It’s a Breeders’ Cup launching pad Saturday across North America as we welcome Keeneland into the fall fold. Hop aboard the stakes express with stops in New York, Kentucky, California and Canada.
Here goes (in chronological order):
1. Belmont at the Big A Race 5, 2:13 pm ET | The 1-3/8 miles trip of the Jockey Club Derby Invitational looks to be a serious challenge on past performances and pedigrees for all 3 of the favorites, lending some hope to run-all-day class riser #6 El Rezeen to pull a rare upset for the Pletcher-Irad duo.
2. Belmont at the Big A Race 6, 2:45 pm ET | The Belmont Turf Sprint quality was emptied by an equine exodus to Keeneland for the more lucrative Woodford, leaving horse-for-course specialist #9 Nothing Better no excuses.
3. Belmont at the Big A Race 7, 3:17 pm ET | Frizette projected heavy favorite #8 Senza Parole will scratch as will #6 Paradise City, leaving this race handcuffed and maybe gives #3 Pondering a chance to show that the last non-effort was because of the slop.
4. Woodbine Race 5, 3:29 pm ET | Saratoga and Colonial shippers add intrigue to the 5-furlong Algonquin turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies, but expect #2 Bullet to bounce back after a troubled start and defend her home turf.
5. Keeneland Race 6, 3:40 pm ET | Last year’s Woodford 1-2 finishers are back, and an advantageous post and likely better price make #4 Our Shot the tab over #10 Arzak in a field that also includes Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champ #6 Nobals.
6. Belmont at the Big A Race 8, 3:49 pm ET | The 1-turn mile of the Champagne ought to help slow-starting Hopeful winner #9 Chancer McPatrick even more, but don’t be surprised if he’s all out to catch upset-minded #6 Vekoma Rules.
7. Woodbine Race 6, 4:02 pm ET | Since defending Singspiel champ #1 Palazzi gives himself a lot to do from far back, and #14 Truly Quality is a morning line favorite with a difficult post to overcome, #4 Malibu Mambo is the 10-1 ML play off a perfect prep.
8. Keeneland Race 7, 4:12 pm ET | Seven distaff sprinters in the Thoroughbred Club of America aren’t separated by much, but a win over the track and Keeneland ace pilot Luis Saez aboard give #3 Brightwork a very tepid nod.
9. Keeneland Race 8, 4:44 pm ET | Trainer Chad Brown has won the First Lady 6 years in a row (last year with #4 Gina Romantica), and the value play among his quartet entered here could be #8 Chili Flag, who is better than her last showed.
10. Santa Anita Race 3, 5:00 pm ET | Baffert has half of the 8 fillies in the 1-1/16 miles Oak Leaf, and the best BRIS late pace figure in the group belongs to #8 Non Compliant (Juan Hernandez opts to ride) as they extend their trips.
11. Woodbine Race 8, 5:08 pm ET | 2023 South African Horse of the Year #1 Princess Calla makes her first start since a spring purchase and transfer to Chad Brown in the Dance Smartly, but it’s taken her a while to get to the races and that pushes me toward late-running #5 Nadette at 8-1 ML.
12. Keeneland Race 9, 5:16 pm ET | The 1-1/16 miles Breeders’ Futurity runs through #1 Ferocious and #5 East Avenue with the former better-equipped for the distance at his moment off a pair of strong Saratoga efforts.
13. Santa Anita Race 4, 5:30 pm ET | Wesley Ward’s #5 Dreamaway looked absolutely dominant in the Colleen at Monmouth and is too fast for those in the Speakeasy if she ships west; otherwise go with #2 Kale’s Angel for good turf sprint Peter Miller barn.
14. Woodbine Race 9, 5:40 pm ET | Local Tapeta sprint star #5 Patches O’Houlihan headlines the Nearctic, but his change to turf and a potential speed duel have me drooling to try #1 Dhabab from off the pace at 20-1 ML.
15. Keeneland Race 10, 5:48 pm ET | #9 Carl Spackler is favored in the $1.25 million Turf Mile off a career-best, but Frankel’s half-brother #2 Kikkuli brings European class to a division that’s been sub-par this year in the US and is the play.
16. Santa Anita Race 7, 7:00 pm ET | The Chillingworth gives likely Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sprint chalk #3 Sweet Azteca (pictured) her final prep and her first match-up against rising star #2 Hope Road in what should be a short-priced exacta.
17. Santa Anita Race 8, 7:30 pm ET | Three eastern shippers, led by top choice #5 Beach Bomb, raid for the Rodeo Drive, where 3-year-old unbeaten #4 Iscreamuscream may come up short on distance and experience.
18. Santa Anita Race 9, 8:00 pm ET | The American Pharoah includes a trio of Bafferts, but #1 McKinzie Street for Yakteen was visually best of the Del Mar Futurity returnees here and has trained very well in company at XBTV since.
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