Tag: Weekend Lineup

There are no Grade 1 races this weekend, and that's no surprise as we are just a fortnight out from the two-day Breeders' Cup extravaganza at Keeneland racecourse in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 4-5.

Not every Thoroughbred can qualify for one of the Breeders' Cup championship races, and that's why there are Grade 2 and Grade 3 races throughout the year for those horses who are trying to work their way up to the top level or just fall a cut below the very best in terms of quality. Thus there are some excellent races this week on the Aqueduct turf at the Belmont at the Big A meet, a 3-year-old filly main track sprint and a marathon turfer for fillies and mares at Keeneland, and a pair of graded stakes on the synthetic Tapeta track at Woodbine in Canada.

There's also the original state-bred version of the Breeders' Cup, the Maryland Million, that has drawn full, competitive fields of Maryland-sired and Maryland-bred runners to Laurel Park for a day-long celebration of the horse. The event is named in honor of the late Jim McKay, the beloved sportscaster and longtime host of the “Wide World of Sports” who spent his spare time breeding and raising Thoroughbreds on his Maryland Thoroughbred farm.

McKay conceived the idea for the Maryland Million in 1985 after seeing what the Breeders' Cup did for the Thoroughbred on a national and international scale. Its first running was in 1986 and it's been a popular mainstay on the racing calendar ever since.

Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's stakes:

Saturday

1:42 p.m. – Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont at the Big A

This one came up short, with just five fillies and mares set to go a mile on the turf, led by a pair from Christophe Clement's stable. Surprisingly, there are no runners from Chad Brown, who has won the Noble Damsel in five of the last six years. A win by Clement would give the native of France his sixth Noble Damsel victory. Clement's 1-2 punch is headed by Plum Ali, who is 2-for-2 on the Aqueduct turf and has tactical speed. Her stablemate, Messidor, is more of a one-run type who will benefit from honest fractions.

Noble Damsel entries

3:48 p.m. – Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont at the Big A

Good betting race with an evenly matched field of 10 3-year-olds, only one of which, the Todd Pletcher-trained Grand Sonata, has a graded stakes victory on his resume. None of these looks like they really want to race on the front end, though Chad Brown-trained Mackinnon (previously trained in California by Doug O'Neill) showed early speed as a 2-year-old and could be a threat to take this field wire to wire under Flavien Prat. The American Pharoah colt finished a good third behind Modern Games in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last year at Del Mar. Surface change alert: Pletcher's other runner, Be Better, is making his turf debut after getting trounced last out in the Curlin at Saratoga. Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle makes this an interesting possibility.

Hill Prince entries

5:00 p.m. – Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park

Prendimi won the 2021 renewal of the Classic at 12-1 odds but has been off form in three 2022 starts and was set at 30-1 on the morning line despite the presence of Paco Lopez in the saddle. The morning line favorite, Cordmaker, will need some help to draw into the race from the also-eligible list. The gelded son of Curlin hasn't been out since February. Jamie Ness claimed Ournationonparade for $50,000 out of a winning race last out at Churchill Downs Sept. 28, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure that puts him ahead of the competition by that measure. Vance Scholars (90 BSF) is going in sharp form for Dale Capuano and is 3-for-5 over the Laurel main track.

Maryland Million Classic entries

5:05 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine

Dreaming of Drew stretches back out to two turns over the Tapeta surface for trainer Barbara Minshall and 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic seems to be her sweet spot. There doesn't appear to be a lot of competition on the front end and the Speightster filly could wire this field. Mark Casse has a trio in here, led by Our Flash Drive, who has been facing tough competition on turf all year but is a perfect 2-for-2 on Tapeta, including a win in the Grade 3 Selene in 2021.

Ontario Matron entries

5:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland

If you're looking for a filly who can slip away to an easy lead in this seven-furlong contest, you're probably not going to find it in this nine-horse lineup. Several entries, including the streaking Smash Ticket for trainer Rob Atras, appear to relish the front end. That's a textbook set-up for Steve Asmussen-trained Wicked Halo, who has shown speed in some races but came from just off the pace last out under Tyler Gaffalione to win the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga.  Both Smash Ticket and Wicked Halo will be bidding for their fourth consecutive victories, something that unbeaten New York-bred Fingal's Cave already has done for trainer David Donk. The Carpe Diem filly drops back in distance after winning the 1 1/8-mile Fleet Indian last out at Saratoga.

Lexus Raven Run entries

Sunday

4:12 p.m. – Grade 3 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland

The key running line in Temple City Terror's past performances is two starts back when she finished a good second to the terrific War Like Goddess in the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 6. She was also fourth in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl when War Like Goddess finished second as the favorite, but note that the latter came back to beat males in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last out. From a class standpoint, the Brendan Walsh-trained Temple City Terror has the edge. Don't discount Sister Otoole, who is sharp right now for trainer Graham Motion, winner of the Dowager three times previously. Sister Otoole comes off a solid win going 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar and should love the added distance of this 1 1/2-mile marathon.

Rood and Riddle Dowager entries

5:42 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine

The winner's circle has been an elusive location this year for Ironstone, the 7-5 morning line favorite in the Ontario Derby, though he's been knocking on the door, including last out in the Prince of Wales Stakes, second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. He's always been a fast work horse, but his recent drills suggest he is sitting on go. Trainer Danny Vella removes blinkers from The Minkster after a disappointing run in the Queen's Plate in August. Luckman has put together three consecutive wins for trainer Vito Armada since being claimed for $25,000 from Mark Casse in June.  Casse has Irish-bred Mannix in here, rounding out the main contention.

Ontario Derby entries

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In their infinite wisdom, race schedulers in New York and Kentucky carded identical conditions for graded stakes on Saturday, with Keeneland's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and Aqueduct's Grade 2 Sands Points both restricted to 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles.

Crazy, isn't it? Here we are in the final 10 weeks of the year when 3-year-olds are competing against and beating older runners and the American Graded Stakes Committee blesses these late season, age-restricted stakes, something no other major racing nation does. It may have been fine in the 1980s when the foal crop approached 50,000, but now that fewer than 20,000 Thoroughbred are foaled annually in North America, it just doesn't make sense to restrict graded stakes to 3-year-olds this late in the year.

You might think the entry box for the Queen Elizabeth II and Sands Points would be tough to fill, but have no fear, Chad Brown is here. He's got the two favorites in the QE II and a close second choice in the Sands Point as, shockingly, his only entry. He's won the former three of the last four years and the latter four of the last five.

Graded stakes action understandably is very limited this weekend and will be just as quiet in the next two weeks leading up to the Nov. 4-5 Breeders' Cup championships at Keeneland. The Breeders' Cup several years ago quashed a misguided push from some board members to add 3-year-old restricted stakes to its program. The Breeders' Cup shouldn't be like Little League, where everyone gets a trophy.

I've had my rant. Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's graded stakes:

Friday

5:16 p.m., Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland

Since no one wants to breed to mile and a half turf horses, this is a really fun, competitive division that can have rivalries that last for years. Witness just a few of the accomplished horses in the lineup: 8-year-old Arklow; 8-year-old Red Knight; 8-year-old Channel Maker; and 6-year-old Temple. Between them they've won 35 races and more than $8.5 million. Watch out for the youngster, 5-year-old Highland Chief, trained by Graham Motion, who's won this marathon three times.

Sycamore entries

Saturday

4:58 – Grade 2 Sands Point at Aqueduct (Belmont at the Big A meet)

Forecast is for no more rain in the area but there's likely going to be some give in the ground. Pizza Bianca, last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner for Christophe Clement, is the only graded stakes winner in the lineup but she has not been out since her trip to Royal Ascot did not fare well.

Sands Point entries

5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland

Trainer Jessica Harrington sends Paris Peacock from Europe to take on the Chad Brown duo and four others in this running of what was originally hoped to be more of an international race to honor the recently departed beloved British monarch. However, it's been 11 years since a foreign-based runner has won it. Brown has the top two favorites, morning line even-money pick McKulick and 7-2 chance Gina Romantica, but there's more to the lineup than his non-coupled entry. From out west comes Phil D'Amato-trained Bellabel, the Irish-bred who ran second to the very talented Spendarella in the G1 Del Mar Oaks. And perhaps George Leonard-trained California Angel can work up the magic that saw her rally to a 17-1 upset of last year's G2 Jessamine over the Keeneland green.

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup entries

5:39 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine

Hazelbrook carries a 5-for-8 record into this six-furlong dash on the synthetic for traine Lorne Richards, whose small stable has won at a 30 percent rate (7-for-23) thus far this season.  The rail may not be ideal for this late runner. Marie MacKay, who drew the outside post in this compact field of six, may be the speed, but she's had relatively easy leads in her three 2022 outings and unable to carry it to the goal line.

Ontario Fashion Stakes entries

The post Weekend Lineup: Overlapping Turf Stakes For 3-Year-Old Fillies appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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If you like large, competitive fields, Parx Racing is the place for you on Saturday as the Bensalem, Pa., track's 13-race card features five graded stakes, led by the Grade 1 pairing of the Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies and Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-olds. The races are chock full of quality and quantity with the Pennsylvania Derby's 11-horse field boasting four Grade 1 winners. A sixth stakes, the ungraded Parx Dirt Mile, features $1.6 million earner and multiple graded stakes winner Mind Control, who comes back to defend his title in the race.

The Parx morning line maker set G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba as the 5-2 favorite over Cyberknife, a two-time Grade 1 winner (Arkansas Derby, Haskell), installed as 3-1 second choice. Cyberknife defeated Taiba by a head in the Haskell, so there's not much to separate them.

Zandon, winner of the G1 Blue Grass Stakes and never worse than third in seven career starts, and G1 Florida Derby winner White Abarrio are the other Grade 1 winners in the lineup.

Secret Oath was made the 2-1 favorite in the Cotillion in a field of nine sophomore fillies and this D. Wayne Lukas filly has danced most of the dances this year, winning three of seven starts, including the G1 Kentucky Oaks and facing colts and geldings in the Arkansas Derby (when third) and Preakness (fourth).

The other graded stakes on Saturday's Parx card are the G2 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds going six furlongs, the mile and one-half G3 Greenwood Cup, and G3 Turf Monster going five panels on grass, the latter two races for 3-year-olds and upward.

On Sunday evening, Remington Park in Oklahoma presents its two biggest Thoroughbred races: the Remington Park Oaks and Oklahoma Derby, both G3 events. There are six other stakes on the evening as purses exceed $1 million.

Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's graded stakes:

Saturday

3:32 p.m. – Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing

Todd Pletcher-trained Fearless will be heavily favored in a field of nine after winning the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga and will have no trouble handling the Greenwood Cup's 1 1/2-mile distance. Magic Michael is back to defend his title for trainer Jamie Ness.

Greenwood Cup Entries

4:35 p.m. – Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing

Provocateur is another from the Pletcher barn, which has entries in seven of the 13 races, and though no match for Jack Christopher in the G1 Woody Stephens in June was a sharp winner of the Jersey Shore Stakes last out at Monmouth Park. To be ridden by champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., the Into Mischief colt was made the 4-1 morning line favorite in a field of 14. Scaramouche loves the Parx surface, winning five of six local starts for trainer Guadalupe Preciado, and gets John Velazquez in the saddle.

Gallant Bob Stakes Entries

5:20 p.m. – Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing

While Secret Oath has proven her quality throughout 2022 she didn't scare anyone away from the entry box in this $1-million race going 1 1/16 miles. Chief among her opponents is Green Up, winner of the Cotillion prep at Parx, the Cathryn Sophia Stakes on Aug. 23 for Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. That was the Upstart filly's fourth consecutive triumph but the Cotillion will be her first graded stakes attempt. G2 Mother Goose winner Gerrymander was trounced last out by Nest and Secret Oath in the G1 Alabama, but can better that performance. Shahama finished second to Gerrymander in the Mother Goose, then won the G3 Mother Goose. She seems to be improving for Pletcher.

Cotillion Stakes Entries

6:10 p.m. – Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing

Much of the attention will be on Cyberknife and Taiba, the 1-2 finishers in the Haskell Stakes last out, but contention runs much deeper than that in this terrific renewal of the Pennsylvania Derby. Zandon has never been worse than third in seven starts, and was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Rich Strike when third in the Kentucky Derby. He was nosed out by Cyberknife for second behind Epicenter in the Travers last out after losing another battle to Epicenter in his previous start in the G2 Jim Dandy. Skippylongstocking captured the G3 West Virginia Derby last out after finishing third in the Belmont Stakes in June and will likely be on or close to the lead in here. The expected front-runner, as he was in the West Virginia Derby, will be We the People, who gets Flavien Prat in the saddle for this race.

Pennsylvania Derby Entries

Sunday

9:14 p.m. – Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park

With Cyberknife a leading contender for the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, Brad Cox sends Best Actor – 5 3/4-length winner of the G3 Smarty Jones Stakes last out at Parx Racing – to Remington Park in search of the trainer's fourth consecutive victory in the G3 Oklahoma Derby. He'll have Ken McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll – winner of the G1 Breeders' Futurity in 2021 – to beat. Other contenders include Steve Asmussen-trained King Ottoman and a pair of Robertino Diodoro runners, Red Knobs (Manitoba Derby winner) and Great Escape (G3 Canadian Derby winner).

Oklahoma Derby Entries

The post Weekend Lineup: Cotillion, Pennsylvania Derby Lead Graded Stakes Bonanza At Parx appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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