NO Grade 1s in the US this weekend but there are a few interesting graded stakes races at Belmont and Churchill Downs.

The most interesting race is the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont (7.34pm) which sees the match-up between Life Is Good and Speaker’s Corner.

It is the Todd Pletcher-trained Life Is Good’s first run since the Dubai World Cup in March where he finished fourth in Meydan. Before that he had been very impressive in winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Pegasus World Cup by a length and three-quarters from Knicks Go.

Speaker’s Corner had been on a three-race winning streak culminating in a four-and-a-half-length win in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct in April, but his meeting with the flying machine Flightline at Belmont in early June saw him only finish third, eight and three-quarters behind the winner who breezed past him.

This race will offer an interesting comparison ahead of a possible match-up between Life Is Good and Flightline.

The Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs has the promoted 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun as it’s number one contender but it looks a tight contest with Todd Pletcher’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile of 2021 winner Americanrevolution, Bill Mott’s Olympiad who has won his last four races and Proxy, trained by Michael Stidham. Mandaloun returns after a poor run in the Saudi Cup on his last appearance.

Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes has Shedaresthedevil as favourite against Pimlico Grade 2 winner Super Quick and Steve Asmussen’s Pauline’s Pearl who won the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs in May.