World's richest races marks weekend horse racing

World's richest races marks weekend horse racing. England's year-end showdown at Ascot and Japan's talented white filly Sodashi are highlights. North American scene isn't totally devoid of interest. Saturday's Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland is a fascinating race.

Empress Josephine is the favorite in the $500,000 Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland. Chad Brown-trained Shantisara has back-to-back wins in Grade III Pucker Up at Arlington and the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park. Technical Analysis has won her last two starts at Saratoga. Brown also has two of the favorites in a field of eight set for Saturday's $200,00 Grade II Sands Point Stakes for filly runners at the Belmonte Park, and sends three to Sunday's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stake at Woodbine.

California Angel won the $150,000 Grade III Buffalo Trace Franklin County for fillies and mares at Keeneland. California Angel is a California Chrome filly. Turnerloose finished third. George Leonard III's trainer is looking forward to the Breeders' Cup.

Town Cruise is going to the $250,000 (Canadian) Grade II Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine. Mark Casse has three horses in the entry box. Jolie Olimpica was sixth in King Edward. Raven's Cry is in good position despite the outside post position. Floral Park Stake for fillies and mares at Belmont Park has a well-balanced field of nine. Introduced has been improving rapidly at Monmouth Park.

World's richest races marks weekend horse racing in England. Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot effectively winds up the flat racing season in the UK. Breeders' Cup made two of the races "Win and You're In" events. Trueshan and Stradivarius are at it again in Group 2 Long Distance Cup. Rohaan, Dragon Symbol and Art Power are held at short odds for the Group 1 Sprint at 6 furlongs. Snowfall disappointed over heavy ground in Arc and is the antepost favorite for Group1 Fillies & Mares at 1 1/2 miles. Palace Pier and Baaeed are the favorites for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Sodashi and Uberleben renew their rivalry in Sunday's Grade 1 Shuka Sho for 3-year-old fillies at Hanshin Racecourse. Sodashi has only lost once to Uberlben, in the Grade1 Yushun Himba or Japanese Oaks. Uberelben has not raced since the Oaks victory May 23. Fine Rouge is a winner of a 2,000-meter Grade III event in her last start.

The Everest is the world's richest horse race on the grass with Aus$15 million on offer. The fifth edition of the race is taking place at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Redzel won the first two editions of this race. Classique Legend is a narrow favorite. Yearning came from last to win the Caulfield Thousand Guineas on Wednesday. Incentivize is looking to make it three Grade 1 wins in a row in the Carleton Daught Caufield Cup.

Qatar Racing is the title sponsor of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. Qatar Racing has won the Kentucky Oaks last year. The Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stake on the Champions Day program at Ascot will be on Saturday's list of qualifying races.