SAY what you like about American racing, there’s no doubt that many of the big players are keen to take each other on.
The best of the older horses get to show their ability this weekend, and we had the Preakness winner and top-class three-year-old Journalism back in action on the west coast. With nine weeks until the Breeders’ Cup, this is the last big weekend of action for the top colts.
6.45pm Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (Grade I)
Mike Repole’s Fierceness was no match for Sierra Leone in the Whitney, but he sends his other top colt Mindframe to take on the Brad Cox-trained competitor in this evening’s Saratoga feature (6.45pm).
The favourite Sierra Leone had been disappointing as a four-year-old before coming right back to his best in that last win and the second, third and fourth from the Whitney take him on again, in Highland Falls, Disarm and White Abarrio.
Chad Brown has again entered Contrary Thinking as a pacemaker as in the Whitney.
Mindframe won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes by a length beating Sierra Leone and had also finished ahead of him in the mile and a quarter Belmont Stakes last season when he was second and Sierra Leone a length and a half behind him in third to Dornoch.
The Constitution colt is unbeaten in his three outings this season over shorter distances, though he goes a furlong further this time, he could again just have too much speed for Sierra Leone. “He ran so well in the Belmont last year. He’s always given us confidence that he’ll handle the mile and a quarter,” Todd Pletcher said.
White Abarrio, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at four, was impressive in winning the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February by over six lengths, but hasn’t run to that level since.
SELECTION: Mindframe
Next best: Sierra Leone
Saturday
2.00am Pacific Classic (Grade 1) 1m 2f
Journalism, the Preakness winner and second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, lines up in an eight-horse field at his home track this evening. After winning the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby early this year, he won the Preakness Stakes and Haskell Stakes. His only losses were seconds to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He won the Preakness in fighting style after severe interference and the break since the Belmont could have done him good. Plus, he gets 6lb from the two four-year-olds.
Fierceness, the second best three-year-old last season, was a disappointment in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes when only fifth to Sierra Leone, finding little in the straight. He is better than that, but lacks consistency.
Nysos is the likely favourite. The son of Nyquist missed pretty much all of his three-year-old career but has two impressive wins at Santa Anita and Del Mar this season, the last by two and three-quarter lengths in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.
He was second by a neck to Mindframe in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes and goes nine furlongs for the first time. Baffert has won the Pacific Classic a record seven times. If Sovereignty is the superstar he looks, Journalism can pay him a huge compliment here.
SELECTION: Journalism
Next best: Fierceness
Also on the card, Gold Phoenix, an Irish-bred son of Belardo, who began his career with a Dundalk maiden win for Kieran Cotter, bids for a record fourth win in a row in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap for trainer Philip D’Amato.
Kentucky Downs
If it is big money you seek, then Kentucky Downs is the place with two graded races worth $2 million and $3.5 million for the Nashville Derby.
James Owen, Hugo Palmer and Charlie Hills are the only European trainers to send a representative as Wimbledon Hawkeye runs in the Grade 3 Nashville Derby Invitational, while Khadeem will need luck in running in the 15-runner six-furlong Grade 2 Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes. He did finish second in a similar contest here last season, though was well-beaten in the King George Stakes at Goodwood. Frankie Dettori rides the British runners.
Wimbledon Hawkeye is drawn 12 of 12 in the $3.5 million prize fund Nashville Derby and, despite being one of the favourites on the morning line, looks to face a stiff task.
Hill Road, Sandman and Burnham Square, who all ran in one of the Triple Crown races, are in the field and now aim for a share of the big money on turf.
Graham Motion’s Test Score won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, before finishing third in the Saratoga Derby and looks the best option.
The Grade 3 Resolute Racing Ladies Turf Stakes (11.25pm) is worth $2 million. Cheshire Dancer comes off a win in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot and Dettori rides for Hugo Palmer.
Interest is in Special Wan who raced here previously for Patrick Foley and won at the Kentucky track last season. Third in the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes at Saratoga last time following a Grade 3 win at Gulfstream, she could be in the mix.