Top-shelf turf racing at Woodbine tops weekend horse racing
Two days of top-level turf action at Woodbine, including three Breeders' Cup qualifiers for 2-year-olds. Kentucky Downs completed another successful meet. Del Mar gave way to Santa Anita, which delayed its opening for a week because of smoke from the California wildfires.
Top-shelf turf racing at Woodbine tops weekend horse racing.
The Ricoh Woodbine Mile is a $1 million race on Saturday. It's a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile. The winner of the 2019 Preakness is War of Will. March to the Arch is the second favorite on the morning-line. Starship Jubilee and Value Proposition are also contenders.
Nakamura is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's $125,000 Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine. The 5-year-old Animal Kingdom gelding has made two previous starts this year, finishing third in both.
Magic Attitude is the favorite in Saturday's $250,000 Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmonte Park. She's out of the Irish-bred mare Margot Did and is by the Australian- bred Exceed and Excel. The opposition includes Antoinette, who exits a win in the Saratoga Oaks invitational and Key Biscayne, a French import. Neige Blanche finished fourth in a Del Mar Oaks last month.
Theodora B. won the TVG Stakes at Kentucky Downs by 3/4 lengths. Mrs. Sippy finished second. Delta's Kingdom was 2 lengths back in third.
Lighthouse won the Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Kimari finished third. Guildsman won Wednesday's Franklin-Simpson Stake. Kentucky's season ended with $60 million in handle and $12.3 million purses won. Saffie Joseph Jr. is a native of Barbados. He expanded his East Coast base to include Kentucky. Sheik Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing is watching Guild's progress closely. The horse finished second and third in Group races in England and France. It won on the Presque Isle Downs all-weather track.
The $150,000 Grade III Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park drew many of the warriors who have fought it out at the shore all summer. A newcomer was Valid Point, a 4-year-old Scat Daddy colt who won the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park last August.
Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita was postponed because of the wildfire-driven poor air quality. Sunday's Grade I Summer Stake at Woodbine is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Gretzy the Great, a Nyquist colt, steps up after winning the Soaring Free Stages in his last start. American Monarch comes off a career-debut win at Saratoga and looks to continue the great record his sire, American Pharoah, is posting with young turfers.
Alda, Sleek Lynx, Lady Speightspeare and Illegal Smile are in Sunday's $250,000 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. Emro won Tuesday's Untapable Stake at Kentucky Downs. Brad Cox won the $1 million, Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup with Arklow on Saturday. The favorite, Red Ghost, flattened out and reported seventh. He finished seventh, 3 lengths behind Fouzia.
Unbridled Class won Wednesday's $75,000 Richmond Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths. Unbridle Beast won the Gus Grissom Stake by 5 lengths, Operation Stevie finished second and Stop Hammertime third.
Woodbine's top-shelf turf racing beats Louisiana Downs' weekend racing. Saturday is Louisiana Cup day with six races for the state-breds on both turf and dirt.
Fivethousandtoone is 2-1 in antepost wagering for Saturday's Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes for 2 year old colts at Newbury. Frankel colt finished second in his debut in August and won by 4 lengths Sept. 3 at Newcastle. Rhythm Master is the chief rival in the field of eight.
Verry Elleegant is back on the track Saturday in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick. Dreamforce has been impressive in some top-level races, hopeless in others. Behemoth looms large in Saturday's Group. 1 Neds Sir Robert Clarke Stake at Caulfield.
