Where’s Hurricane Matthew? Where’s the family? Where’s Trump and Hillary? Ah, who cares…sit back and enjoy Saturday gems from Newmarket, Keeneland, Belmont Park, Charles Town…everywhere. Here’s your Saturday Special presented as always by our friends at Pin Oak Stud.
Newmarket. Race 1. 8:45. You won’t have to go many places for the best European racing today. Start here and stay here. The Boadicea Fillies’ Stakes starts it off.
Limerick. Race 3. 9:15. Black Hawk War, a son of War Front and the Lost Code mare Lasting Code, should make it 2-for-2 for Coolmore.
Newmarket. Race 3. 9:55. Rodaini, an American-bred son of Exchange Rate, puts his undefeated record on the line in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes.
Newmarket. Race 4. 10:30. Churchill, another star for Coolmore, should make it five in a row as he takes on six rivals in the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes.
York. Race 4. 10:45. Decent card at York. The Coral Sprint Trophy offers $147,000 to sprinters going 6 furlongs.
Newmarket. Race 5. 11:10. One of our favorite races – the Betfred Cesarewitch. Fun Mac carries 137 pounds, Teak carries 113. And there’s everything in between going 2 ¼ miles. Stop and watch, it’s a spectacle.
Chepstow. Race 5. 11:25. Lil Rockerfeller, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Hard Spun, returns in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle.
Newmarket. Race 6. 11:45. Two-year-olds stretch 10 furlongs in the Zetland Stakes. Yes, 2-year-olds going 10 furlongs. Fly At Dawn, a son of Discreet Cat, looks strong.
Newmarket. Race 7. 12:20. The Group 3 Darley Stakes finishes off a stellar card.
Belmont Park. Race 4. 1:53. OK, you’ve had a break for lunch. Now, it’s on to America. Mike Smith picks up the ride on Sky Gesture, a debut winner at Saratoga. She makes her stakes debut in the Frizette.
Belmont Park. Race 5. 2:28. The Kelso. Tamarkuz tries to improve from a second in the Forego. Mike Smith could have a big day.
Parx Racing. Race 5. 2:43. Bound won the Plum Pretty last year, and the year before. She’ll win it again this year.
Belmont Park. Race 6. 3:03. The Flower Bowl. Andre Fabre (remember the guy who trained Flintshire to win $7.5 million?) sends British-bred, French-raced Ame Bleue across the water. It won’t be easy as she meets Lady Eli, Strike Charmer, Sentiero Italia and Sea Calisi. A tactical gem.
Keeneland. Race 5. 3:25. Welcome back to America. Mongolian Saturday was rewarded for winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with a world-wide tour of Hong Kong and Great Britain. It didn’t work. He’s back for the Woodford. Undrafted has traveled the world, too, he reunites with Joe Bravo who guided him to win the Shakertown in April.
Belmont Park. Race 7. 3:38. Add another half furlong for Long On Value and he’s long gone in the Belmont Sprint Invitational. Well, maybe, it’s tough as Pure Sensation, Disco Partner and Australian wonder Power Alert look like bricks in the wall.
Finger Lakes. Race 6. 3:48. Breed in Massachusetts, run in New York. A $35,000 purse is up for grabs for Mass-breds. Jeb, a daughter of Zong, has won her last two.
Keeneland. Race 6. 4:00. The Thoroughbred Club of America, a Grade 2 stakes going 6 furlongs for the girls. Stonetastic didn’t handle Keeneland in the fall, maybe she does this time. Richard Mandella booked a cross-country trip for Bendable. She wins.
Belmont Park. Race 8. 4:13. It’s that time of year. Syndergaard steps out of the New York-bred alley and into the open freeway of the Champagne. Do not mention the Mets to him.
Keeneland. Race 7. 4:35. Tepin goes for her ninth win in a row. Put her on top of Nemoralia and stand in the cashing line – if the turf is firm.
Thistledown. Race 7. 4:40. Last week we hyped the Ballerina. Today, it’s the Diana. Well, not exactly the Diana. This one offers $75,000 to Ohio-bred fillies and mares.
Belmont Park. Race 9. 4:48. Shug McGaughey circled the Hill Prince for Inspector Lynley after he won the Saranac at Saratoga. Of course, Chad Brown circled it for Beach Patrol after he won the Secretariat at Arlington Park.
Woodbine. Race 8. 4:58. Mark Casse will undoubtedly be with Tepin today, if the hurricane cooperates with the airplanes. Well, he’s got plenty of other action. He sends out Let It Ride Mom and Gale Force in the Mazarine.
Santa Anita. Race 4. 5:00. Lord Nelson tacks on his third straight Grade 1 stakes score here, he towers over four rivals in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
Keeneland. Race 8. 5:10. The Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Arnaud Delacour swings hard with No Dozing, undefeated in two starts in the Mid-Atlantic. He likes the son of Union Rags. “It’s a bit ambitious, but he is 2-for-2 and when you’re 2-for-2 with a 2-year-old you don’t have too many places to go. He’s a nice type. I’m testing the water a little bit. He’s only run one turn because I couldn’t find a two-turn race for him, and I want to see how he fits. I don’t want to compromise the 3-year-old season, but I want to keep my options (about a possible Breeders’ Cup Juvenile start) open.”
Laurel Park. Race 9. 5:10. Nothing tougher than a three-other-than allowance on the turf. Lacey Gaudet takes the next step with John Jones, undefeated in two starts since being claimed for $25,000 in July.
Belmont Park. Race 10. 5:23. The Jockey Club Gold Cup. Remember when it was 2 miles? Hoppertunity flies across the country to avoid California Chrome. The $2.9 million earner squares off with Mubtaahij, Effinex and three others.
Santa Anita. Race 5. 5:30. The Swingtime sends fillies and mares a mile on the turf. Fox Hill Farm made a rare private purchase, buying Into The Mystic from France, the daughter of Galileo won her stateside debut in August.
Keeneland. Race 9. 5:45. The Shadwell Turf Mile. A million dollars on the line. Mondialiste has been to America once this year, taking the Arlington Million. He’s back. So is Miss Temple City, who beat the boys over the same trip in the Makers Mark 46 Mile in the spring. Sweet to see Ironicus back after missing the summer. What A View travels. Awesome race.
Fresno. Race 8. 6:45. The Harris Farms Stakes offers $100,000 for California-breds. Jimmy Bouncer and Well Measured ship for high-profile trainers.
Charles Town. Race 1. 7:00. Still going strong? Tie on, the West Virginia Dash for Cash Breeders’ Classic lights the lamp on a nine-stakes card. James Casey – the Todd Pletcher of Charles Town – is involved in eight of the nine.
Santa Anita. Race 8. 7:00. Hootenanny prepped for the City of Hope Mile with an allowance win at Belterra. Veteran Obviously is obviously still going strong.
Charles Town. Race 2. 7:32. The Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic, named after one of our old friends, looks like a good spot for Unrideabull, an undefeated son of Bullsbay.
Charles Town. Race 3. 8:04. The West Virginia Thoroughbred Association Onion Juice Breeders’ Classic. Another one named after a classic, Onion Juice, this should go to In The Fairway for Jeff Runco.
Charles Town. Race 4. 8:36. Bullets Fever puts his 7-for-7 record on the line in the West Virginia Lottery Breeders’ Classic.
Charles Town. Race 5. 9:08. Jeff Runco could have a big night. Spa Creek won the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic Distaff last year and will try again this year. Runco also has March Wind to bolster the ranks.
The Meadowlands. Race 5. 9:08. Tom Proctor puts two Irish-bred fillies on the New Jersey Turnpike. Enchanteresse and Union Et Force could go 1-2 in the allowance turf.
Charles Town. Race 6. 9:40. T Rex Express could add another win for Runco in the West Virginia Division of Tourism Breeders’ Classic.
Charles Town. Race 7. 10:12. Navy Ribbon, Candy Man’s Girl and Red Hot Diva put their rivalry back on the line in the West Virginia Cavada Breeders’ Classic.
Charles Town. Race 8. 10:48. Charitable Annuity seeks his fourth in a row and another conquest of the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic.
Charles Town. Race 9. 11:15 Still awake? Sweet, get out on the West Virginia Triple Crown Nutrition Breeders’ Classic. You’ll be in bed before midnight.
