IT’S the last big weekend of graded race action stateside before the Breeders’ Cup and Aqueduct and Santa Anita present some interesting contests.
Aqueduct features the sole European interest in its Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (7.40pm) with Charlie Appleby represented by Silver Knott in the 12-furlong contest.
Far Bridge surprised everyone including the two Godolphin runners Measured Time and Silver Knott when making all in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes last time.
War Like Goddess won this decisively by over four lengths last year and even though she is a seven-year-old, she seems to have retained much of her ability and was an unlucky second last time out in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl at Saratoga. She seeks her third Joe Hirsch win in a row against males.
Mark E. Casse’s Get Smokin had won the Grade 2 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth earlier in the summer with Far Bridge well behind.
The market is close between the top three but while Silver Knott was a bit disappointing last time, he had won three graded races in a row before that in the US this summer and could pull this one out of the fire under Dylan Davis who won the Grade 3 Belmont Oaks for Appleby two weeks ago.
SELECTION: SILVER KNOTT Next best: War Like Goddess
The now Grade 2 Woodward Stakes (6.38pm) over nine furlongs had been down graded and lost its lustre of old when the likes of Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and Quality Road won it from 2008 to 2010.
Subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner Gun Runner was the last of the really high-class winners in 2017.
Skippylongstocking has been knocking in top grade for three seasons (won almost $3 million). He has three graded wins to his name this season and is favourite here off his impressive last time out win in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic Stakes, but could be worth taking on at short odds.
Tapit Trice was among the better colts last season, placed in the Belmont and the Travers but was absent for a long time before reappearing to win a Monmouth Grade 3.
He could only finish fourth behind surprise winner Highland Falls in the Grade 2 Jockey Club Gold Cup last time. His trainer Todd Pletcher also runs Crupi, second in a high-class Grade 1 Whitney Stakes to Arthur’s Ride after winning the Grade 1 Suburban Stakes at Saratoga.
Sprinters line up in the Grade 3 Vosburgh (9.14pm) over seven furlongs and a well-matched field has Saffie Joseph’s Comedy Town as morning line favourite, coming off three in a row at Gulfstream Park. Bill Mott holds the dangers with Scotland and Baby Yoda.
Santa Anita
The nine-furlong California Crown Stakes, formerly the Awesome Again, (12.43pm) is the last west coast prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Bob Baffert saddles three of the seven.
National Treasure has the best record with the Preakness win on his CV. He won the Pegasus World Cup early in the season and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in August but was well beaten when sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney.
Muth was expected to be one of the top three-year-olds of the season but missed the classics after winning the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby by two lengths in March over a field including next-out Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.
He still has five wins and two seconds from his seven runs and comes on a four-timer after winning his return in the Listed Shared Belief Stakes last time, his first run since winning the Arkansas Derby. Baffert’s third runner Newgate, won the Santa Anita Handicap in March.
Senor Buscador lost narrowly in the Pegasus World Cup to National Treasure before winning the Dubai World Cup in March but was disappointing on his return in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes.
SELECTION: NATIONAL TREASURE
Next best: Muth
On the rest of the card, the Irish-bred Gold Phoenix is favourite for the 10-furlong Grade 2 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship which has a big field of 11 on the turf.
The Belardo gelding won his third Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last time out. His trainer Phil D’Amato has a strong hand of four with Divin Propos, Rockemperor and Balnikhov all in the top section of morning line odds.
In the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on the turf, Tim Yakteen’s Johannes is a short-priced favourite after three graded wins in a row including the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes last time and the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes here at Santa Anita in May.