Tag: Weekend Lineup

The highlight of this weekend's stateside racing action is the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, featuring 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs over the main track. Runaway Prioress winner Alva Starr is the favorite, though recent G3 winners Lady Radler and Vahva will also be well-backed at the windows.

On Friday, Aqueduct' G3 Knickerbocker will be held off the turf, and has scratched down to a field of three runners. Later Friday, eight stakes races comprise the Oklahoma Classics at Remington Park, led by a closely-matched field of 11 for the OKC Turf in race 10.

On Saturday, the British flat racing season comes to its conclusion with two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races featured as part of a spectacular British Champions Day card. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1) gives the winner an automatic starting position for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and the winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) earns an invitation to the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

Also Saturday, the G1 Grand National will be held for steeplechasers at Far Hills, and the Florida Sire Series Susan's Girl and Affirmed will be held at Gulfstream Park, while the G3 Ontario Derby is the feature at Woodbine.

Sunday's headliner is the G3 Dowager at Keeneland, featuring nine fillies and mares to go 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

Saturday

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

Alva Starr, runaway winner of the Prioress (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent start, headlines a field of nine 3-year-old fillies entered in the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2). A winner of three of five races for trainer and co-breeder Brett Brinkman, Alva Starr made her graded stakes debut in the six-furlong Prioress and led all the way in posting an 8¾-length victory. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Alva Starr for the seven-furlong Raven Run and will exit post position 7.

Ladner and trainer and co-breeder Brett Brinkman have been down this road before. Two years ago, they came to Keeneland for the Raven Run with a filly they co-bred named Cilla, who had just posted a breakthrough Grade 2 victory in the Prioress.

Also in the field for the Lexus Raven Run are recent Grade 3 winners Lady Radler and Vahva.

Lady Radler posted a 23-1 upset in the seven-furlong Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 23 for trainer Michael Campbell. Jesus Castanon has the mount for the Lexus Raven Run and will break from post position 8.

Vahva won the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks (G3) as the favorite in her most recent start for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Vahva will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post position 4.

Raven Run Entries

5:41 p.m. – Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine

OLG Canadian Triple Crown jewel winners Velocitor and Touch'n Ride are set to compete in the $150,000 Ontario Derby, which drew a field of 10 3-year-olds to go 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta.

Kevin Attard trainee Velocitor will make his return to the track after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie Race Track on September 12. Velocitor has a record of 4-1-1 from 10 starts. The son of Mor Spirit won the Coronation Futurity last November and ran fourth in The King's Plate ahead of his Prince of Wales win.

Twin City, Cool Kiss, Stanley House and Twowaycrossing join Velocitor and Touch'n Ride as horses racing in Saturday's Grade 3 Ontario Derby that competed in a leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. All six horses raced in two of the three legs of the Triple Crown.

Layne Giliforte trainee Touch'n Ride won the mile and a half Breeders' Stakes over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 1. Twowaycrossing is the only other starter in Saturday's Ontario Derby that ran in the Breeders'.

Ontario Derby Entries

Sunday

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

Vergara and Transient (GB), who ran 1-2 in the Aristocrat Ladies Marathon (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9, headline a field of nine fillies and mares entered for the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) to be run at 1½ miles on the grass.

Trained by Graham Motion, who has won the Dowager three times, Vergara prevailed by three-quarters of a length at Kentucky Downs to earn her first victory of 2023 from four races. Joel Rosario, who was aboard that day, retains the mount and will exit post position 3.

Motion will have a second starter in Team Valor International's Romagna Mia (GB). A Group 2 winner last year in Italy, Romagna Mia was third in the Beverly D. (G1) in her U.S. debut at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12. John Velazquez has the mount and will exit post 6.

Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Transient, who is three times graded-stakes placed in 2023. Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount and will break from post position 9.

Dowager Entries

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A full field of 12 (and one also-eligible) highlights this weekend's lone Grade 1 contest, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday. The top choice for the nine-furlong turf contest is international shipper Mawj, a half-sister to champion and two-time Breeders' Cup winner Modern Games trained by Saeed bin Suroor. A pair of French-bred fillies, Elusive Princess and Lindy, each now based in the U.S., should provide an interesting betting race.

The world's richest turf race, the $20 million Everest, will go off at 1:15 a.m. (Eastern) on Saturday morning at Australia's Royal Randwick.

State-breds will be on display at multiple tracks this weekend as well.

Headlining the action at Laurel Park is Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Maryland Million Classic for 3-year-olds and up, the richest on a 12-race card featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes that comprise 'Maryland's Day at the Races,' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

West Virginia-breds take center stage at Charles Town Saturday, with nine total stakes topped by the Sam Huff West Virginia Breeders' Classic.

Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds get their chance to shine Saturday in the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer Stakes over the Woodbine turf course.

Also on Friday, 2-year-old Louisiana-breds will be in the spotlight with a pair of stakes races at Delta Downs.

Saturday

1:10 p.m. – Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Aqueduct

Grade 1-placed Irish-bred Be Your Best will look to return to winning form in the nine-furlong inner turf route for sophomore fillies. Trained by Horacio De Paz, the Muhaarar bay returns to New York following a runner-up effort on Aug. 19 in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Eternal Hope [post 7, Jamie Spencer] will face four returning rivals from her deep-closing score last out in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational on September 16 here for trainer Charlie Appleby. The Teofilo chestnut was away last-of-7 under Jamie Spencer in the 11-furlong test and trailed as many as 23 lengths back before rallying six-wide down the lane to secure a neck score over Neecie Marie.

Neecie Marie [post 5, Abner Adorno] returns for another crack at Eternal Hope following her narrow miss last out after a ground-saving rally under returning rider Abner Adorno in the Jockey Club Oaks for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

Others returning from the Jockey Club Oaks are fourth-place Highland Grace [post 8, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Barclay Tagg, fifth-place Quarrel [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Robert Ribaudo, and the Jose Jimenez-trained pacesetter Stephanie's Charm [post 9, Jose Gomez], who will race with blinkers off.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also send out a formidable pair of contenders looking to make the grade in dual Grade 3-placed Alpha Bella [post 10, Jose Ortiz] and Soviet Excess [post 1, Dylan Davis].

Sands Point Entries

5:10 p.m. – Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park

Ournationonparade will be chasing history in more ways than one when the 6-year-old gelding returns to make a title defense in the $150,000 Classic on the 38th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day. Ournationonparade, co-owned and trained by Jamie Ness, can become just the sixth horse to win the Classic in back-to-back years and the first since Admirals War Chest in 2015-16.

Seven rivals (plus three also-eligibles) are expected to face the defending Ournationonparade.

Maryland Million Classic Entries

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

Mawj, a half-sister to champion and two-time Breeders' Cup winner Modern Games, headlines a field of 12 3-year-old fillies plus one also-eligible entered for the 40th running of the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) to be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the Keeneland turf course.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Mawj will be making her North American debut in her first start since winning the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1) in May at Newmarket in England going a mile. She is undefeated in three races in 2023 with her first two victories coming at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates. Oisin Murphy has the mount on Mawj and will break from post 4.

Looming as a major threat to Mawj is Elusive Princess. Now trained by Arnaud Delacour, Elusive Princess cruised to a 3¼-length victory as the favorite in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3) on Aug. 4 in her North American debut. Group 1-placed in Europe this spring, Elusive Princess will exit post 2 and be ridden by Flavien Prat.

Sunday

4:12 p.m. – Grade 2 Franklin Stakes at Keeneland

Caravel will attempt to become the second runner to win the $350,000 Franklin (G2) in consecutive years when she headlines a field of nine fillies and mares for the 5½-furlong turf sprint. Trained by Brad Cox, Caravel is perfect in three Keeneland starts with the initial victory coming in last year's Franklin. Following that triumph, she beat the boys in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and opened her 2023 campaign with a win over males in the Shakertown (G2). Regular rider Tyler Gaffalione has the mount and will break from post 1.

Leading the opposition to Caravel is Stonestreet Stables' Twilight Gleaming, a five-time stakes winner that includes a victory in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar. Trained by Wesley Ward, Twilight Gleaming will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post 4.

Franklin Entries

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A total of 15 Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be offering “Win and You're In” berths to the 2023 World Championships this weekend, with major races scheduled for opening weekend at Keeneland, Aqueduct, Santa Anita, and Woodbine.

The action begins with three Challenge races on Friday at Keeneland, led by a field of nine 2-year-old fillies in the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1). Other Friday stakes are the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2), which drew a field of 11 and features defending winner Manny Wah, and the $350,000 Jessamine (G2), which drew a field of 11 and is headed by Pepsi Untapable Stakes winner Crown Imperial.

Saturday's Keeneland racing is led by the the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1), featuring five Grade 1 winners including Master of the Seas (IRE) and Up to the Mark. In addition to the Coolmore Turf Mile, two other Grade 1 races are on the program: the $750,000 First Lady – which drew a field of eight headed by defending winner In Italian (GB) and Gina Romantica, winner of last fall's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) – and $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, which drew a field of nine headed by Iroquois (G3) winner West Saratoga.

Other stakes Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Ky., are the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), which drew a field of seven and features millionaire Wicked Halo, and the $350,000 Woodford (G2), which drew a field of 12 headed by Group 1 winner Live In The Dream (IRE).

At Aqueduct, Saturday's action includes the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3), the re-scheduled Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and two Grade 1 “Win and You're In” qualifiers at one-mile for juveniles in the $500,000 Champagne [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile] and $400,000 Frizette [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies]. Saturday's stacked program is supported by the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya and the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint.

Saturday's card at Santa Anita features eight juveniles chasing Breeders' Cup berths in the G1 American Pharoah, as well as a field of 10 2-year-old fillies in the G2 Chandelier. Also on the card is the G2 Rodeo Drive, a “Win and You're In” for the Filly & Mare Turf.

The final Challenge race scheduled for Saturday is the G2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park.

Santa Anita and Keeneland have announced that both tracks will combine to present the Keeneland/Santa Anita Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 to players nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 7. A traditional $1 Pick 6 with a player-friendly 15 percent takeout, the Keeneland/Santa Anita Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 will include the following Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifiers and be offered in this order: Thoroughbred Club of America (KEE); Coolmore Turf (KEE); Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (KEE); American Pharoah Stakes (SAP); Chandelier Stakes (SAP) and the Rodeo Drive Stakes (SAP).

On Sunday, Nest heads a deep field of seven fillies and mares entered for Keeneland's $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. In addition to Nest, a three-time Grade 1 winner, the Spinster also attracted Juddmonte's Idiomatic, winner of this summer's Personal Ensign (G1). Two other stakes are on Sunday's 10-race program: the 33rd running of the $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) – which drew a field of 12 plus three also-eligibles headed by stakes winners Noted, Vote No, and Tok Tok – and the sixth running of the $250,000 Indian Summer (L), which drew a field of 10 headed by two-time stakes winner Amidst Waves.

Sunday's $750,000 Canadian International (G1T) at Woodbine leads a stakes-laden day of racing, which also features the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1T), $250,000 Nearctic (G2T), and $200,000 Algonquin (five furlongs on the inner turf), will include a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the legendary Secretariat's iconic 1973 International triumph, highlighted by a “Big Red” exhibit presented by the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, showcased at Woodbine from October 5-8.

Friday

5:16 p.m. – Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland 

Undefeated Brightwork and runaway Pocahontas (G3) winner V V's Dream headline a field of nine 2-year-old fillies entered for the $600,000 Alcibiades (G1), a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

V V's Dream, purchased by trainer Ken McPeek at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $190,000, is looking for her third career triumph following her 8¾-length score in the 1-mile Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16. Her only defeat came when she was beaten a half-length by WSS Racing's unbeaten Brightwork, the likely Darley Alcibiades favorite, in the Debutante (L) at Ellis Park on July 2.

Brightwork, trained by John Ortiz, won the G3 Adirondack and G1 Spinaway at Saratoga following her victory in Ellis' Debutante.

Alcibiades Entries

Saturday

1:40 p.m. – Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct

The $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, which was rescheduled from last Saturday due to inclement weather, has been redrawn for this Saturday and attracted all but one of the original entrants for the 1 1/2-mile outer turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont at the Big A.

The field is headlined by defending race winner War Like Goddess [post 2, Junior Alvarado], who takes on reigning Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance [post 4, William Buick] amidst a talented group of contenders.

War Like Goddess, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, looks to make amends from a troubled runner-up effort in Saratoga Race Course's Grade 2 Glens Falls on August 3, a race she won the prior two years. The daughter of English Channel won last year's Hirsch by 2 3/4 lengths before making the trip to Keeneland to finish third to Rebel's Romance in the Grade 1 Turf. War Like Goddess also won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl in 2021 at the Spa, as well as six other graded events.

Rebel's Romance enters for trainer Charlie Appleby off a troubled trip to Saratoga where he contested the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 30, but did not finish the race after clipping heels and losing jockey Richie Mullen when advancing with purpose in the final turn of the 1 3/8-mile test. The gelded son of Dubawi was briefly considered for the Grade 1 Arlington Million the following week at Colonial Downs, but was rerouted to the Hirsch in pursuit of his fourth Grade or Group 1 score.

Joe Hirsch Entries

2:12 p.m. – Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct

Just F Y I will look to back up a strong debut victory with another big effort in the $400,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile test for juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A. The bay daughter of 2018 Triple Crown Champion Justify made an eye-catching debut when sprinting six furlongs on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. There, she rallied from 2 1/2 lengths off the pace under Junior Alvarado to collar Shop Lifting in the shadow of the wire and post the head victory in a final time of 1:11.06.

Five rivals will line up against Just F Y I, including debut winner Emery (Brad Cox) and stakes winner Princess Indy (Claudio Gonzalez).

In addition to providing a berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Frizette is the first New York prep race on the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Frizette Entries

3:46 p.m. – Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct

Fierceness will strive to parlay an astonishing debut performance into Grade 1 company in the $500,000 Champagne for juveniles going a one-turn mile at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness demonstrated his talent with a gate-to-wire debut score on August 25 going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course, where he built on his advantage throughout and was geared down to an 11 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:09.56 over and muddy and sealed main track. The son of second crop sire City of Light produced a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, which is tied for the third fastest figure by a 2-year-old this year.

Seven rivals will face the debut winner, including second-out maiden winner General Partner (Chad Brown), Grade 1 Hopeful runner-up Timberlake (Brad Cox), and New York-bred stakes winner El Grande O (Linda Rice)

The Champagne is a “Win And You're In” qualifying event for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 3 at Santa Anita Park.

Champagne Entries

5:14 p.m. – Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland

Pletcher has entered the 7-5 morning line favorite Locked in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, which gives the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, Locked captured a 1-mile maiden special weight race at Saratoga by a widening 7 1/4 lengths on Sept. 1.

Trainer Brad Cox has two starters in this race with Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Donegal Racing's Awesome Road, who won on debut in a six-furlong race at Ellis Park on Aug. 27, and Siena Farm and WinStar Farm LLC's Timberlake, who was second in the Sept. 4 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner West Saratoga has also entered the race for longtime Keeneland trainer Larry Demeritte.

Breeders' Futurity Entries

5:45 p.m. – Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland

The Coolmore Turf Mile, whose winner will receive an automatic starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), boasts five Grade 1 winners: Master of the Seas, Up to the Mark, defending champion Annapolis, Set Piece (GB), and Atone.

Godolphin's Master of the Seas is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the nine-horse field following his dominating win in the Sept. 16 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) in which he earned a free berth into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Master of the Seas has won three of five starts this year.

Up to the Mark and Annapolis are trained by Todd Pletcher. Up to the Mark, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has excelled at longer distances this year, winning back-to-back Grade 1 races in the May 6 Old Forrester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs and the June 10 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes over 1 ¼ miles at Belmont Park. Up to the Mark has won four of five starts this year, with his only defeat being a third-place finish in the April 14 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Bass Racing LLC's homebred Annapolis drove clear in the final furlong to win last year's Coolmore Turf Mile by 1 1/2 lengths. On May 4 at Churchill Downs, he won his sixth career race, taking the listed 1-mile Opening Verse Stakes.

Juddmonte's 7-year-old homebred gelding Set Piece, trained by Brad Cox, stormed home from last in the 11-horse field of the Aug. 10 Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs, earning his 13th career win. Three Diamonds Farm's 6-year-old gelding Atone, trained by Mike Maker, won the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January, but has been off the board in his last four starts.

Turf Mile Entries

8:00 p.m. – Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita

Freshened since beaten in his second start, Muth is the horse to beat as he stretches out to a mile and one sixteenth in the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes.  Trained by Bob Baffert, Muth, a $2 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase this past March, was a runaway 8 ¼ length winner of his five furlong maiden debut here on June 18. Subsequently second to his eventual Grade 1 stakes-winning stablemate Prince of Monaco going six furlongs in the G3 Best Pal Stakes Aug. 13, Muth sat out the G1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 10 and should be extremely tough with leading man Juan Hernandez back aboard on Saturday.

Todd Pletcher will be represented in the American Pharoah by Be You, a colt by Curlin who ships in from Saratoga Springs. Second, beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his six furlong debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga, Be You checked in fourth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the Grade 1, seven-furlong Hopeful at 5-2 on Sept. 4 and will also be two-turning for the first time.

Named for the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharaoh has attracted a field of eight juveniles. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, the American Pharoah winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

American Pharoah Entries

Sunday

4:31 p.m. – Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine

Locals Moira and Fev Rover will challenge international shipper With The Moonlight over 1 ¼ miles on the eponymous turf course in Sunday's E.P. Taylor Stakes.

Moira, a 4-year-old trained by Kevin Attard, who was facing older rivals and trying turf for the first time in last fall's E.P. Taylor (finishing eighth), is coming off a smashing 6 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Canadian over 1 1/8 miles of turf at Woodbine Sept. 9. Winner of Sovereign Awards as Canada's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly last year, Moira had finished second in each of her first three starts this season.

Fev Rover (IRE) defeated Moira on one of those occasions, leaving that rival 4 ¼ lengths back when making her seasonal bow over one mile of turf in the Grade 2 Nassau. Returning to action two weeks later in Saratoga's Grade 1 Diana Stakes, Fev Rover was a close and unlucky third but got her Grade 1 victory next time out in the Beverly D. at Colonial Downs. In her most recent outing in the Canadian, however, the Mark Casse-trained 5-year-old was fourth as the odds-on favourite.

With The Moonlight will be the first E.P. Taylor starter for trainer Charlie Appleby, who owns eight Grade 1 wins from 11 starters at Woodbine. The filly has been away from the races since finishing sixth over “soft” going in the Group 2 Dahlia at Newmarket on May 7. Slated to start in the Grade 1 New York Stakes at Belmont on June 7, With The Moonlight missed that engagement due to what was described at the time as a “poor scope” and was sent home, but she has recovered well and appears ready to run.

E.P. Taylor Entries

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

Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Juddmonte Spinster Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, could set up as a battle between two daughters of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin, as Nest tries to turn the tables on Idiomatic, who defeated her in the Aug. 25 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga.

The Spinster winner earns an automatic starting position in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Nest, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished fourth in last year's Distaff at Keeneland. However, she still completed an outstanding season of five stakes victories and a second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) that propelled her to the 3-year-old filly championship. She won the July 23 Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in her seasonal debut, but finished third over sloppy track in the Personal Ensign.

Juddmonte's 4-year-old homebred Idiomatic, trained by Cox, won the Personal Ensign gate to-wire by four lengths, registering her sixth win in seven starts this year that also included a triumph in the July 8 Delaware Handicap (G2).

Spinster Entries

5:39 p.m. – Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine

Multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Nations Pride (IRE), a globetrotting 4-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE)-Important Time (IRE), will carry the hopes of trainer Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin operation in Sunday's 1 ¼-mile turf race. Nations Pride spent the early part of 2023 in Meydan where he won the Dubai Millennium Stakes and finished third to Lord North in the Dubai Turf. His return to Europe yielded a stirring score in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1T) at Munich in late July.

Among the seven rivals to face Nations Pride are Adhamo and British Royalty.

Grade 1 winner Adhamo (IRE), a 5-year-old son of Intello (GER)-Foreign Tune (GB), has flourished in the U.S. after four wins, including a Group 3 victory, in France. Trained by Chad Brown, the chestnut is 5-3-4 mark from 18 starts, with his biggest victory to date coming in the 2022 United Nations (G1T) Stakes.

British Royalty, a 5-year-old son of English Channel-Queen Martha, is no stranger to success on the E.P. Taylor turf, having won the 2021 Breeders' Stakes (third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown), at 1 ½ miles. Trained by Barbara Minshall, who co-owns with Bruce Lunsford, the bay gelding, bred in Ontario by Richard Lister, is 2-4-1 from 21 career starts.

Canadian International Entries

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The big news for the upcoming weekend is torrential rainfall in the Northeast, which is causing widespread flooding in the New York metropolitan area. In response, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) cancelled Friday's card at Aqueduct, and has moved Saturday's 11-race card to Sunday and pushed Sunday's 10-race program to Wednesday.

Saturday's card, headlined by the matchup of War Like Goddess and Rebel's Romance in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will move in its entirety to Sunday with a first post time of 12:05 p.m. Eastern. The lucrative 11-race program also features the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward, the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh, a “Win and You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The 10-race card originally scheduled for Sunday will move in its entirety to Wednesday with a first post time of 1:05 p.m. Wednesday's action is co-headlined by a pair of Grade 2 “Win and You're In” qualifiers for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The $200,000 Pilgrim awards a berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf while the $200,000 Miss Grillo for fillies awards a berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The weather is expected to be a bit brighter at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park on Saturday, leaving those two cards fully intact.

Beneath the Twin Spires, Grade 2 winner Three Technique will attempt to garner an all-entry-fees-paid berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) as the headliner of the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs. The one-mile Ack Ack Stakes is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” contest for the Dirt Mile Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The program also features the 10th running of the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) and 43rd running of the $200,000 Jefferson Cup.

Saturday's card at Santa Anita also features a “Win and You're In” race, the Grade 1 Awesome Again offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Defunded will try to defend his 2022 title against eight rivals in the 1 1/8-mile contest. Also on Saturday's card are the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D, Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, and the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile.

Sunday at Santa Anita features the Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship, Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Stakes, and the $100,000 Unzip Me Stakes.

International action is also expected to provide some fireworks on Sunday. Not only is the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the ticket at Longchamp Racecourse in France, but a field of 14 is signed on to go postward in the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine in the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

 

Saturday

4:58 p.m. – Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs

Grade 2 winner Three Technique will attempt to garner an all-entry-fees-paid berth into the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) as the headliner of Saturday's $400,000 Ack Ack (G3). Trained by Jason Cook, Three Technique hasn't competed since his 3 ¾-length score in the July 1 John A. Nerud (G2) July 1 at Belmont but has remained in steady training at Trackside Louisville, located about five miles from Churchill Downs. A 6-year-old son of Mr Speaker, Three Technique ran in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile but only managed a sixth-place finish.

There are several other accomplished horses entered in the Ack Ack, including R. A. Cowboy Jones winner Stage Raider; two-time stakes winner Zozos; and four-time winner O Besos.

Ack Ack Entries

5:29 p.m. – Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs

Five-time graded stakes winner Rattle N Roll leads a competitive field of nine older horses in the $500,000 Lukas Classic. Ken McPeek-trained Rattle N Roll will attempt to rebound from his sixth-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as the 8-5 favorite. Prior to that race, Rattle N Roll finished just a half-length second behind West Will Power in the Stephen Foster (G1). The 4-year-old Connect colt sports victories earlier this year in the Ben Ali (G3) in April at Keeneland, Pimlico Special (G3) in May, and Blame (G3) June 3 at Churchill.

Rattle N Roll's competition in the Lukas Classic includes Stephen Foster third-place finisher Happy American, Grade 3 winner Clapton, and Longacres Mile winner Five Star General.

Lukas Classic Entries

7:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park

In what appears to be a wide-open affair, multiple Grade 1 winning Defunded rates top billing among a field of nine 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles as he defends his title in the $300,000 Awesome Again. A winner of this year's G2 Californian and G1 Hollywood Gold Cup three and four starts back on May 29 and April 22, Bob Baffert-trained Defunded has five wins from nine starts at Santa Anita. Despite the fact he was a well beaten sixth by stablemate Arabian Knight in the G1 Pacific Classic Sept. 2, Defunded rates a huge chance as he returns home to Santa Anita.

Doug O'Neill's California-bred Slow Down Andy, a solid third, beaten 1 ½ lengths in the Pacific Classic, rates a huge chance in what will be his fourth start of the year. Out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E, Slow Down Andy's biggest performance to date came four starts back when he finished third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by eventual Eclipse Champion Cody's Wish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 5, 2022 at Keeneland—earning an Awesome Again best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

A winner of the G1 Preakness Stakes three starts back on May 20, Baffert's National Treasure has been well beaten by top sophomore Arcangelo in his last two starts, the G1 Travers on Aug. 26 and the G1 Belmont Stakes June 10 and will be facing older horses for the first time.

Awesome Again Entries

Sunday

1:09 p.m. – Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct

Godolphin's multiple Grade 1-winning Kentucky homebred Cody's Wish will turn back to a one-turn sprint in the $250,000 Vosburgh, a seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the fan favorite Cody's Wish was last seen finishing a closing third in the Grade 1 Whitney traveling a two-turn nine furlongs on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. It was the first time the son of Curlin had faced the nine-furlong distance since finishing third in a second-out maiden special weight in July 2021 at Saratoga and his first two-turn race since taking the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in thrilling fashion last year at Keeneland.

Along with Cody's Wish, Mott will also be represented by graded stakes-winner High Oak [post 5, Katie Davis]. The 4-year-old bay son of Gormley arrives from a game third-place effort in the Grade 1 Forego won by Gunite over High Oak's victorious stablemate and reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown saddles Accretive for another try at his first stakes score as he enters from a pair of allowance-level wins. This year, Accretive is undefeated through two starts at Saratoga, beginning with a 3 3/4-length romp in a first-level allowance on July 22 and most recently taking a one-mile second-level optional claimer by one length on September 2.

Vosburgh Entries

2:40 p.m. – Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct

Dual Grade 1-winner War Like Goddess vies to defeat males for a second consecutive victory in the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf marathon. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old daughter of English Channel was slated to run in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl on September 2 at Saratoga Race Course in pursuit of a second win in that event, but was removed from consideration after she spiked a temperature.

War Like Goddess scored in last year's Joe Hirsch with an off-the-pace trip engineered by Jose Lezcano, pouncing from six lengths back to notch the 2 3/4-length triumph over Bye Bye Melvin and garner a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. War Like Goddess' win in the Joe Hirsch propelled her to a second appearance at the Breeders' Cup after finishing a close third in the 2021 Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf. Last year, she remained in the company of males when taking on the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf and again finished third, defeated three lengths to returning rival Rebel's Romance after saving ground on the inside and angling around Master Piece in the stretch to get up for show honors.

Godolphin's Irish homebred Rebel's Romance [post 5, William Buick] looks to make amends from a last-out trip to Saratoga where he contested the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 30, but clipped heels in the final turn and unseated jockey Richie Mullen. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Dubawi was making his first start since a seventh-place effort in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March and was in the midst of a strong bid from sixth in the nine-horse field when the incident occurred. He completed the course, was collared by the outrider and arrived back at the barn in good order, prompting his connections to briefly reroute him to the Grade 1 Arlington Million the next week at Colonial Downs before deciding to send the 5-year-old gelding back to Appleby's yard at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England instead.

Joe Hirsch Entries

3:11 p.m. – Grade 2 Woodward at Aqueduct

Charge It enters the Woodward from a distant fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. There, he raced in between horses when a close fifth down the backstretch and was shuffled back to last-of-6 around the far turn before moving to the rail and making a run under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, but finished 10 lengths behind the victorious White Abarrio. This effort came following a pacesetting 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 8 going 10 furlongs at Belmont Park, where the 4-year-old gray son of Tapit made amends from three straight losses at graded stakes level.

This year's Woodward will get a touch of international flavor in the form of Algiers, who will emerge from a six-month hiatus after finishing second in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan Racecourse. Trained by Simon Crisford, the 6-year-old Shamardal chestnut began the season with a pair of open-lengths victories in the first two rounds of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown will saddle Zandon [post 4, Flavien Prat], who finished second to White Abarrio in the Whitney last out. Third in last year's Kentucky Derby, Zandon earned Grade 1 honors when securing a 2 1/2-length victory in the Blue Grass last April going the Woodward distance at Keeneland. After finishing in the money in Saratoga's Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers as well as the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, the 4-year-old Upstart colt finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets in December at the Big A – his lone off-the-board effort in 12 lifetime starts. This year, Zandon has finished second in all three of his efforts, rounding out the exacta in Belmont Park's Grade 3 Westchester in May and Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June en route to the Whitney.

Woodward Entries

5:30 p.m. – Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Adare Manor seeks her fifth consecutive win as she heads a field of four fillies and mares three and up going 1 1/16 miles in the $200,000 Zenyatta. With her last three victories coming in graded the stakes, the most recent a one-length score going a mile and one sixteenth in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 5, Adare Manor should be tough to deny on the front end with Juan Hernandez back aboard for Bob Baffert.

Although winless in nine starts since taking the G2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9, 2022, Arizona-bred Desert Dawn is plenty strong at the bank, earning $155,375 from four starts this year and amassing career earnings of $776,525 from an overall mark 15-2-3-5. Most recently second, beaten one length at 5-1 by Adare Manor in the Hirsch at Del Mar, Desert Dawn would be well-suited by a fast pace with regular rider Umberto Rispoli back aboard for trainer Phil D'Amato.

Zenyatta Entries

7:00 p.m. – Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita Park

Trainer Phil D'Amato's Gold Phoenix tops the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship as he seeks his third consecutive graded stakes victory. The John Henry has attracted a field of eight three-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles.

Although seventh in the G1 Shoemaker Mile on turf here May 29, Gold Phoenix, a 5-year-old gelding, has been nothing short of brilliant in his last two starts, rallying to take the G2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf by three quarters of a length July 30 and the G2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on grass by 1 ¼ lengths Sept. 2. A close third in last year's John Henry, Gold Phoenix, who surpassed the $1 million mark in earnings on Sept. 2, will hope to be rolling late under Juan Hernandez in what will be his 16th career start and 15th with D'Amato.

D'Amato will also send out the venerable Masteroffoxhounds, who showed the way in the Eddie Read on July 30 when finishing third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by his stablemate, Gold Phoenix. Winless in four starts this year, the 6-year-old full horse by War Front's last win came seven starts back in last year's John Henry here at Santa Anita. Masteroffoxhounds is a two-time graded stakes winner over the course and will be ridden back by Edwin Maldonado.

John Henry Turf Entries

 

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