Tag: Weekend Lineup

This weekend's live racing action has plenty to offer fans, despite closures across multiple tracks due to high heat index predictions.

Woodbine and Laurel have cancelled racing on Friday. Colonial Downs and Ellis Park have cancelled racing on Friday and Saturday. Delaware Park has also cancelled it's Saturday program.

Leading the charge is the return to racing of last year's juvenile champion, Forte, who takes on a small but talented group in the G2 Jim Dandy at the Spa. Defeated last out in the Belmont Stakes, Forte will add blinkers for this next test on the road toward the Travers.

Another 2022 champion will enter the starting gate on Saturday at Saratoga: Elite Power is the headliner for the Grade 1 Vanderbilt. The Bill Mott trainee faces old rival Gunite, as well as talented Florida-bred Dean Delivers.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge program offers a pair of “Win and You're In” races this Saturday as well. First up is Ascot's blockbuster King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which has drawn Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, last year's winner Pyledriver, and four additional Group 1 winners: Emily Upjohn, Hukum, Luxembourg, and Westover.

The other Challenge race is at Del Mar, the Grade 1 Bing Crosby over six furlongs, which offers a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. It drew a well-matched field of 12, including last year's winner American Theorem.

Saturday's card at Laurel Park features the 32nd renewal of the six-furlong De Francis as headliner on a 10-race program featuring five stakes worth $500,000 in purses, including the $100,000 Deputed Testamony, $100,000 Alma North, and a pair of $75,000 events restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses.

Breeders' Cup Turf winner in 2022, Rebel's Romance returns stateside for Sunday's G2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, and Sunday's G2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar features a field of nine going nine furlongs on the lawn.

Saturday

4:26 p.m. – Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga

Reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power bested dual graded stakes-winner Gunite when they last faced off in the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February in Saudi Arabia. The two millionaire sprinters will renew their rivalry, some 6,400 miles away, as they battle for divisional supremacy.

Juddmonte's Elite Power, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, won 5-of-6 starts last year, taking the Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont at the Big A and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland to complete his Championship season.

The 5-year-old Curlin chestnut made his seasonal debut with a powerful performance in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, flying to a 3 1/4-length score over a grinding Gunite. Elite Power did not return until June 10, easily posting a 1 3/4-length win in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 True North over Big Sandy.

Gunite posted a record of 7-4-2-0 last year, winning stakes at Churchill Downs [Maxfield, Harrods Creek], Saratoga [Grade 2 Amsterdam] and Keeneland [Perryville]. The dark bay endured a troubled trip as he concluded a solid sophomore season in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and settled for fourth, four lengths back of the Mott-trained winner Cody's Wish.

The well-traveled colt prepared for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint with a four-length romp in the King Cotton over sloppy and sealed going in January at Oaklawn Park and completed his overseas excursion with a close third in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March at Meydan Racecourse. Gunite tuned up for Saturday's test by posting a career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure with a stalking effort in the six-furlong Aristides on June 3 at Churchill Downs, scoring a 1 3/4-length win over Bango, who exited that effort to win the Kelly's Landing at Ellis Park.

Dean Delivers, Gun It, Little Vic, Synthesis, and Awesome Aaron round out the field.

Vanderbilt Entries

5:45 p.m. – Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga

Reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Forte will face a compact but talented field as he seeks to regain winning form for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Forte arrives from a closing runner-up effort to Arcangelo in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 10 at Belmont Park. He entered the 1 1/2-mile marathon from 10-week's rest after scratching the morning of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby due to a bruised foot, but shook off any signs of rust with a brave five-wide rally from sixth-of-9 to come up 1 1/2 lengths shy of victory in the “Test of the Champion.”

Prior to scratching from the Derby, Forte had been tabbed the morning-line favorite after a spring campaign that saw him notch wins in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby. As a juvenile, he won a trio of Grade 1s in the Spa's Hopeful, and the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, awarding him with his Champion honors.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox brings a formidable trio of challengers in Grade 1-winner Angel of Empire [post 5, Flavien Prat, 124 pounds], graded stakes-winner Hit Show [post 3, Luis Saez, 120 pounds] and graded stakes-placed Saudi Crown [post 4, Florent Geroux, 118 pounds].

Completing the field is graded stakes-winner Disarm [post 1, Joel Rosario, 120 pounds] for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The bay colt enters from a determined half-length victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 11 at Ellis Park for his first graded victory on the heels of a fourth in the Kentucky Derby and on-the-board finishes in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland.

Jim Dandy Entries

9:30 p.m. – Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar

The Crosby, named, of course, in honor of the track's founder, has drawn 12 fast horses for a six-furlong spin that not only guarantees the winner a $240,000 check and Grade I honors, but also grants them a guaranteed paid entrance to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita this November through the “Win and You're In” program. The race's defending champ, Kretz Racing's American Theorem, is back to give the dash another try.

The Crosby is a very well-matched bunch, but Del Mar's morning line maker Jon White has hung Red Baron's Barn Dr. Schivel – who won the Crosby in 2021 as a 3-year-old – as the ever-so-slight favorite at 7/2. He'll have top rider Juan Hernandez in the boot.

Bing Crosby Entries

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This Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park has drawn a field of eight 3-year-olds for the 2023 edition, including Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness third-place finisher Mage for trainer Gustavo Delgado. The son of Good Magic has been tabbed as the 3-1 co-second choice on the morning line.

The top choice at 5-2 will be the undefeated Bob Baffert trainee Arabian Knight, last seen at Oaklawn Park winning the G3 Southwest Stakes.

Other strong contenders in the Haskell include Tapit Trice (3-1), Grade 1 winner and last-out Belmont Stakes third-place finisher for trainer Todd Pletcher, and Geaux Rocket Ride (9-2), a Southern California shipper for trainer Richard Mandella whose last out was a win in the listed Affirmed Stakes on June 4.

A strong undercard joins the Haskell at Monmouth Park Saturday, including the co-featured Grade 1, $600,000 United Nations Stakes with 10 entrants for the 1 3/8-mile turf contest. Supporting graded stakes on the undercard are the $500,000, Grade 3 Molly Pitcher with a field of eight fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track; the $300,000, Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, and the $400,000, Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

Sophomore fillies get their turn in the spotlight on Saturday as well, with the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga drawing a group of six looking to make their mark on the division. Saratoga's G3 Caress leads the undercard, a turf sprint for fillies and mares which drew a competitive field of five.

On the West Coast, the summer meet kicks off at Del Mar on Friday afternoon. Opening day features a 14-horse field of 3-year-olds going a mile on the turf in the Oceanside Stakes, while the 3-year-old fillies get their turn at the same distance in Saturday's G2 San Clemente (another full field).

Leading Sunday's graded stakes action is the 1 1/8-mile Shuvee Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at the Spa, featuring the return to action of last year's 3-year-old champion filly Nest. She'll face the multiple Grade 1-winning Clairiere, winner of last year's edition of this race as well as her last two races.

Woodbine has drawn out some of Canada's best 3-year-olds, with the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks for the fillies taking top billing on Sunday afternoon. Trainer Kevin Attard will send out four chances to win his third straight edition of the race: Courtly Ro, Delphia, Fashionably Fab, and Wickenheiser. Sunday's blockbuster Woodbine card also features the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key race ahead of the King's Plate (August 20), the $175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T), and $150,000 Trillium Stakes (G3).

Saturday

5:06 p.m. – Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park

Trainer Mike Maker, who won the U.N. with Aquaphobia in 2020 and Bigger Picture in 2017, sends out three of the 10 horses in this year's edition: G1 winner Red Knight, Therapist, and Yamato. Of the Maker trio, Red Knight appears to be the most dangerous. Two starts back he captured the G1 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park at the identical distance of the United Nations.

They figure to face a still challenge from Catnip, who comes from the barn of Mike Stidham. Catnip, a son of Kitten's Joy, has won his last three races, including a hard-fought score in the G3 Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 17 in his most recent effort. Joel Rosario has been awarded the return call.

United Nations Entries

5:42 p.m. – Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course

Wet Paint will look to regain winning form for conditioner Brad Cox in CCA Oaks. The bay daughter of Blame enters from a rallying runner-up effort to returning rival Hoosier Philly in the one-mile Monomoy Girl on June 17 at Ellis Park where she stalked a slow pace and pounced from last-of-5 to improve to third at the stretch call. She made up ground in the stretch under Tyler Gaffalione, but settled for second 3 1/2 lengths back of the winner. The Monomoy Girl was her first start since finishing a closing fourth as the post-time favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Gambling Girl came up a neck shy of victory last out in the Kentucky Oaks, sweeping from 11th in the field of 14 to steadily make up ground down the lane and finish second, at 13-1 odds, to the victorious Brendan Walsh trainee Pretty Mischievous.

Hoosier Philly [post 5, Edgar Morales] will face the first Grade 1 test of her career for trainer Tom Amoss. The daughter of Into Mischief earned her lone graded win in the Grade 2 Golden Rod in November at Churchill Downs, which capped a three-race win streak she posted to kick off her career. This year, Hoosier Philly started her campaign with a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds Race Course and followed with a fourth in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks before a brief layoff, returning with a game runner-up effort to Taxed in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Graded stakes-winner Southlawn [post 1, Florent Geroux] will look to rebound from a troubled 10th in the Kentucky Oaks where she bumped with rivals into the first turn and encountered more traffic trouble when swinging wide and brushing with foes again into the stretch. Trained by Norm Casse and campaigned by Robert E. Masterson, the Pioneerof the Nile bay entered the Oaks from a clear 3 1/4-length victory over Pretty Mischievous in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, equaling a career-best 86 Beyer.

She's Lookin Lucky [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche] steps back up to graded level after a seven-length first-level optional claiming romp over a sloppy and sealed main track on June 29 at Ellis Park. Trained by Matt Shirer, the daughter of Lookin At Lucky dueled for the early lead before coming away with the advantage at the half-mile call and drawing away at the top of the stretch under Luis Saez, garnering an 86 Beyer for the victory. The effort was a marked improvement from a distant fourth in her prior race traveling a one-turn mile on June 2 at Churchill.

Completing the field is graded stakes-placed Sacred Wish [post 3, Manny Franco], who finished second in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in April for trainer George Weaver.

CCA Oaks Entries

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

The highly-regarded but lightly-raced Arabian Knight will put his unblemished record on the line as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of eight sophomores in Saturday's $1 million Haskell. Arabian Knight, a son of champion Uncle Mo and a $2.3 million purchase by Zedan Racing Stables, will be making his third career start. He is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is looking to add to his record nine Haskell wins.

Mage, trained by Gustavo Delgado, surged to the front in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the Kentucky Derby by a length. Two weeks later, he finished third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 20. Listed as the 3-1 co-second choice, Mage will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post four.

Tapit Trice, also listed at 3-1, comes into the Haskell off a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden from post five by Luis Saez, Tapit Trice has won three races this year, including the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, which he won prior to his seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Coming in from the West Coast and making just his fourth career start is Geaux Rocket Ride (9-2) for trainer Richard Mandella. Winner of the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park on June 4, Geaux Rocket Ride will be ridden by Mike Smith from post one.

Another runner making just his fourth start is Extra Anejo. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Extra Anejo won a 1-mile allowance optional claiming race by 6 ¼ lengths at Ellis Park in his last race on June 10. Tyler Gaffalione rides, breaking from post seven.

Salute the Stars, a winner of the listed Pegasus Stakes here in his last start, will look to keep trainer Brad Cox's Haskell record perfect. Cox took over his training in mid-winter, switched him from the turf to dirt, and the colt hasn't lost since.

Haskell Entries

9:05 p.m. – Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar

Sixteen runners have signed on for the 56th edition of the San Clemente on the second day of the Del Mar meeting, though only 14 will go postward.

As is often the case with these full-field offerings, the race looms as a wide-open betting affair. A possible favorite may be Anisette, a relative newcomer to the California racing scene who was impressive in her local debut on May 29 when she came running late to capture an allowance race at Santa Anita. The British-bred and raced daughter of the Irish stallion Awtaad works out of the barn of trainer Leonard Powell and will be handled Saturday by Umberto Rispoli.

Powell, a French transplant who is a conditioner on the rise, also has another Euro he'll run in the test in Wed, a French-bred miss who'll be making her U.S. debut and will have top rider Juan Hernandez along for the trip. The daughter of the Irish sire Profitable was a Group 2 stakes winner as a 2-year-old in her native land, but will be making her U.S. bow Saturday.

Other interesting contenders include dirt-to-turf transfer Justique, a filly who drew much attention with her smashing last-to-first maiden debut but has since failed to live up to that promise on the dirt. Unraced since March, Justique draws in off the also-eligible list for trainer John Shirreffs.

Another dirt-to-turf angle comes from the barn of Peter Miller. And Tell Me Nolies finished second in the Santa Anita Oaks to earn a trip to the Kentucky Oaks, but finished 12th beneath the Twin Spires and has since finished last in a Grade 2 on the dirt at Santa Anita. The Arrogate filly, a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old, will try turf for the first time.

San Clemente Entries

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Opening weekend at Saratoga offers a graded stakes triple on Saturday, with a five-horse field entered in the featured Grade 1 Diana for older fillies and mares on the turf. Chad Brown trains four of the five, including defending titlist In Italian.

The G3 Kelso and G3 Sanford are the supporting races on Saturday's card, while Sunday at Saratoga is the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds, the G3 Quick Call.

Four Virginia-bred stakes feature on Saturday at Colonial Downs, each worth $125,000.

There are three $100,000 stakes on a nine-race program Saturday at Laurel Park: the Big Dreyfus for fillies and mares 3 and older at 1 1/8 miles on the turf; the Prince George's County for 3-year-olds and up, also scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the Exceller turf course; and the Caesar's Wish for fillies and mares 3 and up going one mile on the main track.

Saturday's Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth is a 5 1/2-furlong turf spring for 3-year-old fillies, and features a pair of Christophe Clement trainees chasing their first stakes victories off last-out allowance wins: Love Appeals and Plentitude.

Meanwhile, trainer Gregg Sacco is prepared for whatever impact the weather may have on Sunday's $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes with both Freedom Road and Playground Legend entered in the Monmouth Park feature that day, but he'd prefer the 5½-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds remains on the grass. He would run both horses in that case – which would mean the opportunity to finally find out if Freedom Road, a son of Malibu Moon, will take to the turf.

Saturday

2:46 p.m. – Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga

The 85th running of the Diana features defending winner In Italian, who is sure to flaunt her usual pacesetting tactics. The 5-year-old Dubawi mare enters from a gate-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 9 at Belmont Park. She has earned a triple digit Beyer Speed Figure in each of her last five starts, beginning with last year's Diana – where she was the highest price of Brown's four entrants.

Initially campaigned overseas by Harry and Roger Charlton, Whitebeam made her Brown debut when a late-closing second beaten a neck to Evvie Jets in the one-mile Plenty of Grace on April 16 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 4-year-old daughter of Caravaggio stretched out to capture the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Gallorette on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course, fending off a late rally from next out graded-stakes winner Sopran Basilea to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Marketsegmentation, a 4-year-old American Pharoah dark bay, rides a three-race win streak, including the Sand Springs on April 1 and the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 7 at Belmont before stretching out past 1 1/16 miles for the first time to capture the 10-furlong Grade 1 New York on June 9 at Belmont. There, she displayed newfound frontrunning tactics and set a moderate tempo down the backstretch and held off a furious late rally from Didia to win by three-quarters of a length.

Fluffy Socks [post 4, Joel Rosario] enters the Diana only a slim margin away from achieving millionaire status [$994,580] and was last seen capturing the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile in her seasonal debut on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will attempt to deny Brown another Diana coup when saddling Tracy Farmer's graded stakes victress Fev Rover [post 1, Javier Castellano]. The 5-year-old Gutaifan bay will run off two week's rest after capturing the Grade 2 Nassau on July 1 over yielding turf at Woodbine. The effort was her first start since being elevated to third in last year's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor in October at the Toronto oval.

Diana Entries

5:45 p.m. – Grade 3 Kelso Stakes at Saratoga

Big Everest brings a four-race win streak into his graded stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso, a one-mile inner turf test for older horses. The horse won just one of his first five starts, but since being gelded ahead of his 2022 campaign he has won 6-of-7 outings – all in trademark gate-to-wire fashion.

Multiple Grade 1-winner Casa Creed [post 8, Luis Saez, 124 pounds] looms the one to beat and will certainly appreciate any pace that Big Everest can generate.

Mark Casse will saddle a pair of talented Brazilian-breds for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch in multiple Grade 2-winner Filo Di Arianna [post 6, Jose Ortiz, 122 pounds] and Group 3-winner Ice Chocolat [post 4, Flavien Prat, 118 pounds].

Annapolis [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 124 pounds] has banked in excess of $1.3 million through a record of 9-6-2-0 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Rounding out the field are graded-stakes winner English Bee [post 1, John Velazquez, 118 pounds] for conditioner Graham Motion; stakes-winner Anaconda [post 7, Tyler Gaffalione, 117 pounds] for trainer Joe Sharp; and the stakes-placed New York-bred Mid Day Image [post 3, Florent Geroux] for trainer and co-owner David Jacobson. Gun It is entered for the main-track only.

Kelso Entries

6:19 p.m. – Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Gold Sweep (Speightstown) enters from a dominant victory in the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont on June 11, sailing home a nine-length winner after pouncing from just off the pace under Jose Ortiz. He crossed the wire first geared down in a final time of 1:03.47 and garnered a field-high 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jive will vie to provide his freshman sire St Patrick's Day, a full-brother to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, with his first stakes-winner as he makes the step up from a gutsy debut maiden win on May 19 at Gulfstream Park. Jive was both the first starter and winner for his sire with a three-quarter-length score in the five-furlong sprint. The effort was awarded a 60 Beyer.

Jive will vie to provide his freshman sire St Patrick's Day, a full-brother to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, with his first stakes-winner as he makes the step up from a gutsy debut maiden win on May 19 at Gulfstream Park. Jive was both the first starter and winner for his sire with a three-quarter-length score in the five-furlong sprint. The effort was awarded a 60 Beyer.

Debut maiden winner Call the Cavalry [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] enters from a two-length victory on June 4 in a five-furlong sprint at Belmont Park for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Completing the field are the stakes-placed Yo Yo Candy [post 4, Angel Castillo], who finished third in the Tremont and adds blinkers for trainer Daniel Velazquez; debut maiden winners Factor U and Me In [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], who races with blinkers on for trainer Edward Coletti, Jr.; the Barbara Minshall-trained Triple Trea [post 7, Luis Saez]; His Rights [post 8, Javier Castellano] for conditioner Rafael Romero; Market Street [post 10, Tyler Gaffalione] for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas; and second-out maiden-winner Ramming Speed [post 6, Gaddiel Martinez], who tries dirt for the first time after making his first two outings over synthetic for owner/trainer Kevin Rice.

Sanford Entries

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A pair of Grade 1 turf contests for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park take center stage on the United States racing calendar this weekend: the Belmont Oaks and Belmont Derby Invitational. The two Grade 1s are part of four graded stakes scheduled for the penultimate day of racing at the Belmont Park spring/summer meet on Saturday.

Saturday also features the biggest days of horse racing for both Horseshoe Indianapolis and Prairie Meadows.

The former is comprised of Indiana Derby Day, the state's biggest day of horse racing with six listed stakes races and two graded. Two Kentucky Derby alums will contest the day's feature race, the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby: Verifying and Raise Cain.

At Iowa's Prairie Meadows, the $250,000 Iowa Derby drew a field of 14 3-year-olds. That Saturday race is supported by three other stakes races, including the Grade 3 Cornhusker over nine furlongs for older horses, while Friday's card includes four $100,000 stakes.

Delaware Park also has a big card on Saturday, with the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap the major race of the afternoon. Idiomatic is the 7-5 choice in a field of six.

The Los Alamitos Derby drew a field of six 3-year-olds, with John Shirreffs trainee Skinner expected to make his long-awaited return to the races. He will face Bob Baffert trainee Reincarnate.

Saturday's $85,000 Jersey Girl Handicap at Monmouth Park is a one-mile turf contest for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares, featuring a full field of 12 plus two also-eligibles. The top choice on the morning line is Bramble Bay, winner of this race last year but off the board in three starts so far this season.

Saturday

3:09 p.m. – Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park

Graded stakes-winner Charge It will stretch out in attempt of his second win of the year in Saturday's Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban, a 10-furlong main track route for older horses, at Belmont Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Charge It enters from an even fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 10, where he mildly improved position under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez throughout before flattening out down the stretch and finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Cody's Wish.

Tonal Impact [post 1, Jose Ortiz] streaks in off a pair of optional claiming conquests for conditioner Linda Rice. The 5-year-old Tonalist gelding has not missed the board in nine starts since being haltered for $40,000 out of a win in November at Churchill Downs. He makes his stakes debut while in search of his fourth trip to the winner's circle this year, boasting a lifetime record of 25-8-3-5 and earnings of $425,826.

Trainer Juan Alvarado will saddle Clapton in hopes of earning a second graded score after the Florida-bred son of Brethren took Gulfstream's Grade 3 Ghostzapper in April, just the second lifetime graded victory for Alvarado. Clapton was a last-out third in the May 19 Grade 3 Pimlico Special won by Rattle N Roll, earning the placing with a stalking trip under regular pilot Emisael Jaramillo. Clapton boasts a consistent 21-5-3-6 record with $452,890 in total purse earnings.

Red Run [post 2, Tyler Gaffalione] attempts his first victory since being haltered for $50,000 out of a game second-place effort in March. Trained by Mike Maker, the son of Gun Runner has placed in two stakes events since, including a runner-up effort in the 1 1/2-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon on May 3 at Churchill where he was bested a neck by Warrant.

Completing the field is trainer Jim Ryerson's Unbridled Bomber [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a four-time winner from 16 starts who was last seen finishing a distant fourth in the Grade 3 Westchester on May 5 here. The 4-year-old Upstart colt has won 1-of-3 outings this year, notching an impressive nine-length score in a third-level optional claimer traveling one-mile in April at the Big A.

Suburban Entries

4:43 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park

A wide open field of nine sophomore fillies will pursue Grade 1 glory in Saturday's 45th running of the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational, scheduled for 10 furlongs over the inner turf course at Belmont Park.

Both Graham Motion and Chad Brown will send out a pair of formidable contenders, with the former saddling graded/group winners Mission of Joy [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione] and Speirling Beag [post 3, John Velazquez]. Dual graded stakes winner Mission of Joy enters from a 1 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 3 Regret on June 3 at Churchill Downs, where she earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Speirling Beag defeated males when a narrow winner of the Group 3 Eyrefield in October at Leopardstown for her former trainer Jim Bolger. The daughter of Mastercraftsman made her sophomore debut for trainers Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti when fifth in the Group 3 Prix Penelope going 1 5/16 miles at Saint Cloud in France.

Belmont Oaks Entries

4:46 p.m. – Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park

Idiomatic tops a field of six in the 86^th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on Saturday.  This will be the first year the filly and mare race will be contested at the distance of 1 3/16 miles, after being run at a mile and a quarter every year since 1951 (except 2020 when the race was run at mile and an eighth due to the pandemic).

In her most recent, Idiomatic notched a 2 ½-length victory in the G3 Shawnee going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on June 3. Previously, the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin ran second in the G2 Ruffian at a mile at Belmont Park on May 6. The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Brad Cox has a career record of five wins, a second and two thirds from eight starts with earnings of $474,490.

Morning Matcha could give Robert “Butch,” Reid Jr. a rare training double by winning the Delaware Oaks and the Delaware Handicap in the same year. In her most recent, Morning Matcha, finished second, beaten a nose, in the local prep, the 1 1/16-mile Obeah Stakes on May 27. In her only other outing this year, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Central Banker posted a two-length triumph in the seven-furlong Unique Bella Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds at Parx on April 24. Last year, the 4-year-old had a record of two wins, two seconds and three thirds from 10 starts, including a third in the Delaware Oaks, a second in the G1 Cotillion at Parx and a third in the G3 Comely at Aqueduct. She has a career record of five wins, six seconds and five thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $743,390.

Delaware Handicap Entries

5:49 p.m. – Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park

European invaders The Foxes and Silver Knott take on formidable U.S.-based opponents Kalik and Webslinger in Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, a 1 1/4-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Andrew Balding, The Foxes (Churchill) captured the one-mile Group 2 Royal Lodge in September at Newmarket to close out a two-win juvenile campaign. He made his seasonal debut in April with a runner-up effort to Indestructible in the Group 3 Craven traveling one-mile at Newmarket ahead of a surging neck score over Group 3-winner White Birch in the 1 5/16-mile Group 2 Dante on May 18 at York. The Foxes arrives off a fifth-place finish in the 12-furlong Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 3 where he stumbled at the break and advanced to third with a furlong to run before flattening.

Dual Group 3-winner Silver Knott [post 6, Richie Mullen], trained by Charlie Appleby, will look to make amends after a troubled third last out in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge won gate-to-wire by Kalik on June 3 over Belmont's inner turf. Silver Knott stayed at Belmont following the Pennine Ridge and has since visited the starting gate multiple times, including a three-eighths work from the gate in 35.65 on June 14 over the main track.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will saddle a pair of top contenders in graded-stakes winners Webslinger [post 4, Javier Castellano] and Boppy O [post 2, Luis Saez]. Webslinger returned this year as a first-time gelding and has since posted a perfect in-the-money record of 5-3-1-1, including a deep-closing third in the Grade 3 Transylvania in April at Keeneland ahead of close-up efforts at Churchill Downs when victorious in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf on May 6 and the nine-furlong Audubon on June 3. Boppy O has hit the board in 4-of-5 starts this season, entering from a rallying one-length score in the one-mile Jersey Derby on June 3 over Talk of the Nation and third-place Turf King, who exited that event to win the Grade 3 Marine on Sunday at Woodbine.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will seek his first Belmont Derby score when he sends out Kalik [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Redistricting [post 10, Flavien Prat]. Kalik, by Collected, is a perfect 3-for-3 this campaign led by a frontrunning score last out in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge where he set splits of 24.69 seconds, 49.17 and 1:13.01 over the firm ground en route to a one length score in a final time of 1:47.85.

Belmont Derby Entries

6:03 p.m. – Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis

A filed of nine was entered for the $300,000 Indiana Derby, and eight are expected to compete. The group of 3-year-olds includes two starters from this year's Kentucky Derby plus the winner of the Texas Derby and the winner of the Hawthorne Derby in Chicago.

Verifying and Raise Cain both entered the gate for the Kentucky Derby and will lead the charge into Indiana's biggest horse race.

Verifying, from the Brad Cox barn, comes into the race off a second-place finish in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes held at Ellis Park. The Justify colt, purchased for $775,000 at the Keeneland Yearling Sale, will pick up the services of Horseshoe Indianapolis' three-time leading jockey Marcelino Pedroza. The duo starts from post five.

Entering the gate from post two is Raise Cain and Luan Machado. The Violence colt, trained by Ben Colebrook, has one win this season and finished fourth in the Matt Winn Stakes in his last start. Overall, he has more than $300,000 on his card.

Act a Fool from the Larry Rivelli barn is seeking to extend his four-race win streak in the Indiana Derby. The Oscar Performance colt was a winner in his last start in the $100,000 Hawthorne Derby over the turf. He begins from post three with Orlando Mojica, three-time leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis, aboard.

Hayes Strike and Brian Hernandez will vie for their second Derby title this year from post seven. The Ken McPeek-trained Connect colt was a winner in the $300,000 Texas Derby two starts back and comes into the race off a third place finish in the G3 Ohio Derby. Hayes Strike is looking for his third win of 2023.

Indiana Derby Entries

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