The Saratoga summer comes to a close this Labor Day Weekend, but a pair of Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win And You're In” races on Saturday will end upstate New York's graded stakes action on a high note. The Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Flower Bowl each offer the winner a berth in the World Championships to be held this November at Del Mar.
On the West Coast, summer racing at Del Mar also comes to an end this weekend. A pair of turf stakes highlight Saturday's action: the Del Mar Derby and the John C. Mabee Stakes.
Sunday will highlight 2-year-old races for fillies on both coasts: the G1 Spinaway at Saratoga, and the G1 Debutante at Del Mar. Monday will offer the juvenile colts a shot at Grade 1 glory: the G1 Hopeful is scheduled at Saratoga, while the G1 Futurity will be held at Del Mar.
Sunday is also opening day at the rich Kentucky Downs meet, and racing at the European-style turf track continues on Monday.
Here's a quick snapshot of this weekend's graded stakes schedule, starting with Saratoga's big races (all times Eastern):
Saturday
6:11 p.m. – $600,000 Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga
War Like Goddess brings a three-race win streak into this 11-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares, chasing an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for trainer Bill Mott. The daughter of English Channel has won the G3 Orchid, G3 Bewitch, and G2 Glens Falls over three different turf courses this year, and Mott is confident she can step up to the top level.
However, six-time Flower Bowl-winning trainer Chad Brown will have something to say about that. He'll saddle a pair for this year's edition: My Sister Nate, a half-sister to champion Sistercharlie and runner-up in last year's running of this race, and Great Island, last-out winner of the G3 Matchmaker.
American Bridge will make her North American debut in this spot for owner Peter Brant and trainer Jean Claude Rouget, entering off a win in a Group 3 race over 1 1/4 miles in France last out. Another in with a shot is La Signare for Brendan Walsh, who could be the main speed in the race and has earned three straight G1 placings.
6:46 p.m. – $1 million Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga
Another Bill Mott trainee is the highlight in this “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic. This time it's the lightly-raced but definitely talented Forza Di Oro, last year's G3 Discover Stakes winner. He'll looking to put together back-to-back starts this year after an easy allowance victory last out.
Happy Saver won this race last year and appears to be the main threat to repeat for trainer Todd Pletcher, though he'll have to do better than the third he ran in the mud last out in the G2 Suburban. The horse who beat him that day, Max Player, returns for hot trainer Steve Asmussen, and if he is able to remain consistent at this level could be a major player.
Night Ops is the unknown in the race for trainer Brad Cox. He ran second to Art Collector in the Alydar Stakes last out, and that rival came back to win the Charles Town Classic. Night Ops has yet to find the winner's circle this year, but has run four straight seconds and could work out the right trip under Manny Franco.
8:37 p.m. – $200,000 Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar
The Mabee has drawn nine fillies and mares and appears to be the kind of race where contention runs deep. Dogtag has been made a slight 3-1 favorite over Maxim Rate at 7-2, but it's 4-1 shot Going to Vegas who is likely to appeal most to handicappers off her allowance win last out.
9:37 p.m. – $250,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at Del Mar
The Derby has drawn 14 runners and is, of course, for 3-year-olds as the culminating event in the track's turf triple for sophomores, having been preceded by the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes and the Grade 3 La Jolla Stakes.
The first three finishers in both of those “prep” races are back to give it a go in this 77th edition of the Derby, which makes for a challenging wagering race. And the fact that Del Mar's morning line maker, Jon White, has made his favorite Hudson Ridge a very tepid 9-2 tells you that the race looms wide open with a thrilling finish likely to decide the winner.
Sunday
6:11 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga
Echo Zulu will attempt to parlay a sensational debut victory into a Grade 1 win as she takes on a field of nine 2-year-old fillies assembled for Sunday's seven-furlong contest. The undeniable favorite earned the highest Beyer of any 2-year-old filly this year in her debut, a 92, and will take serious beating if she can run back anywhere close to that figure.
G3 Schuylerville winner Pretty Birdie is the likely second choice for trainer Norm Casse, but the frontrunning daughter of Bird Song will have to stretch her speed in the Spinaway.
9:00 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at Del Mar
Undefeated Sorrento Stakes winner Elm Drive is back for more in this seven-furlong contest, and as a daughter of Mohaymen, the seven-furlong distance should be well within her scope. Recent maiden winners Dance to the Music and Grace Adler each pose a potential threat, as does the latter's Bob Baffert-trained stablemate, Sorrento runner-up Eda.
Monday
5:38 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of strong contenders in Wit and Power Agenda in this seven-furlong sprint for juveniles. Each holds wins at six furlongs, but Pletcher believes the extra eighth of a mile won't be an issue for either of his trainees.
Wit, by 2016 Hopeful-winner Practical Joke and out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Numero d'Oro, is perfect through two starts. Wit posted a six-length maiden win over 5 1/2 furlongs in June, ahead of an eight-length score in the G3 Sanford over six furlongs on July 17.
Power Agenda, by Nyquist and out of the Afleet Alex mare Dream Dance, prevailed by a nose in a gutsy gate-to-wire debut win sprinting six furlongs on Aug. 14 at the Spa.
8:30 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Futurity at Del Mar
Best Pal winner Pappacap drew the rail in this six-horse, seven-furlong event for trainer Mark Casse, but he'll face a tough assignment from a pair of Bob Baffert-trained maiden winners.
Murray, the Baffert-trained son of Street Sense who commanded $300,000 as a yearling, won his July 25 maiden race at Del Mar by 10 3/4 lengths. His stablemate, the Twirling Candy colt Pinehurst, broke his maiden by a half-length at Del Mar on Aug. 1.
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