Tag: Weekend Lineup

One month remains until Kentucky Derby Week at Churchill Downs and there are only four remaining opportunities for horses to qualify for the $3 million Kentucky Derby. Three of those races will be run Saturday: the $1 million Blue Grass (G1), the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1); and the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2). All three races will award 100 points to the winning horse and a qualifying spot in the starting gate for the “Run for the Roses.”

The top 3-year-old contenders expected to run this weekend include: Tapit Trice (Blue Grass), Verifying (Blue Grass), Practical Move (Santa Anita Derby), National Treasure (Santa Anita Derby), and Hit Show (Wood Memorial).

Keeneland's 2023 Spring Meet opens on Friday with the top race on the card the Grade 1 Ashland, a 100-point prep for the Kentucky Oaks featuring 2022 Champion Wonder Wheel. Two undercard stakes support the main feature, the Lafayette and the Transylvania.

Beyond the three Derby preps, two Grade 1 races will feature on Saturday: the G1 Madison for female sprinters at Keeneland, featuring the return of Breeders' Cup winner Goodnight Olive, and the G1 Carter for sprinters at Aqueduct, featuring the streaking Repo Rocks.

Other significant stakes action around the country on Saturday includes: the G3 Gazelle (Oaks prep) and G3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct; the G3 Commonwealth, G2 Appalachian, and G2 Shakertown at Keeneland; the Arkansas-bred Rainbow and Rainbow Miss Stakes at Oaklawn; and the Evening Jewel, G2 Charles Whittingham, Echo Eddie, G3 Monrovia, and G2 Santa Anita Oaks (Oaks prep) at Santa Anita.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, Australian racing's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup concludes this Friday night, as Day 2 of “The Championships at Randwick” features a hotly anticipated clash of hemispheres between Australia's best racehorse, Anamoe, and English raider, Dubai Honour. The AU$5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Race 8) has echoes of the epic battles between English warrior, Addeybb, and Australian Horse of the Year, Verry Elleegant, who crossed swords four memorable times in 2020 and '21. This year, Dubai Honour has seamlessly adopted the role of Addeybb, with the same English trainer-jockey combination of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. And Anamoe will inevitably be voted Horse of the Year for the current Australian season.

Friday

5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland

Champion Wonder Wheel headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered for the 86th running of the $600,000 Ashland. Trained by Mark Casse, Wonder Wheel is perfect in two Keeneland starts with victories in the Alcibiades (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) last fall. She has compiled a career mark of 6-4-2-0 and in her lone start of 2023 finished second in the Suncoast (L) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11. Tyler Gaffalione, who has been aboard for all of Wonder Wheel's starts, has the mount Friday and will exit post position two.

Todd Pletcher brings Malathaat's full sister Julia Shining into this year's renewal. Julia Shining comes into the Central Bank Ashland off a third-place finish in the Suncoast in which she was 1¼ lengths behind Wonder Wheel. Luis Saez, who has been aboard Julia Shining in all of her starts including the victory in the Demoiselle (G2), has the call Friday and will depart post position four.

Also coming from Florida is Guns n' Graces for trainer Chad Brown. Guns n' Graces finished second in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 4 in her stakes debut. Joel Rosario has the mount from post position three.

Coming from California is West Coast Stable's Pride of the Nile, trained by Doug O'Neill. A two-time winner on grass as a 2-year-old, Pride of the Nile was runner-up in the Starlet (G1) and the Las Virgenes (G3) before finishing fifth in the Santa Ysabel (G3) in her most recent start on March 5 at Santa Anita. Frankie Dettori has the mount on Pride of the Nile from post position one.

Ashland Entries

Saturday

4:00 p.m. – Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland

Champion Goodnight Olive headlines a field of five fillies and mares entered for Saturday's Madison going 7 furlongs on the main track at Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown, Goodnight Olive capped off an Eclipse Award-winning campaign here last fall when she won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to clinch divisional honors as the champion female sprinter.

A winner of her past six starts, Goodnight Olive will be partnered Saturday by regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post position two.

Another Madison entrant riding a long win streak is Maryquitecontrary. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Maryquitecontrary has won her past five starts with the most recent coming in the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. Luca Panici has the mount and will break from post position five.

Madison Entries

4:19 p.m. – Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct

With the scratch of White Abarrio, the Carter is likely to feature a prohibitive favorite in Repo Rocks. Undefeated since joining the barn of trainer Jamie Ness, taking the 6 1/2-furlong Let's Give Thanks in November and six-furlong Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.

Last out, he was a strong 3 1/4-length winner of the one-mile Stymie on February 25 to notch his first score beyond seven furlongs. Repo Rocks carried a field-high 124 pounds in the Stymie, overcoming a troubled trip under regular rider Andrew Wolfsont where he was boxed in behind rivals in third position before finding a way out late in the turn to best Grade 1-placed Miles D.

Today's Flavor [post 1, Manny Franco, 117 pounds] brings a four-race win streak into his graded stakes debut for trainer George Weaver. Little Vic [post 5, Carlos Olivero, 120 pounds] enters from a stalking 1 1/2-length score over graded-stakes winner Runninsonofagun in the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap. Multiple graded-stakes placed Doppelganger [post 7, Jevian Toledo, 118 pounds] will look to secure his third successive win since transferring to trainer Brittany Russell.

Rounding out the field are the stakes-placed Bold Journey [post 2, Eric Cancel, 114 pounds] for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott; and two-time winner Expressman [post 3, Jose Ortiz, 117 pounds], who notched a 107 Beyer Speed Figure in a memorable debut in August at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Carter Entries

5:15 p.m. – Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

Tapit Trice is the 5-2 morning line choice in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered for the 99th running of the $1 million Blue Grass (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice brings a three-race win streak into Saturday's race highlighted by a two-length victory as the 1-2 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11. Luis Saez, a Blue Grass winner with Brody's Cause in 2016 and Essential Quality in 2021, has the mount on Tapit Trice and will break from the rail.

The second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is Verifying. Trained by Brad Cox, Verifying is a winner of two of five starts and finished second to Blazing Sevens in the Champagne (G1). In his most recent start, Verifying was fourth in the Rebel (G2) that was run over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 25. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Verifying and will break from post position three.

Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain is the third choice on the morning line at 9-2. Trained by Ben Colebrook, Raise Cain won the Gotham by 7 ½ lengths in what was his graded stakes debut. Raise Cain, a maiden winner at Keeneland last fall, was third in the Bowman Mill and then runner-up in the Gun Runner at Fair Grounds to close his 2022 campaign. Joel Rosario has the mount on Raise Cain and will break from post 10.

Colebrook will send out a second runner in Scoobie Quando (15-1). Scoobie Quando was runner-up in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park on March 4 in his most recent start. Luan Machado has the mount on Scoobie Quando and will exit post position six.

The fourth choice at 6-1 on the morning line is Blazing Sevens. Trained by Chad Brown, Blazing Sevens won the Champagne last fall and completed his 2022 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Blazing Sevens finished eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) in his lone 2022 start. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount Saturday and will break from post position eight.

Leading the Ken McPeek contingent is Sun Thunder (10-1), who enters Saturday's race off a fifth-place finish in the March 25 Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G2). McPeek also will send out Hayes Strike (15-1), a two-time graded-stakes placed runner entering off a victory in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 18. McPeek's third is Mendelssohns March (20-1), who will be making his stakes debut. Undefeated in two starts, Mendelssohns March will break from post position 11 and be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.

Blue Grass Entries

5:43 p.m. – Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita

Multiple Grade 2 winner Practical Move headlines a field of nine of California's top 3-year-olds in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Practical Move has been one of the top 3-year-olds in Southern California since December when he won the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Trained by Tim Yakteen, Practical Move made his seasonal debut in the $400,000 San Felipe (G2) where he finished 2 ½ lengths better than fellow Santa Anita Derby entrant Geaux Rocket Ride. Jockey Ramon Vazquez rides from post No. 5.

Yakteen will also send out former Baffert trainee National Treasure, third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall but third in the G3 Sham in his only start as a 3-year-old. John Velazquez has the mount.

Geaux Rocket Ride will attempt to avenge his last race defeat from Practical Move in the Santa Anita Derby. Trained by Richard Mandella, Geaux Rocket Ride was an impressive 5 ¾-length winner on debut at Santa Anita and made his first start around two-turns in the San Felipe. Flavien Prat will have the mount from post 3.

Santa Anita Derby Entries

6:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct

Hit Show, the winner of the Feb. 11 Withers Stakes (Grade 3), will return to Aqueduct and headline a field of 13 for Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2). Hit Show, trained by Brad Cox, jumped onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby scene with his 5 ½-length score in the Withers. Following that race, Cox opted to keep Hit Show based at Fair Grounds and train towards the Wood Memorial. At the end of March, Cox shipped Hit Show to Keeneland where he worked on March 31 in company with Blue Grass Stakes (G1) entrant Verifying and cruised five furlongs in :59.40. Jockey Manny Franco will have the return mount from post No. 13.

Drawn at the opposite side of the starting gate is Dreamlike. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Dreamlike is still a maiden but is expected to garner serious attention in the Wood as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line odds. Dreamlike finished second to Arthur's Ride on debut at Gulfstream Park and recently finished a close second to Empirestrikesfast. The well-bred son of Gun Runner will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Pletcher entered three horses in the Wood Memorial. His other two are maiden Crupi and recent allowance winner Classic Catch.

The ultra-consistent Arctic Arrogance is scheduled to return in the Wood Memorial and his trainer Linda Rice has opted to remove blinkers for this start. Arctic Arrogance has finished second in his last three starts in the Remsen (G2), Jerome and Withers. The son of Frosted was originally planning a start in the Gotham but a minor illness forced him to miss the race. Arctic Arrogance will exit post 7 with jockey Jose Lezcano.

Wood Memorial Entries

The post Weekend Lineup Presented By Sky Racing World: Keeneland Opens, Trio Of 100-Point Derby Preps appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Eclipse Award winner Forte will try to cement his status as the Kentucky Derby favorite as he faces eleven rivals in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (G1), while former Bob Baffert trainee Reincarnate has been installed as the slight morning-line favorite in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1).

The Grade 1 contests each offer points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to the top five finishers on a scale of 100-40-30-20-10; Saturday's cards at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park will also offer each track's final race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The Florida Derby will headline Gulfstream's 14-race program with 10 stakes, including five graded races, worth $2.375 million in purses. The 14-race Florida Derby program with a first-race post time of 11:30 a.m. (ET) will offer a $1-million guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool and a $750,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 pool.

Other significant stakes action around the country on Saturday includes the Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct; the Carolina Cup steeplechase races in Aiken; the G3 Oaklawn Mile and listed Hot Springs Stakes on the Arkansas Derby undercard; and the G2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sunday's major stakes action includes Aqueduct's Top Flight Stakes, Oaklawn's Temperance Hill Stakes, and the G3 American Stakes at Santa Anita.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, Australian racing's equivalent of the Breeders' Cup commences this Friday night, as Day 1 of “The Championships at Randwick” showcases global Group 1 talent across a multitude of conditions and distances. The two-day elite event, which concludes next Friday night, features AU$20 million in purses. The TJ Smith Stakes (Race 7) exemplifies Australia's status as the world's premier source of turf sprinters. Nature Strip (7-2), who crushed his rivals at Royal Ascot last summer, appears to be finally succumbing to the reality of aging. Yet, after two subpar efforts this campaign, trainer Chris Waller is bullish that the 8-year-old has rebounded and is fully capable of a record fourth victory in this race.

Saturday

5:15 p.m. – Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks

Dorth Vader won't be able to sneak up on anyone when she runs in next Saturday's $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), certainly not after pulling off a startling 46-1 upset victory in the March 4 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Not only did she win the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the daughter of Girven also thoroughly dominated her rivals by 4¾ lengths, providing veteran Florida trainer Michael Yates with the first graded-stakes success of his career in the process.

Atomically, who was 11 lengths clear off the Yates trainee in the FSS final, is scheduled to seek a return to winning form in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Purchased privately following her FSS win and transferred to Todd Pletcher's barn, Atomically finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland in her next start. She came back to finish third in the Feb. 4 Forward Gal (G2) at Gulfstream.

Pletcher will also saddle Miracle, a New York-bred daughter of Mendelsohn. Miracle's first four starts came against state-breds, winning at first asking before placing in three straight one-turn New York-bred stakes. She stepped into graded-stakes company in her 2023 debut Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds, where she set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra (G2) before finishing second, less than a length behind victorious Pretty Mischievous.

Affirmative Lady will enter the Gulfstream Oaks off a maiden victory, but the Graham Motion trainee also brings a solid stakes resume into the race. The daughter of Arrogate finished third and fourth in a pair of one-turn maiden races to start her career before finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct Dec. 3, beaten by just a neck. She came back to finish third in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda Jan. 14 at Aqueduct before graduating at Gulfstream Park in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race by 2 ¼ lengths Feb. 26.

Gulfstream Oaks Entries

6:40 p.m. – Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Forte established himself as a clear early favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) when he made an auspicious 2023 debut in the March 4 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The son of Violence, who had won three consecutive Grade 1 races to finish his 2022 championship season, raced between horses while rating off the early pace before advancing along the backstretch, swinging four-wide into the stretch and drawing away to a 4½-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. The 2022 juvenile champion, who drew Post 11, has been installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in a field of a dozen 3-year-olds entered in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby.

Mage, who showed a lot of grit while finishing fourth in the Fountain of Youth in only his second career start, is slated to return in the Florida Derby. The Gustavo Delgado-trained son off Good Magic, who experienced gate trouble, bumping and a wide trip in that race, had previously debuted with a 3 ¾-length victory Jan. 28 at Gulfstream.

Cyclone Mischief, who rebounded from a disappointing effort in the Feb. 4 Holy Bull (G3) with a third-place finish in the Fountain of Youth, is scheduled to return in the Florida Derby. The Dale Romans-trained son of Into Mischief set the pace into the stretch before being overtaken by Forte and Holy Bull winner Rocket Can, who finished second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of him.

Fort Bragg is scheduled to make his first start outside Southern California in the Florida Derby. Formerly trained by Bob Baffert and now conditioned by Tim Yakteen, the son of Tapit is coming off a fifth-place finish in the March 4 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita in his 3-year-old debut. Fort Bragg, who was entered to run in Sunday's Sunland Derby (G3), finished third in the Los Alamitos Futurity in his final 2022 start.

Dubyuhnell will seek to rebound from a disappointing performance in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in his 3-year-old debut. The son of Good Magic, who finished sixth as the 2-1 favorite at Tampa, had concluded his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) over a sloppy Aqueduct main track. The Danny Gargan trainee, who broke his maiden in the Aqueduct slop in his previous start, will be ridden by Jose Ortiz

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled White Abarrio for a victory in last year's Florida Derby, is represented in this year's field by four longshots –  West Coast Cowboy, Mr. Ripple, Nautical Star, and Mr. Peeks.

Florida Derby Entries

7:24 p.m. – Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park

Southern California-based Reincarnate is the 5-2 program favorite for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Oaklawn. Reincarnate endured an eventful trip in the Rebel, his first start for trainer Tim Yakteen, and was beaten 2 ½ lengths by Confidence Game after losing valuable position when shuffled back shortly after the start and having to check approaching the eighth pole under Velazquez.

Late-running Red Route One opened his 3-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish behind unbeaten Arabian Knight in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 before finishing second in the Rebel for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Red Route One adds blinkers after falling far behind early in the Southwest and Rebel.

Asmussen will also start Harlocap, who exits a sixth in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds. Harlocap, who previously had been with Baffert on the West Coast, passed the Louisiana Derby in favor of the Arkansas Derby.

Two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Brad Cox won the 2022 Arkansas Derby with Cyberknife and is represented by Angel of Empire, who returns to Oaklawn after winning the Risen Star in his last start.

Rocket Can won the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 4 and finished second behind champion Forte in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 4. Both 1 1/16-mile races were at Gulfstream Park.

The speedy Two Eagles Rivers exits a sharp entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Feb. 19 at Oaklawn for 2015 Oaklawn training champion Chris Hartman. The runner-up in that Feb. 19 race, Disarm, returned to finish second in the Louisiana Derby.

Arkansas Derby Entries

The post Weekend Lineup Presented By Sky Racing World: Champion Forte Leads Florida Derby, Reincarnate Favored In Arkansas Prep appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Dubai World Cup is the richest race on offer this weekend, led by defending winner Country Grammer as he attempts to become just the second two-time winner in the race under “flying” Frankie Dettori. He'll face a tough challenge of eight Japanese rivals, including Panthalassa, who defeated Country Grammer last out in the Saudi Cup.

Top-rated racehorses also contesting races in the desert on Saturday include Equinox, Japan's Horse of the Year (Sheema Classic) and 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Sheema Classic).

Other American-based runners expected in Dubai on Saturday include: Tall Boy, Ah Jeez, and Worcester in the UAE Derby; C Z Rocket, Hopkins, Gunite, Sibelius, and Super Ocho in the Golden Shaheen; and Shirl's Speight in the Dubai Turf.

Following one week off, the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series is set to return in a big way with four major Kentucky Derby qualifying races led by Saturday's $1 million Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) and $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). The action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin early Saturday morning with the $1 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The weekend's Championship Series action will close Sunday with the $600,000 Sunland Derby (G3).

The Fair Grounds undercard on Louisiana Derby day also features a strong lineup, with seven other stakes drawing entrants like Pegasus World Cup winners Art Collector and Atone, each making their second starts of 2023.

Other significant stakes action around the country on Saturday includes the East View Stakes at Aqueduct; the Texas Glitter and Melody of Colors Stakes at Gulfstream; seven Texas-bred stakes at Sam Houston; the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn; the G3 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita; and five undercard stakes at Turfway Park.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, former Phil D'Amato trainee Going Global is living up to her name, as the eight-time U.S. graded stakes winner makes her Australian debut for champion trainer Chris Waller this Friday night at Rosehill Racecourse. A record number of international horses have traveled to Sydney for the AU$40 million Autumn Racing Carnival. Two horses prepared by Joseph O'Brien (one favored against Going Global) are also featured on a 10-race program that includes eight Group races. The card will broadcast live on FanDuel TV and is available to stream on the Sky Racing World App (First Post 9:10 p.m. ET / 6:10 p.m. PT).

Saturday

9:50 a.m. – G2 UAE Derby at Meydan

This year's UAE Derby witnesses an international field lining up with horses from five countries set to feature.

Perhaps the most interesting contestant in this race is Aidan O' Brien's Cairo. The son of Quality Road was impressive in winning the Patton Stakes last time out, a race won by Mendelssohn before he landed this race in 2018.

Bob Baffert trainee Worcester heads the American contingent. Still a maiden after three starts, he has bumped into some very useful horses each time including when third in the Grade 3 Robert B Lewis Stakes to multiple stakes placed stablemate Newgate. Frankie Dettori takes the ride on him. Should Worcester win on Saturday, he will become the first maiden horse to win the UAE Derby and will also provide his trainer with a first UAE Derby success.

Doug O' Neill sends both Carnival winners Tall Boy and Ah Jeez. The former was a game winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas while Ah Jeez won the 7f Al Karama Stakes. William Buick has stuck with the Guineas winner with the first-time visiting Tyler Gaffalione booked for Ah Jeez.

The Japanese are mob-handed once again. Last year's winning trainer Koichi Shintani sends Goraiko, a two-time winner from five starts. On his latest start, though, he only managed fifth behind the re-opposing Perriere in the Hyacinth Stakes. Interestingly, Crown Pride was only sixth in the same race before he won the UAE Derby last year.

Perriere, the mount of Oisin Murphy, is drawn well in post 3 but he will have to reverse form with Derma Sotogake from the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun where he was a length adrift.

Derma Sotogake was a staying on third in the Saudi Derby and should relish every extra yard here with Christophe Lemaire on board.

Speaking of the Saudi Derby, fifth from the race Continuar arrives as well. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, he will jump from a wide draw in 12.

Group 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Dura Erede completes the quintet for Japan. While that win came on turf, he has won his only start on dirt when breaking his maiden.

UAE Derby Entries

12:35 p.m. – G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan

Country Grammer, the defending Dubai World Cup champion, will try for a repeat performance in Saturday's 12 million Dubai World Cup. Country Grammer, last seen finishing a fast-closing second second in the Saudi Cup (G1), will try to join Thunder Snow as only the second horse in history to win two editions of the Dubai World Cup. The Bob Baffert trainee will be ridden by jockey Frankie Dettori, a four-time World Cup winning rider.

His rivals will include an eight-strong contingent from Japan including Panthalassa, the Saudi Cup victor. Just as in the Saudi Cup, he is likely to be pressed by compatriots Geoglyph and Crown Pride on the pace, but the Dubai rematch adds in locally trained Bendoog for Bhupat Seemar and Bahrain's Salute The Soldier for Fawzi Nass, both of whom have led in recent starts. With Simon and Ed Crisford's revelation Algiers and South American star Super Corinto also capable of settling handy to the speed, a Panthalassa victory will require a deft hand from jockey Yutaka Yoshida and a herculean performance.

While other Japanese rivals like Ushba Tesoro, T O Keynes, Cafe Pharoah and Jun Light Bolt have proven their worth at the top level on dirt, perhaps of most interest is Japan Cup conqueror Vela Azul. Racing on dirt for the first two seasons of his career, he was a fairly plain two from 16 on the surface before a switch to turf and a step up in trip brought him to life throughout 2022. He now returns to dirt for the biggest test of his career but arrives as a different horse to the one who originally toiled on the surface.

Among the significant obstacles in their way is Algiers, an also-ran in last year's Godolphin Mile who has flourished since returning from Newmarket to Meydan. With two wide-margin victories in traditional lead-up races to the Dubai World Cup, he represents the home team – and, to a large extent, the United Kingdom – for Crisford senior and junior.

Dubai World Cup Entries

6:25 p.m. – G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park

Multiple graded stakes winning 3-year-old Major Dude headlines a talented field of 12 colts and geldings that were entered in Saturday's 52nd running of the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3). Major Dude will invade Turfway Park from his South Florida base for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Bolt d'Oro tabbed his first stakes victory on Oct. 2 in the $200,000 Pilgrim (G2) at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. Following a disappointing ninth-place effort in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Major Dude made his 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park where he rallied for second and even-money. In his last start, Major Dude contested the $175,000 Kitten's Joy (G3) and defeated seven rivals by 1 ½ lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Another talented 3-year-old that entered the Jeff Ruby Steaks is two-time stakes winner Two Phil's. Trained by Larry Rivelli, Two Phil's seven-race campaign has solely been over dirt and the Jeff Ruby will be his first test on Tapeta. The chestnut son of Hard Spun began his march to the Kentucky Derby after his dominant 5 ¼-length victory in the $200,000 Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs. Following that effort, Two Phil's was the runner-up to Instant Coffee in the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) and third-place finisher to Angel of Empire and Sun Thunder in the $400,000 Risen Star (G2). Four weeks ago, Rivelli opted to ship to the colt back from Fair Grounds to his base at Hawthorne to begin his preparation for the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Two Phil's arrived at Turfway March 13 and has been training daily over the Florence oval.

Among the other top competitors in the Jeff Ruby is John Battaglia Memorial winner Congruent. Ridden by Kentucky Derby 148 winning jockey Sonny Leon, Congruent invaded Turfway from Gulfstream Park and scored an impressive 3 ½-length victory in the John Battaglia Memorial. The gray son of Tapit will attempt to duplicate that same effort from three weeks ago from post 8 and Leon in the irons. Congruent was tabbed at odds of 5-1 on the morning line.

One of the top local contenders entered in the Jeff Ruby Steaks is Funtastic Again. Trained by 2021 Jeff Ruby Steaks winning conditioner Wesley Ward, Funtastic Again has not returned to the races since his stout 3 ¾-length win in the $125,000 Leonatus Stakes on Jan. 21 at Turfway. Prior to the Leonatus Stakes, Funtastic Again dazzled in a first-level allowance contest by 5 ½ lengths at Turfway.

Jeff Ruby Entries

6:42 p.m. – G2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds

Lecomte (G3) winner Instant Coffee, currently ninth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 32 points, headlines a full field of twelve 3-year-olds for the 110th running of the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). Six other Louisiana Derby runners besides Instant Coffee have already banked Kentucky Derby points: Sun Thunder (24), Curly Jack (17), Jace's Road (15), Tapit's Conquest (10), Denington (8), and Single Ruler (5).

Trainer Brad Cox has swept the trio of local preps leading up to the 2023 Louisiana Derby, winning the Gun Runner with Jace's Road, the Lecomte (G3) with Instant Coffee and the Risen Star (G2) with Angel of Empire. Both Jace's Road and Instant Coffee are back for the Louisiana Derby, along with Tapit's Conquest, who was recently a very competitive 4th in the Risen Star. Cox sent out Wells Bayou to win the Louisiana Derby in 2020.

Steve Asmussen has won the Louisiana Derby four times, including last year with Epicenter. He's represented by a pair of upstarts in Saturday's race in Shopper's Revenge and Disarm. Drawing the rail, Shopper's Revenge could be a main pace presence in a field light on front-runners. That is, if he can break with alacrity. Winning his maiden at Oaklawn in January, he hesitated slightly before gamely splitting foes and putting himself on the lead. In his next start, he hesitated even longer and was forced to attack the field from the back of the pack, but still ran well for second.

Having won the last two Louisiana Derbies, piloting Epicenter last year and Hot Rod Charlie in 2021, jockey Joel Rosario will be aboard Disarm. The Gun Runner colt broke his maiden in September going seven furlongs at Saratoga, but didn't race again until finishing second going one mile in February at Oaklawn Park.

Todd Pletcher has won the Louisiana Derby four times, most recently with Noble Indy in 2015. On Saturday he will be represented by Kingsbarns, who is undefeated in two starts.

Louisiana Derby Entries

Sunday

6:45 p.m. – G3 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland

A 14 1/2-length winner of the Mine That Bird Derby last out, New Mexico-based Henry Q is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1 for Sunday's Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Park Derby. The Sunland Derby drew a field of seven sophomore colts, and offers the top five finishers points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (50-20-15-10-5).

Dennis O'Neill selected Henry Q for $125,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale, and the colt was trained by Doug O'Neill for his first three starts in Southern California. In his third start, Henry Q broke his maiden in an optional claiming event under jockey Frankie Dettori. Transferred to Todd Fincher's stable in New Mexico, the colt led all the way in his easy victory in the Mine That Bird Derby, the local prep for the Sunland Derby. Local rider Edwin Maldonado will retain the mount.

Favored on the morning line at 2-1 is Bob Baffert trainee Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), second last out in the G3 Bob Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Baffert trainees are not eligible for Kentucky Derby points due to the trainer's ongoing ban from Churchill Downs, Inc. properties. Flavien Prat ships in to ride.

Former Baffert trainee Fort Bragg, now in the hands of his former assistant Tim Yakteen, is the third choice on the morning line at 4-1. Fort Bragg, by Tapit, finished fifth in his first start for Yakteen in the G2 San Felipe Stakes earlier this month. Southern California jockey Juan Hernandez will retain the mount.

Sunland Derby Entries

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A pair of graded stakes races for older horses at Oaklawn Park are the highlight of this weekend's racing action in North America, including the six-furlong Whitmore (G3) for sprinters and the 1 1/16-mile Essex Handicap (G3) for routers. Each race drew a competitive field of 10, and the weather forecast should leave the track dry and fast for Saturday's card.

Laurel Park offers five stakes races worth $450,000 on Saturday's card, headlined by the $100,000 Private Terms for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Beyond The Wire for 3-year-old fillies. Gulfstream has a pair of sprint stakes scheduled for Saturday, the Hutcheson for 3-year-olds on the dirt and the Silks Run for older horses on the turf.

Other significant stakes action around the country on Saturday includes the Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct; the McCann's Mojave at Golden Gate; the Liz Bracken Memorial at Rillito Park (part of NYRA's Cross Country Pick 5); and the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sunday's action includes the Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct and the Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, fans of Tom Petty and of America's most recent Triple Crown winner will be attracted to an undefeated filly, when Rosehill Racecourse hosts the world's richest race for 2-year-olds this Friday night in Sydney, Australia. Learning To Fly, a daughter of Justify, is second wagering choice for the US$3.25 million Golden Slipper Stakes. Among four other Group 1 races on a stellar card, the spotlight will shine on record-breaking Horse of the Year Anamoe. The card will broadcast live on FanDuel TV and is available to stream on the Sky Racing World App (First Post 9:10 p.m. ET/6:10 p.m. PT).

Saturday

4:33 p.m. – Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park

The Private Terms at about 1 1/16 miles is the next step in Laurel's series of stakes for 3-year-olds following the one-mile Miracle Wood Feb. 18 and preceding the $125,000 Federico Tesio going 1 1/8 miles April 15, a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course.

His connections will get a further indication of how far Coffeewithchris wants to go when their multiple stakes-winning sophomore attempts two turns for the first time. Coffeewithchris won't have to contend with his main rival in the Private Terms, Brittany Russell-trained Prince of Jericho, who is sitting this one out to await the Tesio. Coffeewithchris beat Prince of Jericho in the Miracle Wood and Dec. 30 Heft and was second to him in the Jan. 21 Spectacular Bid.

The Miracle Wood was the longest race to date for Coffeewithchris, a gelded son of 2014 Preakness and Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Ride On Curlin that Salzman purchased for just $2,000 as a yearling in October 2021. Coffeewithchris has made nine of his 10 starts in Maryland, including stops at Pimlico and Timonium, and ran fifth in the 2022 Hickory Tree at Colonial Downs in his stakes debut. The Private Terms will be his sixth consecutive stakes attempt and fourth in a row with Jaime Rodriguez, battling for leading rider at Laurel's winter meet. They drew outermost Post 8 at topweight of 124 pounds, yielding six pounds to each of their rivals.

While Russell is giving Prince of Jericho a breather until the Tesio, she will be represented in the Private Terms by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds' Circling the Drain, a Triple Crown-nominated Maryland homebred that is entered to make his stakes debut. Circling the Drain, by West Coast out of the Cozzene mare Who's Cozy, has two wins from four starts, both coming at the Private Terms distance. He was a front-running graduate by seven lengths in a Dec. 9 maiden claimer second time out, and exits a rallying two-length optional claiming allowance triumph Feb. 20.

The other Triple Crown-nominated horse in the Private Terms is Dixiana Farms homebred Hayes Strike, trained by Preakness and Belmont (G1) winner Ken McPeek. Hayes Strike has a one-mile maiden win last summer at Ellis Park to his credit and also at 2 ran second to Two Phil's in the Street Sense (G3) and third behind Instant Coffee in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), horses respectively ranked 13th and ninth on the current Kentucky Derby (G1) points leaderboard.

Private Terms Entries

5:22 p.m. – G3 Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Tejano Twist leads a field of 10 for Saturday's six-furlong Whitmore Stakes, most recently having finished second to Gunite in Oaklawn's King Cotton. Gunite followed that win with a hard-fought second in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia, flattering Tejano Twist's form for trainer Chris Hartman.

Hartman has also entered Edge to Edge, a two-time allowance winner at this Oaklawn meet, who will be returning to stakes competition for the first time since his juvenile season.

Cogburn is the second choice on the morning line for trainer Steve Asmussen, having won an allowance race at Oaklawn after an eight-month break from the races. Prior to that, the son of Not This Time finished second in the G3 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Whitmore Entries

5:54 p.m. – Grade 3 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park

Saturday's $500,000 Grade 3 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park brings together a field of 10 with nine million dollars in career earnings between them.

Leading the field in that category is 2022 Essex winner Rated R Superstar at $1.8 million, entering the race off a fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap last month. Rated R Superstar also won the Essex in 2019, and finished second in the race in 2021. At 10 years old, Rated R Superstar has won 13 of his 67 lifetime starts.

The Razorback was won by Last Samurai, which boosted his earnings to $1.6 million. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the five-time winner is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line with recent fourth-place finishes in the G1 Pegasus World Cup and G1 Clark Handicap.

Next is Silver Prospector, no slouch with $1.1 million in career earnings including the 2020 G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. The Steve Asmussen trainee's confidence should be up after an allowance win last month at Oaklawn.

Classic Causeway has banked $1.1 million, the bulk of that when winning the G1 Belmont Derby on the grass last summer. He'll run on dirt here for trainer Ken McPeek, looking to overcome a four-race losing streak.

Second choice on the morning line is Bill Mott trainee Vittorio, a 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper entering his first stakes race. He was most recently second to Charge It, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in an allowance at Gulfstream after an eight-month break from the races.

Essex Entries

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