Seventeen graded stakes make the coming week busy enough on their own merit. Add the fact that five are automatic qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup, and the importance of this time of year is heightened.
Three of the win-and-you’re-ins are part of Belmont at Aqueduct cards Saturday and Sunday. Churchill Downs and Santa Anita will host one each Saturday.
The big week starts Friday with a rescheduled stakes in New York and opening day of the fall meet at Santa Anita.
Friday
Noble Damsel (G3), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
The redrawn field looks familiar for this race that tropical storm Ophelia pushed back six days when Saturday’s card was called off and redrawn Sunday. Trainer Chad Brown, who won the Noble Damsel five years in a row from 2016 to 2020, had the top three choices on the original morning line. Gina Romantica was the 6-5 favorite coming off her second-place finish Aug. 12 in the Beverly D. (G1) at Colonial Downs. Her stablemates Fluffy Socks at 8-5 and Gerrymander at 9-5 also were re-entered.
2023 Noble Damsel G3
Chillingworth (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
With seven consecutive wins, a 4-for-4 record at Santa Anita and Bob Baffert as her trainer, Eda will be a money lure at a distance where she is, of course, 4-for-4. In her most recent outing, the 4-year-old Munnings filly owned by Charles and Susan Chu earned a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, in winning the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) on Aug. 27. According to Santa Anita stakes coordinator Jimmy Kasparoff, as many as four of her pursuers that day at Del Mar could be back, including runner-up Kirstenbosch.
2023 Chillingworth Stakes G3
Saturday
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 1/2 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up
It has not been a good 2023 for Rebel’s Romance. Coming off a year when he won his last five races including the Breeders’ Cup Turf, the England-based gelding finished seventh in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). After a four-month break, trainer Charlie Appleby sent him back to America only to see him clip heels and dismount jockey Richard Mullen as the odds-on favorite July 30 in the Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga. Sword Dancer (G1) runner-up Soldier Rising also figures to catch the attention of bettors not to mention their dollars.
2023 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic G1
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Rebel's Romance
Dubawi |
7.12 | Charlie Appleby | 9th, 2023 Bowling Green G2 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 9th, 2023 Bowling Green G2 | |||||
|
|
Astronaut
Quality Road |
5.84 | Thomas Albertrani | 10th, 2023 Mac Diarmida G2 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 10th, 2023 Mac Diarmida G2 | |||||
|
|
Therapist
Freud |
5.59 | Michael J. Maker | 8th, 2023 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup G2 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 8th, 2023 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup G2 | |||||
|
Pioneering Spirit
American Pharoah |
5.56 | Linda Rice | 1st, 2023 Bernard Baruch LS | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Bernard Baruch LS | |||||
|
|
Soldier Rising
Frankel |
4.84 | Christophe Clement | 2nd, 2023 Sword Dancer Stakes G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Sword Dancer Stakes G1 | |||||
|
|
Grand Sonata
Medaglia d'Oro |
4.55 | Todd A. Pletcher | 1st, Sar AlwOC (8/24/23-R3) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, Sar AlwOC (8/24/23-R3) | |||||
|
|
Cellist
Big Blue Kitten |
4.79 | George R. Arnold II | 2nd, 2023 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup LS | Possible | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup LS | |||||
Vosburgh (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup Sprint automatic qualifier
The New York Racing Association reported only two probables for this race. Not that there won’t be more coming, but a small field would be understandable what with the presence of Cody’s Wish. The popular winner of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile was a disappointing third last out in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney (G1), snapping his six-race winning streak. That served as a message for trainer Bill Mott to focus on shorter races like this one. Stablemate Elite Power, who won last year’s Vosburgh, is expected to try and repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on the same day Cody’s Wish will be out to do the same in the Dirt Mile.
2023 Vosburgh G2
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cody's Wish
Curlin |
8.10 | William I. Mott | 3rd, 2023 Whitney G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Whitney G1 | |||||
|
|
Great Navigator
Sea Wizard |
4.79 | Eddie Owens Jr. | 1st, 2023 Charles Hesse III RS | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Charles Hesse III RS | |||||
Woodward (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up
A Group 2 winner in the Middle East, 6-year-old gelding Algiers has not raced in the six months since he lost the lead in the last furlong and finished second in the Dubai World Cup (G1). The Woodward looms as a potential showdown between him and Zandon, the 2022 Blue Grass (G1) who has finished second in 5 of 8 races since. It was a very distant second last month, when Zandon lost by 6 1/4 lengths to White Abarrio in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.
2023 Woodward G2
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Zandon
Upstart |
7.83 | Chad C. Brown | 2nd, 2023 Whitney G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Whitney G1 | |||||
|
|
Algiers
Shamardal |
7.39 | Simon + Ed Crisford | 2nd, 2023 Dubai World Cup G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Dubai World Cup G1 | |||||
|
|
O'Connor
Boboman |
6.34 | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | 2nd, 2023 Charles Town Classic G2 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Charles Town Classic G2 | |||||
|
|
Law Professor
Constitution |
5.80 | Rob Atras | 6th, 2023 Pimlico Special G3 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 6th, 2023 Pimlico Special G3 | |||||
|
|
Grand Sonata
Medaglia d'Oro |
4.55 | Todd A. Pletcher | 1st, Sar AlwOC (8/24/23-R3) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, Sar AlwOC (8/24/23-R3) | |||||
|
|
Tyson
Tapit |
4.59 | Josie Carroll | 3rd, 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup G1 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup G1 | |||||
Gallant Bloom (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 6 1/2 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Without many commitments yet to this race, Caramel Swirl looks like she might get out from under the top-class company she has faced lately. On a muddy track last month, she finished fourth behind Eclipse Award winners Echo Zulu and Goodnight Olive in the Ballerina (G1). In the Bed o’ Roses (G2) on June 17 at Belmont Park, she was a close third to Goodnight Olive.
2023 Gallant Bloom G2
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Beguine
Gun Runner |
5.09 | Edward T. Allard | 1st, 2023 Alma North LS | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Alma North LS | |||||
|
|
Caramel Swirl
Union Rags |
5.04 | William I. Mott | 4th, 2023 Ballerina G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 4th, 2023 Ballerina G1 | |||||
|
|
Sterling Silver
Cupid |
4.12 | Thomas Albertrani | 6th, 2023 Ballerina G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 6th, 2023 Ballerina G1 | |||||
Lukas Classic (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up
With five graded-stakes victories, Rattle N Roll will try to rebound from a sixth-place disappointment as the favorite early this month in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Connect colt trained by Kenny McPeek is 6: 3-1-2 at Churchill Downs, where he won the Blame Stakes (G3) on June 3. Rattle N Roll finished second to West Will Power on July 1 in the Stephen Foster (G1) at Ellis Park. Happy American, who was third in that race, also goes Saturday as does Ghostzapper (G3) winner Clapton.
2023 Lukas Classic Stakes G2
Ack Ack (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile automatic qualifier
Three Technique comes back from a nearly three-month break to try and win his way back to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, in which he finished sixth in 2022. The 6-year-old Mr Speaker horse trained by Jason Cook won the John A. Nerud (G2) on July 1 at Belmont Park. Two-time stakes winner Zozos and Ellis Park stakes victor Stage Raider are also in the nine-horse field.
2023 Ack Ack G3
Awesome Again (G1), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup Classic automatic qualifier
Slow Down Andy seemed like he was in a fight with jockey Mario Gutiérrez as much as he was with Arabian Knight and Geaux Rocket Ride last month in the Pacific Classic (G1). The top two that day at Del Mar are not expected to be back for this shot at getting to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but Slow Down Andy will make the cutback from 1 1/4 miles. Four other Pacific Classic also-rans are expected as is Bye Bye Bobby, who stretches back out after a competitive second at 33-1 in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien (G2).
2023 Awesome Again G1
Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), Santa Anita, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up
Betting on this race will be swayed by whether Baffert enters Arabian Lion, who won the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton at Pimlico and the seven-furlong Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont Park. Those were his last two starts on fast tracks. He had a wide trip on the way to a third-place finish in the mud Aug. 26 in the tragic renewal of the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga. Past winners C Z Rocket from 2020 and Dr. Schivel from 2021 are probably back for this renewal of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
2023 Santa Anita Sprint Championship G2
City of Hope Mile (G2), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds and up
If Du Jour comes in, he will be out to extend the summer form that made him a winner in the Wickerr and Del Mar Mile (G2) for the Bafferts, as in trainer Bob and co-owner Jill. Hong Kong Harry recaptured some of his old glory last out when he closed to finish third to Exaulted in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) over the same course and distance back in May. That was the first time in four starts the 6-year-old gelding lost at Santa Anita.
2023 City of Hope Mile G2
Eddie D. (G2), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, turf, 3-year-olds and up
Bran has alternated wins and losses in his last seven races, meaning he should be sitting on a victory this weekend. But the 5-year-old gelding was on John Sadler’s bench for a year, coming back this month to finish seventh in the Green Flash Handicap (G3) at Del Mar. Bred in France, he got two of his three U.S. wins at Santa Anita, including last year’s Daytona (G3). He added a score in the Turf Sprint (G2) last summer at Kentucky Downs. Runner-up Cherubic Factor and fourth-place Turn On The Jets are among the five other Green Flash finishers who could be entered for this race.
2023 Eddie D. Stakes G2
Sunday
Pilgrim (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 1/16 miles, turf, 2-year-olds, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf automatic qualifier
Spirit Prince is still a maiden, but the $110,000 yearling purchase already has mixed it up in graded-stakes company. The Cairo Prince colt trained by Christophe Clément finished third in the With Anticipation (G3) on good turf at Saratoga last month. Tifareeh broke his maiden Sept. 3 by closing on the speed-favoring course at Kentucky Downs.
2023 Pilgrim G2
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Agate Road
Quality Road |
0.00 | Todd A. Pletcher | 1st, Sar MSW (9/2/23-R6) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, Sar MSW (9/2/23-R6) | |||||
|
|
Liam's Journey
Liam's Map |
0.00 | Michael J. Maker | 2nd, KD MSW (9/10/23-R7) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, KD MSW (9/10/23-R7) | |||||
|
|
Spirit Prince
Cairo Prince |
0.00 | Christophe Clement | 3rd, 2023 With Anticipation G3 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 With Anticipation G3 | |||||
|
|
Tifareeh
Speightstown |
0.00 | Brendan P. Walsh | 1st, KD MSW (9/3/23-R1) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, KD MSW (9/3/23-R1) | |||||
|
|
Tropandhagen
Demarchelier |
0.00 | Dimitrios K. Synnefias | 1st, Mth MSW (9/3/23-R3) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, Mth MSW (9/3/23-R3) | |||||
Miss Grillo (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 1/16 miles, turf, 2-year-old fillies, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf automatic qualifier
When she beat the boys in the 1 1/16-mile With Anticipation, Gala Brand stamped herself a serious player in the 2-year-old fillies division. She broke her maiden on the same Saratoga turf with a 2 1/4-length victory that covered 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Mott, the Violence filly sold for $30,000 as hip 1956 at last September’s Keeneland yearling sale.
2023 Miss Grillo G2
John Henry Turf Championship (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up
With wins in the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read (G2) and 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap (G2) this summer, Ireland-bred gelding Gold Phoenix brings momentum into this cutback to 10 furlongs. The 5-year-old who is trained by Phil D’Amato has a chance to avenge last year’s close, third-place finish as the 6-5 favorite in the John Henry. He lost to stablemate Masteroffoxhounds, whose only win in his last 16 starts was in last year’s renewal of this race. D’Amato also has Cash Equity, who was third in the Del Mar Handicap, as a likely starter in this race.
2023 John Henry Turf Championship G2
Zenyatta (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
Adare Manor has won three graded stakes at Santa Anita, including a pair during her current four-race winning streak. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly owned by Denmark jewelry baron Michael Lund Petersen and trained by Baffert added a Grade 1 triumph last out Aug. 5, winning the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar. Desert Dawn closed late to finish a length behind in second that day, and she is expected to try a third time to get her first win over Adare Manor.
2023 Zenyatta Stakes G2
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Desert Dawn
Cupid |
6.98 | Philip D'Amato | 2nd, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | |||||
|
|
Micro Share
Upstart |
6.04 | Richard E. Mandella | 1st, 2023 Tranquility Lake Stakes RS | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Tranquility Lake Stakes RS | |||||
|
|
Adare Manor
Uncle Mo |
5.60 | Bob Baffert | 1st, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 1st, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | |||||
|
|
Justique
Justify |
6.36 | John A. Shirreffs | 3rd, 2023 Torrey Pines G3 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Torrey Pines G3 | |||||
|
|
Elm Drive
Mohaymen |
5.03 | Philip D'Amato | 3rd, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 3rd, 2023 Clement L. Hirsch G1 | |||||
|
|
Window Shopping
American Pharoah |
4.79 | Richard E. Mandella | 6th, 2023 Del Mar Oaks G1 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 6th, 2023 Del Mar Oaks G1 | |||||
|
|
Kirstenbosch
Midnight Lute |
4.12 | John W. Sadler | 2nd, 2023 Rancho Bernardo Handicap G3 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 2nd, 2023 Rancho Bernardo Handicap G3 | |||||
Tokyo City Cup (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/2 miles, 3-year-olds and up
In a field lacking class momentum, perhaps the Cougar II (G3) two races back will influence players to take a longer look at Order and Law as well as Azul Coast. They finished first and second in that 1 1/2-mile race July 23 at Del Mar. Order and Law was miscast trying to cut back to 1 1/4 miles in the Pacific Classic (G1), where he was eased to finish ninth. It looked much the same for Azul Coast, who was switched to turf for the Del Mar Handicap (G2) only to fade from second place back to last of 11. Celestial Moon, who came off the bench to finish first in a one-mile allowance Sept. 3 at Del Mar, may be the only last-out winner in the field.
2023 Tokyo City Cup G3
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Azul Coast
Super Saver |
5.17 | Bob Baffert | 11th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 11th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | |||||
|
|
Order And Law
Violence |
4.34 | Robert B. Hess Jr. | 9th, 2023 Pacific Classic G1 | Probable | |
| Last Race | 9th, 2023 Pacific Classic G1 | |||||
|
|
Celestial Moon
Malibu Moon |
0.00 | William I. Mott | 3rd, Aqu AlwOC (4/30/23-R5) | Probable | |
| Last Race | 3rd, Aqu AlwOC (4/30/23-R5) | |||||
|
|
Kiss Today Goodbye
Cairo Prince |
6.06 | J. Eric Kruljac | 7th, 2023 Cougar II Handicap G3 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 7th, 2023 Cougar II Handicap G3 | |||||
|
|
None Above The Law
Karakontie |
6.06 | Peter Miller | 8th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 8th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | |||||
|
|
Missed The Cut
Quality Road |
5.89 | John W. Sadler | 4th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | Possible | |
| Last Race | 4th, 2023 Del Mar Handicap G2 | |||||
|
|
Conquering King
Carpe Diem |
0.00 | Brian J. Koriner |
|
Possible | |
|
|
|
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