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Baffert: Rebel Stakes Offers ‘Perfect Timing’ For Unbeaten Concert Tour

Perhaps no trainer in Oaklawn's 117-year history has had a tighter hold on a high-end race than Bob Baffert. That race, of course, is the Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

The Southern California-based Baffert has been represented by 13 horses in the Rebel – at least one starter every year since his first in 2010 – and has won the race a record seven times, finished second three times and third once, bankrolling a whopping $3,171,000 in purses.

“The reason I've been so successful is I've brought some serious horses up there,” Baffert said Tuesday afternoon. “I usually try to bring my best horses there.”

The Hall of Fame trainer bids for an eighth Rebel victory when he sends out unbeaten Concert Tour (2 for 2) and recent maiden graduate Hozier in Saturday's $1 million race. Both horses arrived at Oaklawn at 11:30 am Wednesday after a Tex Sutton flight from California. The Rebel is Oaklawn's third of four Kentucky Derby points races.

Baffert has won the Rebel with Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old males Lookin At Lucky (2010) and American Pharoah (2015) and was runner-up, beaten a nose, in the second division in 2019 with another champion juvenile male, Game Winner. Baffert won the race in 2012 with future Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Secret Circle. A future Eclipse Award-winning older dirt male, Improbable, finished second in the first division in 2019. Baffert's other Rebel winners, The Factor (2011), Hoppertunity (2014), Cupid (2016) and Nadal (2020), all went on to capture Grade 1 events.

Lookin At Lucky used the Rebel as a springboard to a Preakness victory and another Eclipse Award (champion 3-year-old male) in 2010. American Pharoah raised the bar five years later, sweeping the Triple Crown and being named Horse of the Year.

Clearly, the Rebel has become a race Baffert circles each year in mapping out the best route to reach Churchill Downs, and beyond.

“It's an easy ship,” Baffert said. “It's a real easy ship. The flight's a couple of hours and it's a nice track. I like the surface there. I like Oaklawn. I wish I could go myself, but somebody's got to stay here all the time. I just think it's a good gauge because there's always nice horses up there.”

Baffert's most accomplished 2021 entrant is Concert Tour, who will be making his two-turn debut in the Rebel. Concert Tour's resume is virtually identical to Nadal (then 2 for 2) before the 2020 Rebel.

Concert Tour broke his maiden Jan. 15 at Santa Anita and won the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) Feb. 6 at Santa Anita. Nadal, in 2020, broke his maiden Jan. 19 at Santa Anita and won the San Vicente (G2) Feb. 9 before his successful two-turn debut in the Rebel (G2) March 14.

“The timing's right for this horse, Concert Tour,” Baffert said. “He's sort of on the same path as Nadal. It's all about timing. This race happened to come up perfect timing for him. So, we'll stretch him out. We're getting close now. I just want to see a good effort out of him, see how he's going to ship, how he's going to handle the ship, then shipping to run against some really nice horses. This is where they start to see if you're fit or not on the road to the Derby.”

A son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Concert Tour is a homebred for Gary and Mary West. The Wests have campaigned, among others, Rockamundo, who sprang a monumental upset in the 1993 Arkansas Derby, and Game Winner. They also have another leading Kentucky Derby candidate, unbeaten homebred Life Is Good, with Baffert.

Hozier is by Baffert's 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up, Pioneerof the Nile, out of multiple graded stakes winner Merry Meadow. Purchased for $625,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Hozier finished fourth, beaten 14 lengths by Concert Tour, in his Jan. 15 career debut before breaking his maiden at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 15 at Santa Anita.

“I would have preferred an allowance race for him, but we just couldn't get them to fill out here,” Baffert said. “It's tough. So, I thought, 'Well, he's doing good and maybe like Spielberg he'll get a little piece of it or something.' If things go crazy on the front end, you never know.”

Spielberg, also trained by Baffert, finished second to champion Essential Quality in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 27 at Oaklawn. The Southwest, originally scheduled to be run Feb. 15 before being postponed twice because of harsh winter weather, was Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.

The Rebel will offer 85 points (50-20-10-5, respectively) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 runners. Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby a record-tying six times, including last year's rescheduled version (COVID-19) with eventual Horse of the Year Authentic and in 2018 with Justify, who would also capture the Triple Crown.

“I'm really fortunate with the clientele I have,” Baffert said. “I think American Pharoah really opened the doors for me. I really started getting really nice horses. Before, I just had to go out and buy my own. Now, I'm getting good horses sent to me. My best horses are the homebreds, and they were bred by Gary and Mary West, Life Is Good and this horse.”

The projected eight-horse Rebel field from the rail out: Caddo River, Florent Geroux to ride, 122 pounds; Big Lake, Ricardo Santana Jr., 117; Hozier, Martin Garcia, 117; Get Her Number, Javier Castellano, 119; Twilight Blue, Brian Hernandez Jr., 119; Keepmeinmind, David Cohen, 119; Concert Tour, Joel Rosario, 117; and Super Stock, Joe Talamo, 117.

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Saudi Cup Notes: Charlatan ‘Strong And Healthy,’ Knicks Go ‘Sitting On A Big Race’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

Bangkok (IRE) – Andrew Balding sent Bangkok to Saudi Arabia fully tuned-up, having won a prep-race at Lingfield two weeks ago.

“He's had a winter campaign, so he's gone there plenty fit enough and it all seems to be going well,” Balding said. “First time on the surface is a big question mark but we did always have the race in our minds and when we got the invitation. I think a strongly-run race will suit.

“It's a big ask, certainly, but the rewards are so great. It's really exciting for everyone to have a runner in a race like this.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained American contender completed his preparations on Friday morning by standing in the starting gate under his regular morning partner Umberto Gomez. Once backed out, the pair completed a circuit of the dirt track.

“Perfect,” said Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes when asked to assess the son of Speightstown's foray into the starting gate.

Summing up Charlatan's time in Saudi Arabia Barnes said: “We've been here the longest of anybody. The weather has been very pleasant this year. It's been very easy.”

The fact that Charlatan his been lightly raced with only four starts under his belt doesn't seem to be a concern heading into the Saudi Cup.

“He had a few setbacks earlier in the year last year but he's strong and healthy right now,” Barnes said.

He returned to the races in December with an impressive win in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita Park teeing him up for the trip overseas.

“We were so excited. We knew he had it in in but for him to show up that day like he did off the layoff was outstanding.”

Never beaten through the finish in four trips to the post, Charlatan is one of the top international contenders for the race. His speed from the gate and nine-post draw should set him up nicely for an expected early battle with fellow US-based runner Knicks Go, who drew post position five in the 14-horse lineup.

“His main attribute is speed and his speed carries on,” Barnes added. “I would say he will be forwardly placed (in the race).

“Knicks Go – I'm glad he drew to the inside of us. We should have a good opportunity to see where he's going to sit in the race and I would imagine we will be very close together. He's a very smart horse. We'll put him in the gate and he will carry Mike (jockey Smith) on from there.”

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – The very consistent dirt performer in Japan and last year's Grade 1 Champions Cup winner had an easy canter on the dirt track before he practiced in the starting gate.

“He shipped to Dubai last year but had to fly back to Japan due to the cancelation of the race meetings. I think the travel experiences helped him a lot this time,” trainer Ryuji Okubo said.

“Last year he lost 10kg during the trip to Dubai, but this year he only lost 4kg when he flew into Saudi Arabia. He is enjoying it here, he is feeling really good. He is a very straightforward horse.

“He will start from barrier one, so we can make ground all the way through the race. I understand the American horses are very fast, but I expect Chuwa Wizard can track them and overtake them with his strong closing speed.”

Extra Elusive (GB) – The 6-year-old gelding did some light exercise on the training track on Friday morning.

“The preparation has gone really well,” said trainer Roger Charlton from the UK. “Extra Elusive is a fairly highly-strung horse and had not travelled before, and therefore I was concerned before his departure that he would be not fully relaxed once there.

“But that's been completely wrong; he's been very good, eating well and drinking well, resting. Out at exercise he's been relaxed and moving well, and I couldn't be more pleased with the way things have gone.

“This morning he just had a light exercise on the training track, jogging and cantering round, came back and everyone seems very happy with him. Fingers crossed at the moment, the horse has done everything that we hoped he might do for us.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Trainer Brad Cox is amid a banner period in his career. Fresh off winning the Eclipse Award as champion American trainer of 2020, he has three serious contenders for the Kentucky Derby (topped by champion Essential Quality), fan favourite and multi-seasonal champion Monomoy Girl about to start her 2021 campaign and Breeders' Cup-winning Aunt Pearl preparing for a possible Royal Ascot invasion.

Meanwhile, another Breeders' Cup champ Knicks Go, who galloped a spirited mile on Friday morning under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas, is ready for Saturday on the heels of a resounding success in the Pegasus World Cup.

“It's been a great run and I have a great group of talented assistants who work extremely hard and allow me to have multiple strings and put us in position to acquire horses like Knicks Go, Mandaloun, Monomoy Girl and Essential Quality. It's what you work for, to have these great horses.” Cox said. “It's very rewarding when you put a plan together and it works out and it's been a great run. I owe so much of it to our help and the owners for giving us serious horseflesh.”

Cox was especially proud of assistant Dugas, a 28-year-old Louisiana native and ex-jockey who has proven a vital part of the empire over the past few years.

“Dustin is definitely a huge part of the operation, especially our New York string and now our Palm Meadows (Florida) string,” Cox explained. “He is a fantastic horseman, a great rider – there's nothing he can't ride – and obviously he's incredibly organized and does a great job. He's exactly what you look for in an assistant and he's extremely gifted.”

Dugas has been aboard the likes of many of the headlining equines, with his talent of calming horses down in their exercise put to the test with the notoriously keen Knicks Go.

“He loves to train and is so difficult to handle sometimes,” Dugas said. “But he has a lot of talent, obviously, and is sitting on a big race. He's very, very fast and is extremely tough.”

Max Player (USA) – The Steve Asmussen trainee kept his work confined to the quarantine area again on Friday after schooling in the gate on Thursday.

Military Law (GB) – Owner Nasir Askar and trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri were on hand to watch Military Law negotiate a blowout breeze down the lane under Antonio Fresu on Friday morning. Fresu quickly jumped off Military Law and did the same for stc 1351 Turf Sprint contender Royal Dornoch, whom Al Mheiri trains for Abdulwahhab Misbah Rajab Altireeki.

Fresu said: “We worked almost three furlongs, both of them, and they both started slow and both went in about 37 seconds for the (600m).

“Military Law felt great. When I pulled up, he kind of stood up and looked around and pricked his ears and wasn't blowing at all. He's ready and he's a little bit fitter than last time (before winning in Dubai), but feels just as prepared.

“Nothing has changed much with him because in the morning's he's laid back, but with him, he will pull when he goes too slow. In a good canter or breeze, he goes about 70 per cent and takes care of himself. He was looking around a lot today in the beginning, but the good thing is he cooled out quickly and when we pulled up, he started pulling and didn't want to finish and go home.”

He added: “Royal Dornoch was very good today—much better than yesterday. He was calm and didn't get as sweaty; more focused on the (blowout). I think he knows he's about to race, because he was much better today and very strong in the lane.”

Mishriff (IRE) – Prince A A Faisal's retained jockey David Egan has been aboard Mishriff for the last three mornings at track work.

He said: “Similar to last year, Mishriff has been thriving since he arrived here in Riyadh. He seems to really enjoy the style of training and the surface here in Saudi Arabia. He looks amazing, feels fresh and has been moving fluently up to the race.”

Ted Voute, racing manager to Mishriff's owner/breeder Prince A A Faisal, added: “Mishriff looks stronger again since I saw him in Newmarket at the end of last year and he has travelled extremely well. He has thrived over the winter. He looks well and ready for the race.

“David rode him yesterday and said he changed legs easily going into the turns and was a natural from that point of view. We're looking forward to the race. The dirt track has embedded since last year and is probably a little faster than last year, although the jockeys were saying it rode a bit deeper yesterday than the day before, so it will be interesting to see how it is prepared for Saudi Cup day.”

Simsir (IRE) – Will attempt to give trainer and co-owner Fawzi Nass a second memorable Saudi Cup evening when he stars on Saturday in the main event. Last year, the identical connections of Nass, Victorious (owner) and jockey Adrie de Vries teamed up to upset the Neom Turf Cup with Port Lions.

“He feels good right now,” Nass said. “Obviously after winning the Bahrain International, which was a hard race, he had a bit of freshening up into the Crown Prince Cup three weeks ago. Although he missed the break that day, he ran on well to finish fourth. I think it was the ideal scenario for a prep run for here.”

De Vries added: “The horse is training well on the dirt and his gallops on the surface in Bahrain have been very good. Fawzi is pretty confident that he takes to it.

“I think they will they will go hard in the race and he doesn't have to be up close or have the lead. He just needs to get in his own stride. He's drawn a little wide, but that might be good as far as kickback goes.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – The very aptly named Sleepy Eyes Todd, instantly recognizable by the yellow bandages that he sports in the morning and the far away look after which he has been named, came onto the dirt track at the usual time on Friday morning. His rider

José Sandoval, who is trainer Miguel Angel Silva's assistant, was on board and he said: “I just jogged him one lap. He is well, ready for the big day.”

Tacitus (USA) – After his typical morning routine of watching the proceedings and having a gallop, the Bill Mott-trained son of Tapit stood in the starting gate Friday morning under assistant trainer Neil Poznansky, who has piloted the 5-year-old grey horse throughout his stay. Poznansky gave a thumbs up after the pair was backed out of the gate.

Fifth in the inaugural edition of the Saudi Cup, Mott is hopeful that having a year more growth and maturity under his belt will help ensure a better placing than in 2020.

“He's a year older and he's stronger,” Mott said from the United States on Thursday evening. “We think he's more ready for the challenge. We know it's a good field, a competitive field but we think he belongs and we're optimistic about his chances.”

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Saudi Cup Notes: Charlatan Should Move Forward From Malibu, Sleepy Eyes Todd ‘Fit And Good’

The following notes about contenders in the $20 million Saudi Cup, scheduled for Feb. 20, were provided by the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

Bangkok (IRE) – Andrew Balding's challenger took a first look at the dirt track on Wednesday with some gentle exercise.

Balding's wife and assistant Anna Lisa said: “He didn't do anything really smart today, the plan is that he will do something a bit quicker on Thursday. He went round the dirt and he seemed to enjoy it, he will wear special plates on Saturday, it should not be an excuse.”

Anna Lisa Balding said it would be a significant moment for Bangkok to be carrying the King Power Racing silks of the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh.

“The chairman of King Power said he wanted to race on the world stage, and this is a race you want to be in,” she said. “There are horses in the race that are better than him, it would be great to see him just up and close to them on Saturday.”

Charlatan (USA) – The Bob Baffert-trained son of Speightstown remained in the quarantine area on Wednesday, jogging an easy 1600m (one mile) over the training track.

“We stayed back (in the quarantine area) on the training track this morning,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. “It's our normal routine, we had our breeze day (Monday), walk day (Tuesday) and with the training track being right there we just stayed there. He jogged a mile. Twice around; it's a half-mile track.”

One of the top international contenders for Saturday's race, Charlatan has been here for a week and has settled nicely into his regular routine, according to Barnes.

“He's a very good traveler. That hasn't been any kind of a factor. The weather has been pleasant. It hasn't been hot so that always makes the trip easier. (We've) been here over a week and ready to get it on.

“The rest of the week we will go back to our regular galloping up to a race. We'll gallop a mile and a half tomorrow. We will stay on the main track Thursday and Friday. Not sure what we're doing on race day but I'll talk it over with Bob and see what he wants to do.”

Making only his second start since last May, the 4-year-old colt comes into Saturday's affair off an impressive win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park

“Bob is really good off the layoff,” Barnes said. “Our horses are usually fit and ready. We look forward to him moving forward off that race – absolutely.”

Chuwa Wizard (JPN) – With handler Ryui Okubo supervising, the 6-year-old horse had a final piece of fast work over 1200m (six furlongs) on the dirt track under Keita Tosaki.

“I was asked to start galloping him with 1200m to go and drove him a bit strongly towards the end of the stretch,” said Tosaki.

“He was moving nicely and felt really good, responding to me so well. I understand that the American horses are very fast, so I want to make a plan depending on how the tempo in the race will be.

“I think the surface here is quite different from a Japanese dirt track. The dirt itself is smoother than Japan, I think Chuwa Wizard will suit the surface.”

Okubo added: “He moved beautifully this morning. I told the jockey to start cantering slowly from the 1200m pole and then pick up gradually before driving him strongly for the last stage of the stretch. I think he is in really good form. There will be some horses who are going fast in the field, so between middle and outside draw will be preferred.”

Extra Elusive (GB) – The 6-year-old Mastercraftsman gelding had a breeze on the dirt track.

“We are very happy with him,” said Andre Alencar, travelling head lad to Extra Elusive's trainer Roger Charlton. “We took him to the dirt track today and had a little breeze up, a little blow. He feels very good and happy – we can't ask for more. He's doing everything we ask him to.

“He's very relaxed; probably the change of scene has made him more relaxed than usual, and he's coping very well and he's on the right path. He won't go back out on to the main dirt track again now, he'll just stay on the training track.”

Knicks Go (USA) – Brad Cox-trained Knicks Go came out briefly to the dirt track and a one-lap jog in the wrong/clockwise direction along the outside of the track under assistant trainer Dustin Dugas. Owned by Korea Racing Authority, he enters with four consecutive one-sided victories, two in allowance company (at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland), the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup. He will have a five-week gap from the Pegasus to Saturday.

“He's had two good works since the race and seems to be moving well,” Cox said. “He's continued since the Pegasus to show us what he showed us prior to the Pegasus and prior to the Breeders' Cup. This race is back a little quick, but one thing that gives us confidence is that he won the Pegasus without Lasix and this race is without Lasix, too. Another thing is this is five weeks from the Pegasus and it was five weeks between his allowance win where he broke the track record at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup.

“He had a little bit of a freshening of a couple easy weeks after the Breeders' Cup and before the Pegasus, so this is sort of a second race off a layoff for him. Hopefully, after the race, he gives us confidence that he can travel internationally and compete.”

Cox is planning ahead with the 5-year-old grey.

“Right now we're treating him as if this is his time to shine,” Cox continued. “If he's able to do well in the Saudi Cup and then do well in Dubai, that would be very special. If he were able to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Pegasus, Saudi Cup and Dubai, it would be very similar to what Arrogate did with the Travers, the (Breeders' Cup) Classic, Pegasus and Dubai. If he were able to do something like that, it would go down as one of the great streaks in racing history.

“We would try to get through these two and then ship him back to the States and work our way back from the Breeders' Cup after this. Whether that's the Dirt Mile or the Classic, his runs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai will tell us which one, so it's one race at a time.”

Max Player (USA) – The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Honor Code remained in the quarantine area.

Military Law (GB) – Nasir Askar's Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Military Law hand-walked on Wednesday after arriving late on Tuesday evening from Dubai. The gelded 6-year-old son of Dubawi exits an impressive victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 over 1600m (one mile) at Meydan.

“He just hand-walked today and shipped over well,” said Maria Ritchie, assistant trainer.

“We're looking forward to the race with him and we know he can see the distance. There will be pace, which is good. He was fresh last time, so he did well over the mile, but he obviously travels 2000m (1 1/4 miles).

“He was good that day and he has come forward, I think. Hopefully he won't be too far back off the pace. It's hard to come from too far back. We'll gallop him (a blowout breeze) down the stretch on Friday.”

Mishriff (IRE) and Global Giant (GB) – Cantered on the dirt track with Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby entry New Treasure. Mishriff was ridden by jockey David Egan and Global Giant by John Gosden's travelling head lad Tony Proctor.

“All three horses had an easy canter today and they are all handling the surface well,” said Gosden's son and assistant, Thady. “They seem to be enjoying themselves. Mishriff was very relaxed around there.”

Simsir (IRE) – Fawzi Nass was on hand to watch Bahrain International Trophy winner Simsir get over the dirt track on Wednesday morning. The trainer and co-owner (through the Bahrain-based Victorious racing stable) was pleased with his easy canter around the oval.

Nass said: “He did his big work in Bahrain on Sunday. All he and my other horses need to do is just 'tick over' and today they cantered about six and a half furlongs. It's their first time on the big track and one or two of them were a bit fresh, which is understandable on a new track, but hopefully they'll be more settled tomorrow. Simsir is doing very well.”

Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA) – The Miguel Angel Silva trained Sleepy Eyes Todd came onto the dirt track on Wednesday morning where he stood for about 10 minutes before warming up.

Miguel Angel Silva explained: “He always does that. He comes onto the track and first has a look. He then galloped for two rounds. He went a bit faster the second time round. He is fit and good.”

Tacitus (USA) – The 5-year-old son of Tapit came out of Tuesday's 600m (three furlongs) workout over the dirt track “super” according to Neil Poznansky, assistant to trainer Bill Mott and who was aboard Tacitus for Tuesday's drill.

“He jogged a mile on the training track (this morning),” added Poznansky, who was again in the saddle this morning.

Tacitus, who finished fifth in last year's inaugural edition of the Saudi Cup, has been racing well in the United States since that effort and last ran in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland finishing fourth.

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TVG’s Weekend Coverage Features Opening Weekend At Keeneland, Preakness Card

TVG, America's horse racing network and leading ADW platform, will be live on site from coast to coast this weekend featuring the Preakness Stakes undercard from Pimlico, opening weekend at Keeneland and stakes races from Santa Anita. On Sunday, the network will feature international champion Enable as she makes a historic bid for a third victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe from Longchamp.

At Keeneland, the track will kick off the 2020 Fall Meet on Friday which will continue through Saturday, October 26. TVG will be live on site with Todd Schrupp, Scott Hazelton, Caleb Keller, Gabby Gaudet and Caton Bredar bringing behind-the-scenes coverage, selections and interviews to viewers. On Friday, there are two Breeders' Cup Challenge races – the $200,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (GII) and the $350,000 Darley Alcibiades (GI). The winner of the Phoenix Stakes will earn a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) and the Alcibiades winner will qualify for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

TVG's “Trackside Live” will be simulcast on NBC Sports on Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET. In addition to the world class racing from Keeneland, the award-winning network will premier a feature on Jimmy Barnes, the longtime assistant to trainer Bob Baffert who sustained an injury in the paddock with Thousand Words prior to the team winning this year's Kentucky Derby with Authentic. Both horses are entered in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

At Pimlico on Saturday, the all-stakes twelve race card is anchored by the $1 million Preakness Stakes (GI), the third and final jewel of this year's Triple Crown. TVG's Christina Blacker, Joaquin Jaime and Dave Weaver will be trackside with expert analysis and exclusive interviews covering the undercard leading up to the Preakness Stakes. The undercard includes the $200,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (GIII), a six furlong contest that has drawn a field of eight. The contenders include Landeskog, a four-year-old son of Munnings for trainer Brad Cox who returned off of a layoff to win impressively against allowance company in August at Ellis Park.

On Saturday, Keeneland's star-studded card will feature four Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” races – the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (Filly and Mare Sprint), the $350,000 First Lady Stakes (Filly and Mare Turf), the $400,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (TVG Juvenile) and the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (FanDuel Mile).

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland.

The coverage will continue at Santa Anita this weekend with insight, selections and analysis from Mike Joyce, Matt Carothers and Kurt Hoover. The main event on Saturday is the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (GII) which has drawn a field of seven including Peter Miller's Grade 1 winner Mo Forza. The four-year-old colt will have Flavien Prat aboard.

On Sunday, fans of international racing can tune in and watch champion Enable (GB) attempt to make history and win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third time. Enable (GB) , trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, won this race in 2017 and 2018 and was second last year. The Juddmonte Farms homebred has amassed a brilliant career since her debut in 2016 featuring 15 wins from 18 starts including a triumph in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf (GI). Despite the defection of the highly regarded filly, Love, trainer Aiden O'Brien will still send out four challengers including Investec Derby (GI) winner Serpentine. International expert Candice Hare will be anchoring the coverage. Post time is approximately 10:05 a.m. ET/7:05 a.m. PT.

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