It’s the calm before next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup storm with a handful of Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In" races Saturday at Santa Anita and Aqueduct. But wait until the first weekend in October – less than a month before the $34 million, 14-race, two-day, 42nd World Championships at Del Mar.
Over three days, from Oct. 3-5, there will be 21 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In" races – nearly 25% of the 88 races in the series offering fees paid, automatic berths in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races.
Many of the top horses will be out for a final go with the opening weekend of Keeneland a bettor’s delight with eight “Win and You’re In’’ races, including the Spinster Stakes (G1) on Saturday, Oct. 5 with 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.
Among other top events next weekend are three “Win and You’re In’’ races on Oct. 4 to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. Ted Noffey, winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, is probable for the Breeders’ Futurity.
Add the international flair of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp (with six WAYI races on Oct. 5) and the Champions Stakes (G1) at Ascot (Oct. 18) -- “Win and You’re In" races to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) -- and you’ve got a betting bonanza on two continents.
Among the top horses nominated to the Champions Stakes are Calandagan, Delacroix, Ombudsman, Los Angeles, and 2024 winner Anmaat.
Of course, we’re looking ahead to the biggest weekend in the runup to the Breeders’ Cup, where handicappers face the challenge of picking winners from the best racehorses in the world. It’s a much tougher task when European stars, Japan’s star-studded contingent featuring Forever Young, and entries from South America compete for the first and likely only time.
Now that we have a handle of what’s in store for early October, let’s peruse this weekend -- four “Win and You’re In’’ races at Santa Anita, two Saturday, two Sunday, and one at Aqueduct on Saturday, the Vosburgh Stakes (G3).
With Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert saying Gaming would be scratched from the Goodwood at Santa Anita, the field has been reduced to six seeking a fees paid berth to the $7 million Classic.
Baffert still has two in the field, Privman at 5-1 and Nevada Beach at 12-1. However, First Mission, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and second last out in the Philip H. Iselin (G3), is the 8-5 favorite with Full Serrano, winner of the BC Dirt Mile (G1) last year, the 2-1 second choice.
With Paco Lopez suspended, First Mission will be ridden by Hector Berrios.
The three top contenders, Locked (9-5), Phileas Fogg (2-1) and Post Time (7-2) are set to run in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward Stakes (G2), with the four others cross-entered in races Saturday.
Willy D’s is now set to run in the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, while three other Woodward entries are entered in the same race Delaware Park. While the race has been among one of the most prestigious over the years, a small field that could be even smaller, is not worth your handicapping time.
The Woodward is not a WAYI race but could produce a runner or two in the Breeders’ Cup.
Vosburgh is a BC “Win and You’re In’’ for the BC Sprint
Scotland, trained by Bill Mott, is the 5-2 favorite over Crazy Mason (3-1 in a field of nine. Also entered are Patriot Spirit at 5-1 and a trio of 6-1 shots, Nash, Doc Sullivan and Baby Yoda.
Francisco Arrieta will ride Mystik Dan in today’s Lukas Classic, replacing regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr., who is on the road to recovery after a fall in a race on Sunday at Churchill Downs. Arrieta subbed for Hernandez before, finishing second by a nose to Saudi Crown in the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 3.
Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend (Oct. 3-5) kicks off the track’s fall meet, featuring 11 stakes worth $6.3 million.
The eight WAYI races:
Friday: The Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies (Spinaway winner Tommy Jo set to run), the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and up (Book’em Danno set to run), and the Jessamine Stakes (G2) for 2-year-old fillies on the turf (Time to Dream likely).
Saturday: The Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), with Grade 1 winner Diego Velazquez (IRE) expected to run for trainer Aidan O’Brien; the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2), with last year’s winner Zeitlos a probable; and the Breeders’ Futurity (unbeaten Ted Noffey probable for trainer Todd Pletcher).
Sunday: The Bourbon Stakes (G2) on the turf for 2-year-olds (With Anticipation winner Final Score is probable); and the Spinster Stakes (G1) with Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Nitrogen set to challenge Thorpedo Anna.
Journalism Posts Workout
Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism worked 4 furlongs in :47 at Santa Anita on Friday (Sept. 26).
Runner-up in the Pacific Classic (G1) last out, Journalism is set to run next in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he will face his nemesis Sovereignty, who defeated him in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) as well as Pacific Classic winner Fierceness.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
