Best Horse Racing Weekend Picks: Belmont, Churchill Downs
There are big money and Breeders’ Cup berths on the line this weekend. Belmont Park offers a $1 million Jockey Club Derby and $700,000 Jockeying Club Oaks. Woodbine Mile and Canadian International are important races for older males. Churchill Downs offers the Iroquois and Pocahontas for males and fillies.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Creative Flair and the Andre Fabre- trained Harajuku are the American contenders in Saturday's second running of the Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Park. The 1 3/8 miles test on the inner turf at the Bel Mont Park is the final leg of a Turf Triple Series for 3-year-old fillies.
Harajuku (4/1) is the daughter of Deep Impact and is going to race in the Jockey Club Oaks.
Bolshoi Ballet is the favorite in Saturday's Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park. The son of Galileo won the Grade 1 Belmonter Derby two months ago. Yibir is making his first start in America and will present a big challenge to the favourite. Soldier Rising made his American debut at Saratoga and finished two spots ahead of Bolshi Ballett in the Sar atoga Derby. Tokyo Gold finished second in his Grade one Bel Mont Derby in first American start.
Raging Bull is the morning line favorite for Saturday's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. Set Piece finished ahead of Ragingbull last time. The Arch, Olympic Runner and Ride a Comet are also contenders. The 25th edition of the Wood bine mile is taking place at Wood Bine.
English-bred gelding Set Piece looks primed to become a Grade 1 winner on Saturday.
Desert Encounter is aiming to become the first horse to win three consecutive Canadian Internationals. Walton Street is the defending champion and will be making his first start in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby. He finished third in the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin.
Belichick is a 6/1 outsider for the Belmont.
The Pocahontas Stakes is a points producer for the 2022 Kentucky Oaks. Eleven juvenile fillies are set to do battle in Saturday's 53rd running of the $300,000 Pochonta. Ontheonesandtwos, a daughter of Jimmy Creed trained by Norm Casse, could go favored.
Best Horse Racing Weekend picks are Belmont and Churchill Downs. Maxine Machine (4/1) won her debut race.
The road to the Kentucky Derby will officially begin on Saturday night at Churchill Downs. The 40th running of the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes will take place. There is also a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Stellar Tap, trained by Steve Asmussen, was a winner of his debut at Saratoga. Roger McQueen, the son of Unified, finished third in his first appearance at the track.
Bourbon Heist is the favorite at 8/1.
Brian Zipse is the author of 215 articles about horse racing. He was the Editor of Horse Racing Nation from 2010-2017. WSN.com is registered with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement under affiliate vendor ID 89744, with Indiana Gaming Commission under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, and with Vendor Minor sports betting license from Colorado Limited Gaming control commission.
