Belmont Park held the final round of official Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series events this past weekend, and combined with Keeneland’s stakes action, we were given our last looks at the sport’s stars before they begin training for the World Championships. When all was said and done, here’s who made our latest Three Stars of the Week:
1. Got Stormy
Though not officially a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, Friday’s Franklin County Stakes (G3) at Keeneland let the superstar turf mare Got Stormy shine once more before she makes what’s expected to be her final career start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). She broke a bit slowly, but Tyler Gaffalione didn’t panic, instead trusting that her killer turn of foot would get the job done, and she did, nailing Into Mystic on the wire.
2. Jackie’s Warrior
It’s unbelievably rare to see a 2-year-old colt produce a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but that’s just how strongly Jackie’s Warrior ran in Saturday’s Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The Steve Asmussen trainee will head to the World Championships as the clear division leader and could very well be one of the heaviest morning line favorites of that entire weekend.
3. Civil Union
Shug McGaughey’s patience with this mare continues to pay off in 2020 as she won her fourth straight in Saturday’s Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, stamping her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). She showed grit and determination to hold off a fast-closing My Sister Nat, whose older half-sister Sistercharlie won last year’s race. McGaughey and owner/breeder Allen Stable previously won the 2017 Flower Bowl with War Flag, who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf before retiring.
