We are yet another weekend closer, there is too much great racing this weekend to be able to cover it all. Below is the highlights for the weekend:
Zenyatta Stakes (Distaff Qualifier)
It would be misguided to overlook the Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Another win, would be Beholder’s third straight win in the race, aligning herself with Zenyatta. A race against the males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is potentially in The 5-year-old mare’s future.
| PN | Runner / Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
| 1 | Oscar Party J. Graham | J. Cassidy | 30-1 |
| 2 | Savings Account D. Van Dyke | T. Proctor | 15-1 |
| 3 | My Monet S. Gonzalez | R. Agarie | 15-1 |
| 4 | Big Book K. Desormeaux | T. Yakteen | 15-1 |
| 5 | Kyriaki M. Gutierrez | P. Eurton | 20-1 |
| 6 | My Sweet Addiction M. Smith | M. Jones | 8-1 |
| 7 | Wild in the Saddle R. Bejarano | R. Baltas | 12-1 |
| 8 | Warren’s Veneda T. Baze | C. Lewis | 6-1 |
| 9 | Beholder G. Stevens | R. Mandella | 2-5 |
Awesome Again Stakes (Classic Qualifier)
The name of this race is going to be who can chase down Bayern . No other horse has shown a penchant for or the ability to set the pace. Bayern will likely go to the lead and stay there until the stretch run. Only Two things can happen: he maintains that lead through the finish line or he is chased down by one Hard Aces or Hopportunity.
| PN | Runner / Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
| 1 | Hard Aces V. Espinoza | J. Sadler | 4-1 |
| 2 | Sammy Mandeville R. Bejarano | D. O’Neill | 10-1 |
| 3 | Point Piper M. Gutierrez | J. Hollendorfer | 8-1 |
| 4 | Global View D. Van Dyke | T. Proctor | 12-1 |
| 5 | Hoppertunity M. Smith | B. Baffert | 3-1 |
| 6 | Imperative C. Nakatani | R. Baltas | 6-1 |
| 7 | Smooth Roller T. Baze | V. Garcia | 6-1 |
| 8 | Bayern M. Garcia | B. Baffert | 5-2 |
Frontrunner stakes (Juvenile Qualifier)
The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is always the favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby. Undefeated Nyquist, a short-priced favorite, will try for the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
A runaway winner of the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity , the bay colt by sire Uncle Mo is against a field of eight, going 1-1/16 miles. The FrontRunner is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.
| PN | Runner / Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
| 1 | Go Long F. Perez | J. Desormeaux | 20-1 |
| 2 | On Fire G. Stevens | S. Callaghan | 12-1 |
| 3 | Blameitonthelaw T. Baze | J. Sadler | 5-1 |
| 4 | Nyquist M. Gutierrez | D. O’Neill | 6-5 |
| 5 | Hollywood Don B. Blanc | P. Miller | 4-1 |
| 6 | Rare Candy J. Talamo | D. Hofmans | 15-1 |
| 7 | Swipe K. Desormeaux | J. Desormeaux | 5-1 |
| 8 | Mt Veeder M. Garcia | B. Baffert | 6-1 |
Joe Hursh (Turf Qualifier)
Red Rifle and Twilight Eclipse, the 1-2 from the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga, return for Saturday’s $600,000, Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. The Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” drew a field of seven, also including Big Blue Kitten, Shining Copper, who finished second and third, last month’s Grade I Arlington Million.
| PN | Runner / Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
| 1 | Red Rifle J. Castellano | T. Pletcher | 5-2 |
| 2 | Perfect Title K. Carmouche | J. Lawrence, II | 30-1 |
| 3 | Big Blue Kitten J. Bravo | C. Brown | 2-1 |
| 4 | Twilight Eclipse J. Rosario | T. Albertrani | 5-1 |
| 5 | Slumber (GB) I. Ortiz, Jr. | C. Brown | 7-2 |
| 6 | Quiet Force J. Ortiz | M. Maker | 20-1 |
| 7 | Shining Copper M. Franco | C. Brown | 10-1 |
Tom Franklin is a senior contributor at US Racing.
