Nothing like a Saturday. All the stars come out for British Champions Day. There’s the rematch between Time And Motion and Catch A Glimpse at Keeneland. The return of Theory at Belmont Park. Of course, Far Hills is streaming live, too. Here’s your Saturday Special for October 15. As always presented by our friends at Pin Oak Stud.
Ascot. Race 1. 8:25. Start the day off right. Stayers stay 2 miles in the opener. Order Of St George completed Aidan O’Brien’s trifecta in the Arc. He doesn’t have to face Found or Highland Reel here.
Ascot. Race 2. 9:00. Shalaa puts his undefeated mark on the line in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes. Our man Dougie Costello, who was at Far Hills a few years ago, rides Quiet Reflection, 7-for-9 in her career.
Ascot. Race 3: 9:35. The Qipco British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes. Dermot Weld travels with Zhukova, winner of four straight, while Ryan Moore climbs back aboard Seventh Heaven, a winner of two consecutive Group 1 stakes.
Cork. Race 3. 9:50. Black Hawk War won two races in five days to begin his career, the son of War Front should win the Navigation Stakes, and yes, that will make three wins in 12 days for the American-bred 3-year-old.
Ascot. Race 4. 10:10. Ah, the other Queen Elizabeth II Stakes of the day. Can Moore sweep the card? With Minding, he’s loaded here
Ascot. Race 5. 10:45. The Qipco Champion Stakes. Another Group 1 on a stellar card, Found keeps the motor running. It’s been 13 days since her Arc romp.
Ffos Las. Race 5. 11:10. If you didn’t make Far Hills, then you went to the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Davey Russell jumps the sea to ride the aptly named Welsh Shadow.
Ascot. Race 6. 11:25. Twenty handicappers close it out in the Balmoral Handicap. GM Hopkins could top off a huge day for Moore.
Belmont Park. Race 3. 2:01. Theory was the talking horse at Saratoga and he walked the walk, winning his debut. Then he missed a work, seemed to be off the map and now he returns in the Futurity.
Laurel Park. Race 7. 3:30. Think sons and daughters of Union Rags will like the turf? Find out here, as Union Blues makes his turf debut for Union Rags Racing and Arnaud Delacour.
Delaware Park. Race 6. 3:35. Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard unleashed a debut winner on the dirt at Penn National Friday night. He tries it again with Rose Tree, a Rod Moorhead homebred by Harlan’s Holiday.
Keeneland. Race 7. 4:24. The quietest win streak in America. Cammack puts his six-race win streak on the line in a deep allowance on the turf. Dubai Sky drops from the Bernard Baruch for Bill Mott.
Laurel Park. Race 9. 4:30. Moon River, a recent winner of the Punch Line on the turf, goes to the dirt in this allowance sprint.
Belmont Park. Race 8. 4:46. Ancient Secret won her first four, then crossed the border and flopped. She’s back below the border in the Pebbles.
Gulfstream Park West. Race 5. 3:21. Moulton crushed maidens at Monmouth in her debut. She’ll crush allowance foes here for Todd Pletcher and Robert and Lawana Low.
Parx Racing. Race 8. 4:04. Take your game on the road. Puerto Plata won his long-awaited debut at Thistledown by 10. He makes a road trip for a $76,000 allowance purse. We touted Temescat when he made his debut, he won, and comes back for two here. Market Sentiment, a big winner at Belmont for Rick Violette, hits the road as well.
Santa Anita. Race 3. 4:30. Not exactly California Chrome or Beholder, but, Santa Anita offers the California Distaff Handicap. Enola Gray makes her turf debut after winning three of four on the dirt.
Woodbine. Race 8. 4:37. The Ruling Angel attracts a far-flung group of fillies, including Theatric, 2-for-2 at Presque Isle for Godolphin and Eoin Harty and Mom’s Choice, who won a rich allowance at Kentucky Downs for Larry Rivelli.
Keeneland. Race 9. 5:39. The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup presented by Lane’s End. Always a great race, this year’s promises the same as Time And Motion and Catch A Glimpse square off for the third consecutive time. Toss in On Leave, who rides a four-race win streak, and Harmonize, fresh off a win in the Del Mar Oaks and, yes, this is the race of the day.
Turf Paradise. Race 8. 7:25. Absolutely Cool returns to Turf Paradise for the Bienvenidos. The last time the 9-year-old was there, he went 4-for-5 including a win in this race.
