Prospective fields coming together for Keeneland’s
FallStars Weekend
With the opening of Keeneland’s 17-day fall meeting just days away, prospective
fields for FallStars Weekend with nine Thoroughbred stakes began to fall in
place. Eight of the races, five of which are Grade 1s, are “Win and You’re In”
events for the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be held November 5-6 at
Churchill Downs.
The first Grade 1 and the opening-day feature on Friday’s 10-race card is the
59th running of the $400,000 Alcibiades S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies going 1
1/16 miles on the Polytrack. It is a “Win and You’re In” for the
Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Heading the list of probable starters compiled by stakes coordinator Allison
De Luca are WICKEDLY PERFECT (Congrats), winner of the Sorrento S. (G3) at Del
Mar,
and WONDERLANDBYNIGHT (Sky Mesa), winner of the Arlington-Washington Lassie
S. (G3) at
Arlington Park.
Other Alcibiades probables are DOS LUNAS (Hennessy), HARLAN’S RUBY (Harlan’s
Holiday) and JORDY Y (Congrats), with race possibles including ACCEPT (Good
Reward), ATLANTIC VOYAGE (Stormy Atlantic), COAX LIBERTY (Successful Appeal),
FOREST LEGEND (Forest Camp),
NORMA’S DREAM (Awesome Again), OCEAN ROAD (War Front), POOF TOO (Distorted
Humor) and WYOMIA (Vindication).
Also on Friday, Keeneland will present the 158th running of the $175,000 Phoenix
(G3) for sprinters going six furlongs on the Polytrack. It is a “Win and You’re
In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Heading De Luca’s list of probables are Carter H. (G1) winner WARRIOR’S
REWARD (Medaglia d’Oro) and HOLLYWOOD HIT (Cactus Ridge), a three-time stakes winner on Polytrack at Woodbine
this season. Other probables include CANONIZE (Aldebaran), GOLDZAR (Cozar),
SUPER ROBUSTO (Smoke Glacken), WILD L (Vicar) and
WISE DAN (Wiseman’s Ferry). Considered as possible are 2009 Phoenix winner FATAL
BULLET (Red Bullet) EZ DREAMER (In Excess [Ire]), GREELEY’S CONQUEST (Mr.
Greeley) and SIGNATURE RED (Bernstein).
Entries for Friday’s card will be taken Tuesday.
Other Shadwell probables are COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat), runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile
Three graded stakes winners are among eight probables for the 97th running of
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MAYBESOMAYBENOT (Sunday Break [Jpn]) won the Sanford S. (G2) at Saratoga,
MADMAN DIARIES (Bring the Heat) took the Sapling S. (G3) at Monmouth, and MAJOR
GAIN (More Than Ready) broke his maiden in winning the
Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) at Arlington Park.
Other probables
include CONSERVATIVE VALUE (Value Plus), J. B.’S THUNDER (Thunder Gulch),
SANTIVA (Giant’s Causeway), TYPHOON SLEW (Stormy Atlantic) and WILLCOX INN
(Harlan’s Holiday). Mid-Atlantic invader MONZON (Thunder Gulch) is being considered for the
Breeders’ Futurity or the Bourbon (G3) on Sunday.
The prospective field for the 13th running of the $400,000 First Lady
(G1) is in flux with several connections also considering Sunday’s 55th running
of the $500,000 Spinster (G1) as a weekend alternative. Among those
contemplating both races are ACOMA (Empire Maker), HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge) and
PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]).
Considered as definite for the First Lady at a mile on the turf and a “Win
and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
are WASTED TEARS (Najran), winner of seven straight including the Jenny Wiley (G2) here
this spring; DYNASLEW (Dynaformer), FANTASIA (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), KISS MINE
(Mineshaft) and STRIKE THE BELL (Mizzen Mast). CATEGORY SEVEN (Gulf Storm) is considered as possible.
Defending champion INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) tops the list of probables
for the 30th running of the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for
fillies and mares going six furlongs on the Polytrack. The TCA is a “Win and You’re In”
race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at seven furlongs.
Other probables include CHAMPAGNE D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro), DR. ZIC (Milwaukee
Brew), DUBAI MAJESTY (Essence of Dubai), IVORY EMPRESS (Seeking the Gold),
SWEET AUGUST MOON (Malibu Moon) and WACCAMAW (War Chant). Possibles for the race include
FIRST PASSAGE (Giant’s Causeway) and
HILDA’S PASSION (Canadian Frontier).
SILVER TIMBER (Prime Timber), winner of last fall’s Woodford S. (G3), tops a list of eight probables
for Saturday’s 14th running of the $100,000 sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs on
the turf. In addition to Silver Timber, who also won the Shakertown (G3) here
this spring, probables are ATTA BOY ROY (Tribunal), CENTRAL CITY (City Place),
CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant), DUE DATE (El Prado [Ire]), FIDDLERS PATRIOT
(Proud Citizen), GREAT ATTACK (Greatness) and RAVALO (Mutakddim).
The Spinster, a “Win and You’re In” race at 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on November 5, features six probables in addition to the trio on the fence contemplating Saturday’s
First Lady. Topping the list is RINTERVAL (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]), who came within a neck of
upsetting the undefeated Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar on
August 7.
Other probables include ASKBUT I WON’TTELL (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), FUNNY MOON
(Malibu Moon), IT’S TEA TIME (Dynaformer), STRIKING DANCER (Smart Strike) and TIZAQUEENA
(Tiznow).
The second stakes on Sunday’s 10-race card is the 20th running of the
$100,000 Bourbon for two-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Bourbon
is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2).
Probables for the Bourbon include BANNED (Kitten’s Joy), COZY KITTEN
(Kitten’s Joy), MESONIC (Sky Mesa), ORDINARY JOE (Bwana Charlie), PULPITARIAN
(Pulpit), ROGUE ROMANCE (Smarty Jones) and ROUGH SAILING (Mizzen Mast), with
VOODOO STORM (Storm Cat) considered as a
possible starter.