3 minute read
With big meetings at Keeneland, Belmont and Santa Anita there's a lot of racing to cover.
Keeneland got underway on Friday and the Gr. 2 Phoenix Stakes went to Engage 10/1 for Steve Asmussen and Jose Ortiz with Whitmore second and Levintonian 46/1 third. The Alcibiades saw British Idiom romp away from the field to win by 6 1/2 lengths from Perfect Alinbi with favourite Alandra 3 lengths further back in third.
Saturday's features start with the Woodford Stakes Gr 2 for 3y+ over 1100m on the turf and there's a lot of interest in Imprimus who is on 2/1. Extravagant Kid is on 3/1 and Leinster and Smart Remark are both on 5/1 in the 10 horse field.
The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is Gr 2 for 3y+ f&m over 1200m. Chalon holds the call here on 3/1 from Ours To Run and Spiced Perfection both on 7/2.
The First Lady Stakes is Gr 1 for f&m 3+ over 1600m turf and Rushing Fall is all the go here on 9/5 for Chad Brown and Javier Castellano and stablemate Uni is on 4/1 with Joel Rosario riding. Vasilenko is 5/1 and our roughie here is Ms Bad Behaviour on 15/1.
The Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Gr 1 for 2yos is over 1700m and 10 to run. Gouveneur Morris is on top on 5/2 for Todd Pletcher and Javier Castellano, with Tap It Win and Ajaaweed both on 3/1. Watch the betting!
The Shadwell Turf Mile Gr 1 has 14 runners and two also eligible. It is quite an open race with Brown's Valid Point at 5/1, Bandlia 6/1, and here come the raiders with van Beethoven on 10/1 together with Robin of Navan and Suedois just ahead of them on 8/1.
At Belmont the Hill Prince is Gr 2 for 3y+ over 1800m on turf with 9 to run. A Thread Of Blue is on 7/2, Bourbon War 4/1 and Digital Age 9/2 topping the call.
The Joe Hirsch Classis is Gr 1 for 3yo+ which the powers that be can move from the turf course and the 2400m trip to the dirt track and just 2000m if they wish. This seems to us the reverse of what things should be but…. At this stage there are 7 runners with 3 of them by English Channel. Sadler's Joy is on 5/2, Arklow 3/1 and the Chilean Ya Primo who won the Latino Americano G1 this year is having his second US start since moving to Chad Brown's yard. He's 6/1 here and Irad Ortiz will be his jockey.
The Champagne Stakes is Gr 1 for 2yos over 1600m and there are 7 runners with Green Light Go on 8/5 and Tiz The Law on 5/2.
At Santa Anita the City of Hope Mile is Gr 2 for 3y+ on turf. There's 11 runners with Prince Earl on 7/2, River Boyne 4/1, and Synchony and Catapult both on 5/1 in what looks like a fairly open race.
The Sprint Championship is Gr 1 for 3y+ over 1200m with 6 runners headed by Shancelot on 4/5 and Omaha Beach on 8/5.
