Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Races Highlight Weekend Action

Friday

Newmarket

• The Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes – Juvenile Fillies Turf

Preview: Seven runners are set to go in this being the first of nine Breeders Cup “Win and You’re In” races on the weekend.  The current favorite is HAWKSMOOR with DOUBLY MOTIVATED, PROMISING RUN, and THETIS being the main contenders.  We are uncertain at this time what horses from Europe will target this event, but we do know that the overseas shippers have had huge Breeders Cup success in both the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf.  Make sure to watch this one with a close eye as the timing between races will be just right for this bunch.

Saturday

Santa Anita

• The Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes – Breeders Cup Classic
• The Grade 1 Frontruner Stakes – Juvenile
• The Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes – Distaff
• The Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes – Filly and Mare Turf
• The Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes – Juvenile Fillies

Preview: Three huge favorites figure to highlight this opening day Santa Anita card with BEHOLDER leading the pack in the Zenyatta Stakes.  She hopes to use this race as a springboard for the Breeders Cup Classic.  SONGBIRD will be a heavily bet favorite the Chandelier Stakes with PRETTY N COOL being the main challenger.  In the Frontrunner Stakes it will be all about NYQUIST as he is easily the number one two year old male at the current time.  The Rodeo Drive Stakes is much more wide open.  The Christophe Clement shipper HARD NOT TO LIKE looks formidable, but will have many challengers lining up including: PHOTO CALL, ELEKTRUM, SHARLA RAE, and FANTICOLA.

Belmont Park

• The Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes – Sprint
• The Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – Turf 

Preview: Two very contentious races await at Belmont this Saturday starting with the Vosburgh Stakes.  ROCK FALL comes in as the clear choice with six straight wins to his credit including a big win last time out at Saratoga in the Vanderbilt Stakes.  WILDCAT RED comes into the race as a nice long shot alternative considering his recent strong races, as well as hard knockers SALUTOS AMIGOS and PALCE.  In the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic BIG BLUE KITTEN and RED RIFLE look to be standouts with the classy TWILIGHT ECLIPSE searching for his best stride.  Finally, the Awesome Again Stakes will feature of field of eight; all of which who are trying to earn respect in a depleted older male division in California.  HOPPERTUNITY, HARD ACES, and BAYERN figure to be the key players.

Newmarket

• The Group 1 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes – Juvenile Turf

Preview: A deep and competitive field will line up for this one with FOUNDATION being the most interesting of them all.  Like previously mentioned this race has a great opportunity to send a few our way for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf and could very well produce the winner of the race.