Tag: Weekend Lineup

Weekend Lineup Presented By BetMakers: Top-Class Rematches At Monmouth, Saratoga

Opening weekend at Del Mar is upon us, and across the country a trio of Grade 1 races are on offer this Saturday.

The G1 Haskell is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Classic, and has drawn a field of eight sophomores for the nine-furlong contest. Four of those have already won Grade 1 races: Jack Christopher, Taiba, Cyberknife, and White Abarrio.

Chad Brown and Mike Maker have each entered a pair in Monmouth's G1 United Nations, while Christophe Clement trainee Gufo should also show up in the 10-horse field.

Saratoga's G1 CCA Oaks early on Saturday afternoon features a rematch of the top two finishers from this year's Kentucky Oaks: Secret Oath and Nest.

Sunday's racing action is topped by an exciting rematch between Grade 1 winners Clairiere and Malathaat in Saratoga's Shuvee. Above the border, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks is the star of the show for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Also worth noting that the weekend includes the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Irish Derby (G1) winner Westover (GB) is slated to battle the John and Thady Gosden-trained duo of Emily Upjohn (GB) and Mishriff (IRE), while last year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso is also in the six-strong field.

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

Saturday

3:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga

Secret Oath and Nest, the top-two finishers from the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, will square off once more in Saturday's $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks.

Secret Oath, a daughter of Arrogate, has won 3-of-5 starts this season, capturing Oaklawn Park's Martha Washington and Grade 3 Honeybee in addition to the Kentucky Oaks. Her only two losses this year took place against males when a game third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 15, two starts before running fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 21 at Pimlico.

Nest also arrives at the CCA Oaks off an effort against colts in an American Classic when second to stablemate Mo Donegal in the 12-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 11. The Todd Pletcher trainee has a perfect in-the-money record of 4-2-1 through seven lifetime starts while having never been beaten more than three lengths.

CCA Oaks Entries

4:51 p.m. – Grade 2 Connaught Cup at Woodbine

Multiple graded stakes-placed White Flag goes after his seventh career win in Saturday's $175,000 Connaught Cup. It will be the 8-year-old's first start since a banner effort in the Grade 2 Highlander on July 2, in which White Flag, last of 11 at the half-mile juncture, moved into ninth spot at the stretch call, then powered home to finish third, 1 ¼ lengths behind winner Bound for Nowhere.

The Connaught also drew other turf talents in the form of graded stakes winners Avie's Flatter, Olympic Runner, Silent Poet, and Tap It to Win. U.S. invaders, graded stakes winner Chewing Gum (Bill Mott), stakes winner Surly Furious (Glenn Wismer) and Turn of Events (George Weaver), will all make their first appearance at Woodbine.

Connaught Cup Entries

5:09 p.m. – Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth

Trainer Chad Brown will send out a strong pair of turf competitors for Saturday's $600,000 United Nations, Tribhuvan and Adhamo. The pair most recently finished one-two in the G1 Manhattan Stakes on Belmont Day, and Tribhuvan won last year's edition of the United Nations with his front-running style.

Co-second choice on the morning line is Christophe Clement trainee Gufo, third behind the Brown pair last out in the Manhattan but also a two-time Grade 1 winner who has only finished off the board once in his 17 career starts.

Mike Maker also enters a pair of runners, 6-1 chance Temple and 10-1 Glynn County. Grade 2 winner Temple returns to the races after a three-month break, while the Grade 1-placed Glynn County most recently ran sixth in the G3 Monmouth Stakes but gets extra distance here.

United Nations Entries

5:45 p.m. – Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth

Bob Baffert will look to extend his record for victories to 10 in the Haskell stakes after Taiba was installed as the 7-5 morning line for the $1 million, Grade 1 race on Saturday at Monmouth Park. Taiba, a $1.7 million purchase and the son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in only his second outing and finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby last time out when handled by Tim Yatkeen while Baffert was serving a 90-day suspension.

Monmouth Park oddsmaker Brad Thomas pegged the undefeated Chad Brown trainee Jack Christopher as the 3-2 morning line second choice in the field of eight. Jack Christopher, who is undefeated in four career outings and seeking his second straight top-level win, will be trying two turns for the first time while going beyond a mile for the first time as well.

In addition to Jack Christopher and Taiba, Grade 1 winners in the competitive field of eight include Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife, who is trained by two-time Eclipse winner Brad Cox, and the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-conditioned White Abarrio, the winner of the Florida Derby.

Haskell Entries

10:00 p.m. – Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar

A dozen 3-year-old fillies will go at it in Del Mar's major prep for its 3-year-old filly piece de resistance, the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks. Del Mar's morning line maker, Jon White, has hung the favorite – Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT or Nentwig's Bellabel – at a hardly short 4-1. She gets Umberto Rispoli as her pilot and a chance to break from Post 6.

There are a pair of other fillies who figure to give the top one her toughest tussles – R Unicorn Stable's Island of Love (5-1 with Juan Hernandez up) and Tina and Jerome Moss' Lady T (6-1 with Victor Espinoza in the tack.).

San Clemente Entries

Sunday

3:21 p.m. – Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga

Clairiere and Malathaat will square off for the sixth time in Sunday's $200,000 Shuvee, a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares. Malathaat, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, bested Clairiere in each of their first four meetings, taking the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May 2021 at Churchill Downs, and the Grade 1 Alabama in August at the Spa en route to Eclipse Award-honors as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

But most recently, on Belmont Stakes Day, Clairiere, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, finally got the better of her familiar foe, rallying from 14 lengths off a sharp, pressured pace set by Letruska to post a head score over Malathaat in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

Shuvee Entries

5:27 p.m. – $500,000 Woodbine Oaks at Woodbine

Trainer Kevin Attard will have two chances to net his second consecutive victory in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, including dual stakes-winner Moira and stakes-placed Souper Flashy.

Some of the other top contenders are: Bizymaline, a two-time winner for trainer Santino Di Paola; Curlin Candy, a Mike De Paulo-trained daughter of Curlin who is stakes-placed but 0-4-0 from six starts; and Loaded Vixen, supplemented to the race, who has a record of 1-2-1 from eight starts.

Woodbine Oaks Entries

5:58 p.m. – Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine

Set at 1 1/16 miles over the E.P. Taylor turf, this year's running of the Dance Smartly includes multiple graded stakes winner Lady Speightspeare, the Mark Casse trio of Fev Rover (IRE), Keyflower (FR), and multiple stakes winner Inthewinnerscircle, Bill Mott trainee Wakanaka (IRE), and Munnyfor Ro, Canada's champion 3-year-old female of 2021. ​

Dance Smartly Entries

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Weekend Lineup Presented By BetMakers: Saratoga’s Opening Weekend

With six victories in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes in the last 11 renewals, Chad Brown has put his stamp on this opening weekend fixture for fillies and mares as he has on other turf stakes on the New York Racing Association circuit.

On Saturday, Brown has four of the six Diana entries led by Peter Brant's 4-year-old Quality Road filly, Bleecker Street, who is unbeaten in seven career starts.

The Diana shares Saturday's Saratoga spotlight with the G3 Sanford Stakes for 2-year-olds, a race that dates back to 1913 and has seen the likes of Tom Fool, Hail to Reason, Secretariat, Affirmed and Forty Niner posing for pictures in the winner's circle.

In recent years, Todd Pletcher has dominated the Sanford, winning eight times since 1999, and the Hall of Famer has a pair of juveniles entered, including the Violence colt Forte, an impressive 7 3/4-length winner at Belmont in his lone start on May 27.

Saratoga dominates the weekend graded stakes as Monmouth Park looks ahead to TVG.com Haskell Day next Saturday and Del Mar prepares for its July 22 opening day card. Laurel Park has a solid card offering four stakes, including the listed Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.

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

Friday

5:39 p.m. – Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes at Saratoga

It's a Grade 3, but there's Grade 1 talent in this mile turf stakes, including Brad Cox-trained Set Piece, second to Got Stormy in the G1 Fourstardave at Saratoga last year. He draws the rail and could get a good setup with ample speed in the lineup. Ian Wilkes enters Mira Mission off a runner-up performance, beaten a neck over the new Churchill Downs grass course, in the G1 Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby day.

Forbidden Apple Entries

Saturday

5:03 p.m. – Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga

Chad Brown's five-year winning streak in the Diana ended in 2021 when Charlie Appleby sent Althiqa and Summer Romance from Europe for a 1-2 finish. Appleby is back this year with Irish-bred Creative Flair, who raced competitively twice in New York in 2021 but has been idle since a  February win in Meydan. Brown's powerhouse quartet includes two fillies – Technical Analysis and In Italian – who can race on the lead to ensure a fast enough pace to set things up for Bleecker Street, who always comes flying late. Dalika might be a filly to put into exotic wagers as the Al Stall runner fits with these on her best day.

Diana Entries

5:45 p.m. – Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash

Once one of the premier sprint stakes in the country with G1 status, the race named for the 1980s “renaissance man” of Maryland racing still attracts solid fields. Special Reserve makes his 2022 season here after finishing fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar. The Michael Maker runner battled on the front end through quick fractions and only gave way late. Win machine Wondrwherecraigis had his five-race win streak snapped in Dubai in March and hasn't been seen since. Pickin' Time figures to improve for Kelly Breen off one start in 2022.

Frank J. De Francis Dash entries

6:13 p.m. – Sanford Stakes at Saratoga

Morning line favorite Forte is one of 45 horses purchased as yearlings in 2021 by the tandem of Mike Repole and Vincent Viola's St. Elias. They have expanded on a similar model used by a group of 10 owners led by Tom Ryan of SF Racing to try to hit a few Grade 1 “home runs” and turn their yearlings into stallion prospects that provide a return on their auction purchase investments. SF Racing  and partners use Bob Baffert while Repole/St. Elias are putting their stock with Todd Pletcher. Forte, a $110,000 purchase and sharp maiden winner as a 1-5 favorite, probably represents the first wave of juveniles from this deep stable. He certainly hasn't scared anyone off, as the Sanford starting gate will be full. Tom Amoss-trained Curly Jack looked good winning his debut at Churchill, but 11 of the 12 runners are coming off wins.

Sanford Entries

Sunday

5:05 p.m. – Quick Call Stakes

Rain is not in the weekend forecast, meaning the Quick Call should remain on turf, leaving off the formidable main track only entry Senbei. Big Invasion draws outside for Christophe Clement as the Declaration of War colt bids for a fifth consecutive turf sprint win this year. Joel Rosario will be in charge of finding the best trip for Big Invasion. Irish-bred Asymmetric who opened up a big lead before finishing second in his U.S. debut, will be out winging for sprint specialist trainer Wesley Ward.

Quick Call Entries

 

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Weekend Lineup Presented By BetMakers: International Flavor In Belmont Turf Invitationals

International challengers abound in this weekend's Grade 1 turf contests for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park, and the home team's challenge is far from lacking as well. Five European challengers are entered among 13 starters in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational, while the fillies' race drew an additional five overseas entrants in the field of 10.

Earlier on Belmont's Saturday card, the G2 Suburban features an interesting lineup of older dirt talent, including First Captain and Dynamic One.

Delaware Park offers up the prestigious Delaware Handicap on Saturday, topped by prep-race winner Miss Leslie.

The summer derby season continues with the G3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis, highlighted by the one-week turnaround of favorite Rattle N Roll, and the listed Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, for which the morning-line favorite in the field of 10 is Todd Pletcher trainee Major General.

Prairie Meadows' card also includes the G3 Iowa Oaks and G3 Cornhusker, which drew fields of eight and six, respectively.

Also worth noting that the weekend includes the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket, in which Royal Ascot winner Perfect Power faces Australian challenger Artorius among a field of 14.

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

2:32 p.m. – Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will seek to build on his recent graded stakes success at Belmont when he saddles Dynamic One and Untreated in the $400,000 Suburban (G2). Dynamic One exits a one-length victory in the listed Blame on June 4 at Churchill Downs, where he recorded a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Untreated strives for his first win since capturing a pair of one-turn mile tests over the winter at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old Nyquist bay arrives in fair form, finishing a pacesetting third in the G3 Pimlico Special in May, which came on the heels of a close second in the Excelsior on April 2 at Aqueduct.

First Captain, a last out winner of the G3 Pimlico Special, will aim to become the first horse to secure the Pimlico Special-Suburban double since Invasor [2006] and Mineshaft [2003], who were both named Horse of the Year following their respective campaigns.

Max Player will attempt to be the first horse to sweep back-to-back editions since Effinex in 2015-16. Soundly beaten in both of his starts this year, the son of Honor Code will attempt his first trip to the winner's circle since capturing last year's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

Suburban Entries

3:30 p.m. – Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park

Miss Leslie tops Saturday's 85th renewal of the $500,000, Grade 2 Delaware Handicap, which has attracted a field of seven. In her most recent effort, Miss Leslie notched a half-length victory in the local prep, the 1 1/16-mile $150,000 Obeah Stakes on June 8. Previously, the 4-year-old daughter of Paynter won the mile and seventy-yard $106,000 Serena's Song at Monmouth Park by 4 ½-lengths on May 8. The Kentucky-bred trained by Claudio Gonzalez has career record of nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 21 starts with $565,650. She is unbeaten at Delaware Park.

Battle Bling will be looking to turn the tables on Miss Leslie. In her last, she ran second to Miss Leslie as the 4-to-5 favorite in the Obeah Stakes. Previously, Battle Bling was fourth in the G1 La Troienne over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on May 6. The 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver trained by Rob Atras has a career record of thee wins, seven seconds and a third from 17 starts with earnings of $315,617.

Delaware Handicap Entries

4:06 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park

A competitive field featuring three contenders from the barn of Chad Brown and five invaders from Europe lead a 10-horse field assembled for Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies going 10 furlongs over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Brown's trainees include: Consumer Spending, who has won both of her starts this year at stakes level; McKulick, who boasts three graded stakes placings in four lifetime starts; and Haughty, who brings a consistent 4-2-0-2 record to the Belmont Oaks, exiting her first stakes victory in the Penn Oaks on June 4 at Penn National.

Five fillies by way of Europe have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of Belmont Oaks accolades representing three countries, including Ireland's dual group stakes winner Agartha for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Internationally acclaimed trainer Aidan O'Brien, the father of Joseph, will seek his third Belmont Oaks victory when sending out Group 1-placed Concert Hall.

Trainer Charlie Appleby will looking to build on his recent success in shipping horses to high caliber wins in North America with With The Moonlight, and representing France in the Belmont Oaks are Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Know Thyself and Hot Queen from the yard of Pia Brandt.

Belmont Oaks Entries

5:12 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park

Godolphin's Irish homebred Nations Pride will look to continue a tremendous run of form in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby when he takes on an international field of 13 Saturday in the $1-million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational. Nations Pride exits an eighth-place finish in the Cazoo Epsom Derby (G1) June 4 which came five weeks after a seven-length romp over subsequent Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal in the 10-furlong listed Newmarket Stakes.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien will be represented by the promising Stone Age, a Galileo colt who ran a strong second as a maiden in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October before graduating in March at Navan in his seasonal debut. Stone Age followed with an eye-catching score in the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown over 10 furlongs before finishing sixth last out in the 12-furlong Epsom Derby as the second choice.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will be in search of a third Belmont Derby score following wins by Finality [2002] and Take the Points [2009] when he sends out graded-stakes winners Emmanuel and Grand Sonata. Emmanuel, by More Than Ready, made a winning turf debut last out with a gate-to-wire score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 4 at Belmont.

Grand Sonata launched his campaign with a pair of stakes scores on the Gulfstream turf, capturing the one-mile Dania Beach on New Year's Day and the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in February. He returned in April to finish a close second to Belmont Derby-rival Sy Dog in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Transylvania before a deep-closing third last out in the nine-furlong Audubon on June 4 at Churchill Downs.

Owner and trainer Ken McPeek will saddle a pair of Kentucky Derby (G1) alumni in Tiz the Bomb and Classic Causeway.

Belmont Derby Entries

6:40 p.m. – Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis

King Ottoman went from being a footnote as the workmate of champion Echo Zulu to the headline when he captured Lone Star Park's $300,000 Texas Derby on Memorial Day. Now the Steve Asmussen-trained 3-year-old colt can take another step toward building his resume in the Indiana Derby.

Brad Cox trainee Best Actor captured his debut at Oaklawn Park at 1 1/16 miles, then took an off-the-turf, one-turn mile allowance race at Churchill. He's the 4-1 third choice in the field of 10 behind 5-2 favorite Rattle N Roll (who won last Saturday's off-the-turf American Derby at Churchill) and 7-2 Actuator, a “buzz” horse since romping in a very fast-run maiden race.

After winning the American Derby with Rattle N Roll, McPeek raised the possibility of running back in the Indiana Derby or the Iowa Derby, whose field had been drawn that morning. While he wanted to see how Rattle N Roll bounced out of the race, McPeek on Wednesday declared it all systems go to run in the Indiana Derby, for which Rattle N Roll is the 5-2 favorite in a field of 10. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount.

Indiana Derby Entries

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Weekend Lineup Presented By BetMakers: Big Match-Ups Spark Fireworks At Churchill, Belmont

A trio of fascinating match-ups are on tap this holiday weekend, all occurring on Saturday, July 2.

Up first is the Life Is Good vs. Speaker's Corner bout in Belmont Park's Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes. The former comes off a somewhat disappointing effort in the Middle East, while the latter was just defeated by budding star Flightline in last month's G1 Met Mile.

Two more Grade 1 winners will face off in Churchill Downs' G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes: Shedaresthedevil and Pauline's Pearl. The heavy-hitters have struggled to find the winner's circle in their most recent starts, drawing competition from the classy She's All Wolfe and Super Quick.

In Churchill's featured event, the G2 Stephen Foster, 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun will face the challenge of Olympiad, last-out winner of the 2 Alysheba. Also heading into the “Win and You're In” contest for the Breeders' Cup Classic are: Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution, Grade 2 winner Last Samurai, Grade 3 winner Title Ready, graded-placed Proxy, and five-time winner Caddo River.

Eclipse Champion female sprinter Ce Ce will attempt to defend her title in the “Win and You're In” Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park; last year, the effort launched a campaign that saw her triumph in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Also worth noting that the weekend includes the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, in which two classic winners will face three older G1 winners.

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

Saturday, July 2

2:34 p.m. – Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park

Multiple Grade 1-winner Life Is Good will take on Grade 1-winner Speaker's Corner in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 John A. Nerud, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good won 4-of-5 starts last year led by scores in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap in September at Belmont ahead of a 5 3/4-length win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar. Life Is Good launched his current campaign with a gate-to-wire 3 1/4-length victory over 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. He finished fourth last out in the 10-furlong Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26 at Meydan.

Speaker's Corner has won 3-of-4 starts this year, including scores traveling one-mile at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper in January and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile in March. His impressive 4 1/2-length win in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct Racetrack garnered a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest number recorded this year. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and piloted last out by Junior Alvarado, the talented bay set splits of 22.78 and 45.01 in the Grade 1 Met Mile but could not turn back the streaking Flightline, who drew off to a six-length score over Happy Saver with Speaker's Corner a further 2 3/4-lengths back in third.

Nerud Entries

3:00 p.m. – Grade 3 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park

Morning Matcha will be seeking to continue a winning tradition when she faces seven rivals in the $300,000, Grade 3 Delaware Oaks this Saturday. The filly has a career record of three wins, four seconds and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $334,390. In her most recent, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Central Banker tried the turf for the first time in her career and finished seventh in the seven furlong $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes at Belmont Park on June 19.

Delaware Oaks Entries

4:35 p.m. – Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs

2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) heroine Shedaresthedevil will be in search of her first victory this year in Saturday's $350,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs. Aside from her win in the 2020 Oaks as a 3-year-old, the classy Daredevil mare also sports wins in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1), La Troienne (G1), Azeri (G2), Indiana Oaks (G3) and Honeybee (G3). Shedaresthedevil has not found the winner's circle since last year's $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs. Jockey Florent Geroux will remain in the saddle for the Fleur de Lis and will break from post 5.

Chief among Shedaresthedevil's rivals in the Fleur de Lis is $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) winner Super Quick. The speedy daughter of Super Saver was fleet-footed early in the Allair DuPont Distaff and spurted clear to a 14 ¼-length romp. Jockey Joe Talamo will have the mount on the Norm Casse trainee from post 1.

La Troienne (G1) winner Pauline's Pearl will attempt to avenge her fourth-place finish in last month's $200,000 Shawnee in the Fleur de Lis. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Pauline's Pearl upset Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne. The well-bred daughter of Tapit returned four weeks later in the Shawnee but finished fourth to 20-1 upset winner She's All Wolfe. Joel Rosario will have the call from post 4.

The aforementioned She's All Wolfe will return in the Fleur de Lis as well. The Oklahoma-bred daughter of Magna Graduate has eight lifetime wins but only two against open competition – the Shawnee and a conditioned allowance event last May at Churchill Downs. Jockey Francisco Arrieta will have the return call from post 2.

Fleur de Lis Entries

5:20 p.m. – Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Ce Ce will follow a formula for proven success when she seeks to defend her title in Saturday's $300,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2). The 6-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality dominated last year's edition of the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on her way to clinching a 2021 Eclipse Award title in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. The Michael McCarthy-trained mare will seek to earn another fees-paid berth in this year's World Thoroughbred Championships at Keeneland when she takes on five rivals in the Princess Rooney, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event.

Glass Ceiling brings graded success at seven furlongs into the Princess Rooney. The New York invader notched back-to-back graded-stakes victories at the distance in the Feb. 19 Barbara Fritchie (G3) at Laurel and April 9 Distaff (G3) at Aqueduct while producing a four-race winning streak.

Grade 1 stakes-placed Make Mischief is entered to seek her first graded-stakes victory in the Princess Rooney. Gary Barber's 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, who finished third in last year's Acorn (G1), is coming off a victory over New York-breds in the Critical Eye at Belmont by four lengths.

Princess Rooney Entries

5:47 p.m. – Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Classic

Seven of the country's top older horses, led by multiple graded stakes winners Mandaloun and Olympiad, are set to compete in Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.

Mandaloun, who won last year's Derby following the disqualification of Medina Spirit, finished ninth in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in his last start. Following the Saudi Cup, Mandaloun was delayed in his return to the U.S. but has been steadily working at Churchill Downs since May 8.

Olympiad will return to Churchill Downs for the Foster where he last won the $500,000 Alysheba (G2) by 2 ½ lengths over Happy Saver and Title Ready on Kentucky Oaks Day. Olympiad returned to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's Saratoga base following the Alysheba and has been training in upstate New York. The bay son of Speightstown is undefeated as a 4-year-old with open-length wins in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) and $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3).

Another top older horse that was entered in the Stephen Foster is $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Last Samurai. Last Samurai will compete under Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' name for the first time after being transferred from Dallas Stewart following the 1 1/8-mile race on April 23. Last Samurai has won four of 15 starts and, along with his four-length win in the Oaklawn Handicap, sports a stakes win in the $150,000 Poinsettia at Oaklawn. Veteran rider Jon Court has the mount from post 7.

Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution will attempt to avenge his fourth-place effort in last month's $200,000 Blame in the Stephen Foster. The New York-bred Americanrevolution won last year's $750,000 Cigar Mile (G1) as a 3-year-old. The Blame was Americanrevolution's first start of his 4-year-old campaign. The Todd Pletcher trainee will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 2.

The field for the Stephen Foster is completed by graded stakes-placed Proxy, Grade 3 winner Title Ready, and five-time winner Caddo River.

Stephen Foster Entries

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