Hail To, a chestnut filly, is a full-sister to four-time graded stakes winning multi-millionaire Sadler's Joy, who captured the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga in 2017. She is also a half-sister to stakes-placed Dyna Passer, third in the 2019 Jockey Club Oaks, as well as Lunaire and Wolfie's Dynaghost, who also are stakes-placed. All are out of the unraced Dynaformer mare Dynaire.

Hail To arrives at her first stakes engagement off a 20-1 upset maiden victory over Miss Grillo-rival Kinchen over a firm inner turf at Saratoga, where she settled in fifth nearly six lengths off the pace down the backstretch and rallied in deep stretch with a powerful run to win by three-quarters of a length.

On debut, Hail To was more forwardly placed over a good Saratoga inner turf, and faded to fifth, finishing 7 ¾ lengths behind subsequent Grade 1-placed Pizza Bianca.

“I didn't want her to be out as close to the front end as she was, especially with the turf course that day being very boggy,” Albertrani said. “I think she just got tired from her early efforts that day and also probably just needed a race under her belt. Second start, the plan was to be patient with her, and it worked out well. We're hoping to see a similar scenario this time around, although it doesn't appear that there's a whole lot of pace in the race. We just want to see a more patient ride.”

Albertrani expressed hope that Hail To will establish herself as a quality stayer, much like her accomplished older brother Sadler's Joy.

“I would imagine that she will stretch out with time,” Albertrani said. “What's nice about her is that in her two starts, it looked like she has a little more tactical speed than he did. With him, it was always a matter of always being dropped back and often having difficult trips and always barely getting there. She seems quite a bit like him and hopefully she'll prove to be as nice a horse as he was.”

Albertrani added that Hail To and Sadler's Joy convey a similar physical resemblance.

“They look very much alike,” Albertrani said. “The only difference is that she might be a little smaller. Body wise, they have the same frame and almost the same markings on their heads, so very similar all around.”

Hail To will be piloted by returning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr.

While the two full siblings look alike, the same cannot be said for their half-brother Wolfie's Dynaghost, who was third two starts back in the Better Talk Now on the turf at Saratoga.

“They're complete total opposites. Different coloring,” Albertrani said.

Despite boasting a strong turf pedigree, Wolfie's Dynaghost, a sophomore son of Ghostzapper, secured his two lifetime wins on the main track. But following a lackluster sixth in the seven-furlong Harrods Creek on September 25 at Churchill Downs, Albertrani said he will eye a return to grass for the colt.

Albertrani said Wolfie's Dynaghost could target the $100,000 Carle Place on October 22 at Belmont Park.

“It comes up a little quick from the time we travelled to Kentucky and back with him, so we may wait for Aqueduct,” Albertrani said. “When we shipped him to Kentucky for the Harrods Creek we were still optimistic that he might handle the dirt because he won twice on the main track, but they were on good and sloppy surfaces. We were trying to take another try and see how he would handle a dry track and I just don't think he really handled it. We'll just look at keeping him on the grass.”

Wolfie's Dynaghost has a yearling full-brother by Ghostzapper, who was bred back to Dynaire this year. Hail To has a younger full-brother by Kitten's Joy born this year.

On Sunday, Albertrani will saddle Elizabeth Mateo's Lovely Lucky, a three-time winning daughter of Lookin At Lucky, who seeks her first graded stakes score in the Grade 3, $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya.

Victorious against winners in July at Saratoga the past two years, Lovely Lucky has run four times at graded stakes level, with her best finish taking place in last year's Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga, where she was fourth beaten 1 ½ lengths to Civil Union.

Lovely Lucky emerged triumphant off a six month layoff in an 11-furlong allowance optional claiming tilt on July 22 over Saratoga's inner turf course and enters from a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational on September 4 at the Spa.

“She definitely likes the longer distances,” Albertrani said. “She came back off the layoff in good form. It was soft ground at Saratoga that day and I really liked the way she handled herself. It's a pretty competitive race. She ran well last time and hopefully she can take a step forward off that.”

After racing on dirt in her first three starts, Lovely Lucky saw turf for the first time last May at Gulfstream Park when fourth going one mile. Following a next out narrow triumph on grass for a $75,000 tag at Belmont, she was a 6 ¾-length winner of her 1 3/8-mile debut against winners at Saratoga.

“When we first started her off, she ran on dirt and we didn't see a lot of effort out of her in those few races,” Albertrani said. “We put her on the grass and I actually thought she ran well in her first start on turf. It wasn't until we stretched her out when we saw the best come out of her. I think she has a nice future in some of these longer route races. We just hope to get some racing luck with her.”

Albertrani has entrusted jockey Dylan Davis with engineering the trip aboard Lovely Lucky for the Waya.

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The 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy finished his career with seven wins in 37 career starts, with earnings of $2,679,910.

A homebred for Woodslane Farm and trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler's Joy's career took off at age three, when he Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes and G2 Pan American Stakes, and finished in the money in two additional Grade 1 races. He came back at four to win the G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes and the G3 Red Smith Stakes,  and hit the board in four Grade 1s, including a third in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Sadler's Joy raced for two more seasons, and notched three more in-the-money finishes.

Sadler's Joy is out of the the unraced Dynaformer mare Dynaire, who is the dam of five winners from seven foals to race, also including stakes-placed Lunaire and Dyna Passer. His second dam is the German-born Binya, who was a Grade 3 winner in the U.S., and a Group 3-placed stakes winner in France. His extended family includes Grade 1 winner Sabin.

Kitten's Joy has has seen his influence grow among Turkish breeders. Sadler's Joy joins fellow Kitten's Joy son Catapult among Kurtel's stallion holdings, the latter of which was purchased as a stallion prospect at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

In recent years, Kurtel has also imported stallions to Turkey including Bluegrass Cat, Air Vice Marshal, Tizway, Avery Island, and War Correspondent.

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The 37th edition of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, slated for Race 7, is part of a loaded Friday card that includes the $120,000 Alydar in Race 8, a nine-furlong test for older horses who have not won a sweepstakes in 2021 other than state-bred; and the $200,000 Grade 3 Troy presented by Horse Racing Ireland, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older horses in Race 9.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Wolfie's Dynaghost graduated at first asking at odds of 33-1 in a seven-furlong maiden special weight in November over a good main track at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y. The Ghostzapper bay, out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, returned to action in May when running a distant fifth in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Peter Pan over a Belmont Park main track rated fast.

Last out, in an off-the-turf optional-claiming event at 1 1/16-miles on July 3 at Belmont, Wolfie's Dynaghost relished the sloppy and sealed surface, bounding away to a two-length front-running score.

Wolfie's Dynaghost posted his first recorded breeze on turf Sunday, covering a half-mile in :51.10 on the Oklahoma training turf in company with older allowance winner Duress [:52.65].

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, Wolfie's Dynaghost tracked outside Duress before advancing through the turn and powering to the inside of his workmate for the stretch run, finishing up his breeze with vigor.

“It looked like he was really striding out well over it and it looked like he got a good hold of it. Irad was really happy with the work,” Albertrani said. “He galloped out strong, too. It was a really good work.”

“He showed a great turn of foot when Irad asked him. He responded really quickly,” Albertrani continued. “When he gave him his cue, he quickened up nicely and galloped out good. I got him in :51 and he galloped out in 1:02 and change.”

Albertrani said he is hopeful that Wolfie's Dynaghost will show the same affinity for turf as his half-sibling and stablemate Sadler's Joy, a Grade 1-winner on turf with more than $2.6 million in earnings through 37 career starts.

“He has a lot of turf pedigree to him and if he's anything like his half-brother, we're optimistic that he'll run well,” Albertrani said. “He's run well on two wet tracks. The Peter Pan was a bit of a head-scratcher. It could have been a combination of maybe he wasn't 100 percent tight that day or the dry track, too. Maybe he was looking for turf all along.

“We came back and tried him on the grass and it came off so we ran him anyway, and he was really impressive,” Albertrani added. “I think we're still in a phase with him and learning more about him, but I think this distance is perfect for him, and if the grass moves him up a step or two, even better.”

Wolfie's Dynaghost will exit post 8 under Ortiz, Jr.

Trainer Mark Casse, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, will saddle Breeze Easy's Easy Time.

“I can't think of anything better than to get inducted in the morning and win it in the afternoon,” Casse said with a laugh.

Easy Time, by Not This Time, graduated at first asking, sprinting seven furlongs on Woodbine's Tapeta main track in October, but didn't resurface until January when off-the-board in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man on dirt at Gulfstream.

The dark bay, purchased for $250,000 at the OBS July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, tried the Gulfstream turf in February when second by a neck in a one-mile optional claimer.

Last out, Easy Time returned to synthetic and made the grade with a two-length win in the Grade 3 Marine at 1 1/16-miles on July 11 at Woodbine.

“Easy Time is a nice horse. He broke his maiden impressively,” Casse said. “We tried him on the dirt at Gulfstream and he probably wasn't ready to do that. He came back and had a troubled trip over the grass at Gulfstream and came out of it with a minor setback, so we gave him some time at our training center in Ocala. He was impressive last time.

“I think he's a pretty good horse,” Casse continued. “Judging by his only performance on the grass at Gulfstream, I don't think grass is an issue.”

Easy Time will exit post 4 under Tyler Gaffalione.

Trainer John Terranova entered a strong one-two punch in Eric Fein's Original and Ranger Fox but said it's possible one of his entrants could scratch in favor of a start in the $120,000 Better Talk Now on August 29 at one-mile on the Spa turf.

Both horses worked a half-mile solo on the Oklahoma training turf Saturday with maiden winner Ranger Fox clocked in :51.66 and graded-stakes placed Original in :51.23.

“I'm not sure that both will run, but both worked very well,” Terranova said. “I thought Ranger Fox breezed really well yesterday and he's really stepping forward, so I figured we'll put him in there and take a look at the race.”

Ranger Fox, a Nyquist bay, is out of the Quality Road mare Xtra Spice, whose dam is Hall of Famer Xtra Heat.

Purchased for $310,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Ranger Fox graduated last out at fourth asking in a seven-furlong maiden special weight against older horses over good Belmont turf.

With Joel Rosario up, Ranger Fox tracked in third before taking command at the stretch call en route to a 5 1/2-length score, garnering a career-best 85 Beyer.

“He's a colt with talent. He just needed a little time to mature,” Terranova said. “There's a lot of room to go forward with this guy. He's doing really well right now and he's trained on forward since his maiden win at Belmont.

“He's matured quite a bit,” added Terranova. “It was nice to see it set up last time and that he handled it without issue. He was real handy and it gives us options going forward as far as stretching out when he's able to relax early.”

Original, a Kentucky-bred son of Quality Road with Luis Saez up for the second time following a third in an optional claimer on June 4 at Belmont Park, set a moderate pace over good going in the Manila, kicking two lengths clear of the field at the stretch call en route to a head score in the one-mile Widener turf test.

“Luis got to know him the first time he rode him and it worked out last time,” Terranova said. “He handled the softer ground last time too which is encouraging. Both horses have handled softer going which is good given what we've seen with the weather so far up in Saratoga. We couldn't be in better hands with Luis and Joel on our horses.”

Ranger Fox was assigned post 3 under Rosario, while Original would exit post 6 under Saez.

Rounding out the field are multiple stakes winner Annex [post 1, Junior Alvarado]; graded-stakes placed Public Sector [post 2, Flavien Prat]; maiden winner In Effect [post 5, Jose Lezcano]; and Next [post 7, John Velazquez], last-out winner of the one-mile War Chant on the Churchill Downs turf.

First post on Friday's 10-race card is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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The effort marked the second win in three career starts for the sophomore Ghostzapper colt, who won his debut going seven furlongs in November over an off Aqueduct track in his only race as a juvenile. After being elevated in class in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 8 at Belmont, Wolfie's Dynaghost ran fifth over a fast track.

Wolfie's Dynaghost was set to make his first start on turf before the weather altered plans. Instead, the Kentucky homebred earned a personal-best 87 Beyer for his win over the sloppy and sealed Big Sandy, improving to 2-for-2 on off tracks.

“He came out of it in really good shape and I thought it was a very impressive race out of him,” trainer Thomas Albertrani said. “We weren't quite sure what his preferred surface is. He's won twice on wet tracks. The Peter Pan was a bit of a head-scratcher; we don't know if it was the dry track he didn't prefer or maybe we were throwing him in the deep end. We always felt he had a lot of talent, but maybe it wasn't the right race to prep him up to.”

Wolfie's Dynaghost is a half-brother to stablemate Sadler's Joy, a four-time graded stakes-winner on the turf. Albertrani said he wanted to see if Wolfie's Dynaghost might agree with running on the grass but will likely keep him on the main track for now.

“I still have my doubts whether he might be a grass horse or not, but I think going forward, we'll probably run him back on the dirt again until he runs a bad run and then maybe change surfaces again and try the turf,” Albertrani said. “In the Peter Pan, he was galloping along on the lead and threw in the towel early. That's why we were a little confused and thought maybe the switch to turf might have been the way to go. But he showed yesterday that he does run well on a wet track as well, so we'll see what's in store next. We'll definitely try the dirt until he runs a bad one.”

Sadler's Joy has been unlucky with the weather, with rain and the prospect of soft turf preventing him from racing since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 27 at Gulfstream Park. Despite rain over the weekend at Belmont, Albertrani said the forecast for Monday's holiday card at Belmont should be dry, allowing the 8-year-old veteran to compete in the 1 1/2-mile $150,000 Grand Couturier over the Widener turf.

“Luckily, it looks like tomorrow will be a good day for the turf, hopefully we don't have any more rain in the forecast,” Albertrani said. “He's doing well. We're looking forward to getting him back on track. He runs well fresh and he always tries. Hopefully, we get a little racing luck with him.”

Sadler's Joy, set to make his 37th career start, has won graded stakes in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and he crossed the wire first in the 2020 Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga before being disqualified and placed fourth for interference.

Albertrani was set to run Sadler's Joy back in the $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup going two miles on June 4. Inclement weather forced him to skip that contest but a start in the inaugural running of the Grand Couturier could set up a return engagement during the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that commences July 15 and runs through Labor Day, September 6.

Sadler's Joy drew post 3 in the 10-horse field on Monday and is listed at 5-1 on the morning line with Jose Ortiz set to ride.

“He does well fresh. I was looking forward to running him in the Belmont Gold Cup with the two miles, but the rains came and we already know he doesn't like soft turf, so we didn't want to try him there,” Albertrani said. “Hopefully, he does well there and we can look forward to Saratoga with him.”

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The 1 1/2-mile turf contest for 4-year-olds and up could mark the return to racing for Sadler's Joy after Albertrani passed on potential starts in the $700,000 Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes in May and the $400,000 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup on June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival because of earlier rainfall and the potential for softer turf, which the conditioner said does not suit the 8-year-old veteran.

“We've been unlucky with the weather and having a lot of rain leading up to these races,” Albertrani said. “We know he doesn't perform as well on soft turf, so we just decided to pass on it. We'll wait until July and that will be our next move going forward.”

Sadler's Joy, 7-4-11 in 36 career starts, ended 2020 with a fourth-place effort in the Grade 3 Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, N.Y., and started the current year with similar finishes in consecutive 1 1/2-mile contests, starting with the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Stakes in January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. and following last out at the same distance and track in the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes on March 27.

In August, Sadler's Joy crossed the wire first in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. before being disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Consequently, the accomplished Kentucky bred, who has amassed more than $2.6 million in career earnings, has not won in 10 starts but has finished third on four occasions and fourth in his last five, dating to his last victory in the 2019 finale in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct.

On Saturday, Sadler's Joy breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40 over the Belmont Park main track. His conditioner said his works, the last six of which have come at Belmont dating to May 8, have continued to be impressive.

“He looks as good as ever and has been training really well,” Albertrani said. “He's had a couple of months off now since his last race, so now hopefully we'll get the weather to cooperate and we'll get him back on track.”

Robert Masiello's Fiya also worked Saturday on the Belmont main track, registering a half-mile breeze in 49.96 seconds.

After going 5-for-5 as a sophomore in 2020, Fiya made his 4-year-old debut on April 30 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, K.Y. but was vanned off after running last-of-11 in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint. Albertrani said the Friesan Fire gelding is back to full health now and could have his next spot picked out when the condition book is released for the conclusion of the Belmont spring/summer meet that runs until Sunday, July 11.

“Everything is going really well. Yesterday's work was really good,” Albertrani said. “We're just waiting for the new book to come out and hopefully we'll be able to find a spot for him in there in a couple of weeks. Yesterday, he worked as good as ever. I was really pleased with it. He's starting to come back around. He's feeling good and we're looking forward to getting him back.”

Fiya, who is 5-1-1 in eight career starts, ended his 2020 with back-to-back stakes wins, capturing the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap in October at Laurel Park near Laurel, M.D. before winning the Claiming Crown Canterbury in December at Gulfstream Park. His lone previous start at Belmont came with a 3 1/4-length win against allowance company in September in his first start for Albertrani since he took over the training duties from Michael Merryman.

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The 60th running of the 1 ½-mile Pan American for 4-year-olds and up on turf was the sixth of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.85 million on a blockbuster 14-race program anchored by the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, one of the country's premier Triple Crown preps.

Churn N Burn, a gelded 4-year-old son of multiple Grade 1 dirt winner Liam's Map, gave jockey Julien Leparoux his third career Pan American win, following Sadler's Joy (2017) and Newsdad (2012). Trainer Ian Wilkes previously won the race with Bearpath in 2010.

The winning time was 2:23.63 over a firm course.

Leparoux was able to maneuver Churn N Burn to the lead from outermost Post 8 and settle into comfortable fractions of :24.07, :48.25 and 1:12.55, with 90-1 long shot Angelus Warrior and 8-5 favorite Cross Border in closest pursuit, the latter saving ground inside. Sadler's Joy and jockey Jose Ortiz began to roll on the far outside around the turn to get into a contending position, but Churn N Burn dug in through the lane once set down to earn his second straight win over the Gulfstream turf. Last out, he captured a one-mile optional claimer by 3 ¾ lengths Feb. 11.

Dueling Grounds Derby winner Moon Over Miami, exiting a third in the Mac Diarmida (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream, got up to be second over Cross Border, most recently third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 23. Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Sadler's Joy was fourth, with 30-1 long shot Sir Sahib fifth.

Churn N Burn, purchased as a yearling for $255,000 at Saratoga in 2018, has a record of 3-2-2 from 10 lifetime starts. The winner's share of $120,280 nearly doubled his career bankroll to $250,450.

$200,000 Pan American (G2) Presented by Rood & Riddle Quotes

Winning trainer Ian Wilkes (Churn N Burn): “He's got a high cruising speed, and especially on this track, he can carry it a little and run a little quicker and keep on going.”

“I was actually glad no one went with him. He was on his own, so that was good. I was very happy.”

“I'll see how he comes out. We may look at a race at Keeneland; if not, we'll look at something else. First thing, we'll check that he's OK. Enjoy today and then we'll have a look at it.”

“It's good, and it's great for [owner] Bob Lothenbach, too. He puts a lot of money into the game and it's well-deserved.”

Winning jockey Julien Leparoux (Churn N Burn): “That was a nice win. We tried to be on the lead and get him to relax, so we were happy with that. The main thing with him is to start get going before they get to you, so I asked him around the three-eighths pole and he finished up very strong.”

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The 60th running of the 1 ½-mile Pan American for 4-year-olds and up on turf is part of a blockbuster program that includes 10 stakes, six graded, worth $1.85 million anchored by the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, one of the country's premier Triple Crown preps.

Post time for the first of 14 races is 11:30 a.m.

Now 8, Sadler's Joy won the Pan American in 2017 and was fourth in 2018, but did not run in either of the past two years as trainer Tom Albertrani has looked to spread out his stable star's races. The Kitten's Joy gelding has started once this year, closing to be fourth by 2 ¼ lengths in the 1 ½-mile W.L. McKnight (G3) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream.

“He's doing as well as ever so hopefully we'll get another good trip out of him and go from there,” Albertrani said. “We just keep him on a regular routine, training-wise. You look at his work tab and you don't see the fancy, fast works or anything; just normal, kind of routine works just to keep him ticking over between races.”

Sadler's Joy is, by far, the richest horse in the Pan American with a bankroll of more than $2.6 million from 35 starts, with seven wins, four seconds and 11 thirds. All but one of his last 29 races have come in graded-stakes, his most recent win coming in the Red Smith (G3) at Aqueduct in the fall of 2019.

Last year, Sadler's Joy went 0-for-8 with four thirds including the Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) and Manhattan (G1) at Belmont Park, and was disqualified from first to fourth for interference in the Bowling Green (G2). He won the Mac Diarmida in 2018, the year after becoming a Grade 1 winner in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga.

“If he wasn't in the barn, it'd be pretty strange. When that day comes, it's going to be a sad day when we don't see him walking down the shedrow anymore,” Albertrani said. “He's just been one of those types of horses that tries every race. He puts everything into every time he runs and its' just a pleasure having a horse like that.

“He puts up a game effort every single time, whether he gets beat a neck or a head in so many of these close races. And it's only because of his running style that prevents him from getting up in time,” he added. “We just need to get everything to work, as always.”

Albertrani also won the Pan American in 2013 with Twilight Eclipse, who set the world record for 1 ½ miles on the grass (2:22.63). Twilight Eclipse raced until the spring of his 8-year-old season, making the last of his 40 career starts for trainer Graham Motion.

“It would be nice to chalk up another win in there. That was just a really great day. I didn't actually know it until I heard the announcer say it was a track record. Then when we found out it was a world record, it was great, and for a horse like him, too,” Albertrani said. “He was another warrior. We've had a few and the ones that stuck around the barn a long time, they're more of a pleasure to have around.”

Jose Ortiz is named to ride from Post 3 in the field of eight.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has won the Pan American six times including twice with the same horse, Fraise (1993, 1994) and Newsdad (2012, 2014), and will send out Summer Wind Equine's stakes-winning homebred Moon Over Miami.

Moon Over Miami, 4, began racing on dirt before making the switch to turf in the one-mile Cutler Bay on last year's Florida Derby program, running eighth. Fourth by two lengths in the Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga, he captured the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Derby prior to a disappointing effort in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby (G1) to cap his sophomore season.

In his lone start this year, Moon Over Miami overcame traffic trouble to be third by 1 ¼ lengths in the Feb. 27 Mac Diarmida. Junior Alvarado rides from Post 7 at co-topweight of 122 pounds.

“We stretched him out at Kentucky Downs last fall in their derby and he won that. That was a little longer race. He doesn't seem to run the turns real well, so it seems like the slower pace of the longer races helps him get around the turns a little better,” Mott said.

“His last race was a mile and three-eighths and he was finishing up very well when he finally got out, which was a little late in the game. He came running and got up for third and deserves a chance in the Pan American,” he added. “I think he's going to turn into a useful horse going that trip.”

Bemma's Boy sprung a 9-1 upset of Grade 1-winning stablemate Zulu Alpha in last year's Pan American, and trainer Mike Maker will have another pair of contenders this year in Cross Border and Temple.

“That's why you need two or three of them,” Maker said. “Zulu didn't have the greatest trip last time and we were fortunate to have Bemma's Boy pick up the pieces.”

Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border exits a strong third behind Colonel Liam and Largent in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream, a race Zulu Alpha won in 2020. Colonel Liam came back to win the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) March 20.

“He ran another big race last time and was flattered the other day by Colonel Liam,” Maker said. “We expect another strong effort from him.”

Cross Border was beaten a neck by Spooky Channel in the W.L. McKnight last winter, and became a graded-stakes winner upon the disqualification of Sadler's Joy in last summer's Bowling Green. Tyler Gaffalione gets the riding assignment from Post 1.

“He's run well here, but he shows up everywhere,” Maker said. “He's a horse that never disappoints and loves his job.”

Paradise Farm Corp.'s Temple will be making his fourth start of the Championship Meet following seconds in the Claiming Crown Emerald and McKnight and a fourth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, in the Mac Diarmida. The 5-year-old gelding has been worse than third just once in 11 career tries over the Gulfstream course, four of them wins, the most recent in an optional claiming allowance last April.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call from Post 2.

Completing the field are 2020 Mystic Lake Derby runner-up Angelus Warrior; Feb. 11 Gulfstream allowance winner Churn N Burn; Grade 3-placed Rijeka, with two wins and two seconds in five tries at the distance; and Sir Sahib, placed in four graded-stakes including the 2020 Northern Dancer (G1) and most recently fifth in the Mac Diarmida.

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The resilient 8-year-old son of Kitten's Joy is scheduled to make his 2021 return to Gulfstream Park for the $125,000 W. L. McKnight (G3) on Saturday's 12-race program that will be co-headlined by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

“He's training great. He's been very feisty lately, like he always is,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He's not showing any signs of wear and tear, that's for sure.”

Sadler's Joy finished second by a quickly diminishing margin of a head in the 2017 McKnight and came right back to capture his first graded-stakes victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream before going on to capture the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga later that year.

In 27 graded-stakes races, Sadler's Joy has finished in the money 18 times and finished fourth six more times.

“He's a tough horse to place because of his running style. He likes to come from out the back. It's always a matter of getting a good trip and getting the right pace,” Albertrani said. “Sometimes all that doesn't work out, but he always comes with a late run and has been always right there in all his races.”

Sadler's Joy started in last year's Pegasus World Cup Turf, only to have his chances at victory wiped out while being bumped back to last after breaking from the gate. He battled back to finish sixth, beaten two heads for fourth.

“That was only a mile and three-sixteenths, so the distance was against him overcoming the bad start at the break,” Albertrani said. “He still came with a run, like he always does.”

The 1 ½-mile distance of the McKnight should be far more suitable for Sadler's Joy, who has amassed earnings of more than $2.6 million.

Albertrani, who is also scheduled to saddle German-bred Tintoretto for the McKnight, has named Jose Ortiz to ride Sadler's Joy.

Stronach Stables' Sir Sahib, who closed with a rush to finish second in the 1 ½-mile Northern Dancer (G1) at Woodbine; Joseph Allen LL's Doswell, who finished a fast-closing second behind Largent in the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale (G2) over the Gulfstream Park turf; and Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, a veteran graded-stakes performer who finished off the board in last year's Pegasus Turf, are among the top contenders in the 11-horse McKnight field.

The McKnight, carded as Race 10, will be preceded by two other turf stakes on the card with seven graded stakes – the $125,000 Marshua's River (G3), a mile turf race for older fillies and mares in Race 7; and the $125,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares in Race 8..

Sackatoga Stable's Niko's Dream and Al Shaqab Racing's Tuned, who finished first and second, respectively, in the Dec. 12 My Charmer at Gulfstream, and Heider Family Stable LLC's Zofelle, a Brendan Walsh-trained Irish-bred who raced against Grade 1 company last time out; are among the more prominent entries for the Marshua's River, which is carded as Race 7.

Repole Stable's Always Shopping, who captured the Dec. 19 Via Borghese by three lengths at Gulfstream; Ivan Dalos' Court Return, a close second in the E. P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine before disappointing in the Via Borghese; and Gary Barber and John Oxley's Heavenly Curlin, winner of the Nov. 7 Maple Leaf (G3) on Woodbine's synthetic surface; are prominent contenders in a field of 12 for the La Prevoyante.

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Known as the Edgemere Handicap until 1981, the Red Smith pays tribute to the late Pulitzer Prize winning author and sportswriter Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith, whose 55-year career in journalism covered a wide array of sports, including horseracing, for the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler's Joy has amassed the highest lifetime earnings in the field with $2,648,160 through a record of 33-7-4-11 consisting of four graded stakes triumphs.

The veteran son of Kitten's Joy notched graded wins during his 4, 5 and 6-year-old campaigns. In addition to last year's Red Smith, Sadler's Joy boasts triumphs in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational in August 2017 at Saratoga and Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Pan American in April 2017 and the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida in March 2018.

Sadler's Joy arrives off a stellar performance with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park, marking the third straight year he rounded out the trifecta in the 1 ½-mile event. Last out, Sadler's Joy took back along the hedge from his inside post, was tipped to the outside approaching the far turn, was in winning position at the top of the stretch, but was unable to catch pacesetter Channel Maker, finishing 2 ¾ lengths behind the subsequent third-place finisher of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Albertrani, who sent Sadler's Joy out for his career debut in May 2016, said not much has changed with the hard-knocking old war horse other than his physical demeanor.

“He's gotten bigger and stronger since three,” said Albertrani, who also sends out German-bred Tintoretto [post 6, Junior Alvarado]. “There's been no real change in the way he behaves around the barn though. You wouldn't even know his age.”

In addition to four graded stakes victories, Sadler's Joy has finished in the money against Grade 1 company ten times, including a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in 2018, where he finished 9 ¾ lengths behind international superstars Enable and Magical. Seeking his first triumph of his 7-year-old campaign, Sadler's Joy crossed the wire first in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga, but was disqualified to fourth.

“He's run some big races and was so close in some of the bigger races,” Albertrani said. “I think one of the biggest disappointments was at Saratoga when he was disqualified. He's just always consistently always been right there. The horse just always shows up.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will attempt his third straight win in the Red Smith as he pilots Sadler's Joy for the ninth straight time from post 4.

Paradise Farm Corporation and David Staudacher, Hooties Racing and Skychai Racing's Aquaphobia seeks his first victory since achieving Grade 1-winning status in the United Nations on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Mike Maker, the son of the late multiple champion producing stallion Giant's Causeway will attempt to make amends after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland on October 15, where he secured a stalking position early on and lost ground in the stretch after being pinched in between horses around the eighth-pole.

“I felt he was a bit closer to the pace than he likes to be, so we crossed through that race,” Maker said.

Maker claimed Aquaphobia for $62,500 from a fourth-place finish in an optional claiming tilt on January 26 over the Gulfstream Park turf to graded stakes winners Hay Dakota and Sombeyay. Prior to joining Maker's barn, Aquaphobia was a seven-time winner including two stakes victories in the Stanton in June 2016 at Delaware Park and the Super Bowl on February 2018 at Santa Anita.

“He's just an old class horse that we had our eye on for some time,” said Maker, who also claimed 2016 Red Smith winner Bigger Picture for $32,000.

Maker stretched Aquaphobia out to 1 3/8 miles in the United Nations after coming up 1 ½ lengths shy of victory when fourth in the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 20 at Churchill Downs.

“We had been keeping some stiff company going shorter and when we stretched him out, he got the job done,” Maker said.

Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. M. Roy Jackson, Aquaphobia is out of the multiple Grade 1-winner Pussycat Doll, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winner and multiple graded stakes-winning producing sire Jimmy Creed.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who piloted 2015 Red Smith winner Mr. Maybe, will ride Aquaphobia from post 9.

Trainer Graham Motion sends out Wertheimer and Frere homebred Ziyad after a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sycamore.

The 5-year-old dark bay or brown son of 2002 World Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar was a neck shy of a Group 1 victory when trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias in France, when third to Way to Paris in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 28. He was second to Coronet by the same margin in last year's edition of the 1 ½-mile event at Saint Cloud.

In his first start for the Motion barn last out, Ziyad was placed in mid pack early on and lost a bit of ground around the far turn while under coaxing from jockey Manny Franco but displayed an authoritative re rally to capture third.

“He just came up to us that week from quarantine and I hadn't had him for very long at all,” Motion said. “He seems to be uncomplicated. From the morning works, he seems a little one paced.”

Ziyad made his North American debut when finishing third as the favorite in last year's Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine.

“He has the class there,” Motion said. “It's the end of the year which is a little bit of a worry. There are certainly concerns, but he's done well, and this race has been in the back of our mind. He'll get a rest after this; I won't take him to Florida. We'll point him for the spring.”

Ziyad is out of the stakes-winning Sillery mare Arme Ancienne, who is a half-sister to Grade/Group 1 winners Artiste Royal and Aquarelliste.

Jockey Manny Franco will guide Ziyad once more, breaking from post 8.

“Manny knows him, and I think it's good that he's ridden him once before and gotten to know him,” Motion said.

Grade 3 Sycamore winner Red Knight will vie for his second straight triumph at graded stakes caliber for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

A New York homebred owned by Tom Egan's Trinity Farm, the 6-year-old Pure Prize gelding received a well-executed ride by jockey James Graham in the Sycamore, where he split horses turning for home, was tipped out three-wide and secured the advantage in mid-stretch to notch a two-length victory.

Lightly raced this season, Red Knight received an eight-month layoff after finishing fourth in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight on January 25 at Gulfstream Park, but came back with a strong runner-up effort to Arklow in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 12 at Kentucky Downs.

Breaking from post 10, Red Knight will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Rounding out the field are Real Factor [post 1, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Changi [post 2, Ferrin Peterson], Postulation [post 3, John Velazquez], North Dakota [post 5, Jose Lezcano], Fame to Famous [post 7, Sebastian Saez], and Doctor Mounty [post 11, Dylan Davis].

The Red Smith is slated as Race 9 on Aqueduct's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 11:50 a.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

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The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic honors the late horse racing columnist and founding president of the National Turf Writers Association, whose notable accomplishments include earning the Eclipse Award of Merit (1992) and the Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1993).

The 1 ½-mile mile test for older horses is one of five graded stakes events carded for Saturday's action-packed program, which also includes the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf; the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso for 3-year-olds and upward going a one turn mile over the main track; the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track, and the Grade 1 $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational – a classic-distance test for 3-year-olds over the inner turf.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic has historically been used as a prep towards the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Horses to have scored the Joe Hirsch-Breeders' Cup Turf double include Manila (1986), Theatrical (1987), Tikkanen (1994), Buck's Boy (1998), English Channel (2007) and Main Sequence (2014). Other prominent victors of the prominent turf event include the great John Henry (1984) and fan-favorite John's Call (2000), both of whom won the Joe Hirsch as 9-year-olds, and champions Waya (1978), All Along (1983), and Sky Classic (1992).

R.A. Hill Stable, Wachtel Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Gary Barber's Channel Maker, winner of the 2018 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will attempt to be the first non-consecutive winner of the race since Val's Prince won in 1997 and 1999.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Channel Maker was a wire-to-wire winner of the 2018 edition and was previously sixth in 2017 and second to Arklow in last year's running. The 6-year-old veteran of 35 lifetime starts arrives at the Joe Hirsch off a frontrunning victory in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational on August 29 at Saratoga, where he set an easy pace up front and responded well when urged by jockey Manny Franco, powering home in the final eighth of a mile to a 5 ¾-length triumph, garnering a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. He matched that figure when taking the 2018 Joe Hirsch.

“He seems to be doing well,” said Mott, whose other Joe Hirsch victories came with Theatrical (1987) and Shakespeare (2005). “Manny rode him very well the last couple of times and we're lucky to get him back. The race he ran last time, you can't expect that every time. But if he shows up, he's usually a factor.”

Channel Maker has been a Grade 1-winner on the NYRA circuit for the past three seasons. Four starts after his 2018 Joe Hirsch victory, he won the Grade 1 Man o' War in May 2019 over last year's Joe Hirsch winner Arklow and multiple Group 1-winner Magic Wand. He boasts the highest amount of lifetime earnings having amassed $2,494,051 in a record of 35-6-5-4.

Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, Channel Maker is by two-time Joe Hirsch winner English Channel (2006-07) and is out of the Horse Chestnut mare In Return, making him a full-brother to two-time Canadian Grade 1-winner Johnny Bear.

Franco will pilot Channel Maker for the fourth time in a row from post 3.

Woodslane Farm's homebred Sadler's Joy also makes his fourth appearance in the Joe Hirsch but is still in search of his first victory, having finished fourth in 2017 and third in the past two editions.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, the 7-year-old son of 2004 Joe Hirsch winner Kitten's Joy will attempt to make amends after finishing a distant fourth to Channel Maker in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational last out.

Sadler's Joy and Channel Maker first squared off in the 2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, which was won by Beach Patrol, where Sadler's Joy finished fourth as the post time favorite.

“It's a good rivalry. They've both finished ahead of each other in the past,” Albertrani said. “A lot will depend on the weather and who prefers softer ground, so hopefully the rain can hold off.”

As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service calls for a 10% chance of precipitation for the Elmont, New York area with a high of 68 degrees.

Albertrani said Sadler's Joy is trip dependent and he does not want to see his horse too far off the pace to where he will need to make up a significant amount of ground.

“His ideal trip is not getting back too far,” Albertrani said. “There's a point where you just can't have him back too far and have him lose too much ground. That's where the race is usually won or lost. In these races where he makes a late move, he usually runs the quickest last quarter. Sometimes in a smaller field it helps him, so we just have to hope that he gets the right kind of trip.”

Despite his age, Albertrani said Sadler's Joy still has what it takes to compete at a high level. This year, he was third beaten three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Manhattan. In his following start, he crossed the wire first in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga before being disqualified to fourth.

“He still has it in him. He still trains well and he's still into it,” Albertrani said. “Hopefully, we can win another big race with him.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will climb aboard Sadler's Joy for the 18th time from post 1.

Gestut Ittlingen's Laccario invades from Germany for trainer Andreas Wohler, whose only previous starter in the Joe Hirsch was Sabiango, who finished fourth in 2003.

The dark bay 4-year-old son of Scalo was seventh in his only start this year in the Group 1 Preis von Europa on August 15 at Cologne, which was his only off the board finish in eight lifetime starts. Laccario was a 1 ¼-length winner of the Group 1 Deutsches Derby in July 2019 at Hamburg going the Joe Hirsch distance.

Breaking from post 6, Laccario will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of contenders in Rockemperor and Master Piece.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Wonder Stables, Rockemperor joined Brown's stable last summer after previously being campaigned in France by Simone Brogi and has finished in the money five of his six starts in North America. The son of Holy Roman Emperor was a last out third to stablemate Digital Age in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on September 5 at Churchill Downs. In his prior effort, he was second beaten a neck to stablemate Instilled Regard in the Grade 1 Manhattan on July 4 at Belmont Park, where he registered a career-best 102 Beyer.

Bred in Ireland by Haras du Mezeray, Rockemperor is out of the Muhtathir mare Motivation whose dam Jade Island is a full-sister to multiple turf Grade 1-winning millionaire Yagli. He is a direct descendant of the prolific broodmare Best in Show.

Breaking from post 4, Rockemperor will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who seeks a third win in the prestigious stakes.

Master Piece, a Group 2-winner in his native Chile, will make his North American debut for Brown. Owned by Don Alberto Corporation, the gray or roan son of Mastercraftsman won four straight races in the latter part of 2019, including the Group 2 Gran Clasico Coronacion on December 8 at Club Hippico.

Jockey Jose Lezcano will ride Master Piece from post 2.

Rounding out the field are Three Diamonds Farm's New York-bred Cross Border [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], winner of the Grade 2 Bowling Green on August 1 at Saratoga and Highland Sky [post 7, Junior Alvarado], who was third in the Bowling Green for trainer Barclay Tagg.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:40 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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