Photo:
Colonial Downs / Del Mar / NYRA
If the weather and course conditions cooperate, Saturday
will be one of the busiest days for top-level turf stakes. It will be one that
goes a long way toward shaping championship campaigns the rest of this year.
The Grade 1 Arlington Million will anchor the card at
Colonial Downs in Virginia where the feature may yield a Breeders’ Cup
candidate or two, and the Beverly D. (G2) will be an automatic qualifier for
the Filly & Mare Turf.
Stakes Tracker: This is where to get a 2nd look.
The Fourstardave (G1), a win-and-you’re-in for the Breeders’
Cup Mile, is the feature on a reconfigured Saratoga card that picked up two turf
stakes pushed back a week because of rain.
Ellis Park and Emerald Downs host their biggest days
of the summer come Sunday. But it is a track in the gateway to Canada’s
west where the first of this week’s noteworthy stakes will be run Monday.
Monday
Manitoba Derby, Assiniboia Downs, 1 1/8 miles,
3-year-olds
Awesome Road will be on his third trainer in as many races. A
debut victor last summer for Brad Cox at Ellis Park, the $600,000 colt has gone
winless in six races since. After being handled by Robertino Diodoro for a
fifth-place finish May 27 in the Texas Derby, the son of Quality Road was
transferred to Rick Wise and was made the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the
year’s biggest horse race in Winnipeg. Last year’s renewal was part of the
inaugural version of what has been renamed the Western Canadian Derby Series.
It was removed this year because of a government anemia quarantine of
Assiniboia Downs, leaving only the Aug. 24 Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile
and the Sept. 14 B.C. Derby (G3) at Hastings.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Magnolia Speed Clearly Now |
0.00 |
3rd, Derby Trial S. |
30-1 | ||
Last Race |
3rd, Derby Trial S. |
|||||
2 |
Lucky Appeal Breaking Lucky |
0.00 |
4th, Derby Trial S. |
50-1 | ||
Last Race |
4th, Derby Trial S. |
|||||
3 |
Bricklayer Always Dreaming |
0.00 |
1st, CBY ALW (07/14/2024-R3) |
5-2 | ||
Last Race |
1st, CBY ALW (07/14/2024-R3) |
|||||
4 |
No Show No Call Kentucky Bear |
0.00 |
1st, ASD ALW (07/22/2024-R7) |
20-1 | ||
Last Race |
1st, ASD ALW (07/22/2024-R7) |
|||||
5 |
McEwen Khozan |
0.00 |
1st, ASD ALW (07/08/2024-R6) |
15-1 | ||
Last Race |
1st, ASD ALW (07/08/2024-R6) |
|||||
6 |
Lt. Norm City of Light |
0.00 |
2nd, Derby Trial S. |
12-1 | ||
Last Race |
2nd, Derby Trial S. |
|||||
7 |
Itsallgoodman Speightster |
0.00 |
2nd, Count Lathum H. |
8-1 | ||
Last Race |
2nd, Count Lathum H. |
|||||
8 |
Awesome Road Quality Road |
5.91 | 7-5 | |||
Last Race |
||||||
9 |
Roussette Blame |
0.00 |
5th, ELP AOC (07/06/2024-R9) |
9-2 | ||
Last Race |
5th, ELP AOC (07/06/2024-R9) |
Saturday
Arlington Million (G1), Colonial Downs, 1 1/4 miles
(turf), 3-year-olds and up
Well-traveled 5-year-old entire Nations Pride, who has
top-level wins in the U.S., Canada and Germany, comes into the Million off a
second-place finish June 8 in the Manhattan (G1). The Godolphin homebred made
up six places going 1 3/16 miles that day at Saratoga, and he is stretching
back to a distance at which he has won six times in eight starts. In U.S. races
this year, Nations Pride’s trainer Charlie Appleby is 32: 11-7-6, most recently
winning Friday with Cinderella’s Dream in the Saratoga Oaks (G2). This will be
the smallest-ever field for the Million, which began in 1981 in Chicagoland. Chad Brown, who
holds the record with four training victories in the race, will miss the
Million for the first time since 2012.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Integration Quality Road |
6.67 |
1st, Million Preview S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Million Preview S. |
|||||
2 |
Ancient Rome War Front |
6.34 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
3 |
Sugoi Karakontie |
5.91 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
4 |
Nations Pride Teofilo |
7.68 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
5 |
Highland Chief Gleneagles |
6.24 |
2nd, Prince George’s County S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Prince George’s County S. |
|||||
6 |
Talk Of The Nation Quality Road |
6.82 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Beverly D. (G2), Colonial Downs, 1 3/16 miles (turf),
fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
automatic qualifier
Fev Rover defeated four rivals last year in Colonial’s first
hosting of the Beverly D. Now 6, the Ireland-bred mare by Gutaifan will try to
win it again, this time against five other starters. The millionaire owned by
Tracy Farmer and trained by Mark Casse was a beaten odds-on favorite in her
last start, finishing a troubled second in a rainy, one-mile Nassau (G2) on
June 29 at Woodbine. Canada’s 2022 horse of the year Moira comes into the
Beverly D. off her second-place finish July 13 in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Libban Laoban |
6.05 |
1st, Wasted Tears S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Wasted Tears S. |
|||||
2 |
Nadette Outstrip |
6.40 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
3 |
Neecie Marie Cross Traffic |
6.74 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
4 |
Fev Rover Gutaifan |
6.73 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
5 |
Mission Of Joy Kitten’s Joy |
6.70 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
6 |
Moira Ghostzapper |
6.80 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Secretariat (G2), Colonial Downs, 1 mile (turf),
3-year-olds
The winner of last month’s 1 3/16-mile Belmont Derby
Invitational (G1) at Aqueduct, Trikari may revert to one mile Saturday for the
Secretariat, which drew nine 3-year-olds. However, he was one of the three
colts cross-entered in this race and the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1),
which was pushed back a week because of rain. Connections for Trikari, First
World War and Fulmineo are expected to wait out iffy weather forecasts before
making a decision on where to go.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Brilliant Berti Noble Mission |
6.12 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
2 |
Rock’n a Halo Catholic Boy |
0.00 |
4th, Audubon S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
4th, Audubon S. |
|||||
3 |
Bear River Flameaway |
4.79 |
1st, Dade Park Dash S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Dade Park Dash S. |
|||||
4 |
In A Jam Preservationist |
5.07 |
4th, Boston S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
4th, Boston S. |
|||||
5 |
Fulmineo Bolt d’Oro |
5.47 |
1st, Boston S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Boston S. |
|||||
6 |
General Ledger Summer Front |
5.12 |
1st, GP AOC (07/19/2024-R8) |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, GP AOC (07/19/2024-R8) |
|||||
7 |
First World War War Front |
6.28 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
8 |
Mattingly Bucchero |
4.12 |
3rd, My Frenchman S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
3rd, My Frenchman S. |
|||||
9 |
Trikari Oscar Performance |
7.36 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Fourstardave (G1), Saratoga, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-olds
and up, Breeders’ Cup Mile automatic qualifier
In a battle of recent graded-stakes winners, Appleby goes
with the 5-year-old Ottoman
Fleet against Brown, who counters with 4-year-old Carl Spackler. Ottoman Fleet also sports
back-to-back graded-stakes triumphs, including the Wise Dan (G2) on June 29 at
Churchill Downs. This handicap is one of the few Saratoga turf stakes that
Brown has not won. Carl Spackler rolls in for him off last month’s narrow
victory in the Kelso (G3) over the same course and distance.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Strong Quality Quality Road |
6.28 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
2 |
Master Of The Seas Dubawi |
7.37 | Scratched | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
3 |
Major Dude Bolt d’Oro |
6.18 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
4 |
Carl Spackler Lope de Vega |
7.26 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
5 |
Money Supply Practical Joke |
6.27 |
1st, Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial S. |
|||||
6 |
Ottoman Fleet Sea The Stars |
7.40 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
7 |
More Than Looks More Than Ready |
6.30 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1), Saratoga, 1 3/16 miles
(turf), 3-year-olds
This race, which was redrawn after rain pushed it back a
week, opened up when top two morning-line choices Diego Velázquez, who went
back to Europe, and Cugino, who was reported to have a fever, were not
re-entered. Appleby is coming back in with Legend of Time, the Pennine Ridge
(G2) winner who finished a close third last month in the Belmont Derby. Carson’s Run was a stakes winner last out at Monmouth Park.
If Trikari and Fulmineo stay at Saratoga rather than go to Colonial Downs for
the Secretariat, they, too, will come in off stakes victories. First World War also
is cross-entered in the two races for 3-year-olds.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Legend Of Time Sea The Stars |
6.27 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
2 |
Izzy D’oro Get Stormy |
0.00 |
4th, Tale of the Cat S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
4th, Tale of the Cat S. |
|||||
3 |
Royal Majesty Frankel |
6.06 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
4 |
Carson’s Run Cupid |
6.09 |
1st, Tale of the Cat S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
1st, Tale of the Cat S. |
|||||
5 |
Fulmineo Bolt d’Oro |
5.47 |
1st, Boston S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Boston S. |
|||||
6 |
Deterministic Liam’s Map |
6.44 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
7 |
First World War War Front |
6.28 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
8 |
Trikari Oscar Performance |
7.36 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Saratoga Special (G2), Saratoga, 6 1/2 furlongs,
2-year-olds
Keep It Easy, who cost St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds
$450,000 at a yearling sale, broke his maiden on second asking by trainer Dale
Romans on June 27 at Churchill Downs. His four-length win going six furlongs
was worth a 79 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. That
is the best for any of the juveniles in this field.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Smoken Wicked Bobby’s Wicked One |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
2 |
Showcase Uncle Mo |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
3 |
Global Legend Global Campaign |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
4 |
First Resort Uncle Mo |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
5 |
Touchy Nyquist |
0.00 |
2nd, Tremont S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Tremont S. |
|||||
6 |
Ace It Connect |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
7 |
Noble Force Cairo Prince |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
8 |
Good Directions Liam’s Map |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
9 |
Keep It Easy Hard Spun |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
Troy (G2), Saratoga, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), 4-year-olds
and up
Even though this race also was postponed one week and redrawn,
the story did not change. Cogburn looks more than ready to defend his 2023
victory in this race while bolstering his case to be a division champion. The
5-year-old millionaire trained by Steve Asmussen is coming off a record-setting
performance in the Jaipur (G1) on Belmont Stakes day. He has finished first in five
of his last six races and is 3-for-3 at the Troy distance, all since his
successful switch from dirt in the spring of 2023.
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Witty Great Notion |
5.56 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
2 |
Outlaw Kid Violence |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
3 |
Step Forward Speightstown |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
4 |
Cogburn Not This Time |
7.65 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
5 |
Thin White Duke Dominus |
5.73 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
6 |
Big Invasion Declaration of War |
6.17 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
7 |
Dancing Buck War Dancer |
6.06 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
8 |
Xy Speed First Samurai |
4.79 |
1st, GP HCP (05/25/2024-R5) |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
1st, GP HCP (05/25/2024-R5) |
|||||
9 |
Grooms All Bizness Fed Biz |
4.12 |
1st, Get Serious S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
1st, Get Serious S. |
|||||
10 |
Sosua Summer Summer Front |
4.45 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
11 |
Mischievous Angel Into Mischief |
0.00 |
3rd, SAR AOC (06/07/2024-R5) |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
3rd, SAR AOC (06/07/2024-R5) |
|||||
12 |
Surveillance Constitution |
5.62 | Entered | |||
Last Race |
||||||
13 |
Disarmed Maclean’s Music |
4.45 |
2nd, Kingston S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race |
2nd, Kingston S. |
Canadian (G2), Woodbine, 1 1/8 miles (turf), fillies and
mares, 3-year-olds and up
The Woodbine racing office does not divulge probable starters, but of the 20
nominees, workout cycles suggested Gamely (G1) third-place finisher Forever
After All, Gallorette (G3) runner-up Five Towns, Nassau (G2) third- and
fourth-place finishers Millie Girl and Full Count Felicia, Modesty (G3) victor
Fast as Flight, 2023 Woodbine Oaks winner Elysian Field, Brazil-bred allowance
winner For Flying and Sheepshead Bay (G3) runner-up Star Fortress were
possibilities to start in this US$144,139 race.
Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fast as Flight Air Force Blue |
6.39 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Star Fortress Sea The Stars |
6.30 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Forever After All Connect |
5.89 |
2nd, Anchorage Overnight S. |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Anchorage Overnight S. |
|||||
Full Count Felicia War Front |
5.56 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Five Towns Lord Kanaloa |
5.34 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Elysian Field Hard Spun |
4.45 |
1st, WO AOC (07/13/2024-R7) |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, WO AOC (07/13/2024-R7) |
|||||
For Flying Drosselmeyer |
0.00 |
1st, DEL AOC (06/27/2024-R7) |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, DEL AOC (06/27/2024-R7) |
|||||
Millie Girl Hard Spun |
0.00 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
Yellow
Ribbon Handicap (G2), Del Mar, 1 1/16 miles (turf), fillies and mares,
3-year-olds and up
Anisette would
be the certain favorite for this race if she were entered. On either side of a five-month
break, the 4-year-old Awtaad filly owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and
trained by Leonard Powell won the American Oaks (G1) and the Gamely (G1) in her
last two starts. The Del Mar racing office said intentions for its three weekend
graded stakes were coming up light, so it actually did not list any probables
or possibles for the Yellow Ribbon. Based on workouts, recent results and
entries elsewhere, 11 of the 15 nominees looked like they could fit this race
into their schedules.
Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anisette Awtaad |
7.49 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Ruby Nell Bolt d’Oro |
6.53 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Bellabel Belardo |
6.19 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Spirit And Glory Cotai Glory |
6.07 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Super Shine Super Saver |
5.93 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Five Towns Lord Kanaloa |
5.34 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Fuente Ovejuna Lope de Vega |
5.27 |
1st, Indiana General Assembly Distaff H. |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Indiana General Assembly Distaff H. |
|||||
Lucky Girl Exceed And Excel |
5.09 |
4th, Mizdirection S. |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
4th, Mizdirection S. |
|||||
Uncorked Uncle Mo |
4.12 |
2nd, ELP MSW (06/17/2023-R7) |
Possible | |||
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, ELP MSW (06/17/2023-R7) |
|||||
Yerwanthere Markaz |
4.12 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
Paris Secret Zoffany |
0.00 | Possible | ||||
Last Race Next Race |
Sorrento
(G3), Del Mar, 6 furlongs, 2-year-old fillies
Night Beacon,
a $45,000 Spun to Run filly who won her May 10 debut at Santa Anita for trainer
Ryan Hanson, was the only nominee who was listed as probable for the Sorrento.
The track racing office expected either Nooni or Casalu would be entered by
trainer Bob Baffert with the hope that both would start. Each won by open
lengths in her five-furlong debut. Nooni got a 78 Beyer for her victory. Vodka
With a Twist, who won the $225,000 Debutante Stakes on June 30 at Churchill
Downs, would bring a 2-for-3 record into the race if Phil D’Amato sends her.
Sunday
Ellis Park Derby, Ellis Park, 1 mile, 3-year-olds
Catalytic and Who Dey, both of whom felt the glare of the
Churchill Downs spotlight during the spring and early summer, will bookend the
signature race on the Ellis Park calendar. Catalytic returned from his
19th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to come in a close second July 5 as the
odds-on favorite in the listed Carry Back. Who Dey finished only 1 1/2 lengths
behind to take fourth in the Pat Day Mile (G2) before he came in second as the
7-5 favorite June 9 in the Matt Winn (G3).
Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Who Dey Liam’s Map |
5.91 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
2 |
Most Wanted Candy Ride |
4.45 |
1st, ELP ALW (07/21/2024-R6) |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, ELP ALW (07/21/2024-R6) |
|||||
3 |
Not This Boy Not This Time |
0.00 |
1st, ELP ALW (07/04/2024-R4) |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
1st, ELP ALW (07/04/2024-R4) |
|||||
4 |
Give Me A Reason Justify |
5.34 |
3rd, ELP ALW (07/04/2024-R4) |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
3rd, ELP ALW (07/04/2024-R4) |
|||||
5 |
Stretch Ride Street Sense |
5.82 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
6 |
Native Land Mastery |
0.00 | Entered | |||
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
7 |
Catalytic Catalina Cruiser |
6.30 |
2nd, Carry Back S. |
Entered | ||
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Carry Back S. |
Best Pal
(G3), Del Mar, 6 furlongs, 2-year-olds
Getaway Car,
Mischief River and Tiz Happy, all debut winners in their only starts, were the only
horses listed by the Del Mar racing office as possible starters. Trained by Bob
Baffert, Getaway Car is a Curlin colt who cost the SF Racing partnership
$700,000. Bow River Ranch’s Chris Galpin and trainer James Galpin, both known
in quarter-horse circles, bought Into Mischief colt Mischief River for
$500,000. Calumet Farm homebred Tiz Happy is a Runhappy colt in the Doug O’Neill
stable.
Longacres
Mile, Emerald Downs, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up
Nominations
were not due to close until Monday at 3 a.m. EDT for the $150,000 race that
began at the old Longacres racetrack in 1935. After three years at Yakima
Meadows, the Mile was moved to Emerald Downs in 1996. Entries will be taken
Wednesday for this weekend’s race.