It's the kind of weekend horseplayers clamor for. They've got Saturday's Diana, the first Grade 1 race of the Saratoga meeting that opened on Thursday. Out west at Del Mar, following Friday's opening day program, the graded stakes action kicks into gear on Saturday with the G2 San Diego Handicap, an important prep for the seaside track's signature race, the G1 Pacific Classic.
And down on the Jersey Shore is a big 14-race extravaganza that includes six stakes, five of them graded, highlighted by the G1 Haskell Stakes for 3-year-olds and the G1 United Nations for older turf runners. That card gets under way at noon ET.
The New York Racing Association, in partnership with Monmouth Park, is offering a $0.20 all-stakes pick 6 wager that includes four graded stakes from the Oceanport, N.J., track and two from Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
So let's get this spectacular weekend summer party started (all times Eastern).
6:16 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga on FOX
The $500,000 Diana, the anchor leg of the all-stakes pick 6, is scheduled for 6:16 p.m. and can be viewed on the Fox network. It's drawn a field of eight fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on turf and includes Althiqa and Summer Romance from Godolphin trainer Charles Appleby's stable, the 1-2 finishers in the G1 Just A Game Stakes at Belmont on June 5. Althiqa, who won the Just A Game under Mike Smith at 7-1 odds, will have a new pilot on Saturday, Manny Franco, with Smith riding at Del Mar.
Summer Romance, who led the way into deep stretch in that race under Luis Saez, could find herself on the front end again in the Diana as the race does not have a lot of pace in the lineup.
Chad Brown has won the Diana the last five years and has a pair including Irish-bred 5-2 morning line favorite Lemista, second to Harvey's Lil Goil in her U.S. debut in the G3 Beaugay on May 8.The Raven's Pass filly was a Group 2 winner in Ireland last year. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard.
The aforementioned Harvey's Lil Goil from Bill Mott's barn came out of her Beaugay win to run fifth on yielding turf in the 1 1/4-mile New York Stakes June 4. She was a G1 winner against 3-year-old fillies last year in the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland. Regular rider Junior Alvarado will be back aboard.
The second Chad Brown runner Pocket Square, Brendan Walsh-trained La Signare, Magic Attitude from Arnaud Delacour's barn and Shug McGaughey-trained Vigilantes Way round out the field.
5:40 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on FOX
Saratoga's G3 Sanford attracted a dozen 2-year-olds and features nine debut winners making their second starts in the six-furlong dash.
Included in that group is Todd Pletcher-trained Wit, a Practical Joke colt who drew off to win by six lengths in his first outing at Belmont June 5 under Irad Ortiz Jr., who rides him back. Off slowly in that race, Wit drew the rail post in the Sanford, not an ideal post with such a large field.
Wesley Ward-trained Headline Report, a son of Gormley, graduated at first asking at Keeneland April 23, winning by 2 1/4 lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs while racing on or near the lead throughout. John Velazquez, aboard that day, gets back aboard.
9:30 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on TVG
Royal Ship, the 9-5 morning line favorite in Del Mar's San Diego Handicap (post time 9:30 p.m. ET), is the lone Grade/Group 1 winner in the field of nine older runners, having won a G1 in his native Brazil. That was the Midshipman gelding's fifth consecutive victory and last before being imported into the U.S. and joining the Richard Mandella barn.
Royal Ship comes off a narrow loss to Country Grammer in the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 31. Mike Smith, who has piloted Royal Ship in all six of his U.S. starts, will ride.
John Shirreffs-trained Express Train was third to Country Grammer but he just might be a horse for the course, having won two of his three starts at Del Mar, with one second. The Union Rags colt was a close second to Idol after leading into the stretch of the G1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6. He previously won the G2 San Pasqual at Santa Anita.
G2 winners Rushie, Kiss Today Goodbye and Magic on Tap cannot be discounted.
5:47 p.m. ―$1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on NBC
The G1 TVG.com Haskell (post time 5:47 p.m. and broadcast on NBC beginning at 5 p.m. ET as a part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Series) has the runners-up in each of the three Triple Crown races: Mandaloun, second to Medina Spirit in the G1 Kentucky Derby; Midnight Bourbon, second to Rombauer in the G1 Preakness; and Hot Rod Charlie, second to Essential Quality in the G1 Belmont Stakes.
A fourth horse in the lineup, the Runhappy colt Following Sea, figures to be the one they all have to catch as he stretches out from a front-end sprint allowance victory at Belmont Park on June 3. Trained by Bob Baffert in his first two starts, Following Sea is now in Todd Pletcher's New York stable.
Here is a snapshot of the other weekend graded stakes in North America, courtesy of NTRA:
Friday, July 16
5:29 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes at Saratoga on FS2
Trainer Chad Brown holds a strong hand with three starters in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple for 4-year-olds and up going one mile on turf, led by Klaravich Stables' 5-year-old ridgling Value Proposition (GB) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's 6-year-old Sacred Life (FR). Value Proposition, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 3, has won four of eight starts, including a last-out victory on June 6 at Belmont, taking a one-mile optional allowance claiming race by 1 ¼ lengths. Sacred Life is seeking his first graded-stakes win since coming to the U.S. from France in 2019. Ridden from post 3 by Joel Rosario, this year Sacred Life finished third in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 9, and as the 6-5 favorite, came eight wide in the stretch and finished fourth in Pimlico's Grade 2 Dinner Party Stakes on May 15. Brown's third starter Dubb, Nice Guy Stables and Caruso's 5-year-old Delaware (GB) won the listed Danger's Hour Stakes at Aqueduct on April 10. Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 7. The 5-year-old New York-bred gelding Rinaldi, trained by Jim Bond, won last year's listed West Point Stakes against state-breds at Saratoga. Rinaldi finished second in the Danger's Hour. He will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 1.
9 p.m. ―$100,000 Runhappy Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on TVG
The “Turf Meets The Surf” for its 82nd race meeting Frfiday at picturesque Del Mar, and the traditional opening-day feature is the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds. The one-mile turf race has a full field of 12 starters. Sterling Racing's Whatmakessammyrun is the 7-2 morning line favorite off back-to-back scores at Santa Anita in an optional allowance claiming race on May 2 and a 3 ¾-length win in the listed Desert Code Stakes on June 6. Trained by Mark Glatt, Whatmakessammyrun will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 11. Exline-Border, SAF Racing, Stonestreet Stables and Richard Hausman's Dream Shake, trained by Peter Eurton, will be trying the turf for the first time after five starts on the main track. After breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in a race featuring the much-hyped Bezos in February, Dream Shake had consecutive third-place finishes in the Grade 2 San Felipe and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He made a valiant stretch drive in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 1, losing by just a head to Jackie's Warrior. Dream Shake finished fourth in his next start, the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park on June 5. Joe Bravo has the mount from post 5.
Saturday, July 17
1:52 p.m. – $150,000 Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG
Juddmonte's Juliet Foxtrot leads the field of seven fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes. Juliet Foxtrot, trained by Brad Cox, has won four graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on April 10. She went off at 1-2 in the Grade 3 Old Forester Mint Julep at Churchill Downs on June 12, and had a clear lead at the sixteenth pole before being passed by Mintd, and wound up finishing second by a half-length. Juliet Foxtrot will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 5. Four starters in the Matchmaker are trained by Chad Brown, led by defending champion Nay Lady Nay, who is owned by First Row Partners and Hidden Brook Farm. Ridden by Paco Lopez from post 6, Nay Lady Nay, winless in two starts this year, finished sixth in her last start, the Grade 3 Eatontown over the Monmouth course on June 20. Klaravich Stables' Counterparty Risk (IRE), third in the Eatontown, won the Grade 3 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes in February for Brown. Nik Suarez rides from post 3. Repole Stable's 5-year-old Always Shopping, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream in January. Florent Geroux has the mount breaking from post 1.
3:29 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG
Leading the seven-horse field for Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Cup is John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley's NY Traffic, who came within a nose of reaching future Horse of the Year Authentic at the wire in last year's Grade 1 Haskell Stakes. That was the highpoint of 2020 for the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Cross Traffic. Afterward, NY Traffic finished eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and ninth in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes. This year, NY Traffic won an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park on May 2, and finished second by a length to 79-1 Informative in Monmouth's Grade 3 Salvator Mile on June 12. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 4. St. Elias Stables 4-year-old Dr. Post, third in last year's Haskell, won the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont Park on May 1. Joel Rosario rides Dr. Post from post 5. The most impressive recent winner entered in the Monmouth Cup is Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's New York-bred Bank It, who drew off to a 13 ¼-length romp in the black type, 1-mile Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park on May 31 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Now a six-time winner, Bank It will be ridden by Paco Lopez from post 7.
4:38 p.m. ― $250,000 Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG
Kueber Racing, Barlar, Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing's Pennsylvania-bred Vault disappointed as the 3-1 second choice in last year's Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes, finishing sixth. In this year's renewal at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares, Vault, trained by Brad Cox, faces six rivals. Ridden from post 3 by Tyler Gaffalione, Vault won the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont Park on May 2 before finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs. E.V. Racing Stables' 4-year-old Water Whitefinished second to Vault in the Ruffian by 1 3/4 lengths, but trailed five rivals last time out in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps. Trained by Rudy Rodriquez, Water White will be ridden by Hector Diaz Jr. from post 7. Joseph Allen's 4-year-old Mrs. Danvers won last year's Grade 3 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct, and this year, finished second in the Top Flight Stakes. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Mrs. Danvers will be ridden by Paco Lopez from post 2.
5:12 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on NBC
The 7-year-old Arklow, a five-time graded-stakes winner, leads a 10-horse field as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Coneway, and trained by Brad Cox, Arklow finished fourth in last year's United Nations as the 8-5 favorite. He was sixth the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, but rebounded to win the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 27. Arklow made a successful 2021 debut on May 15, winning the Grade 3, 1 ½-mile Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs. Arklow will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 1. Trainer Chad Brown has three starters in the race, headed by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's 5-year-old Tribhuvan (FR), who finished second in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes on June 5. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 10. Waterford Stable's Winters Back, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished second in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes on June 5. David Cohen rides from post 6.
6:03 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Arlington Stakes at Arlington Park on TVG
Michael Hui's 7-year-old gelding Zulu Alpha, a 12-time winner, is the one to beat making his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Arlington Park Stakes on turf against seven rivals, headlining Million Preview Day. Trained by Mike Maker, Zulu Alpha, winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January 2020, went on to capture two Grade 2 races in the MacDiarmida, also at Gulfstream, and the TVG Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland. Unfortunately, a leg injury in September following a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup put a stop on the rest of his season. David Cabrera has the mount from post 2. Lothenbach Stables' Captivating Moon won the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes in February for trainer Chris Block, but has finished out of the money in his last four starts, including a fourth-place finish over the Arlington surface in the listed Hanshin Cup Stakes at 1 mile on June 26. Declan Carroll has the mount from post 8.
7:11 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Modesty Stakes at Arlington Park on TVG
Twelve fillies and mares have been entered in the Grade 3 Modesty going 1 1/16 miles on turf and La Nora's 6-year-old mare Joy Epifora (ARG) is the 7-2 morning line favorite. Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Joy Epifora finished second in a 1 1/8-mile optional allowance claiming race at Churchill Downs in her last start on June 13. After winning two races in France last year, Hunter Valley Farm, Debra O'Connor and Marc Detampel's Family Way had a second-place finish in an allowance race at Keeneland in April, and then won a 1 1/8-mile optional allowance claiming race at Churchill Downs on May 21. Adam Beschizza will ride, breaking from post 7. Ballybrit Stable's 6-year-old Illinois homebred Bramble Queen, a nine-time winner, makes her second start of the year for trainer Michael Dini. In her 2021 debut on May 23 at Belmont Park, Bramble Queen finished fifth in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race.
Sunday, July 18
4:17 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
Stronach Stables' Ontario-bred Silent Poet is the defending champion of the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, facing eight rivals at 7 furlongs on turf. Trained by Nicholas Gonzalez, the 6-year-old gelding has won 10 races in 20 starts, including last year's Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes. Justin Stein has the mount from post 2. Tracy Farmer's 5-year-old gelding Chuck Willis (IRE), a winner of four in a row, figures to be one of the favorites. Trained by Mark Casse, Chuck Willis has won three races at Woodbine, including a wire-to-wire score in a 1-mile handicap on May 31. Kazushi Kimura has the mount from post 8. Ivan Dalos's Ontario-bred Avie's Flatter has won five races, including his 2021 debut, taking a 7-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Woodbine by 5 1/4 lengths on June 3. Trained by Josie Carroll, the 5-year-old Avie's Flatter finished second in the 2019 Queen's Plate. He will be ridden by Luis Contreras from post 1.
9:30 p.m.― $100,000 Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar on TVG.
Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte's 7-year-old Red King, winner of last year's Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, returns to Del Mar for Sunday's Grade 3, 1 ½-mile Cougar II Stakes in a field of six older horses. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Red King upset multiple graded stakes winner United in the Del Mar Handicap. This year, the son of English Channel has had two third place finishes at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham and in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano. Umberto Rispoli has the mount from post 4. My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm's 4-year-old Tizamagician won the Grade 3, 1 ½-mile Tokyo City Handicap at Santa Anita by nine lengths on April 18 for trainer Richard Mandella. Tizamagician returns to California following a second-place finish in the Grade 2, 1 ½-mile Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 5. He will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 6.
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