Breeders’ Cup Photo ©
The New York Racing Association has released the lists of probable and possible starters for the five Breeders’ Cup prep races scheduled to be run on October 3rd at Belmont Park, a day of racing billed as “Super Saturday.”
Headlining the stakes schedule is the $1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), a prestigious “Win and You’re In” prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I). The field is expected to be small but talented, with the probable starters including 2014 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner and defending Jockey Club Gold Cup champion Tonalist; Suburban Handicap (gr. II) winner Coach Inge, Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) winner Effinex, and 2014 Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner Wicked Strong.
Leading the probables for the Kelso Handicap (gr. II) is Honor Code, winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) and Whitney Stakes (gr. I) earlier this year. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Honor Code is among the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and will use the Kelso as a springboard to that race. Among his challengers on Saturday are Tamarkuz, winner of the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) in Dubai, and Red Vine, who most recently finished third in the Pacific Classic (gr. I).
The Champagne Stakes (gr. I), a major prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and an early prep on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), is expected to draw an exceptional field led by impressive Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Ralis. Rafting, Ready Dancer, and Tale of S’avall–a trio of impressive maiden winners at Saratoga that were profiled in a recent article here on The Turf Board–are also expected to start.
Fillies and mares will take center stage on the turf in the Flower Bowl (gr. I), in which 2014 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) runner-up and defending Flower Bowl winner Stephanie’s Kitten headlines the field. Watsdachances, winner via disqualification of the Beverly D. Stakes (gr. I), is another probable starter, as is up-and-coming Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. II) winner Dacita.
The Frizette Stakes (gr. I) has drawn a solid field of 2yo fillies led by She’s All Ready, who won the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga against New York-breds in impressive fashion. Anna Rae, who finished fourth behind the talented Rachel’s Valentina in the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I), is another probable starters.
The complete list of probable and possible starters for these major stakes races are as follows:
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP (gr. I)
PROBABLE
Coach Inge
Constitution
Effinex
Looks to Spare
Tonalist
Wicked Strong
FLOWER BOWL (gr. I)
PROBABLE
America
Dacita
Mutatis Mutandis
Stephanie’s Kitten
Watsdachances
White Rose
POSSIBLE
Eastern Belle
Photo Call
KELSO HANDICAP (gr. II)
PROBABLE
Honor Code
Mshawish
Red Vine
Scarly Charly
Tamarkuz
Vyjack
CHAMPAGNE STAKES (gr. I)
PROBABLE
Greenpointcrusader
Rafting
Ralis
Ready Dancer
Sail Ahoy
Sunny Ridge
Tale of S’avall
POSSIBLE
Berb’s Majesty
Magna Light
FRIZETTE STAKES (gr. I)
PROBABLE
Anna Rae
Desert Tune
Nemoralia
Nickname
She’s All Ready
Where’s the D
Width
POSSIBLE
Delicate Lady
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