The classics season gets in full swing Saturday – the Kentucky Derby in the U.S. and Two Thousand Guineas in England – and we’ve got it all covered in this week’s Saturday Special presented by Pin Oak Stud.
Truth be told we’ve got the Derby and the supporting stakes program at Churchill Downs covered in a separate piece right here, but all the Newmarket events are right here along with top races from Goodwood, Belmont, Laurel and Santa Anita.
Fire up the ADW account, get new batteries for the remote, find a spot on the couch (if you’re not going racing) and enjoy the day. Take care and good luck.
Goodwood. Race 2. 9:05 a.m. You know it’s the flat season when they start to race at Goodwood. The EBF Stallions Daisy Warwick Stakes lights the match. Summer’s coming.
Newmarket. Race 2. 9:20. Washington DC leads the Longholes Palace House Stakes to kick off the stakes action on an epic day of racing at Newmarket. Galapiat leaps out of the handicap division fresh off two big wins. Ryan Moore rides Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf fourth Seventh Heaven for Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien.
Newmarket. Race 4. 9:55. Across The Stars, winner of the King Edward VII Stakes last summer, takes aim at the Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes.
Newmarket. Race 4. 10:35. The shortest field in memory lines up for the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas. Perhaps, Churchill scares them off, he’s won his last five. Eminent, an impressive son of Frankel, could be any kind.
Goodwood. Race 5. 10:50. Intimation, making her 5-year-old debut, looks strong in the Betfred Conqueror Stakes
Laurel Park. Race 3. 1:09 p.m. The ever-dangerous Cary Frommer ships Change Of View for his debut.
Belmont Park. Race 4. 2:25. Whoa, whoa, whoa Churchill Downs, Belmont Park has action, too. The 59th running of the Sheepshead Bay kicks off a strong card of stakes at the New York oval. Trevor McCarthy, aboard Achnaha, picks up rides in New York, another step in his ascent. With soft turf, box the five Europeans – Achnaha, Apple Betty, Voila La Victoire, Suffused and Sea Calisi.
Gulfstream Park. Race 5. 3:02. Yup, they’re still going strong in Florida. Conquest Hardcandy seeks her second stakes win since selling in the Conquest dispersal at Keeneland. She takes on six rivals, including the talented Noble Ready, in the Honey Ryder.
Laurel. Race 8. 3:50. Heider Family Stable and Glen Hill Farm’s Irish experiment continues with How in the maiden turf sprint, which most likely won’t be run as a maiden turf sprint.
Belmont. Race 7. 4:04. Oh, we knew you when … Jimmy Jerkens sends out Air Vice Marshal for Tabor, Smith and Magnier – yes – that Tabor, Smith and Magnier.
Parx Racing. Race 8. 4:32. “Hey, I won the Derby, I won the Derby, I won the Derby … OK, the Parx Derby.” Bonus Points drops from the Wood Memorial to the Parx Derby for Todd Pletcher. Upper Room will win.
Belterra Park. Race 7. 4:45. The Tall Stack offers $75,000 to Ohio-breds. Even WinStar and Blazing Meadows have Ohio-breds as Coincidentally seeks his fourth straight.
Woodbine. Race 8. 4:55. “All in all it was just a brick in the wall…” Pink Lloyd leads Ontario-bred sprinters in the New Providence.
Santa Anita Park. Race 5. 5:00. How many years has it been since Stewart Elliott guided Smarty Jones to win the Kentucky Derby? Well, the veteran will win one this Derby Day, he rides Sircat Sally, an undefeated daughter of Surf Cat for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer in the Senorita.
Thistledown. Race 7. 5:15. True Cinder rides a two-race win streak (by a combined 17 lengths) into the Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial.
Canterbury Park. Race 6. 5:41. Our favorite race, the Paul Bunyan. The hard-hitting Storm Advisory seeks win number nine.
Belmont Park. Race 10. 5:48. Welcome back, Mohaymen. Last year’s Kentucky Derby hopeful returns in the Westchester. Connect, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby and Cigar Mile last year, makes his return as well.
Gulfstream Park. Race 10. 6:00. Steeplechase participants Woodslane Farm (Lunaire) and Lilli Kurtinecz (General McGoogy) aim at the English Channel, a turf stakes for 3-year-olds. These two won’t be jumping any time soon.
Belmont. Race 11. 7:07. The Fort Marcy, a Grade 3 turf stakes, might be in jeopardy with the deluge of rain over the past few days. Time Test, Grade 2 winner in Britain, makes his American debut. Our favorite turf horse, Highland Sky, leaps back into the stakes pool after a sweet allowance win at Gulfstream in February.
Santa Anita. Race 10. 7:30. Elliott might turn two, riding British import Fashion Business, a son of Frankel, in the Singletary.
Santa Cruz County. Race 6. 7:45. Is this the only Secretariat Memorial Stakes on Derby Day? Denali South Peak looks strong in the $5,100 stakes.
Prairie Meadows Race Track. Race 8. 8:38. Big Sister Ridge, a 4-year-old daughter of Cactus Ridge, tries to keep her undefeated record intact, going for her third straight win for Dream Walkin Farm and Kenny Smith.
Charles Town. Race 8. 10:19. Parlaying all your Derby winnings? Keep it rolling in the nightcap at Charles Town.
