Belmont at the Big A

OR as we know it, Aqueduct, dominates the US scene this weekend although the famous feature race, the Woodward Stakes is now downgraded to a Grade 2.

Heavy rain in New York caused the cancellation of the Friday card and Saturday's card has been postponed to Sunday when conditions are likely to be testing.

Sunday’s card does feature the top-rated US horse in action as the seven-furlong Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes features Godolphin’s Cody’s Wish.

Emotional winner of last season’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, his winning run of seven-in-a-row came to an end when he stretched out in distance in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga. He looked in trouble well from the finish that day so should bounce back here as he drops back to the distance over which he won the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes in June.

The Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes has a stronger field than some of the recent turf contests and European interest comes through Rebel’s Romance, the mount of William Buick for Charlie Appleby.

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner will be hoping for better luck than on his last US trip when he clipped heels and lost Richard Mullen before the home turn in the Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga.

Chad Brown runs two Irish-breds, Stone Age (Irad Ortiz) and Adhamo (Flavien Prat).

Stone Age could only finish fifth in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga last month behind Bolshoi Ballet and today’s runner Soldier Rising, on his first run for Brown but had been off the track since February in Doha.

Bill Mott should provide the main danger in the filly War Like Goddess, third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last season when Stone Age was second.

She has been a little disappointing with one Grade 3 win from three outings but she could well come back to form here in this race, which she won last season beating some of today’s rivals.

SELECTION: REBEL’S ROMANCE

Next Best: Stone Age

A field of 10 line up in an open looking Grade 2 Woodward Stakes with Zandon heading the field.

Fewer horses deserve a big win as Chad Brown’s four-year-old with form figures of 132324222, the ‘1’ being a Grade 1 in last year’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, and then went on to achieve placings in the Grade 1s Kentucky Derby, Travers, Penn Derby and Met Mile.

Todd Pletcher’s Charge It won the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes by a wide margin in June but that was a weak renewal and he was well behind White Abarrio in the Whitney Stakes since.

Simon Crisford runs Algiers with Buick on board. The Shamardal gelding was two and three-quarter lengths second in the Dubai World Cup to Japanese runner Ushba Tesoro following two Meydan wins. Tyson’s Jockey Club Gold Cup third could see him involved too.

SELECTION: ZANDON

Next Best: Tyson

Santa Anita Saturday

Bob Baffert seems to hold the key to the west coast feature with the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes winner Defunded bidding to follow his win in the Grade 1 Awesome Again which he won last season. He must step up on a below par run last time in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The Baffert three-year-old National Treasure got the run of the race to win the Preakness but has been off that form, sixth in the Belmont Stakes and fifth in the Travers Stakes since but conditions here could suit better.

Stilleto Boy is not out of it as he captured the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March but was eased when last in the Pacific Classic after an awkward start.

Slow Down Andy, also on single figures in the morning odds, was third in the Pacific Classic Stakes and finished third here last year.

Santa Anita Sunday

The Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes has a small four horse field and looks bound for the Baffert-trained Adare Manor, a Grade 1 winner last time out in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes where she beat tomorrow’s rival Desert Dawn and she is in a win streak of her last four races.

In the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes, the Belardo gelding Gold Phoenix warms up for the Breeders’ Cup Mile coming off wins in two Del Mar Grade 2s, the Del Mar Handicap and the Eddie Read Stakes for Phil D’Amato.