THE old Godolphin v Coolmore duel plays out again in a top-level race, but the setting this time is the US, in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (8.21pm) where Legend Of Time (William Buick) and Diego Velazquez (Ryan Moore) meet at Saratoga in the mile, a furlong and a half contest.
Saratoga has had a lot of rain this week, but the turf track is expected to dry out by today.
Ballydoyle are taking the two Grade 1s seriously as Moore missed the last two days of Goodwood to ride Greenfinch in last night’s Saratoga Oaks.
Fourth in the French 2000 Guineas, Diego Velazquez rebounded from a disappointing run when favourite in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (10th), as the son of Frankel got back on track with an easy win in the Group 3 Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown.
Since his listed win in Meydan, Legend Of Time has run three times in the US with form of 513, starting favourite on each occasion and winning the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Aqueduct in May.
Best of the US could be the Chad Brown-trained White Palomino who had Legend Of Time a length and a half back in third when he was a narrow second to Trikari in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby last month. Legend Of Time had previously beaten the Brown colt a head in that Pennine Ridge Stakes.
Cugino was an easy winner of a Churchill Downs listed contest last time and could be involved for the Shug McGaughey/Irad Ortiz combination.
SELECTION: Diego Velazquez Next Best: White Palomino
Whitney
The Grade 1 Whitney (10.42pm) is the feature for older horses but with a 12-horse field, it shows there is no horse dominant in that category in the US.
Bob Baffert’s 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure brings the highest level of form, winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes in January and rebounding from a Saudi Cup fourth to win the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap over a mile last time.
Godolphin’s First Misson bombed out when only fourth in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes and could improve on that.
Bright Future won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes here at Saratoga last September but that wasn’t the strongest contest and he was only sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The three-year-old fillies contest the Grade 1 Test Stakes (8.54pm) over seven furlongs and it is a very open affair with Ways And Means (Chad Brown) just shading two Brad Cox runners in the triple winner Emery, and Denim And Pearls.
Fourth to Thorpedo Anna in the Kentucky Oaks, Ways And Means won a Churchill Downs allowance race last time. Emery took the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Aqueduct last time and could step up here.
The Grade 2 Troy Stakes (10.04pm) has Godolphin’s Mischief Magic in stall one but he is unlikely to be close to the speed machine, Cogburn. He could only finish fifth when that Steve Asmussen runner flew home in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes here in early June.
Del Mar
A high-class field of eight fillies go to post for the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (2.30am). Last year’s winner, the five-year-old Adare Manor, sets the standard with two more graded wins to her name this season in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes and Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn.
Brendan Walsh’s Kentucky Oaks winner of last season, Pretty Mischievous has two Grade 1 placings to her name this season so far.
Bill Mott’s Juddmonte-owned Scylla is on a four-timer, winning the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes last time at Churchill Downs
Mountaineer
Keep an eye too on the Sunday’s West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, the one to note is Juddmonte’s Dragoon Guard, a son of Arrogate, an impressive winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby last time and comes with three wins from his last four runs.