This week in horse racing: Grass greener at Keeneland

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and the Sycamore Stakes are being held at Keeneland this week. The $300,000 Sycramore is three weeks and a day away from the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Spenderella, the top American 3-year-old turf filly, has not posted a workout since her Del Mar Oaks score and will not race on Saturday. Early stats from the first weekend of the Keeneland Fall Meet: Percentage of Winning Favorites: 35%, Average Win Odds: 6.4-1, Hot Trainers: Al Stall Jr. (3-6, 50%), Todd Pletcher ( 3/7, 43%, all 3 wins Grade 1 stakes), Wayne Catalano (2-4). Hot Jockeys: E.T. Baird ( 2-2, 100%), Irad Ortiz Jr (11/3, 27%, Joel Rosario (4/18, 22%), Florent Geroux (13/14).

There will be no live racing at Santa Anita this Friday. Action resumes on Saturday and Sunday with a mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6. Flightline is scheduled for his next Breeders’ Cup Classic workout this Saturday at the Santa Monica track. On Saturday morning, international racing fans can enjoy Champions Day at Ascot. The Caulfield Cup from Australia will also be available for wagering late Friday night Eastern Time.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. got off to a flying start opening weekend at Keeneland with three victories. His sprinter Peaceful Waters should be hard to beat in the Race 6 allowance on Friday.

1/ST BET app allows you to apply millions of data points across dozens of handicapping factors in seconds and immediately place your wagers. Last week Zia Park was most dialed-in by win percentage.

Luis Fuentes, Miguel Vasquez, Arnaldo Bocachica, Thiago Canuto, Abner Adorno and Jamie Rodriguez are America's Hot Jockeys.

Robertino Diodoro, Anthony Farrior, Peter Miller, Todd Pletcher, Brad Cox and Brad Cauley are America's Hot Trainers Last Week.

Horseplayers can take part in Keeneland’s annual Grade 1 Gamble handicapping contest Saturday online at Xpressbet. The contest has a $2,500 live money bankroll format and includes all live races on the Keeneland card.