The huge weekend of Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In" races continue Saturday following a favorite-filled Friday that included a disqualification at Keeneland and a trainer winning both “WAYI’’ events at Aqueduct.
How will the favorites fare on Saturday in “WAYI" at Aqueduct, Keeneland and Santa Anita? For those who bet horse racing, following track trends from Friday could be helpful.
Here’s how things unfolded ... first at opening day at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.
Nakatomi ($5.20), the 8-5 favorite in a field of six, rallied in the stretch and edged Durante by a neck and earn a fees-paid, automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
The 6-year-old gelding trained by Wesley Ward was 0-for-6 heading into the race, although he won the 2024 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G1) prior to the losing streak, which included a third in the Vanderbilt in July.
“It was perfect. He broke good, much better than last time I rode him at Saratoga, so I was happy with that,’’ winning rider Irad Ortiz., Jr. said. “I didn’t want to use him early. I think he’s the kind of horse that likes to have a target. I just bided my time from there. Wesley told me to do whatever I think, so I went with the flow. There was a good pace in front of me, and I didn’t want to chase anybody. I rode my horse, and he was there for me in the end.”
Imaginationthelady ($22,16), 10-1 with Frankie Dettori aboard, pulled off a rare upset on the day with a four-wide rally to win the by a length over Infinite Sky (21-1). Time to Dream, the 6-5 favorite, was a nose further back in the third.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, the filly earned a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
“I was quietly confident. We liked her before she ran the first time (in a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs Sept. 4), and she won, and she’s been improving since,’’ Walsh said. “So, it was a question of how much she was improving — typical 2-year-old — but she ran a very nice race. Frankie was able to wait as long as he could, and like he said, he gave her a good education, and I’m sure that will stand her down the line.”
Second-betting choice Percy’s Bar held off 2-5 favorite Tommy Jo ($2.88) all the way around the track and finished first but was disqualified for bumping her rival in the stretch and Tommy Jo was declared the winner. Percy’s Bar was placed second.
Tommy Jo had already earned a fees-paid automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with her previous win in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. The DQ denied Percy’s Bar of the free spot, but she will likely be part of the field in the BC Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31.
Tommy Jo, now 3-0 for trainer Todd Pletcher, also picked up 10 qualifying points for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“(Disqualification) is not the way you want to win. I thought the filly was running a good race, and there was obviously a lot of contact that impacted her ability to finish,’’ Pletcher said. “Whether or not it was the difference in her getting to the finish line first or not, I don’t know. It was a significant bump. I thought she got a little bit tired. I think she’ll benefit from the two-turn experience, and that’s part of what we were hoping for. The filly that ultimately finished second (Percy’s Bar) is a nice filly. She ran well against us in the Spinaway.”
Trainer Miguel Clement went 2-for-2 in “WAYI’’ races at the Big A. Intricate Spirit ($7.82), the second betting choice at 5-2, edged clear in the stretch and won the $175,000 Futurity Stakes (3) for 2-year-olds on the turf.
Two races later, 1.24-1 favorite Bottas ($4.48) held off Heeere’s Johnny by a head and won the $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
"Hopefully this will give him more experience because it's only going to be his third start when he runs in the Breeders' Cup,’’ Clement said of Bottas. “He's a top-class horse and he overcomes adversity.”
Intricate Spirit picked up a fees-paid automatic berth in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Bottas earned a fees-paid automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
If you’re looking at Keeneland odds for the “WAYI’’ races, here are the morning-line favorite:
$1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1): Diego Velazquez is 7-2 in a field of 12
$650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1): Ted Noffey is 4-5 in a field of seven.
$400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2): Vahva is the 7-5 top choice in a field of seven.
And then there’s three “WAYI” races at Santa Anita on Saturday. The betting favorites?
Desert Gate is the 3-2 choice over stablemate Kristofferson in a six-horse field for the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1). Bob Baffert trains both as well as 8-1 Balboa.
Amber Cascade, trained by Mike Maker, is the 5-2 in a field of eight in the$200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2).
Explora is the 4-5 favorite for Baffert in a field of six for the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (G2).
Oh wait ... at Aqueduct, there’s two more “WAYI’’ races Saturday.
Deep Learning, trained by Chad Brown, is the 5-2 favorite in a 12-horse field for the $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes (G2).
And finally, cheers to all you bettors: It’s Our Time, a 17 ¾-length winner in his career debut on Aug. 16, is the even-money choice in a field of nine for the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1).
usracing.com fared well on Friday
Handicapping went well for usracing.com on Friday. Yes, favorites won the majority of “WAYI’’ races, but our winners were: Bottas ($4.78) in the Pilgrim and Nakatomi ($5.20) in the Phoenix (and the $1 exacta with Durante for $28.86). We also picked the top three finishers in the Darley Alcibiades – Tommy Jo, a DQ’d to second Percy’s Bar and The Grumpy Rabbit (a 50-cents trifecta returned a paltry $3.42 -- yes, but it’s a plus on the ledger!)
Best of luck on Saturday.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
