Weekend horse racing tees up monumental clashes in Breeders' Cup

Weekend horse racing tees up monumental clashes in Breeders' Cup. Life Is Good, Hot Rod Charlie, Ce Ce and Midnight Memories won races at Keeneland. Five "Win and You're In" slots were awarded in France for the Breeder's Cup, including one for Alpinista.

Life Is Good won the Woodward at Aqueduct. Defunded won Grade I Awesome Again at Santa Anita. Hot Rod Charlie won by a head at the Dubai World Cup.  Hot Rod's owner, Bill Strauss, is a fan of the Breeders' Cup Classic. He thinks the race is setting up to be great. The winner will be announced on Sunday. It will take place at Keeneland. Bob Baffert trains the top two finishers. His horse, Defuned, has two recent losses at Del Mar. Baddert doesn't know if DefUNed can handle the paddock atmosphere.

Midnight Memories won Sunday's $200,000 Grade II Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita by 3 1/4 lengths. Awake At Midnyte was second, a neck in front of Empire House.

Senor Buscador won the Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths. The favorite Speaker's Corner finished next-last.

Howbeit came rolling down the stretch to win the $200,000 Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship by a nose over C Z Rocket.

Ce Ce won Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita by 2 1/4 lengths. Under the Stars finished second. Ce Ce is a 6-year-old Elusive Quality mare. Victor Espinoza rode for trainer Michael McCarth.

Masteroffoxhounds won the John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita by a neck over Dicey Mo Chara. Masteroff Roxhound hasn't won since February 2021. Phil D'Amato trains both Masterofox hounds and Gold Phoenix, who finished third.

Rocky Sky won the Grade III Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes at Aqueduct by 1 1/4 lengths over Capital Structure. Rocky Sky is an Irish-bred 4-year-old filly by Rock of Gibraltar. Manny Franco rode for trainer Chad Brown, who also trains the runner-up.

Beyond Brilliant won the $200,000 Grade II City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita by 3/4 length. It was only his second attempt at 1 mile on the grass.

Dancing Buck won the $200,000 Grade III Belmont Turf Sprint by 5 lengths. It was his first start in a graded stakes. We Miss Artie won a 3/4-length race at odds of 18-1.

Blazing Sevens won the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct by 3 1/4 lengths. Awesome Strong clinched a sweep of the Florida Sire Series with a 1 1 /2-lengths victory in Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Division. Tyler's Tribe is 5-for-5 and owner-trainer Tim Martin wants to take him to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Major Dude won the Grade II Pilgrim Stakes by 1 length. I'm Very Busy finished second. Lachaise was third. Major Dude will be in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Pleasant Passage won Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct. Chocolate Gelato earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a Sunday's win in Grade I Frizette at aqueductive. Practical Joke, trained by Todd Pletcher, rallied four-wide into the stretch and won by 1 length over You's My Girl. Atomically won the $400,00 My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Sire Stake.

Speed Boat Beach won the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita by 1 1/4 lengths. That was worth a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Hall of Dreams finished second in the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine. Sir For Sure finished third in both the Queen's Plate and the Prince of Wales Stake.

Speaking Scout won the Hawthorne Derby by 5 lengths. Tonka Warrior was second, 1/2 length behind. Xavey David was third.