Let Fall Stars Weekend begin at historic Keeneland.
The highly-anticipated 17-day Fall Meet at the racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky begins Friday, with a trio of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In" races – the $650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), the $400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2), and the $400,000 Jessamine Stakes (G2).
A day later, it’s the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2).
On Sunday, the weekend caps off with the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) featuring reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, and the $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2).
All eight races offer fees-paid, automatic berths to a corresponding race at the 42nd Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
The meet attracts the top trainers, jockeys, and owners from around the world as well as some of the most highly-touted horses being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup. The meet runs through Oct. 25 with a total of 22 stakes worth $10.85 million.
For those who bet horse racing, here’s an analysis, with picks, post positions and odds, for Friday’s “WAYI’’ races.
Undefeated Tommy Jo, 2-0 following an impressive 6 ½-length win in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, is the one to beat in this field of six 2-year-old fillies.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Into Mischief filly is a heavy 2-5 morning-line favorite. Percy’s Bar, the runner-up in the Spinaway on Aug. 30, is the 3-1 second choice.
But let’s look at a pair of fillies trained by Kenny McPeek – The Grumpy Rabbit at 12-1 and Go to Girl at an enticing 20-1.
The Grumpy Rabbit won in her second start going a mile at Ellis Park on Aug. 24. By Not This Time, the filly will be ridden by top jockey Flavien Prat out of post 4. At generous odds, not a bad play for bettors looking for a longshot.
And then there’s Go to Girl, the longest shot in the field. She seems to be coming into her own after two defeats, winning by a head over Search Party at Ellis Park on Aug. 8 going a mile.
A “WAYI’’ fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) goes to the winner in a race that also awards qualifying points to the 2026 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
The field for the $650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Percy’s Bar (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook), 3-1
2 Go to Girl (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Kenny McPeek), 20-1
3 Tommy Jo (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 2-5
4 The Grumpy Rabbit (Flavien Prat, Kenny McPeek), 12-1
5 Haute Diva (Luis Saez, Patrick Biancone), 6-1
6 Wonzee Weather (Chase Miller, Darrin Miller), 30-1
A field of six will contest for a fees-paid, automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Nakatomi is the 5-2 second choice in the six-pack, having finished second in the last two editions of this prestigious sprint.
The 6-year-old gelding trained by Wesley Ward comes into the race 0-for-6 after winning the 2024 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes (G1). Last out, he was third behind Book’em Danno and Mullikin in Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 19.
The morning-line favorite at 8-5 is World Record, a 4-year-old Gun Runner colt trained by Rodolphe Brisset. Flavien Prat has the call leaving from post 4. He was beaten by Durante (15-1 in this race) Aristedes Stakes (G3) back in May at Churchill Downs.
Skelly, at 3-1 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, ran a distance sixth in the Aristedes. Last out, the 6-year-old gelding was third in the listed Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13.
1 Durante (Tyler Gaffalione, David Jacobson), 15-1
2 Whatchatalkinabout (Emisael Jaramillo, Wesley Ward), 6-1
3 Skelly (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen), 3-1
4 World Record (Flavien Prat, Rodolphe Brisset), 8-5
5 Nakatomi (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Wesley Ward), 5-2
6 Here Mi Song (Edgar Morales, Billy Stinson), 10-1
A full field of 12, with two also-eligibles, is set for the 1 1/16-mile turf test with a BC “Win and You’re In" fees-paid automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Time to Dream, who drew the outside gate 12, is the 2-1 favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher. Winner by five lengths in the listed P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, the Mike Repole-owned filly is 2-0. Irad Ortiz, Jr., has the call.
This looks to be a wide-open race with several longshots, including Aggressive Line at 8-1 for trainer Brad Cox (Flavien Prat aboard) and Lovelist at 15-1 with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Eddie Kenneally.
1 Lit Ship (Jose Ortiz, Joe Sharp), 6-1
2 Mackinac (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold), 9-2
3 Carolyncaroline (Julien Leparoux, Lindsay Schultz), 15-1
4 Agressive Lime (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox), 8-1
5 Rose Room (Florent Geroux, Michael Stidham), 20-1
6 Victor Help Me (Walter Rodriguez, Concepcion Torres), 30-1
7 Diablo Shiraz (Sophie Doyle, John Ennis), 50-1
8 Loveliest (Tyler Gaffalione, Eddie Kenneally), 15-1
9 Infinite Sky (Luan Machado, Brad Cox), 5-1
10 Red Beretta (Evin Roman, Michel Douaihy), 20-1
11 Imaginationthelady (Frankie Dettori, Brendan Walsh), 10-1
12 Time to Dream (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 2-1
Also-eligible
13 Soloist (John Velazquez, Kenny McPeek), 10-1
14 Dyna (Flavien Prat, Kevin Attard), 6-1
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.
