The Saturday card at Keeneland includes a trio of rich turf stakes: the $1.25 million Turf Mile (G1), the $750,000 First Lady (G1), and the $350,000 Woodford (G2).
The Turf Mile is the richest event on the stakes-packed afternoon and awards the winner a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.
Woodford (G2): Race 6, 3:40 p.m. ET
Arzak is undefeated in two starts over the Keeneland turf. He dominated the 2023 Woodford by two lengths over Our Shot, who is back for a rematch, and during the spring he took the 5 1/2-furlong Shakertown (G2) by one length. Returning to his favorite course should give Arzak every chance to defend his Woodford title.
Reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Nobals will attempt to recapture his best form in this 5 1/2-furlong grass dash. The five-year-old gelding has finished fourth in both his 2024 starts, most recently the Turf Sprint (G2) at Kentucky Downs.
Axthelm nabbed third place by a nose in the Turf Sprint and will attempt to maintain his edge over Nobals while seeking his first stakes win. Gear Jockey and One Timer, separated by a head when running 1-2 in the 2023 Turf Sprint, aim to rebound from recent defeats.
Charcoal, No Nay Hudson, Let My People Go, Coppola, and Xy Speed have all prevailed in one or more sprint stakes and add depth to the Woodford field. And while Souper Quest has yet to win a stakes, he finished ahead of Arzak when coming home a close third in Saratoga’s Harvey Pack S. last time out.
First Lady (G1): Race 8, 4:44 p.m. ET
A stellar field of fillies and mares will race one mile over the Keeneland lawn in the First Lady.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown conditions four of the 11 entrants: two-time Diana (G1) winner Whitebeam, Just a Game (G1) heroine Chili Flag, defending First Lady conqueror Gina Romantica, and 2023 Matriarch (G1) runner-up Fluffy Socks. Brown has won the First Lady seven times, including the last six editions in a row, and he’ll be widely expected to win another with one of his quartet.
That said, the First Lady field is packed with talent even beyond the Browns. Ag Bullet boasts wins in the Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) and Monrovia (G3). Implicated owns triumphs in the Nassau (G2) and Pebbles (G3). Evvie Jets edged Fluffy Socks in the 2023 Ballston Spa (G2). Walkathon counts wins in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) and Endeavour (G3) on her record.
From Ireland comes Tarawa, fresh off a victory in the Snow Fairy Fillies (G3) at the Curragh. Special Wan also boasts Irish form lines, having placed in multiple group stakes abroad before launching her U.S. career with a rallying triumph in a one-mile Kentucky Downs allowance.
Completing the field is 2023 Pucker Up (G3) winner Safeen, recently victorious in the One Dreamer S.
Turf Mile (G1): Race 10, 5:48 p.m. ET
Carl Spackler enters the Turf Mile in hot form. The four-year-old Chad Brown trainee has won five of his last six starts and picked up his first top-tier win by 3 1/2 lengths in Saratoga’s Fourstardave H. (G1) two months ago.
As the lone Grade 1 winner in the Turf Mile field, Carl Spackler is the horse to beat. But his rivals shouldn’t be underestimated. They include Manila (G3) winner More Than Looks, who ended a long layoff with a rallying runner-up finish in the Fourstardave, and Talk of the Nation, who finished second to Carl Spackler by a head in the Opening Verse S. and by half a length in the Kelso (G3) this year.
Spirit of St Louis has spent much of his career competing against New York-breds, winning a bevy of stakes. But he also conquered open company in the one-mile Danger’s Hour S. during the spring.
Running Bee counts wins in the Monmouth (G3) and Bernard Baruch S. on his 2024 record. Cash Equity exits a runner-up finish in the Mint Million (G3). Noises Off ran second in a $500,000 handicap at Kentucky Downs last time out. These three round out the U.S.-based entrants.
There are also two international raiders in the field. Mountain Bear, from the barn of Aidan O’Brien, is winless in five starts this year, but has placed in multiple group stakes and ran second in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Kikkuli, a Juddmonte homebred conditioned by Harry Charlton, ran second by a head in the Jersey (G3) at Royal Ascot in June.
