Sweet Sixteen: A Sensational Saturday From Sea To Shining Sea

[Wandering Eyes]

by TDN Editorial Staff

Buckle up, race fans, it's going to be a wild ride on Saturday, as no fewer than 16 graded stakes from New York to Lexington, from Los Angeles to Toronto are scheduled, with horse racing's championship weekend now officially less than four weeks down the road. Without further ado, let's jump into the always-productive card at Aqueduct.

Champagne, Frizette Share Spotlight at Belmont at the Big A

A quartet of graded stakes, headed by the 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. and GI Frizette S., take centerstage at the Belmont at the Big A meeting Saturday. Both races for 2-year-olds are contested at a one-turn mile.

All eyes will be on Champagne standout It's Our Time (Not This Time), a jaw-dropping 17 3/4-length 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard debut winner going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 16.

“We're going to find out a lot more about him on Saturday,” trainer Tom Amoss said of the even-money morning-line favorite in these pages earlier this week.

The Frizette looks like a much more wide-open affair with no shortage of early speed signed on.

Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach) earned a field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure in a front-running, tour-de-force debut victory over next-out winner Lovely Christina (Vekoma) going 6 1/2 furlongs at the Spa Aug. 10.

“It was a nice debut and we're excited to see how she handles the increase in distance and stakes company,” trainer Whit Beckman said.

Unbeaten New York-bred Iron Orchard (Authentic) won her first two starts by a combined 12 1/4 lengths, including a sharp, wire-to-wire victory in the Seeking the Ante S. Aug. 22. The 3-1 program favorite takes on open company for the first time.

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Five Bars (Maxfield) turned in an impressive, last-to-first debut victory after getting off to a problematic start in her unveiling for Shug McGaughey on the Travers undercard.

The anticipated pace scenario should also favor the two-for-two Chopsticks (Essential Quality), a last-out winner of the Ellis Park Debutante S. Aug. 10.

A full field will line up for the GII Miss Grillo S., a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Deep Learning (Cairo Prince), an eye-catching debut winner for Chad Brown over the Saratoga turf Aug. 8, will look to get back on track following a fifth-place finish in the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. at Woodbine Sept. 13. The Miss Grillo field also includes the two-for-two Untapable S. winner Quiet Street (Street Boss) and promising maiden winners Miss Picky (Uncle Mo) and Fille d'Oro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

The stacked 12-race program at the Big A also features the GII Jockey Club Derby Invitational. –Steve Sherack

FallStars Weekend at Keeneland Rolls On

Three of the last nine winners of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity have gone on to double up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and a field of seven is set to contest the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31.

No fewer than four 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard will face the starter, and none has been more impressive or is more accomplished than Spendthrift homebred Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), who followed up a 1 1/2-length graduation with a defeat of fellow 'Rising Stars' Buetane (Tiz the Law) and Curtain Call (Tiz the Law) in the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Sept. 1.

Big Dom (McKinzie), stablemate of It's Our Time, was impressive in graduating by a neck on the Travers Day undercard Aug. 23, and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for this first go at two turns. 'Rising Star' Blackout Time (Not This Time) and Spice Runner (Gun Runner) have form over a mile, the former when breaking his maiden by nearly 10 lengths at Ellis Aug 2, and the latter in the Sept. 13 GIII Iroquois Stakes.

According to a tweet from social media influencer Griffin Johnson, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Ewing (Knicks Go) will be scratched out of the Breeders' Futurity after emerging from a Friday gallop 'not at 100%' per Johnson. The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile has also been ruled out.

Ted Noffey romped clear in the GI Hopeful S. | Sarah Andrew

The afternoon's richest event at $1.25 million (for those horses bred in Kentucky) is the 'Win and You're In' GI Coolmore Turf Mile, which has attracted a full field of 12, headed by Sam Sangster's Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). No better than a distant ninth in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, he was subsequently victorious in the G2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh July 20 and in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois the following month, where he had subsequent GI Woodbine Mile romper Notable Speech (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) an unlucky head behind.

Woodshauna (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) also brings French elite-level form into this test, having won the G1 Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs ahead of a troubled third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest Aug. 10 at summer headquarters in Deauville. He should be coming at them late if a fast pace develops, as is expected.

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) should be ridden forward from the inside stall, while Howard Wolowitz (Munnings), a Grade I winner over 6 1/2 panels should also fuel the tempo.

Chad Brown has owned the GI First Lady Stakes, having sent out the winner in each of the past seven years and eight times overall. Remarkably, none of those has come for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, but Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) will have every chance to change that. Upset winner of the GI Just A Game Stakes going this trip at Saratoga in June, she was an excuse-free third in the GI Diana Stakes July 12, but dropped back to the mile to best Raqiya (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the Aug. 29 Perfect Sting Stakes. Brown also sends out two-time graded winner Segesta (Ghostzapper)

Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a first runner in the First Lady for Miguel Clement and enters in top nick, having proved an easy winner of the GII Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8. Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has won three of her last four when facing her own sex, including the G3 Chartwell Fillies Stakes at Lingfield in May.

'Rising Star' Doncho (Mo Town) is the 3-1 favorite in the GII Woodford Stakes facing the likes of Group 1 winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and 3-year-old Governor Sam (Improbable). Vahva (Gun Runner) is the 7-5 morning-line choice for the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, with a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint there for the taking. She is clearly the class of the field, but each of her five graded wins has come at seven-eighths. Conversely, Zeitlos (Curlin) is seven-for-10 at this six-furlong trip, including this event 12 months ago. —Alan Carasso

Baffert Looks to Retain Stranglehold on American Pharoah With Quartet

Contested as the Norfolk Stakes from 1970 through 2011 and then the Frontrunner Stakes from 2012 to 2017, Santa Anita's fall feature for 2-year-olds was renamed the American Pharoah for the 2018 renewal which was incidentally won by the Bob Baffert runner, Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Including all iterations of the race, Baffert has unsaddled the winner on 13 occasions, including when American Pharoah himself took the race in 2014.

Since its latest name change, the 1 1/16-mile test has been won by Baffert six times, most recently with ultimate juvenile champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) last year. And the Hall of Famer stands a very good chance to add his fifth consecutive win when six horses–four conditioned by Baffert–line up for this year's American Pharoah, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar next month.

Leading the charge is Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), victorious in his debut going five panels at Santa Anita in June before obliterating his rivals by 8 3/4 lengths in the six-furlong GIII Best Pal on Aug. 9. Facing arguably the best juvenile in the Baffert barn right now, 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard's Brant (Gun Runner), in the Sept. 7 GI Del Mar Futurity, Desert Gate finished only a length behind the winner in the seven-furlong contest.

Juan Hernandez, aboard in all three prior starts, will try to nurse the speed of the 3-2 morning line favorite.

Desert Gate | Benoit photo

Baffert also saddles Kristofferson (Nyquist), a $1.15 million KEESEEP purchase, who won his six-furlong debut at Del Mar by 3/4 of a length on Aug. 31. While Hernandez, who was in the irons for the colt's career debut, sidesteps to the race favorite, Kristofferson acquires the services of Mike Smith.

Rounding out Baffert's quartet is Plutarch (Into Mischief), runner up in the one-mile GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7 in addition to Balboa (Not This Time), who broke his maiden on Aug. 10 before tiring to fifth behind Brant in the Del Mar Futurity. The former, a son of champion Stellar Wind (Curlin), gets blinkers on, while the latter, an $875,000 KEESEP buy, removes them this weekend.

Of the remaining horses, Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), the most expensive offspring by the sire sold at public auction when bringing $385,000 at the OBS April Sale, makes his black-type debut following a second-out win going a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 23, earning 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard status. Trained by Jeff Mullins, the bay was fourth in the seemingly live maiden won by Brant.

Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) has suffered defeat at the hooves of Brant in both prior races, including a third in the Del Mar Futurity. The dark bay is trained by Chief Stipe O'Neill, who tries to collect his third victory in this race.

Juvenile fillies are also represented on Saturday's card when six line up for the GII Oak Leaf Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' test for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Baffert holds the key with 'Rising Star' Explora (Blame), a 4 3/4-length winner over next out scorer Revera (Lexitonian) in a Del Mar maiden Aug. 17. Caught late by Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) in the Sept. 6 Del Mar Debutante, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic purchase gets blinkers off while stretching to 1 1/16 miles here.

Baffert also saddles 'Rising Star' Himika (Curlin), a runaway winner in her five-furlong debut at Santa Anita in June before adding a victory in the GIII Sorrento Stakes. The $900,000 OBSAPR purchase was fourth last time out in the Debutante.

For those looking for a bit more value, La Wally (Constitution) finished a credible third in the Debutante, only 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner. A narrow winner in her debut at Del Mar in July, the Mark Glatt-trained filly has shown improvement in two starts, and her connections hope the favorite gets some pressure up front early to help their closing filly get up for a piece of it.

Offering some pizzazz on the undercard's GIII Chillingworth Stakes is 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), the daughter of champion Beholder who looked like she could be anything after winning her first two starts at two, including a 6 3/4-length victory in the 2023 Del Mar Debutante. Tiring to seventh as the favorite in that season's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she went missing until returning with a nose second one year later in a six-furlong optional claimer at Del Mar last November. Mike Smith returns to ride the 4-year-old.

Rounding out the 'Win and You're In' races for next month's World Championships, the GII Rodeo Drive Stakes features Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo), winner of this race one year ago. Winless since, she comes into this off a fifth in the nine-furlong GII Del Mar's John C. Mabee Stakes. Likely to take the lion's share at the betting window is Amber Cascade (Free Drop Billy), claimed for $80,000 when a close-up fourth in a Churchill Downs optional claimer on the dirt in May. With Mike Maker now handling the training duties, the 5-year-old mare dead-heated for second in the one-mile Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile on Aug. 3 and was second again in the 11-furlong GII Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 30.–C Bossinakis

Nations Pride Leads Truly International Affair In Woodbine Graded Stakes

Woodbine plays host to a trio of graded stakes races Saturday led by a truly international version of the GI Canadian International. The 1 1/2-mile turf route features none other than Godolphin globetrotter Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby who returns to Canada to reclaim the race he won in decisive fashion when it was run over 1 1/4 miles two years back.

“We came here confident that he was where he needed to be to win this race,” Appleby said. “He had valid excuses for his last two defeats as he's only ever run twice right-handed around Bahrain and been beaten twice. Then at Gulfstream (Pegasus World Cup Turf), he had a torrid shipping, it took a long time to get there and conditions weren't really suitable.”

Nations Pride at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

The 6-year-old has seen an up and down 2025, faltering in the aforementioned Pegasus World Cup Turf but bouncing back in Meydan to take the G2 Singspiel Stakes in March. Well beaten again in the G1 Dubai Turf, Nations Pride returned to North America to just be caught on the lead in the 1 1/2-mile GI Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 9. He drew the far outside post of 10 for Saturday's race.

“He has shown huge versatility in both Europe, North America, and Dubai,” Appleby continued. “He has a great constitution and is very relaxed which has no doubt contributed to him winning from a mile up to a mile and a half.”

Contributing to the international flavor, rail-drawn Haunted Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {Ire}) has earned the bulk of his $679,000 earnings split between England and Qatar for Wathnan Racing since being acquired privately in late 2023. The 6-year-old shipped to Woodbine to take this year's GIII Singspiel Stakes Sept. 6 as the favorite in his North American debut.

“We were planning to give him a break, to be honest,” said trainer Hamad Al-Jehani. “But after such a great effort in the Singspiel, it gave us confidence to send him back again for the International. It is a good opportunity to be there again, especially with it being a Grade I race. It was a very good performance for him. It was his first time on the track, and he handled it very well.”

Al-Jehani's second entry, Silawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a gelded son of 2012 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and also ships in from Europe off a win in the Aug. 23 G3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor.

Sandwiched between the two choices are a host of challengers including hometown hero My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) who has been knocking on the door at the Grade I level this year with seconds in the Jaipur, the Highlander and most recently, the Woodbine Mile. He stretches out for Mark Casse to the 1 1/2-mile distance for the first time Saturday.

Peachtree Stable's Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) seeks his first win since claiming the 2023 edition of the John's Call Stakes at Saratoga. That said, he's no stranger to the marathon distance for Miguel Clement having racked up over $2 million in earnings including a second in the 2 1/16-mile Gold Cup Invitational at Kentucky Downs two back Aug. 30. He was most recently runner-up again on just seven days' rest in the GII Turf Cup Sept. 6.

A pair of Grade II events round out the graded stakes action north of the border with the GII Dance Smartly Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready) leads the field for Roger Attfield off a third in the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at long odds. The GIII Ontario Maton Stakes winner Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) breaks to her outside and looks for her third win on the Woodbine course this season.

The 5 1/2-furlong GII Nearctic Stakes has Bring Theband Home (Into Mischief) who ran eighth in last year's edition and comes in off back-to-back stakes wins at Saratoga including the last-out GII Troy Stakes Aug. 3. Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) returns to Woodbine for the first time since winning the GII Kennedy Road on the Tapeta in Nov. 2024. —Stefanie Grimm

The post Sweet Sixteen: A Sensational Saturday From Sea To Shining Sea appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article