Weekend Lineup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekend Lineup Presented By Pimlico: Spring Stakes Spectacular, San Francisco Mile

Keeneland closes its spring meeting on Friday with the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes, and the Kentucky scene shifts to Churchill Downs on Saturday evening with the William Walker Stakes to open its spring meeting just one week before the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.

Graded stakes action in California this weekend is highlighted by the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita Park and the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields, part of a five stakes race program which also includes the California Derby.

On Saturday, Pimlico Race Course in Maryland will feature the rescheduled Spring Stakes Spectacular, featuring six stakes worth $650,000 in purses headlined by the $125,000 Federico Tesio, a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated 3-year-olds to the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 15, and the $125,000 Weber City Miss, a 'Win and In' event for 3-year-old fillies to the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 14.

TVG will be broadcasting every race, every day. In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will also be live on Saturday on FS2 from 1-11 p.m. ET. On Sunday, “America's Day at the Races” will air from 1-5:30 p.m. ET on FS2.

Friday, April 23

5:30 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is seeking his fourth win in the Grade 3 1 ½-mile, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes on turf with War Like Goddess and Delta's Kingdom among 12 fillies and mares in the field on closing day of the Keeneland spring meet. George Krikorian's War Like Goddess enters the Bewitch off a nose victory in last month's Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream Park. Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for the Orchid victory, has the call as he seeks his third victory in the race. Delta's Kingdom, who broke her maiden at Keeneland in April 2019, was fourth in the Orchid. The Al Stall-trained Dalika (GER) won the Albert Stall Memorial, named after the trainer's late father, at the Fair Grounds in February.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE042321USA-EQB.html#RACE9

Saturday, April 24

3:23 p.m. –$100,000 Dahlia Stakes at Laurel Park

VinLaur Racing Stables' Xanthique, competitive when stretched out for back-to-back stakes over the winter, returns from a two-month break between races looking for her first stakes victory in Saturday's $100,000 Dahlia at Pimlico Race Course. Xanthique, trained by Tom Morley, began this year running fifth to 2019 Dahlia winner Secret Message in the Marie G. Krantz Memorial. The 5-year-old mare then ran into a yielding course and the starting gate when sixth behind Dalika in the Albert M. Stall Memorial Feb. 13. Both Fair Grounds races were contested at the Dahlia distance.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA6-EQB.html

3:58 p.m.–$100,000 Frank Y. Whitely Stakes at Pimlico

Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and Black Cloud Racing's multiple stakes winner Whereshetoldmetogo, in the best form of his life at the age of 6, chases his fourth straight victory and 11th overall in Saturday's $100,000 Frank Y. Whiteley at Pimlico Race Course. Whereshetoldmetogo was already a four-time stakes winner, beaten a neck by Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire when second in the 2018 Gallant Bob (G2), when he arrived in trainer Brittany Russell's barn last summer from her former mentor Brad Cox. In five starts for Russell, the El Padrino gelding has never been worse than second and crossed the wire first in four consecutive races, though he was disqualified from victory in the New Castle last September at Delaware Park for interference. Since then, Whereshetoldmetogo won a six-furlong edition of the Whiteley by a nose last November and the Dec. 26 Dave's Friend, also six furlongs at Laurel Park, by three-quarters of a length to close his 2020 campaign.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA7-EQB.html

4:31 p.m. -$100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes at Pimlico

Initially split between running Grade 2 winner Pixelate and fellow 4-year-old stakes winner Doc Boy, trainer Michael Stidham opted to enter both as part of a solid field of 14 for Saturday's $100,000 Henry S. Clark at Pimlico Race Course. Goldophin's homebred Pixelate has run in 13 consecutive stakes, five of them graded, winning three including the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Derby (G2) last September. He capped 2020 by capturing the one-mile Woodchopper Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds, and began 2021 running fifth by three lengths at odds of 52-1 in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park. In his most recent outing, Pixelate ran fourth to Pegasus Turf winner Colonel Liam following a wide trip in the 1 1/8-mile Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) March 20 at Fair Grounds. Making his Pimlico debut, he has a record of 4-5-3 from 16 lifetime starts at 10 different tracks with purse earnings of $413,350.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA8-EQB.html

5:04 p.m. -$125,000 Weber City Miss Stakes at Pimlico

Her stop in Maryland already beyond the original plan, Joel Politi's multiple stakes winner Littlestitious may wind up extending her stay a bit longer depending on how she runs in Saturday's $125,000 Weber City Miss at Pimlico Race Course. Though born in Kentucky and trained by Midwest-based Tom Amoss, who winters in Louisiana, Littlestitious has called Laurel Park home since mid-March, when horses were restricted to the grounds amid an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) quarantine that was lifted April 18. She remained in the barn of trainer Brittany Russell, and was able to display a stalk-and-pounce tactic under jockey Sheldon Russell in the Beyond the Wire Stakes, winning by a half-length in her most recent outing.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA9-EQB.html

5:37 p.m.- $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico

It will be more than just a homecoming when stakes winner Hello Hot Rod returns to Maryland for only his second start of the year in Saturday's $125,000 Federico Tesio at Pimlico Race Course. The Maryland-bred son of Mosler comes in off three consecutive victories, but has gone unraced since Jan. 31. He will be making his debut in the colors of owner George Sharp, who purchased Hello Hot Rod for $335,000 at auction in February from previous co-owner and trainer Brittany Russell. Among his rivals will be former stablemate Maythehorsebwithu. And, there is a Triple Crown berth on the line.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA10-EQB.html

6:07 p.m.-$100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes at Pimlico

Multiple stakes winners Carotari and Completed Pass, the latter with a victory at the course and distance, top a field of 13 entered in Saturday's $100,000 King T. Leatherbury at Pimlico Race Course. Robert D. Bone's Completed Pass returns to the turf for his seasonal debut after an off-the-board finish in the six-furlong Frank Y. Whiteley last November at Laurel Park. The 7-year-old gelding beat Leatherbury rivals So Street and Love You Much in the 5 ½-furlong Laurel Dash last September and won the five-furlong Jim McKay Turf Sprint in 2019 at Pimlico for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez. Completed Pass was beaten a neck over a yielding course in defense of his McKay title last fall.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM042421USA11-EQB.html

7:30 p.m. ―$100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on TVG

The $100,000 California Derby, for 3-year-olds, is one of the highlights of Gold Rush Weekend at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. Run on the Tapeta surface at 1 1/16 miles, the eight-horse field is led by the John Shirreffs-trained Parnelli, a bay son of Quality Road, who will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado. Seeking his first win of the year, Parnelli finished sixth in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in his previous start. California-bred Stalking Shadow, a winner of three of his four starts this year, steps into stakes company for the first time for Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GG042421USA8-EQB.html

7:46 p.m. ―Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's 4-year-old filly As Time Goes By looms large as the 3-5 morning line favorite over four rivals at Santa Anita in Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, As Time Goes By has a regal pedigree. She is by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of three-time Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady. In her first start against stakes competition, As Time Goes By finished second to 2020 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on March 13. The Simon Callahan-trained Harvest Moon, fourth in the Beholder Mile, won four races last year, including the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita and Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar. She was also fourth, beaten less than three lengths, in the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA042421USA8-EQB.html

8:07 p.m. ―Grade 3 $250,000 San Francisco Mile Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on TVG

Grade 1 winners Ohio (BRZ) and Keeper Ofthe Stars headline Saturday's one-mile, $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up, the centerpiece of the Gold Rush Weekend at Golden Gate Fields. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Ohio has 11 career wins, including the Grade 1 2019 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' 5-year-old mare Keeper Ofthe Stars, the lone female in the eight-horse field, won last year's Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita. Trained by Jonathan Wong, Keeper Ofthe Stars tuned up for Saturday's race by winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance race over the course on April 3, which was her first start since finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon last August at Del Mar. The Richard Mandella-trained Border Town ran third to Grade 1 winner Hit the Road in the Grade 3 Thunder Road at Santa Anita in February.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GG042421USA9-EQB.html

10:11 p.m. ―$150,000 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

On opening night of the spring meeting at Churchill Downs, Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm's Cowan, runner-up in Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, leads a field of 10 3-year-olds and two also-eligibles entered in Saturday's 5 ½ furlong $125,000 William Walker Stakes on turf.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Cowan, the 7-2 morning line favorite, is making his first start since finishing 10th in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, beaten only 4 ¾ lengths. Luis Saez, who was aboard in Dubai, has the call Saturday evening. Second choice Field Day (4-1) finished third last time out in the five-furlong Texas Glitter at Gulfstream Park on March 20 for trainer Brad Cox.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD042421USA9-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup Presented By Pimlico: Spring Stakes Spectacular, San Francisco Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Highly-Anticipated Showdown Looms Between Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver

After last week's showdown of top sprinters C Z Rocket and Whitmore, Oaklawn Park will once again be the nation's focus for a much-anticipated battle between Eclipse Award-winning females Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

Monomoy Girl, owned by MyRacehorse, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, and trained by Brad Cox, is a two-time Eclipse Award winner, who captured the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2018 and in 2020. Swiss Skydiver, owned by Peter Callahan and trained by Kenny McPeek, was voted champion 3-year-old filly last year. Swiss Skydiver won the 2020 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes over Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve winner and future Horse of Year Authentic. Swiss Skydiver finished seventh to Monomoy Girl in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The Grade 1, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap for older horses at 1 1/8 miles will be run two races earlier on the Oaklawn program.

TVG will be broadcasting every race, every day with expanded coverage of Keeneland's Spring Meet, which runs through April 23. In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will also be live on Saturday on FS2 from 5-8 p.m. ET featuring the Apple Blossom and the Oaklawn Handicap. On Sunday, “America's Day at the Races” will air from 1-2:30 p.m. ET on FS2, 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET on FS1, and from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2.

Friday, April 16

5:30 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables and Heider Family Stables' 4-year-old filly Speech returns to Keeneland, the site of her greatest career triumph, in Friday's Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Speech is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field. Last July, the bay filly captured Keeneland's Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes by three lengths. W.S. Farish's Royal Flag, the 5-2 second choice trained by Chad Brown, is making her first start since capturing the Grade 3 Turn Back the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct last November. Juddmonte Farms' Bonny South, second in both last year's Grade 1 Alabama Stakes and the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, should also figure in the picture for trainer Brad Cox.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041621USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, April 17

5:30 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Trinity Farm's homebred 7-year-old gelding Red Knight, winner of last fall's Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland, drew the outside post position in a field of 10 runners for Saturday's Grade 2 $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes going 1½ miles on the grass. Listed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, Red Knight, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by James Graham, finished second in the 2019 edition of the Elkhorn. Joseph Allen's North Dakota, fourth to Red Knight in last year's Sycamore, will be making his first start since finishing 10th in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January for trainer Shug McGaughey. Three Diamonds Farm's Tide of the Sea, trained by Mike Maker, won a 1 ½-mile allowance race at Keeneland last October, and captured the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, also at 1 ½ miles.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041721USA9-EQB.html

5:49 p.m.― $1 million Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park on TVG and FS2

A wide-open renewal of Saturday's Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles could be the right spots for shippers from California and Florida among the 10 horses entered. CRK Stable's 4-year-old Express Train, trained by John Shirreffs, is in from the West Coast following a second-place finish in the Grade 1 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, and a 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes prior to that. The Todd Pletcher- trained lightly raced 5-year-old gelding Fearless won the Grade 2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes last out on Feb. 27 for his fourth win in seven starts. Rupp Racing's Owendale was second by a head in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes at the Fair Grounds on March 20, and was third in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 27. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State is two for two at Oaklawn this year, including a neck victory over Danny Caldwell's Rated R Superstar in the 1 1/16-mile Essex Stakes on March 13.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041721USA9-EQB.html

7:09 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on TVG and FS2

A clash of female titans will be on display this Saturday at Oaklawn as 2020 Eclipse Awards winners Monomoy Girl, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, and Swiss Skydiver, trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Robby Albarado, square off in the Grade 1 $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap, leading a six-horse field of fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. The 6-year-old even-money morning line favorite Monomoy Girl, owned by MyRacehorse, Spendthrift Farm and Madaket Stables, is 14 of 16. The daughter of Tapizar was the champion 3-year-old filly in 2018 and the champion older dirt female of 2020. Monomoy Girl opened 2021 with a two-length win in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 28. Peter Callahan's 4-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver also won her 2021 debut, capturing the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita by 2 ¾ lengths on March 13. A bay daughter of Daredevil, Swiss Skydiver, 2-1 on the morning line, won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the highlight of a season in which she raced at nine different tracks and earned the 3-year-old filly Eclipse Award. Not to be overlooked is St. George Stable's 5-year-old Letruska,12 of 17, who was second last time out in Oaklawn's Grade 2 Azeri Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041721USA11-EQB.html

7:51 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

The 4-year-old Independence Hall, third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap, is the 8-5 morning line favorite against four rivals in Saturday's Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita Park for trainer Michael McCarthy. Brazilian-bred Royal Ship, trained by Richard Mandella, is seeking his first win in the U.S after winning five straight in his home country in 2019. The bay 5-year-old gelding returns to the main track following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6. Magic On Tap, a 5-year-old son of Tapit, trained by Bob Baffert, steps into stakes company for the first time following an impressive 1 1/16-mile allowance win in over the track on March 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041721USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, April 18

5 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Last September, MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm's Tizamagician finished second in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old son of Tiznow returns for Sunday's demanding 1 ½-mile Grade 3 test in a five-horse field. Trained by Richard Mandella, Tizamagician, comes into the race off a fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6 and a second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual on Jan. 30. The 6-year-old gelding Zestful, trained by Mark Glatt, finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual. In November of 2019, Zestful finished second by three-quarters of a length in the listed 1 ¾-mile Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041821USA3-EQB.html

7:53 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

The 4-year-old Brickyard Ride, owned Alfred Pais and trained by Craig Lewis, leads the Grade 3 $100,000 Kona Gold Stakes Sunday at Santa Anita. A California-bred son of Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride has won four of his last five starts, including a four-length win in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6 at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert-trained 6-year-old gelding Ax Man, won the listed Santana Mile by 4 ½ lengths in his last start on March 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA041821USA8-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Highly-Anticipated Showdown Looms Between Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Final Preps Offer Last Chances To Earn Derby Points

Final chances for horses to earn qualifying points into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will be on the line on Saturday (April 10) headlined by Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Keeneland's Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.

Grade 2 Rebel Stakes winner Concert Tour, the No. 2-ranked horse on the latest top NTRA 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, is the morning-line favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby. The race awards Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis. At Keeneland, Proxy is favored in the 1 1/16-mile Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. The Lexington awards Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers on a 20-8-4-2 basis. The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 starters.

The Arkansas Derby will be televised by NBC Sports as part of their “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series during a one-hour program airing on NBCSN and beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The telecast will also include highlights of the much anticipated rematch of the nation's top sprinters – CZ Rocket and Whitmore – in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap.

“America's Day at the Races” will also be live on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. ET on FS1 and from 3-8 p.m. ET on FS2; and on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. ET on FS2 and from 4-6:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Friday, April 9

5:30 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Peter Brant's 6-year-old Raging Bull (FR), who finished third by a neck in last year's Maker's Mark Mile, makes his 2021 debut in this year's renewal on the Keenland turf, leading the nine-horse field as the 7-2 morning-line favorite. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., is a two-time Grade 1 winner. Another Brown starter, the 6-year-old Sacred Life (FR), fourth in last September's Grade 1 Old Forrester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, also will be making his 2021 debut. A formidable invader from California is the Dan Blacker-trained 4-year-old Hit the Road, who's on a four-race win streak capped by a strong-closing neck victory in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 6 at Santa Anita. Maker's Mark is celebrating its 25th year as title sponsor of the race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040921USA-EQB.html#RACE9

Saturday, April 10

4:24 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Steve Landers Racing's 5-year-old Night Ops is slated to face four rivals in the 90th running of the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Javier Castellano, Night Ops will seek to improve off his third-place finish in a tough Essex Handicap on March 13 at Oaklawn. Tom Durant's 7-year-old gelding Silver Dust was third in last September's Grade 3 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041021USA-EQB.html#RACE7

5:30 p.m.― $200,000 Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Twenty Kentucky Derby qualifying points go to the winner of the Grade 3, $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, and a win by Godolphin's Proxy or Reddam Racing's Hockey Dad would put that horse into the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Godolphin's Proxy, trained by Mike Stidham, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the 10-horse field. The bay son of Tapit comes to Keeneland off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. California-bred Hockey Dad is a son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and races for his sire's same connections of Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez. Hockey Dad won three races at Santa Anita before finishing third in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 27. Another intriguing starter is the Bob Baffert-trained Bezos. Highly touted and heavily wagered in the Derby futures, Bezos faltered at 3-5 in his debut at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, finishing seventh of nine. However, the son of Empire Maker rebounded in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita on March 26 with a sparkling 4 ½-length win.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041021USA9-EQB.html

5:49 p.m.― $400,000 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Nine are slated to go in the Oaklawn Mile led by Allied Racing Stable's and Spendthrift Farm's By My Standards, a winner of three Grade 2 stakes races in 2020, and with career earnings of more than $1.8 million. Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by Gabriel Saez, the 5-year-old By My Standards won last year's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. Florida-bred Rushie, winner of last September's Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs for trainer Michael McCarthy, and the Brad Cox-trained 4-year-old Wells Bayou, figure to be in the wagering picture. Wells Bayou, who won last year's Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, finished third in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes at the Fair Grounds in his first start of 2021.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041021USA-EQB.html#RACE9

6:03 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Trainer Chad Brown is shooting for his fourth consecutive Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The four-time Eclipse Award winner sends out Peter Brant, Mrs. M.V. Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan's Etoile (FR), and Swift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables' Tamahere (FR). Etoile will be making her first start since winning the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine in October. Tamahere, winner of the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Park in her U.S. debut in October, will be making her first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar. Etoile and Tamahere will take on the challenge of race favorite Micheline, owned by Godolphin and trained by Mike Stidham, who opened the season with a win in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs, and finished second in last October's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE041021USA-EQB.html#RACE10

7:05 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Saturday's six-furlong Count Fleet Sprint pits the nation's top sprinters – Whitmore and C Z Rocket – in their third consecutive confrontation. Robert LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables and Head of Plains Partners' 8-year-old gelding Whitmore defeated C Z Rocket, owned by Madaket Stables, Gary Barber and Tom Kagele, and trained by Peter Miller, in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland last November. Whitmore, who is co-owned and trained by Ron Moquett, was subsequently voted the Eclipse Award male sprinter trophy. The 7-year-old gelding C Z Rocket turned the tables on Whitmore in the six-furlong Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn on March 13, coming from last to overtake his rival by a neck. Seven will go to the post in the Count Fleet. The 9-5 Whitmore will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., and Florent Geroux will ride the 2-1 C Z Rocket.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041021USA-EQB.html#RACE11

7:41 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on NBCSN and TVG

Gary and Mary West's undefeated Concert Tour is the even-money favorite in the six-horse, Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, the final Kentucky Derby qualifying points race. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Joel Rosario, Concert Tour went wire to wire in Oaklawn's 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 13 with an impressive 4¼-length victory. Baffert, who won a division of last year's race with Nadal, and also saddled American Phoroah in 2015 and Bodemeister in 2012 to Arkansas Derby triumphs, also trains the 3-1 second choice, Hozier, who was the Rebel Stakes runner-up. Smarty Jones Stakes winner Caddo River, owned by John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable and trained by Brad Cox, finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite in the Rebel after battling Concert Tour for the lead at the top of the stretch. Gary Barber's Get Her Number, winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last fall, will try to improve upon his seventh-place finish in the Rebel, which was his seasonal debut for trainer Peter Miller.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP041021USA-EQB.html#RACE12

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Weekend Lineup: Saturday’s Triple On The Road To The Kentucky Derby

A trio of Kentucky Derby qualifying races are set to take place on April 3 and Keeneland kicks off its Spring Meet one year after having to cancel the meet due to the coronavirus pandemic. Champion Essential Quality, the No. 1-ranked horse on the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, headlines Keeneland's signature prep race, the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, while other top-flight contenders will square off in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park. All three races distribute Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis.

The Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, and Santa Anita Derby will be televised by NBC Sports as part of their “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series during a two-hour program airing on NBCSN and beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Wood Memorial Day card from Aqueduct can be found on America's Day at the Races on FS2 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

TVG will be broadcasting every race, every day with expanded coverage of Keeneland's Spring Meet which begins on April 2nd and runs through April 23rd. In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

Friday, April 2

4:34 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Anderson Stables' Lady Kate looks to make the grade in Friday's Distaff, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, the Grade 1-placed Lady Kate will make her seasonal debut following an off-the-board effort in the Breeders' Cup Distaff won by eventual Champion Older Dirt Female Monomoy Girl in November at Keeneland. The 5-year-old Bernardini mare, who finished second to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 La Troienne in September at Churchill Downs, enjoyed a four-win campaign in 2020, including a score in the one-mile Groupie Doll in August at Ellis Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040221USA7-EQB.html

4:57 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Erich Brehm's My Girl Red, stylish winner of last summer's Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered for the 36th running of the Beaumont, which offers 17 points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, My Girl Red will be making her 2021 debut on Friday. James Graham will be aboard for the first time and break from post one.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040221USA8-EQB.html

5:30 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, will face five rivals in the 33rd running of the Transylvania Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Trained by Mike Maker, who saddled Field Pass to a victory in the 2020 Transylvania, Fire At Will returns to the turf after finishing eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on dirt in his most recent start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040221USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, April 3

2:21 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

A compact but competitive field of 3-year-old dirt sprinters has assembled for the Bay Shore at seven furlongs led by Florida shipper Drain the Clock, who enters off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. While the temptation for most connections would be to forge ahead on the Kentucky Derby trail after picking up 20 qualifying points in the Fountain of Youth, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and the ownership group have elected to focus on shorter races with their talented sophomore. Drain the Clock has four wins in dirt dashes, including a pair of open-length tallies at Gulfstream during their recent Championship Meet.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA4-EQB.html

3:25 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to breakthrough at the highest level in Saturday's Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. Mischevious Alex, a 4-year-old Into Mischief colt trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., won the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct and seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park last year for former conditioner John Servis. The versatile dark bay is perfect in two starts since joining the Joseph, Jr. stable, including a prominent score in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint on February 13 last out traveling six furlongs on a fast track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA6-EQB.html

3:51 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali, last seen at Keeneland finishing fifth as the second choice in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, tops a field of six 3-year-old fillies entered for the 33rd running of the Appalachian Stakes going a mile on the turf. Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali won her first three starts, including the Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs and the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes Belmont, prior to the Breeders' Cup.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA6-EQB.html

4:24 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Something Special Racing's Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle heads a field of seven 4-year-olds and up entered for the 34th running of the Commonwealth Stakes at seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Vickie Foley, Hog Creek Hustle took the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in 2019 and has started in the past two runnings of the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Corey Lanerie has the mount and will break from post seven.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA7-EQB.html

4:31 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Coming off a pair of stakes wins on the local strip, the venerable New York-bred Mr. Buff will look to finally break through in a graded stakes race on Saturday when he lines up against six rivals in the nine-furlong Excelsior for 4-year-olds and up. Mr. Buff, who has already secured millionaire status, has 17 wins to his credit, 11 of them in stakes races, but has been unable to seal the deal in a graded race in five attempts. Despite his graded woes, the 7-year-old son of Friend Or Foe has compiled an imposing resume. His ledger at Aqueduct features 10 wins and earnings in excess of $600,000.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA8-EQB.html

4:57 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Wesley Ward's Bound for Nowhere and Breeze Easy's Imprimis, respective winners of the 2018 and 2019 runnings of the Shakertown, headline a field of 13 3-year-olds and up entered for Saturday's 25th edition of the $200,000 race going 5½ furlongs on the grass. Also trained by Ward, Bound for Nowhere was caught late in the past two runnings of the Shakertown, finishing a neck behind Imprimis in 2019 when running second, and a neck behind Leinster and Totally Boss in last year's running that was his most recent start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA8-EQB.html

5:09 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Trainer Chad Brown will send out a pair of stakes winners who are looking to take the next step up against graded company, with the duo competing as part of an eight-horse field in Saturday's Gazelle, which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers to the Kentucky Oaks. Brown enter the respective first and third-place finishers from the Busher Invitational on March 6, saddling Klaravich Stables' Search Results and Louis Lazzinnaro's The Grass Is Blue. Search Results, unraced as a juvenile, improved to 2-for-2 in her career with a half-length score over Miss Brazil in the Busher, contested over a one-turn mile on an Aqueduct fast track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA9-EQB.html

5:14 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Sensational in her two previous stateside starts, Phil D'Amato's Going Global (IRE) heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going a 1 1/8-miles on turf in the Providencia Stakes. Ridden by Flavien Prat in both local starts, Going Global surged late in her U.S. debut, the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes on February 14. In her first try around two turns, Going Global was off as the even money favorite in the one mile turf China Doll Stakes March 6 and she did not disappoint as she unfurled an explosive stretch rally en route to a three quarter length score.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA5-EQB.html

5:30 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Undefeated Malathaat and Simply Ravishing headline a field of six 3-year-old fillies for Saturday's 84th running of the Ashland Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Favored at 9-5 on the morning line is Malathaat, who is making her 2021 debut. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat closed her 2020 campaign with a victory in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. Trained by two-time race winner Kenny McPeek, Simply Ravishing romped to a 6¼-length victory in last fall's Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes before finishing a troubled fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA9-EQB.html

5:48 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Separated by a head when last they met on March 7, Bob Baffert's Beautiful Gift and Michael McCarthy's Moraz will square off again as they head a field of five sophomore fillies in the Santa Anita Oaks, which offers 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner. Beautiful Gift broke her maiden two starts back on October 23 at a flat mile and then rallied to nail Moraz on the money in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on March 7.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA6-EQB.html

5:58 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on NBCSN

Unbeaten Prevalence and Grade 3 Withers-winner Risk Taking highlight a strong field for Saturday's 96th running of the Wood Memorial. Godolphin, whose royal blue colors saw the winner's circle in the 2015 Wood Memorial with Frosted, will seek their second Wood triumph with the highly regarded Prevalence. The Brendan Walsh-trained son of Medaglia d'Oro is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park to start and his career will see two turns for the first time.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA10-EQB.html

6:02 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One, winner of the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff and third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, headlines a field of seven fillies and mares entered for the Madison going seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell's the One will be making her 2021 debut in the Madison. Winner of the 2019 Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, Bell's the One will be ridden by Corey Lanerie and break from post position four.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA10-EQB.html

6:35 p.m.—$800,000 Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Godolphin's undefeated homebred Essential Quality, the champion 2-year-old male of 2020, is the 3-5 morning line choice in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for the 97th running of the Blue Grass Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality debuted September 5 at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day and followed that triumph with victories in Keeneland's Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to sew up the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. In his lone start of 2021, Essential Quality won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park by 4¼ lengths on February 27.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA11-EQB.html

6:54 p.m.—$600,000 Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Pauline's Pearl and Sun Path ran 2-3, respectively, in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes on March 6 and the two meet again in the Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Pauline's Pearl is out of Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick and broke her maiden at third asking at Fair Grounds on February 12.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP040321USA11-EQB.html

7:15 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park on NBCSN and TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will send out likely favorite Medina Spirit in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby, a race that he's won a record nine times. Medina Spirit, who was second, beaten eight lengths by his recently sidelined stablemate Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, was a gate to wire winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes two starts back on January 30. A first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos December 11, Medina Spirit then flew to be second, beaten three quarters of a length by Life Is Good going a flat mile in the Sham Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA8-EQB.html

7:46 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Fresh off of a pair of dominating turf wins, trainer Phil D'Amato's Charmaine's Mia heads a solid field of eight older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in the Royal Heroine Stakes. Previously headquartered at Woodbine Racetrack, Charmaine's Mia, in her first start for D'Amato was a rousing 2 ½ length winner of the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes going six furlongs on turf January 9 while dismissed at odds of 16-1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, April 4

4:30 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Idle since winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint November 7 at Keeneland, champion female sprinter Gamine towers over her competition going six furlongs in Sunday's Las Flores Stakes. Supplemented at a cost of $2,000, owner Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine will face three rival fillies and mares in what will be her first start at Santa Anita since she aired by 6 ¼ lengths in her debut on March 7, 2020. A winner of both the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 20 and the Grade 1 Test Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga August 8, Gamine has four wins from six starts with earnings of $883,000.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040421USA2-EQB.html

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