Hong Kong International Races take center stage in weekend horse racing

The Longines Hong Kong International Races take center stage in weekend horse racing. Japan provides the other global highpoint with the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. The 2-year-old fillies also take part in the sole North American Grade I affair, the Starlet at Los Alamitos.

There are 14 entries for the renewal of the Hong Kong International Races. The marquee event is the Longines Hong Hong Mile. Japan has the largest representation at the HKIR. Ireland, France, Germany, Austrtalia and Singapore also have horses. The local hope and likely favorite is Romantic Warrior. Order of Australia is also a contender. He won the Breeders' Cup Mile two years ago. It's one of eight wins from nine starts for Romantic Warriors. His last victory was in the BMW Hongkong Derby. Last year's third-place finisher Salios and Schnell Meister are also competing.

Some potential stars of the future will contest Sunday's Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in Japan. The race is wide open with 15 fillies confirmed, based on earnings, and another 14 nominees hoping for a lucky draw to get one of three remaining spots. Ravel has a graded stakes win at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 29.

Hong Kong International Races take center stage in weekend horse racing.

There is only one graded stakes race in North America this weekend.

The $300,000 Grade I Starlet for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos is a race that trainer Bob Baffert has won eight times. Saturday's renewal is the renewal. The morning-line favorite is Faiza, who won her only previous start at Del Mar on Nov. 12.

Tyler's Tribe is back on the dirt after a few weeks off. He was racing for the first time with the anti-bleeding medication Lasix. The horse will be back back with LasIX on Friday. The stakes action continues Saturday with $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes at 6 furlongs and $ 150,00 Mistletoe for fillies and mares at 7 furs.

Saturday's $120,000 Garland of Roses race takes place at Aqueduct.

There are 79 entries for Saturday's Louisiana Champions Day for state-breds. There are eight races on the dirt, all chasing a combined $850,000 in purse money.