Habida was third last time out in the Sadie Diamond Futurity last time out, but was beaten by Arabella’s Muse, who is a total monster. Rico Walcott will take the mount for trainer Dale Greenwood who takes over for Pat Jarvis who has trained the horse at Hastings. Bet on Soup won the Sturgeon River last time out with Amie Pooli aboard. Amie is back again and is two for two when riding Bet on Soup. Rosavita, Pay To Go Home and Absolute Ginger were second, third and fourth in the Sturgeon River and will all be present on Friday night.
Saturday’s feature is the $50,000 Canadian Juvenile which drew nine two year olds to compete at the mile distance. Multiple Stakes winner Legend Fortynine will get a lot of attention, but he’s returning to open company, and will face some horses that beat him in the Birdcatcher Stakes. Western Heritage was fifth in the Birdcatcher and came back with a nice win last time out at the allowance level. Go Max was third in the Birdcatcher and was also a fast closing third behind Western Heritage last time out in that allowance event. He’ll get one mile in distance for the first time, which could be the added boost he needs.
Monday’s Closing Day card will feature the $50,000 Duchess of York Handicap and the $50,000 Harvest Gold Plate Handicap. Tell Me Lies and Brady’s Tomboy are the two headliners of the nominees for the Duchess of York which is for the fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth. Speed To Spare winner Senor Rojo will have to carry 122 pounds in the Harvest Gold Plate Handicap as he’s spotting all the other nominees at least four pounds. He’ll have to beat some tough contenders, as Portland Mile winner Crew Leader, stakes winner Silver Baubles, and For Cash are all also nominated.
Simulcast Weekend Action at Northlands Park
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup headlines Keeneland Saturday
Keeneland Race Course rolls into it’s second weekend this weekend, and the Grade 1 $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is the feature on Saturday. Nine three year old fillies will go the mile and one eighth and there is no shortage of early speed in this heat. Sarach ships over from the west coast and drew the rail and will certainly be out gunning for the lead. However Canadian shipper Leigh Court and Arlington Pucker Up Stakes winner I’m Already Sexy are both speed demons, with Leigh Court looking like the speed of the speed. The race could set up for a closer, but finding which one could be the trick. Say was really well backed in the First Lady Stakes which was just last week and was run in a quagmire of rain. James Graham will take over the mount on Say for trainer Aiden O’Brien who will likely be hoping the ground is more firm on Saturday afternoon.
Kitten’s Dumplings had won three straight races going into his last start, which saw him get stuck behind a soft pace in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. She should get the pace scenario she needs on Saturday though and if Julien Leparoux can work out a good trip she could be the one. Alterite is a Grade 1 winner in her first start here in the States, a dominating performance in the Garden City at Belmont. John Velazquez will be back on board in The QE II for trainer Chad Brown and Alterite figures to be tough if she takes to the Keeneland course.
The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is the 9th race at Keeneland on Saturday and has a post time of 3:21pm. Keeneland gets underway at 11:00am.
Northlands Selections for the QE II Challenge Cup
- Kitten’s Dumplings
- Alterite
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Concise
Longshot: I’m Already Sexy
Calder Saturday is stakes loaded
Calder Race Course in South Florida will feature a pair of $300,000 Stakes events as part of a four stakes card. The $300,000 In Reality Stakes is for the two year olds and so far this division has been dominated by My Brown Eyed Guy. My Brown Eyed Guy missed by a nose in his debut, but he’s reeled off three straight wins since then including a big performance last time out in the Affirmed Stakes. That was at seven furlongs and this will be the first trip around two turns for many of these runners. His main competition could be from Best Plan Yet who was second to My Brown Eyed Guy in the Affirmed. Best Plan Yet came back to win the Foolish Pleasure Stakes which was at a mile and 70 yards.
The $300,000 My Dear Girl drew eight runners and Scandalous Act looks to be the one they have to catch. She’s won three of her four career starts and has crushed her competition in the last pair of stakes events, both of which featured many of the rivals she’ll face on Saturday. Holiday Magic stretched out nicely in the Brave Raj and won that day, so the distance could be enough to narrow the gap between her and Holiday Magic.
Amen Kittenwill get some class relief in the Tropical Park Derby which might be just what he needs. Amen Kitten only has one career win, but he’s run very competitively in graded stakes events recently. The drop to the $70,000 overnight stakes should really help his cause. The Frances Genter Stakes is at a mile for three year old fillies that drew a full field of twelve, including multiple stakes winner Dreaming of Sophia. Dreaming of Sophia made her turf debut last time out and was very impressive doing so.
Northlands Selections for the In Reality
- My Brown Eyed Guy
- Best Plan Yet
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DNA Approved
Longshot: Copa Del Rey
Northlands Selections for the My Dear Girl
- Holiday Magic
- Scandalous Act
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Quinnkat
Longshot: Old Wives Tale
Holiday racing on Monday
Monday is a holiday both here and in the States, so there will be lots of great racing all weekend long. The Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes is the big feature at Woodbine on Sunday with the Bull Page Stakes as the Monday feature in Toronto. Great racing from tracks like Santa Anita, Woodbine, Parx, Indiana Downs, Meadowlands, Hastings and many more!
Delta Downs and Meadowlands get underway this week
It’s opening week for a pair of tracks, as Delta Downs in Louisiana and Meadowlands Thoroughbred kick off. Delta Downs will kick off a near six month season on Friday night, as great racing action will be run on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule, with first post nightly at 4:45pm. Once again headlining the season will be the Delta Jackpot card, which features the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot and the Delta Princess Stakes on November 23rd. There will be a special 12:15pm first post time that day.
Meadowlands will run ten thoroughbred cards featuring only turf action. Live Racing will be run Friday, Saturday and Mondays through November 2nd, with the exception of a dark day on Monday October 21st. Post time for each card is 12:15pm