Hong Kong, rare white Thoroughbred in Japan highlight weekend racing
There are a number of races on the weekend schedule. The Hong Kong International Races are taking place on Sunday. In Japan, there is a Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Filles at the Hanshine Racecourse. Gulfstream Park offers five stakes races Saturday. Louisiana Champions Day is held at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Magical and Beauty Generation are the favorites in the Longines Hong Kong Cup. The program also includes the Hongkong Sprint at 6 furlongs and the Vase at 1 1/2 miles. There are no casual fans at the event, so only officials, owners and their families will attend. The competition in Cup includes Japan's Win Bright, Danon Premium and Normcor. Time Warp, Furore, Skalleti and Order of Australia are also competing. Golden Sixty is expected to be the star of Hong kong's future. He won the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
The Hanshin Juvenile Fillies race is the first of two big-deal events for Japan's top 2-year-olds. Sodashi, Meikei Yell and Satono Reinas are undefeated. Meikki Yel is trained by Hidenori Take, a close relative of legendary jockey Yutaka Take. Satono Reina is a daughter of Sakae Kunieda and Christophe Lemaire, who trained Almond Eye.
Mildenberger tops a field of 10 at Newcastle for the conditions stakes. It's the first Fast-Track Qualifier in the marathon category of the All-Weather Championships. The winner of this contest receives a guaranteed start in Betway All Weather Marathon Championship at Lingfield Park on All weather finals day on April 2.
Gulfstream Park has five stakes races on Saturday. The $200,000 Grade II Fort Lauderdale is a local prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf on January 23. Trainer Todd Pletcher is fielding two well-regarded contenders, Halladay and Largent. Lady Lawyer is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Grade 75 My Charmer for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Golden Ami is 2/1 favorite for Grade III Rampart at one mile on brown course. Tax and Phat Man are the morning line favorites in Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday.
Louisiana Champions Day is on Saturday. Quarter Horse races start the festivities.
Aqueduct hosts the Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds on Saturday. The same race is on Sunday for state- bred fillies and mares.
Tampa Bay Downs has a pair of 7-furlong dirt contests for statebreds on Saturday. The $75,000 FTBOA Marion County for 3-year-olds and up and the $ 75,00 FT BOA City of Ocala for fillies and mares are on the card.
