Essential Quality Nabs Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Spot With Dominant Breeders’ Futurity Score

Essential Quality entered the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland with the wind behind him after an electric debut score last month, and he lived up to the hype on Saturday with another powerful victory.

The Breeders' Futurity also earned the 2-year-old son of Tapit a “Win and You're In” berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which will be held next month at Keeneland.

Essential Quality got a clean start out of the gate and past the finish line for the first time, and he entered the first turn in second behind pace setter Upstriker. Those two led the proceedings through an opening quarter in :23.97, and they remained a relatively untested lead duo through the backstretch. Jockey Luis Saez pressed the leader aboard Essential Quality as they cleared the half-mile in :48.86, but Upstriker continued to hold off his adversary.

That changed as the backstretch turned into the bend, when Essential Quality drew even with Upstriker, then put a head in front on the outside, with the pacesetter fighting to hold off his rival. Essential Quality finally put away the early leader heading into the stretch, and he kicked clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Keepmeinmind, a 52-1 longshot, staged a rally from the middle of the pack to finish second, ahead of third-place Super Stock. Upstriker carried on for fourth.

Essential Quality won the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:44.37 over a fast main track for owner Godolphin and trainer Brad Cox. He paid $5.80 to win as the favorite.

The colt is undefeated in two starts heading into this year's Breeders' Cup, after winning his debut at Churchill Downs by four lengths on Sept. 5. Saturday's race was his first around two turns.

Essential Quality is a Kentucky homebred for the Godolphin operation, out of the Grade 3-placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality; herself a Godolphin homebred.

To view the race's chart, click here.

Quotes from the $400,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, courtesy of the Keeneland notes team

Brad Cox (winning trainer of Essential Quality)

“We've had some very nice 2-year-old fillies, but this is probably the best (2-year-old colt) I've had as far as talent goes. He's our first Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old colt. He means a lot to us. He showed us from Day 1 that he's special, very talented. Luis (Saez) did a good job of getting him to relax. He's a very green horse. That was my concern today – could he put it all together? And he did. He pulled up a bit on the backside. He's got some learning to do. If he can figure it out, he's a serious animal.”

Luis Saez (winning rider)

“I thought he was gonna be right there. Second start. I never rode him before. I was watching the replay when he ran last time, and he looked like 'Wow, what a horse.' And today he proved that he's a very good horse. He did it pretty easy. He was a little green when he came to the track – he was looking around a little bit, but he took off. He was running. What a horse. I'm so glad I'm on this horse.”

David Cohen (rider of runner-up Keepmeinmind)

“We had a little bit of trouble in the first turn with horses on the outside coming in, but I was happy I was able to maintain somewhat of a position. Down the backside, he got into a beautiful spot. He's still a bit green. I was very happy with his courage and his finish. His gallop-out was tremendous.”

The post Essential Quality Nabs Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Spot With Dominant Breeders’ Futurity Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Inthemidstofbiz Upsets Thoroughbred Club Of America Stakes, Clinches Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Sprint Berth

Inthemidstofbiz made her graded stakes debut a winning one on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course, with a 13-1 upset of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. The victory also ensured her next graded stakes start, earning a “Win and You're In” berth for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The 4-year-old Fed Biz filly was part of a large, tight group of runners to vie for the lead out of the gate, with outside-breaking runner Lady's Island assuming command over Palace Avenger, with Inthemidstofbiz tracking in third. Lady's Island set the opening quarter in :22.12 seconds, while keeping her two closest trackers at bay. However, jockey Martin Garcia started to ask Inthemidstofbiz for some run on the outside, and the filly caught the leader in the turn and ran past her.

A spent Lady's Island gave way in the middle of an emerging battle between Inthemidstofbiz and Palace Avenger, following a half in :45.17 seconds. The challenger was game for about a sixteenth of a mile, but ultimately relented to Inthemidstofbiz with plenty of stretch to go, and the winner drew off to prevail by three lengths.

A late move from post time favorite Sneaking Out earned her a runner-up finish, a half-length ahead Palace Avenger.

Inthemidstofbiz won the six-furlong race in 1:09.84 over a fast main track, and she paid $28.20 to win. She was trained by Cipriano Contreras, who earned his second career graded stakes victory in the Thoroughbred Club of America. His first came in the G3 Hanshin Cup Stakes in 2018 with Matrooh. The winning owners were Contreras Stable and Andrew Knapczyk.

Inthemidstofbiz was bred in Kentucky by J D Stuart and Mueller Farms, Inc., out of the stakes-winning Closing Argument mare Midst.

To view the race's chart, click here.

Quotes from the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America, courtesy of the Keeneland notes team

Cipriano Contreras (winning trainer of Inthemidstofbiz)

“We got lucky today. She's getting better and better. We claimed this filly (for $20,000 at Keeneland during the 2019 Fall Meet) and ran her for (a $16,000 claiming price) at Oaklawn. She started running better, and we took a shot. It worked out.”

Martin Garcia (winning rider)

“She's a great filly. I had a really good position. When I asked her to go, she made it really easy.”

Umberto Rispoli (rider of runner-up and beaten favorite Sneaking Out.

“My trip was OK. She is the kind of filly who can have the lead if there is no one faster, but that was not the case today. I believe if she had drawn an outside (post position), the race definitely would have changed. She finished off pretty strong and I am pretty sure if I had been on the outside, the race (outcome) would be different. Post 1 is always a gamble. Outside she could dominate the other horses. Inside she was not happy.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Del Mar Ship & Win: Preakness, Keeneland Fall Stars, Arc De Triomphe

The 145th edition of the Preakness Stakes headlines a spectacular weekend of racing that also features the opening of Keeneland's fall meet, which hosts a total of nine Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races from Friday to Sunday in preparation for the World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The Preakness was moved from its original May date due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be contested without fans in attendance.

NBC will broadcast the Preakness Stakes on Oct. 3 during its coverage which runs from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports will also provide coverage of Keeneland's weekend, broadcasting from 5-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 2 and 4:30-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 4.

The entire Keeneland meet will be televised on TVG. NBCSN will also pick up a one-hour broadcast of TVG's “Trackside Live” on Friday from 4-5 p.m. ET.

TVG coverage will also continue at Santa Anita this weekend and 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, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, won this race in 2017 and 2018 and was second last year. Post time is approximately 10:05 a.m. ET.

Racing from Belmont Park will be showcased on the NYRA-produced “America's Day at the Races” show, airing on either FS1 or FS2. A special edition program of “America's Day at the Races” will also air Sunday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. ET, broadcasting races from Longchamp in Paris highlighted by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Friday Oct. 2

5:05 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN

Robert LaPenta, Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners' Whitmore will make his fourth start in the $200,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Moquett, Whitmore won the Phoenix in 2017 and has been runner-up in the race the past two years. Whitmore has used this race as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint the past three years, a race in which he finished third in 2019 at Santa Anita and second in 2018 at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100220USA8-EQB.html

5:40 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN

Heider Family Stables' undefeated Thoughtfully headlines a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered for the Alcibiades, which awards the winner a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Thoughtfully debuted June 11 at Churchill Downs and romped to an
8¾-length score going 5 ½ furlongs. A month later at Saratoga, she scored a 5-length victory in the Adirondack (G2) going 6½ furlongs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100220USA9-EQB.html

6:23 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Pimlico Special Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold, who has enjoyed some of his finest career moments at Pimlico Race Course, will get the chance once again to display his affinity for the when he returns to the Baltimore, track to defend his title in the Pimlico Special. The 50th running of the Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up, is back to its original distance of 1 3/16 miles after being contested at 1 1/4 miles for the first time last year. A 5-year-old homebred son of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Curlin out of the Tapit mare Temptress, Tenfold can become only the second two-time winner of the Pimlico Special following the Hall of Famer Challedon, who captured back-to-back editions in 1939 and 1940.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100220USA11-EQB.html

Saturday Oct. 3

11:35 a.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Juliet Foxtrot (GB) and Varenka, graded winners in 2019, will seek their first stakes score this season in the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette on grass. Augustin Stable's homebred filly Varenka showed so much promise as a 2-year-old that she raced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf as a maiden and won three of five starts last year, topped by a dead-heat victory in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga. The daughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper is winless in three tries in 2020. In her most recent outing, she was fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, as the 3-1 favorite in the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA2-EQB.html

1:22 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper, making just her sixth career start, looks to return to the winner's circle for the first time in nearly a year when she lines up against six rivals in the Miss Preakness. Wicked Whisper debuted last August at Saratoga with a popular front-running 6 ¼-length triumph. She was stepped right into stakes company by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and captured the Grade 1 Frizette in similar fashion at Belmont Park. From there, Wicked Whisper ran fifth after pressing the pace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, exiting the race with a minor leg issue. She didn't kick off her 3-year-old season until June 10, fading to be fourth behind Four Graces in the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA5-EQB.html

2:01 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Already a four-time winner of the race, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will go after No. 5 with Maryland-loving multiple graded-stakes winner Doctor Mounty in the Dinner Party – previously run as the Dixie. Doctor Mounty snapped a five-race losing streak when he returned from a brief freshening with a front-running 1 ¾-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Henry S. Clark Sept. 7 at Laurel Park. It was his first victory since his previous trip to Maryland, when the now 7-year-old gelding rallied to win the Prince George's County by a length last June.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA6-EQB.html

2:42 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Dash Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Last fall, trainer John Terranova sent an unknown minor stakes winner from New York to Maryland, one that had been competitive graded company without success, in search of a breakthrough race. Killybegs Captain delivered, springing a mild upset in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash. Though the horse and the venue have changed, Terranova is looking to repeat the pattern with Stan the Man Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Stan the Man is a two-time stakes winner, taking the 1 1/8-mile Queens County last December at Aqueduct and the six-furlong Tale of the Cat last time out August 20 at Saratoga.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA7-EQB.html

2:55 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park on FS2

Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's sophomore filly Frank's Rockette will face elders after winning three straight races in the Gallant Bloom going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette has gone off as the favorite in all nine of her lifetime starts and has never finished worse than second. She is 3-2-0 this year with each start at a different track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA5-EQB.html

3:30 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Lawrence and Jennifer Goichman's Shawdyshawdyshawdy will make his second career stakes start in the Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles. Trained by Jorge Abreu, the Summer Front bay graduated impressively on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Aug. 1 on the Saratoga turf. He followed with a deceptively good fourth on Sept. 7 in the one-mile Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA6-EQB.html

3:45 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Leinster, winner of this past July's Grade 2 Shakertown, tops an evenly matched field of nine turf sprinters in the Woodford contested at 5½ furlongs. Leinster has not raced since posting a head victory in the Shakertown. Second in the Woodford last year, Leinster will be ridden by Luis Saez and break from post position eight.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA6-EQB.html

4:03 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Grade 1-winning multimillionaires Channel Maker and Sadler's Joy will face one another for the 15th time, while each making their respective fourth straight appearance in Saturday's 43rd running of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over the Widener turf. 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. 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.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA7-EQB.html

4:18 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

KMN Racing's Sneaking Out, riding a two-race graded stakes win streak, headlines a field of seven fillies and mares in the Thoroughbred Club of America, a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Sneaking Out won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos on July 4 and followed that with a 3¾-length victory as the favorite in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar on Aug. 21.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA7-EQB.html

4:35 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on FS2

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a multiple Grade 1-winner trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, leads a talented field of five in the Kelso Handicap, a one-turn mile on the main track for 3-year-olds and upward. The 4-year-old Noble Mission colt opened his current campaign with a half-length score over Kelso-rival Endorsed in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling 1 1/16-miles over a muddy Belmont main. The $2.5-million earner followed with a closing third in the Met Mile on July 4 and was subsequently an even fourth in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 1 at the Spa.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA8-EQB.html

4:41 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on NBC

An evenly-matched field of 11 fillies, led by graded-stakes winners Bonny South, Hopeful Growth, Perfect Alibi and Project Whiskey, are set to gather for the 96th running of the Black-Eyed Susan. Juddmonte Farms homebred Bonny South was rerouted to the Black-Eyed Susan following the announcement in mid-August that it was to join the Preakness lineup. The chestnut daughter of multiple graded-stakes winning sprinter Munnings tuned up for the race with a five-furlong work in 1:01 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA10-EQB.html

4:51 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Trainer Chad Brown is well represented in the First Lady Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Uni (GB), the champion grass mare of 2019, will try to become the first repeat winner of the First Lady as she headlines a field of six. Uni used the First Lady last year as a springboard to victory over the boys in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita. She finished seventh as the favorite in her most start in the Grade 1 Fourstardave against males at Saratoga and prior to that was third in the Grade 1 Just a Game to stablemate and First Lady rival Newspaperofrecord (IRE). Newspaperofrecord, winner of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs, finished second in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA8-EQB.html

5:06 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park on FS2

A thrilling finish to the Saratoga Derby Invitational in August saw the top-five finishers separated by less than a length. The trifecta from that contest – Domestic Spending, Gufo and No Word – will engage again as part of a talented nine-horse field in the Belmont Derby Invitational. Otter Bend Stables' Gufo ran second by a head to Domestic Spending in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby and will look to turn the tables in a rematch for trainer Christophe Clement. The Declaration of War colt has won four of his six career starts, with his third-place debut effort in November at Aqueduct marking his only other non-winning effort.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA9-EQB.html

5:24 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on TVG

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality, a flashy winner on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, headlines a field of nine 2-year-olds for the Breeders' Futurity, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality is on the same path for Godolphin that Maxfield was in 2019: win a one-turn race in September at Churchill and go straight into the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality won that debut by 4 lengths going 6 furlongs and since has come back to work twice at Churchill Downs with the most recent being a :59.80 move over 5 furlongs last Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA9-EQB.html

5:36 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on NBC

Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, the No.1-ranked horse on the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll, will headline a field of 11 sophomores entered for the 145th Preakness Stakes, which will bring down the curtain on a most unusual 2020 Triple Crown. The Bob Baffert-trained colt was installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 3/16-mile classic that traditionally has been in mid-May. In a quest to win a record eighth Preakness, Baffert will also saddle Thousand Words, who is rated at 6-1. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector is rated second at 5-2 in the Preakness morning line for his quest to win a sixth straight race. The son of 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini had earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field with a victory in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland but missed a start in the Run for the Roses due to a minor foot issue.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA11-EQB.html

5:57 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on TVG

Bowies Hero will attempt to become the third horse to win the Shadwell Turf Mile in consecutive years when he faces 10 rivals Saturday in the 35th running of the race. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Bowies Hero will be trying to join Gio Ponti (2010-2011) and Dumaani (1995-1996) as the only repeat winners in the race that is a “Win and You're In” test for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile. To repeat, Bowies Hero will have to get by a quartet of runners trained by Chad Brown headed by two-time Grade 1 winner Raging Bull (FR).

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA10-EQB.html

7:25 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Mark Glatt's venerable 6-year-old gelding Sharp Samurai and Peter Miller's razor sharp 4-year-old colt Mo Forza head a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in the City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita. A winner of the 2018 City of Hope Mile and most recently a solid second on dirt in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 22, Sharp Samurai will also be cutting back in distance a quarter mile, while Mo Forza, a 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, comes off a stirring 4 ¼ length win on turf in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap Aug. 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA100320USA8-EQB.html

Sunday Oct. 4

10:05 a.m.—$5,583,805 Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Paris-Longchamp on FS1 and TVG

Enable's path to a record third Arc became clearer on Thursday as Aidan O'Brien removed Love, her main market rival, from contention, but owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe stressed their mare still has plenty to beat despite the absence of a “huge danger”. Love had been the longtime ante-post favourite for the Arc prior to ground fears emerging from her camp this week and with further rain forecast in Paris before Sunday, conditions appear certain to be testing. The absence of this year's 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner has left Enable a red-hot 5-4 favorite against her 14 rivals, but Grimthorpe insists plenty of threats remain and is concentrating his attention on final preparations for the John Gosden-trained star.

Entries: https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/211/longchamp/2020-10-04/763753/

4:12 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali brings a perfect 2-for-2 record into Sunday's Miss Grillo, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juvenile fillies. Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali graduated on July 23 with a two-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the Saratoga turf under Joel Rosario. The First Samurai chestnut then shipped to Kentucky Downs to capture the one-mile Mint Juvenile Fillies by 2 ¾-lengths on Sept. 7 with Tyler Gaffalione up.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA7-EQB.html

4:47 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Graded stakes-winner Point of Honor has displayed consistency all year long, but seeks a first win of 2020 when taking on Grade 1-winner Dunbar Road in Sunday's 80th running of the Beldame for older fillies and mares over the main track. Point of Honor has been a hard-knocking filly in 2020, finishing in the money in all four of her starts this season but is still seeking her first victory of the year. The George Weaver trainee has not won since taking the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last May at Pimlico and arrives at the Beldame off three straight placings against Grade 1 company. Peter Brant's Dunbar Road arrives at the Beldame off a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 11, where she won under a hand ride by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA8-EQB.html

5:10 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Bantry Farms' Barrister Tom, winner of the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile last month, headlines a field of 12 2-year-olds for the Bourbon Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Barrister Tom is perfect in two grass starts with both triumphs coming at a mile. In his most recent start, Barrister Tom scored a 44-1 upset at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100420USA8-EQB.html

5:20 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Crawford Farms Racing's Archidust has notched back-to-back stakes wins and will look for his third consecutive in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational for 3-year-olds and up. Since Hall of Fame Steve Asmussen took over the training duties, Archidust is 2-for-2, winning the 5 1/2-furlong Wolf Hill in July at Monmouth Park. He won at the same track and distance on Aug. 23, besting Spikes Shirl by a head in the Get Serious.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA9-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil will take on older horses for the first time when she heads a field of six fillies and mares in the Spinster, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil brings a three-race win streak into the Juddmonte Spinster highlighted by her 15-1 upset in the Kentucky Oaks. Prior to that race, she won the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks by five lengths to mark her second graded victory of 2020.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100420USA9-EQB.html

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Due To Air Quality Concerns, Santa Anita Will Push Opening Day Back To Sept. 25

The opening day of Santa Anita's Autumn season will be pushed back a week until Friday, September 25, due to the impact of Bobcat Fire on the air quality and surrounding community.

“Our local community has been deeply impacted by the Bobcat Fire burning for more than a week in the mountains behind us,” said Aidan Butler, Executive Director of California Operations for The Stronach Group. “The current weather pattern has kept the smoke in the valley and the air quality is quite poor right now. The Red Cross is using Santa Anita as the evacuation zone for people – including many of our horsemen – whose homes are less than two miles from here. As excited as we are to welcome back live racing, we are first and foremost committed to safety. This is the responsible decision to make at this time so people can plan accordingly.”

“The stakes races set for this weekend will be brought back next weekend,” said Steve Lym, Santa Anita's VP – Racing & Racing Secretary. “The smoke has impacted some training schedules, so postponing until next weekend will allow everyone a chance to be ready to go. We are planning on filling extra races throughout the meet to give our horsemen the opportunity to run their horses.”

The Opening Week now will feature a blockbuster schedule of outstanding stakes action, offering over $2-million in purse money. The stakes schedule includes seven races which are “Win and You're In” races for the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships. The stakes races originally slotted for this weekend will be run as follows: the Chillingworth on Friday, September 25, the Speakeasy on Saturday, September 26 and the Tokyo City Cup on Sunday, September 27.

Entries for Opening Day, September 25, will be drawn on Sunday, September 20, as scheduled. First post will be 12:30 p.m. PT.

The post Due To Air Quality Concerns, Santa Anita Will Push Opening Day Back To Sept. 25 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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