Anne Marie
BELMONT - SATURDAY
8:03 Flower Bowl Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Turf) 1m2f
This race is a rerun of the Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes from Saratoga where the 28/1 outsider Strike Charmer beat the favourite and previously unbeaten Lady Eli, who was returning after over a year on the sidelines, with Godolphin’s Sentiero Italia in third. Andre Fabre sends over the Dubawi filly Ame Bleue, who was second in the Group 3 La Coupe last time out and her previous second in the Prix Jean Romanet to Speedy Boarding looks good now. Sea Calasi could also be involved.
SELECTION: LADY ELI
Next Best: Ame Bleue
10:23 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Dirt) 1m2f
This looks a substandard field for the famed race with Effinex bringing a good record at the track (two wins in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap). He was only fourth in the Whitney Stakes last time behind Frosted. Effinex has good from in the autumn and finished third in last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, second to American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and won his first Grade I win in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
The other Grade I winner in the field, Hoppertunity, also won the Clark in 2014, before finishing second to Effinex last year. He finished fourth to California Chrome in the Pacific Classic and third to California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup, where Mubtaahij was second. Mubtaahij also is entered and moved to Kiaran McLaughlin’s stable after that Dubai World Cup effort. He has since finished third to Effinex in the Suburban and a close second to Shaman Ghost in the Woodward Stakes.
SELECTION: EFFINEX
Next Best: Hoppertunity
Also on the card are the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes (6.53) where Nonna Mela from the Todd Pletcher stable is the short-priced favourite after her win in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes. In the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes (9.13) Syndergaard, trained by Todd Pletcher, is also a short-priced favourite off two unbeaten runs.
KEENELAND SATURDAY
9:35 First Lady Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) (Turf) 1m
It would be some feat for the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Now Or Never to topple the top mare Tepin, who is unbeaten in her last eight races. She is reported to have settled in well in Keeneland and put a decent run behind Alice Springs in the Matron at Leopardstown. Tepin runs here instead of the Shadwell Mile but this is still a tough contest. She is expected to improve on her last run at Woodbine and is by far the best in the field. Jeremy Noseda runs Nemoralia and Bill Mott’s Celestine is a Grade 1 winner in the Just A Game. Photo Call would make it a brilliant week for her breeder Evie Stockwell.
SELECTION: TEPIN
Next Best: Nemoralia
10:45 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) 1m
A wide open Grade 1 with Mondialiste looking for his second Grade 1 stateside. He won the Arlington Million in fine style and should be in contention again. Miss Temple City beat the colts in the Grade 1 Makers Mile at this track but has run below that form since. Ironicus, behind Flintshire last time, could run a big race, while Tourist is also capable of a big run for Bill Mott off his last Saratoga Grade 1 win.
SELECTION: MONDIALISTE
Next Best: Ironicus
SANTA ANITA - SATURDAY
10:00 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Dirt) 6f
Lord Nelson appears set to dominate the top-level sprints on the California circuit. The Bob Baffert-trained son of Pulpit enters the off back-to-back Grade I victories in the Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita Park and Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, where his finishing time broke a stakes record for six furlongs that stood since 1962. There doesn’t seem to be much threat to Lord Nelson, only his Baffert stablemate and Zayat Stables-owned Jazzy Times.
SELECTION: Lord Nelson
Next Best: Jazzy Times
KEENELAND SUNDAY
10.45 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (Grade 1) Dirt (3yo+) Fillies and Mares 9f
Just a field of five starters with three graded stakes winners taking on Grade 1 winner I’m A Chatterbox. The four-year-old I’m A Chatterbox is coming into the nine-furlong test in good form for Larry Jones. A four-time graded stakes winner, I’m A Chatterbox comes off a close fourth-place finish in a hot Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes, where she led through most of the way only to lose to the winner Cavorting, Curalina, and Forever Unbridled. Prior to the Personal Ensign, she had consecutive wins in the Obeah Handicap and the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap.
I’m A Chatterbox improved with every race this year but has lost the last two starts at Keeneland including a Grade 3 last April. Looking to score the upset will be Grade 2 winner Paid Up Subscriber, who finished second in the Delaware Handicap; Todd Pletcher’s Grade 3 winner Genre, who finished second in the Obeah; and graded winner Engaginglee. Genre, who has won four races and placed second twice out of six starts this year.
SELECTION: I’M A CHATTERBOX
Next Best: Genre