't ask for any more than that. The two favorites are speed horses, so all you can hope is that they hook up and kill each other off. My filly was just happier today. Those two had pace pressure and we just finished them off.”

Sconsin returned $16.40, $3.60 and $2.40. Four Graces, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $2.60 and $2.10 and finished 1 ¾

lengths in front of Never Forget who paid $3.80 to show under Javier Castellano.

It was another length back to Mundaye Call who was followed by Extra Effort.

Julien Leparoux (rider, Four Graces, second) – “She ran a good race. We had speed, the other one had speed. She was maybe a little fresh but other than that, I tried to rate her but she was taking the bit. She ran a good race though.”

Ian Wilkes (trainer, Four Graces, second) — “The filly was a little fresh today, but let's not take anything away from the winner. The winner ran her race, she ran her race. That filly's been knocking on the door. Every race, she runs her race and she's right there. It looked like it was going to be the two of us (favorites) going out front and hope we didn't set it up. But the other filly ran good. I'm proud of my horse, she didn't quit. My filly runs her race. I've got to let her run her race. I freshened her up, I backed off her. I don't want to make excuses today. My filly ran good.”

The post Sconsin Runs Down Favorite Four Graces In Eight Belles appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Derby Notes: Enforceable May Be ‘More Forwardly Placed,’ ‘Break Is Everything’ For Storm The Court

Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez's Finnick the Fierce was declared out of Saturday's 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) by his co-owners.

With the scratch of Finnick the Fierce, the inside stall and outside three stalls in the 20-horse starting gate will remain open for the field of 16 starters. Program numbers remain unchanged.

With the first good weather morning since Tuesday, all 16 entrants for the Run for the Roses trained over Churchill Downs' fast track Friday morning on the eve of the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

Among the horses galloping during the 5:15-5:30 (all times Eastern) training window reserved for Derby and Oaks entrants were morning line Derby favorite Tiz the Law and second choice Honor A. P. who were two of the first horses on the track.

ATTACHMENT RATE – Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Attachment Rate had his final morning of training before Saturday's Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Dale Romans reported everything is ready to go for the Ellis Park Derby runner-up.

AUTHENTIC/THOUSAND WORDS – With trainer Bob Baffert looking on, stablemates Authentic and Thousand Words each put in maintenance gallops Friday morning under perfect weather conditions at Churchill Downs.

Friday's clear skies were welcome after rain had soaked the Louisville area the previous two mornings. Derby and Oaks contenders were given a special training slot from 5:15-5:30 Friday and, after Oaks favorite Gamine stretched her legs with a race-day gallop, Authentic came on the scene under Humberto Gomez for a couple of laps around beneath the Twin Spires.

Thousand Words then emerged just after the special training period concluded and also galloped under Gomez.

Both colts are aiming to give Baffert what would be a record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby victory Saturday. Authentic has won four of five starts and bested Ny Traffic last time out in the Haskell Stakes (GI) on July 18.

“In the Haskell it looked like it he was going to be coming up short but a lot of it was he just shut it down early,” Baffert said. “But he's training really well, he's coming up to the race in great shape. He's the kind of horse where he looks around like in the stretch, I told (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) if we're lucky and we turn for home and he's right there you have to keep him busy because he does check things out.”

Thousand Words, who is owned by Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm, has been training forwardly since defeating Honor A. P. in the Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 1.

“He's a horse who can be a little bit tough mentally. But all of the sudden he started doing really well,” Baffert said of the son of Pioneerof the Nile. “He's a horse where he's getting closer, his numbers are getting tougher and tougher. But everything has to go right for him. He's that kind of horse.”

ENFORCEABLE – Having arrived from Florida Thursday afternoon, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was on hand at Churchill Downs Friday morning to see for himself the form John Oxley's Enforceable is bringing into his Kentucky Derby run.

With assistant trainer David Carroll in the irons, Enforceable again looked like a horse wanting to do more as he galloped during the 5:15-5:30 a.m. exclusive training period for Oaks and Derby contenders. The son of Tapit — who is a full brother to graded stakes winner Mohaymen — has been eager in his morning outings all week and could end up closer to the pace Saturday than is typical for his late-running self.

“I was saying to David that I think he may be a little more forwardly placed than usual,” Casse said. “He's really on his game. In the Blue Grass Stakes (in which he finished fourth) he broke much better than he had been breaking and going 1 ¼ miles, I don't know that the pace is going to be crazy. So we're not going to take him back. We're going to let (jockey) Adam (Beschizza) place him wherever he feels comfortable but I'm going to think he'll be more forwardly placed.”

FINNICK THE FIERCE — Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez's Finnick the Fierce was declared out of Saturday's 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

“Because he's blind on the right eye, he carries himself a little funny,” Monge said. “And we always knew that. But ever since he arrived, the vets have been keeping an eye on the horse and I'm telling Rey 'well, they're concerned about this' and there might be a legitimate reason but a regular vet doesn't seem to think so. So we're always trying to do the best for the horse so we made the decision (to scratch) because we don't want to go tomorrow and we're all excited and then he gets scratched at the post. So we always said this is a horse for the long term. It was an honor to be selected (for the Derby) but at the end of the day the most important thing is the horse. Maybe we are missing something I don't know, but I think the plan is to do more diagnostics on him and if everything is OK we'll run another day. What can we do, that's life.

“I didn't notice anything but it was always the right front. That's the same side as his eye and it's always been that way. Rey rides the horse and said 'this horse is fine' and that he didn't feel anything. I don't know. I know horse racing is under scrutiny all the time so I understand not trying to risk that publicity.

“We'll have to see what comes out of this next diagnostic test. Just to be on the up and up, we'll probably send him to Rood and Riddle and get an independent opinion on the horse. If all is good, (the Preakness) could be a consideration. Maybe the Breeders' Cup. Rey wanted to turn him out after the Derby anyway but it will depend on how this comes out. It's a bummer but we'll be back.”

The Dialed In gelding, who was seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes (GII) in his most recent start, had jogged, then galloped Friday morning with Hernandez aboard.

HONOR A. P. – C R K Stable's Honor A. P. was the first Kentucky Derby contender to set foot on the track Friday morning at 5:15 and galloped 1 5/8 miles with Javier Hernandez aboard and trainer John Shirreffs keeping close watch.

After watching the gallop Shirreffs was all smiles, but modest when complimented about how good his Santa Anita Derby winner looked.

“When you get to this level, they all look good,” said Shirreffs, who is seeking his second Kentucky Derby victory after pulling the upset with Giacomo in 2005.

MAJOR FED – Lloyd Madison Farm's Major Fed had his final morning of Derby training Friday with an easy one-mile jog and 1 5/8-mile gallop.

With exercise rider Margarito Fierro in the saddle alongside of Brian Theall aboard stable pony Alejandro, Major Fed will attempt to put his starting gate woes behind him in the Derby.

“We've gotten pretty unlucky at the start,” trainer Greg Foley said. “We schooled him a couple of times this week at the new gate and in the morning in the paddock. We just need things to go our way for once at the start.”

MAX PLAYER – George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.'s Max Player, had a strong 1 ½-mile gallop over a fast track at 5:15 a.m. under regular exercise rider Juan Vargas.

MONEY MOVES – Outfitted with his Kentucky Derby saddle towel, Money Moves galloped during the special 5:15 a.m. training period for Oaks and Derby contenders as trainer D. Wayne Lukas — who is overseeing the colt's conditioning on behalf of his protégé Todd Pletcher — kept watch astride his saddle horse.

MR. BIG NEWS – Allied Racing's Mr. Big News galloped 1 ½ miles Friday morning at 5:30 for trainer Bret Calhoun.

NECKER ISLAND – One of the last Derby horses to train Friday morning, Necker Island jogged once around under Hillary Hartman and then stood in the Kentucky Derby starting gate located in the mile chute.

Among those looking on with trainer Chris Hartman was Wayne Scheer from South Dakota, who owns Necker Island in partnership with Raymond Daniels and Will Harbut Racing.

NY TRAFFIC – John Fanelli, Cash is King, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley's Ny Traffic made the good impression as he came out at 5:15 a.m. and galloped 1 ½ miles around the Churchill track.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. participated in some the top 3-year-old races last year with Math Wizard, who hit the board in both the Ohio Derby (GIII) and Indiana Derby (GIII) before a breakout win in the Pennsylvania Derby (GI), but Ny Traffic is the first Classic starter for the 33-year-old trainer, a native of Barbados who has been training in the U.S. since 2011.

“The Derby means everything to me,” Joseph said. “That's why we came here. We hoped to one day win the Kentucky Derby and now to be in the position where we have a chance, we are very fortunate and blessed. We are just trying to take it all in.”

SOLE VOLANTE — After jogging Monday through Thursday, Reeves Thoroughbreds and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante was reunited with jockey Luca Panici for a strong 1 ½-mile gallop during the special 5:15 a.m. training time restricted to Oaks and Derby horses.

SOUTH BEND – It was another smooth morning for Bill Mott trainee South Bend as he galloped during the special 5:15 a.m. training session. Assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy continues to be pleased with what he is seeing from the son of Algorithms, who is attempting to make Mott the first trainer since Bob Baffert in 1997-98 to win the Kentucky Derby in consecutive years.

STORM THE COURT – Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Storm the Court jogged a quarter-mile and then galloped a mile under Thomas Dubaele at 7:30 Friday morning.

Trainer Peter Eurton said Storm the Court would not go to the track Saturday morning in advance of his Derby run.

Owned by the partnership of Exline-Border Racing, David Bernsen, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock, Storm the Court will be ridden for the first time Saturday by Julien Leparoux.

Eurton, who is saddling his second Derby starter, was asked about the ideal scenario for Storm the Court to notch his first victory of 2020 Saturday.

“The others break a step slow and we break fast and they have to catch us,” Eurton said with a laugh. “The break is everything. If the pace is fast, we will be four to six lengths off it but if it is not a fast pace, we will be up on it.”

TIZ THE LAW –Sackatoga Stable's prohibitive 3-5 morning line favorite Tiz the Law had a strong 1 ½- mile gallop at 5:15 a.m. with regular rider Heather Smullen aboard in his final day of serious training before Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Trainer Barclay Tagg said the Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1) Stakes winner would go out for a one-mile jog Saturday morning.

“He had a very nice gallop,” Tagg said. “Right speed. Everything was comfortable. He pulled up nicely and came back nicely. We're all good. He'll jog once around tomorrow.”

The Constitution colt has won six of seven starts laying close to the pace and making one run at the top of the stretch. His trainer is hoping for a similar trip in the Derby.

“I'd like for us to be laying third all the way around until we get down for business,” Tagg said. “I'm very confident in our horse. He's a very nice colt. I hope he wins it. He's a good horse, good horses do good things.”

Next to Tagg and his partner/assistant Robin Smullen, the person who knows Tiz the Law the best is Heather Smullen, niece of Robin.

“He's good,” Heather Smullen said. “He does everything you ask him to do. He's very happy with himself and moved well over the track this morning (Friday).”

WINNING IMPRESSION – West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing's Winning Impression jogged a mile with exercise rider Emerson Chavez up for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The post Derby Notes: Enforceable May Be ‘More Forwardly Placed,’ ‘Break Is Everything’ For Storm The Court appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Kentucky Derby Has Finally Arrived

Having been postponed from their usual May dates due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 146th edition of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks finally take place beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. The Derby and Oaks anchor eight hours of live broadcasts from NBC Sports on September 4 and 5. On Friday, NBCSN will show the Kentucky Oaks and other stakes races from Churchill Downs on a three-hour show from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

On Saturday, NBC will air five hours of coverage from Churchill Downs including six other stakes races and culminating with the 146th run for the roses. The broadcast runs from 2:30-7:30 p.m. ET.

Saratoga's final weekend of racing will be broadcast on Fox Sports' “Saratoga Live,” and as a bonus for racing fans, the NYRA-produced show will also show live races from Churchill during Kentucky Derby week that are not telecast on NBC or NBCSN. Highlights of the week include the 67th running of the Woodward Stakes for older horses on September 5.

Del Mar also winds down its summer meet this weekend, ending on Labor Day. All Del Mar races will be shown on TVG as part of their comprehensive on-site coverage.

Fans of international racing can tune in to TVG on Saturday morning as international superstar Enable (GB) competes in the September Stakes at Kempton in preparation for her fourth appearance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. She won the Arc in 2017 and 2018 and was second last year. Post time for the September Stakes is approximately 9:35 a.m. ET/6:35 a.m. PT.

Friday September 4

3:05 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Whitham Thoroughbreds' homebred Four Graces, riding a three-race win streak, headlines the field for the Eight Belles. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Four Graces has won four of five career starts and has posted Grade 3 wins in her past two starts in the Beaumont at Keeneland and the Dogwood at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA8-EQB.html

3:40 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stables' Sharing, winner of the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall and the Tepin at Churchill Downs in her 2020 debut, tops a field of eight for the Edgewood. Trained by Graham Motion, Sharing will be making her first start since finishing second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Manny Franco has the mount Friday and will break from post position three.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA9-EQB.html

4:15 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman's McKinzie will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the Alysheba when he takes on seven rivals. Trained by Bob Baffert, McKinzie romped to a 4 ¾-length victory in last year's Alysheba. Fifth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap going a mile in his most recent start, McKinzie will be ridden Friday by Mike Smith and break from post position two. Looming as the top challenger to McKinzie is Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards. Runner-up in the Grade 1 Whitney in his most recent start and a winner of three of five starts in 2020, By My Standards is trained by Bret Calhoun.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA10-EQB.html

4:50 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Monomoy Girl, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, headlines of a field of eight for Friday's 35th running of the La Troienne. Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won five Grade 1 races in her career that has produced more than $3 million in earnings. Two of her biggest victories came at Churchill Downs where she won the 2018 Kentucky Oaks and the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Winner of the Grade 2 Ruffian in her most recent start, Monomoy Girl will be ridden in the La Troienne by Florent Geroux and break from post position eight. Among the competition lined up to face Monomoy Girl is defending champion She's a Julie and Vexatious, who upset Midnight Bisou in Saratoga's Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA11-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$1,250,000 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Michael Lund Petersen's brilliant two-time Grade 1 winner Gamine and Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama in her most recent start, headline a field of nine 3-year-old fillies entered for the 146th running of the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks. Gamine, the even-money morning line favorite, comes into the Oaks off blowout victories in the Grade 1 Acorn by 18 ¾ lengths going a mile and the Grade 1 Test going seven furlongs. Swiss Skydiver has won her past four starts against fillies with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes the boys the lone blemish in the past six months.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA12-EQB.html

6:20 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Diamond Oops, making his return to the grass for the first time since finishing second in last fall's Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, and Grade 2 winner Bound for Nowhere head a deep field of 14 grass sprinters and one also-eligible in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. Diamond Oops is a three-time graded stakes placed runner on dirt to go with his grass success. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops will be making his first start since June and be ridden by Florent Geroux out of post position one.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090420USA13-EQB.html

Saturday September 5

1:26 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Trainer Tom Albertrani entered the improving pair of Beau Belle and Lovely Lucky in Saturday's Glens Falls, a 1 3/8-miles inner turf marathon for older fillies and mares. Mark T. Anderson's Beau Belle, a 5-year-old Giant's Causeway mare, is out of the graded-stakes winning Royal Solo mare Binya, who produced Dynaire – the dam of the popular Grade 1-winning Albertrani trainee Sadler's Joy. Beau Belle graduated in her 15th start last July over a yielding Saratoga turf in a maiden special weight and followed with an allowance score a month later again over yielding turf, both races at 1 3/16-miles.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090520USA4-EQB.html

2:40 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG

Antonio Arriaga knows exactly what he's up against in Saturday's $150,000 Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes, a one-mile turf race. The horse that Arriaga will saddle, Share the Ride, was claimed two starts back for $16,000, has never gone two turns in his 14-race career and is trying the turf for just the second time. The first time was the 5-year-old gelding's last start, when he was fourth in the Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth Park going 5½ furlongs on August 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH090520USA5-EQB.html

2:55 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

Multiple stakes winners Field Pass and Smooth Like Strait top a field of eight entered for the American Turf. Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass, a two-time Grade 3 winner, comes into Saturday's race off a seventh-place finish in the Saratoga Derby Invitational. Prior to that, he had won the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland and the Audubon at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA8-EQB.html

3:35 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

Echo Town, No Parole and Rushie head a field of nine for the Pat Day Mile. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Echo Town comes into Saturday's race off a 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens at Saratoga on August 1. No Parole, winner of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont before faltering as the favorite in the Allen Jerkens, is trained by Tom Amoss. Rushie, third in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, cuts back to a one-turn race for the first time since his debut last October at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA9-EQB.html

4:07 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

The Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby will begin Saturday afternoon when 10 2-year-olds go to the post for the Iroquois. The Iroquois offers 17 points toward the 2021 Run for the Roses on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. Topping the entries is Stephen Fidel's Therideofalifetime, runner-up in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in his most recent start. Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Therideofalifetime will be ridden by Florent Geroux and break from post position 10.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA10-EQB.html

4:21 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Dr Post, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes in June, will make his Saratoga Race Course debut as one of two talented entrants for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Jim Dandy for sophomores going nine furlongs. St. Elias Stable's Dr Post hasn't finished off the board in four starts this year. After running fourth in his lone start as a juvenile, the Quality Road colt won his first two races of 2020, breaking his maiden in March going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park before stepping up to stakes company at the same track, winning the 1 1/16-mile Unbridled in April.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090520USA9-EQB.html

4:39 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

Klaravich Stables' Newspaperofrecord (IRE), winner of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs, heads a field of eight fillies and mares for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Trained by Chad Brown, Newspaperofrecord returned to the races in June following an 11-month layoff to win the Grade 3 Intercontinental and followed that effort up with a front-running score in the Grade 1 Just A Game.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA11-EQB.html

4:57 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Reagan's Edge will look to turn the tables on Frank's Rockette in Saturday's Prioress, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies. Previously campaigned by David Ingordo, husband of trainer Cherie DeVaux, Reagan's Edge was purchased privately by Lael Stables following a last-out second in the Grade 3 Victory's Ride held July 4 at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090520USA10-EQB.html

5:08 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Vigil Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Multiple graded stakes winner and 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd faces eight rivals in the $125,000 Vigil Stakes. Sovereign Award winner and 22-time stakes champion Pink Lloyd chases another stakes crown in a race he has owned the past three years. Trained by Robert Tiller for Entourage Stable, the 8-year-old gelded son of Old Forester goes after his fourth consecutive Vigil score.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO090520CAN9-EQB.html

5:17 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner who is coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga, heads a field of 10 fillies and mares in the Derby City Distaff. Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress has won two of three starts at the seven-furlong distance with her lone loss coming to champion Covfefe in last year's Grade 1 Test Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA12-EQB.html

5:30 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Woodward Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Juddmonte Farms' three-time graded stakes winner Tacitus has been Grade 1-placed on four occasions, and will seek his first triumph at such level when he faces a field of five competitors in Saturday's 67th running of the Woodward going 1 ¼ miles. The 4-year-old gray or roan son of prolific sire Tapit out of champion Close Hatches was a runaway winner of the Grade 2 Suburban going the 1 ¼-mile distance on July 4 at Belmont Park. With Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, he tracked a leisurely pace, took command at the quarter pole and drew off by 8 ¾ lengths in a final time of 1:59.40. This was his first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2 and marked his first victory since taking the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets in April 2019 at Aqueduct.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090520USA11-EQB.html

5:50 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

A field of 10 top older grass runners will go to post in the 34th running of the Turf Classic, one of six graded stakes that will precede the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby. Factor This, riding a four-race win streak, and Somelikeithotbrown, winner of the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga in his most recent start, will be the starting top weights with 124 pounds in the Turf Classic. Trained by Brad Cox, Factor This counts the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs among his scores in his win streak.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA13-EQB.html

7:01 p.m.—$3,000,000 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on NBC

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law, dominating winner of the Grade 1 Travers and Belmont Stakes, has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite in a field of 18 horses entered for Saturday's 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby. Tiz the Law is the lowest-priced morning line favorite since 1989 when the entry of Easy Goer and Awe Inspiring was 3-5. Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law has won six of seven starts with the lone blemish coming at Churchill Downs in last November's Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in which he finished third over a sloppy track. The New York-bred son of Constitution is four-for-four in 2020.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD090520USA14-EQB.html

9:05 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

The 63rd edition of the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar has drawn a field of eight older fillies and mares headed by a pair of on-the-rise 4-year-olds in Raymundos Secret and Lady Prancealot. Raymundos Secret comes into the mile and one-eighth Mabee off a photo-finish tally in a one-mile allowance race at Del Mar on August 14. Lady Prancealot, who does her running out of the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, comes into the Mabee off a series of stakes tries against some of the better grass fillies and mares on the west coast.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR090520USA10-EQB.html

Sunday September 6

5:11 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

A field of six juvenile fillies will seek Grade 1 black type in Sunday's 129th running of the Spinaway going seven furlongs over the main track. Trainer Tim Hamm shipped Dayoutoftheoffice for a victory in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day at the Spa and will invade for another stakes engagement for juvenile fillies with Esplanande, who is unbeaten in three starts all against Ohio-breds. Owned and bred by Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm and WinStar Farm, the dark bay daughter of Daredevil won her debut by 6 ¼ lengths at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio before defeating Buckeye State native colts in the Hoover on July 3 at Belterra and the Cleveland Kindergarten on August 8 at Thistledown.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090620USA9-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Four-time graded stakes winner Come Dancing will look to win a race at historic Saratoga Race Course for a third consecutive year, returning to the site of her lone Grade 1 win when she competes in the six-furlong Honorable Miss for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going six furlongs. Blue Devil Racing Stable's Come Dancing won all of her graded stakes races across all three NYRA-operated tracks during a stellar 5-year-old campaign in 2019, with none of the victories by less than 3 1/4 lengths. The Malibu Moon mare started that stretch with a 7 ¾-length win in the Grade 3 Distaff last April at Aqueduct Racetrack before a 6 ¾-length romp in the Grade 2 Ruffian in May at Belmont. Staying on form, Come Dancing won the Grade 1 Ballerina going seven furlongs last August and registered another win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom back at Belmont last September.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR090620USA10-EQB.html

8 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sends out a pair of entries in the six-horse field for the Del Mar Debutante. Princess Noor broke her maiden at Del Mar on August 22 while Illumination ran second in her debut on August 15.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR090620USA9-EQB.html

8:30 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at Del Mar on TVG

A field of 12 was entered for the Del Mar Derby, which will be contested over 1 1/8-miles on the turf, including the filly California Kook who ran second last time out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 22.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR090620USA10-EQB.html

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‘We’ll See How Far She Can Carry That Speed’: Baffert Thrilled With Gamine Ahead Of Kentucky Oaks

Taking to the Churchill Downs surface at 9 a.m., Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine, the even-money, morning line favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, put in her final routine gallop under Humberto Gomez on Thursday as she aims to give trainer Bob Baffert his fourth win in the signature race for 3-year-old fillies. Should the daughter of Into Mischief prevail Friday, it would mark the first time Baffert has won the Oaks with the favorite since Silverbulletday achieved that feat in 1999.

“I thought (champion) Indian Blessing was brilliant but this filly, what she's done is amazing,” Baffert said of Gamine. “Her Acorn (an 18 ¾-length win) was….I did not expect that. And in the Test, she was probably training even better heading into that. She's doing well. We'll see how far she can carry that speed.”

Gamine heads into the Oaks have captured the Acorn (GI) and Test Stakes (GI) in her past two outings by a combined 25 ¾ lengths. Should her brilliance carry her to victory in the Oaks, she would also put Baffert in position to become the first trainer to notch the Oaks-Derby double since Ben Jones achieved the feat in 1952. Baffert has two entrants in the Kentucky Derby with Grade 1 winner Authentic and multiple graded stakes winner Thousand Words.

“Right now, I'm just trying to get them there,” Baffert said. “I took baby steps with (Gamine). Now that she's done what she's done, her resume looks great. She just needs to add the Oaks and that would be the cherry on top.”

Petersen purchased Gamine for $1.8 million out of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds Training Sale and a win Friday would make her the highest-priced Oaks winner sold at public auction since Rags to Riches — a $1.9 million yearling purchase — was victorious in 2007.

“She's just a real elegant looking filly, a lot of leg on her,” Baffert said. “She looked like a queen (at the sale). We call her Queen Gamine. You don't know how they're going to pan out but once we started working with her, she showed right off the bat that she was going to be something special. But I had trouble getting her (entered in a race) because everybody knew about her at Santa Anita. It took me a month to get her in. Every time I entered her, they knew she was in there.”

The post ‘We’ll See How Far She Can Carry That Speed’: Baffert Thrilled With Gamine Ahead Of Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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