There are no Grade 1 races this weekend, and that's no surprise as we are just a fortnight out from the two-day Breeders' Cup extravaganza at Keeneland racecourse in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 4-5.
Not every Thoroughbred can qualify for one of the Breeders' Cup championship races, and that's why there are Grade 2 and Grade 3 races throughout the year for those horses who are trying to work their way up to the top level or just fall a cut below the very best in terms of quality. Thus there are some excellent races this week on the Aqueduct turf at the Belmont at the Big A meet, a 3-year-old filly main track sprint and a marathon turfer for fillies and mares at Keeneland, and a pair of graded stakes on the synthetic Tapeta track at Woodbine in Canada.
There's also the original state-bred version of the Breeders' Cup, the Maryland Million, that has drawn full, competitive fields of Maryland-sired and Maryland-bred runners to Laurel Park for a day-long celebration of the horse. The event is named in honor of the late Jim McKay, the beloved sportscaster and longtime host of the “Wide World of Sports” who spent his spare time breeding and raising Thoroughbreds on his Maryland Thoroughbred farm.
McKay conceived the idea for the Maryland Million in 1985 after seeing what the Breeders' Cup did for the Thoroughbred on a national and international scale. Its first running was in 1986 and it's been a popular mainstay on the racing calendar ever since.
Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's stakes:
Saturday
1:42 p.m. – Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont at the Big A
This one came up short, with just five fillies and mares set to go a mile on the turf, led by a pair from Christophe Clement's stable. Surprisingly, there are no runners from Chad Brown, who has won the Noble Damsel in five of the last six years. A win by Clement would give the native of France his sixth Noble Damsel victory. Clement's 1-2 punch is headed by Plum Ali, who is 2-for-2 on the Aqueduct turf and has tactical speed. Her stablemate, Messidor, is more of a one-run type who will benefit from honest fractions.
3:48 p.m. – Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont at the Big A
Good betting race with an evenly matched field of 10 3-year-olds, only one of which, the Todd Pletcher-trained Grand Sonata, has a graded stakes victory on his resume. None of these looks like they really want to race on the front end, though Chad Brown-trained Mackinnon (previously trained in California by Doug O'Neill) showed early speed as a 2-year-old and could be a threat to take this field wire to wire under Flavien Prat. The American Pharoah colt finished a good third behind Modern Games in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last year at Del Mar. Surface change alert: Pletcher's other runner, Be Better, is making his turf debut after getting trounced last out in the Curlin at Saratoga. Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle makes this an interesting possibility.
5:00 p.m. – Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park
Prendimi won the 2021 renewal of the Classic at 12-1 odds but has been off form in three 2022 starts and was set at 30-1 on the morning line despite the presence of Paco Lopez in the saddle. The morning line favorite, Cordmaker, will need some help to draw into the race from the also-eligible list. The gelded son of Curlin hasn't been out since February. Jamie Ness claimed Ournationonparade for $50,000 out of a winning race last out at Churchill Downs Sept. 28, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure that puts him ahead of the competition by that measure. Vance Scholars (90 BSF) is going in sharp form for Dale Capuano and is 3-for-5 over the Laurel main track.
Maryland Million Classic entries
5:05 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine
Dreaming of Drew stretches back out to two turns over the Tapeta surface for trainer Barbara Minshall and 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic seems to be her sweet spot. There doesn't appear to be a lot of competition on the front end and the Speightster filly could wire this field. Mark Casse has a trio in here, led by Our Flash Drive, who has been facing tough competition on turf all year but is a perfect 2-for-2 on Tapeta, including a win in the Grade 3 Selene in 2021.
5:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland
If you're looking for a filly who can slip away to an easy lead in this seven-furlong contest, you're probably not going to find it in this nine-horse lineup. Several entries, including the streaking Smash Ticket for trainer Rob Atras, appear to relish the front end. That's a textbook set-up for Steve Asmussen-trained Wicked Halo, who has shown speed in some races but came from just off the pace last out under Tyler Gaffalione to win the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga. Both Smash Ticket and Wicked Halo will be bidding for their fourth consecutive victories, something that unbeaten New York-bred Fingal's Cave already has done for trainer David Donk. The Carpe Diem filly drops back in distance after winning the 1 1/8-mile Fleet Indian last out at Saratoga.
Sunday
4:12 p.m. – Grade 3 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland
The key running line in Temple City Terror's past performances is two starts back when she finished a good second to the terrific War Like Goddess in the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 6. She was also fourth in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl when War Like Goddess finished second as the favorite, but note that the latter came back to beat males in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last out. From a class standpoint, the Brendan Walsh-trained Temple City Terror has the edge. Don't discount Sister Otoole, who is sharp right now for trainer Graham Motion, winner of the Dowager three times previously. Sister Otoole comes off a solid win going 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar and should love the added distance of this 1 1/2-mile marathon.
Rood and Riddle Dowager entries
5:42 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine
The winner's circle has been an elusive location this year for Ironstone, the 7-5 morning line favorite in the Ontario Derby, though he's been knocking on the door, including last out in the Prince of Wales Stakes, second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. He's always been a fast work horse, but his recent drills suggest he is sitting on go. Trainer Danny Vella removes blinkers from The Minkster after a disappointing run in the Queen's Plate in August. Luckman has put together three consecutive wins for trainer Vito Armada since being claimed for $25,000 from Mark Casse in June. Casse has Irish-bred Mannix in here, rounding out the main contention.
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