The upcoming weekend at Saratoga Race Course is a crucial station on the highway to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Yr in and 12 months out, a number of races held this weekend on the Spa are influential in cementing Breeders’ Cup plans for a number of horses and their connections, and there are distinguished prep races held elsewhere as nicely over the subsequent few days.
The penultimate weekend at Saratoga historically is highlighted by the observe’s signature race for 3-year-olds, the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes on Aug. 24. Though the Travers just isn’t an official Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection “Win and You’re In” qualifying race, it typically sends its greatest performers on to the World Championships, which will likely be held this 12 months on Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar. Two different races Aug. 24 at Saratoga are “Win and You’re In” preps: the $750,000 Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes (Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf) and the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash).
Del Mar, which can be winding down its well-liked summer time meet, hosts the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes Aug. 24, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile. And three extra Problem Collection races will likely be held through the Ybor Competition carried out at York Racecourse in Nice Britain: the Juddmonte Worldwide Stakes Aug. 21 (Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional); the Darley Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 22 (Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf); and the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes Aug. 23 (Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash).
Right here’s some background on the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection races, the Travers Stakes, and different essential races on faucet this week:
Resorts World On line casino Sword Dancer Stakes
The place: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Aug. 24
Methods to watch: FOX
“Win and You’re In” for: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Why it’s essential: This race, held at 1 ½ miles, has been gained by a number of the greatest U.S.-based grass horses from the previous 30-plus years. It’s one of many major preps for home horses as they sharpen up their type to tackle Europeans within the Breeders’ Cup, and occasionally a prime contender from Europe will ship to Saratoga and begin within the Sword Dancer (similar to Flintshire, who gained this race in 2015 and 2016 and completed second within the BC Turf in 2014 and ’16). 4 runners have gained the Sword Dancer and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the identical 12 months: Theatrical (1987), Fraise (1992), Higher Speak Now (2004), and Essential Sequence (2014). The latter two horses had been skilled by Graham Movement.
Finest winner through the Breeders’ Cup period: Higher Speak Now was probably the most sturdy and constant turf runners of the primary decade of the 21st century. He raced from age 2 to age 10 (!) and squared off in opposition to the most effective North America and Europe needed to supply many occasions by way of his 51 profession begins, which netted him over $4.5 million in earnings. His peak got here in 2004, when the gelding gained two of eight begins – these two being the Sword Dancer after which two begins later the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Lone Star Park, the place he defeated odds-on favourite Kitten’s Pleasure by 1 ¾ lengths at odds of 27.90-1. Higher Speak now would run within the BC Turf 4 extra occasions, and are available a half-length in need of profitable it once more in 2006, when he checked in second behind Crimson Rocks. He additionally began twice extra within the Sword Dancer, ending second in each 2008 and 2009, the latter his last profession begin.
2024 subject: Soldier Rising, second within the 2023 Sword Dancer, is among the many six entrants in Saturday’s renewal. He enters off of a runner-up end within the Bowling Inexperienced Stakes July 28 on the Spa to Godolphin’s Silver Knott, who’s the even-money morning-line favourite within the Sword Dancer.
Ballerina Handicap
The place: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Aug. 26
Methods to watch: FOX
“Win and You’re In” for: PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash
Why it’s essential: The seven-furlong Ballerina was gained by many top-class fillies and mares within the years earlier than the introduction of the Filly & Mare Dash to the World Championships slate in 2007, together with Woman’s Secret, who gained the Ballerina in 1985 and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1986. However again in that very first 12 months, Ballerina winner Maryfield turned out to relish the sloppy Monmouth Park racetrack one begin later within the Filly & Mare Dash to win by 1 ½ lengths. Weeks later, the Doug O’Neill trainee acquired the first-ever Eclipse Award for champion feminine sprinter. A number of Ballerina winners since 2007 carried out very nicely within the Filly & Mare Dash, however none gained the race, till …
Finest winner through the Breeders’ Cup period: Two years in the past, Goodnight Olive made her stakes debut within the 2022 Ballerina after profitable 4 begins in a row by open lengths. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper had interruptions in her coaching beginning in 2021 when she was 3 attributable to bone chips in her ankles. Subsequently, regardless of her dominance on the allowance degree she was despatched off at 5.80-1 odds within the Ballerina, fourth selection in a seven-horse subject that included 2021 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash winner and post-time favourite Ce Ce. Below jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Goodnight Olive settled issues in early stretch with an explosive transfer and gained going away by 2 ¾ lengths. She made her subsequent begin within the Filly & Mare Dash at Keeneland, this time because the 1.85-1 favourite in a 12-horse subject, and authored an almost excellent repeat efficiency, pulling clear to a 2 ½-length rating. As with Maryfield 15 years earlier, Goodnight Olive was honored with an Eclipse Award for her marketing campaign. At age 5, she added to an unbelievable profession portfolio in 2023 by coming again to complete second within the Ballerina after which to submit a repeat victory within the Filly & Mare Dash at Santa Anita Park, securing one other Eclipse Award as champion feminine sprinter.
2024 subject: Saturday’s Ballerina drew a strong eight-horse subject led by morning-line, even-money favourite Vahva, who is available in off of wins within the Grade 1 Derby Metropolis Distaff Stakes Introduced by Kendall-Jackson Vineyard in Might and the Grade 3 Chicago Stakes in June. The Cherie DeVaux-trained filly is 5-for-7 with two seconds on the Ballerina’s seven-furlong distance. Different prime contenders are Grade 1 winner Society and royally bred Grade 2 winner Scylla.
Pat O’Brien Stakes
The place: Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership, Del Mar, Calif.
When: Saturday, Aug. 24
Methods to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile
Why it’s essential: This seven-furlong race has been an influential steppingstone to each the Large Ass Followers Filth Mile and the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Dash by way of the years, and on one notable event even the Breeders’ Cup Traditional. That got here again in 1996, when Alphabet Soup shortened as much as seven furlongs within the Pat O’Brien after being soundly defeated in his first begin at a mile and 1 / 4 and rebounded with a 3 ½-length win. The David Hofmans trainee then stretched out in his subsequent two begins to a mile and a mile and an eighth, ending second and first (subsequently disqualified and positioned third) in California stakes races, earlier than making an attempt the basic distance once more at Woodbine in opposition to a star-studded subject that included reigning Horse of the Yr Cigar. With Chris McCarron aboard, Alphabet Soup scored a memorable nostril victory over Louis Quatorze at odds of 19.85-1, with Cigar a head again in third in what turned out to be the legend’s last race.
Finest winner through the Breeders’ Cup period: Pat O’Brien top-three finishers Cardmania (third in 1993) and Lit de Justice (third in 1996 to the aforementioned Alphabet Soup) would prepare on to win the Breeders’ Cup Dash later within the 12 months, however up to now the one horse to win the Pat O’Brien and the Large Ass Followers Filth Mile (which was first held in 2007) in the identical 12 months is Goldencents. That top-class competitor first jumped on the scene at age 3 in 2013 when he gained the Santa Anita Derby, however after ending nicely again within the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes he was shortened as much as race at distances a mile or shorter from then on by Doug O’Neill and his assistant Leandro Mora, and he thrived over the subsequent 12 months and a half, ending second within the 2013 Pat O’Brien en path to a 2 ¾-length win that fall’s Filth Mile at Santa Anita Park. In 2014 at age 4, Goldencents gained the Pat O’Brien by 4 ¼ lengths after which in his last begin took the Filth Mile as soon as once more at Santa Anita because the 7-10 favourite. General, Goldencents gained seven of 18 races with seven seconds and earned greater than $3 million.
2024 subject: Saturday’s Pat O’Brien shapes up as a must-watch renewal. It’s anticipated to attract each The Chosen Vron, arguably the most effective sprinter in California who not too long ago gained the six-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes, and Senor Buscador. That world traveler is scheduled to make his first begin since ending third within the 1 ¼-mile Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline in March, which adopted a sensational victory within the 1 1/8-mile, $20 million Saudi Cup in February.
The Travers Stakes and different weekend races:
The 1 ¼-mile DraftKings Travers Stakes, often called the “Mid-Summer season Derby,” is probably not a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup, however that actually doesn’t imply it lacks significance as a prep race. Many occasions over the previous 4 many years a 3-year-old that excelled within the Travers skilled on to shine within the World Championships as nicely. The checklist is lengthy and only a few of the standouts are Straightforward Goer (gained 1989 Travers, second by a nostril within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional to rival Sunday Silence), Concern and Tabasco Cat (second and third in an exciting 1994 Travers behind Holy Bull, first and second within the Traditional), Bernardini (gained 2006 Travers, second within the Traditional to Invasor), and Will Take Cost (breakthrough win within the 2013 Travers, however second by a nostril to Mucho Macho Man within the Traditional).
For all of that historical past, there had by no means been a Travers winner that went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Traditional in the identical 12 months … till 2016, when Arrogate’s record-setting Travers rating propelled him to superstardom. His brilliance from that day in late August was confirmed 10 weeks later at Santa Anita Park when he defeated California Chrome within the Traditional after which amplified by his unbelievable races in early 2017 earlier than he misplaced his greatest type that summer time. Arrogate, who was elected into the Racing Corridor of Fame final summer time, sadly died quickly after starting his stud profession.
The $500,000 Private Ensign Stakes, set for Aug. 23 at Saratoga, was taken off of the Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection in 2022 however the race, which is named after the undefeated Phipps Secure legend and 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, has had an extended and influential historical past with the occasion. 4 fillies or mares have gained each the Private Ensign and the Longines Distaff in the identical 12 months: Stunning Pleasure in 1999, Ceaselessly Unbridled in 2017, Malathaat in 2022, and Idiomatic final 12 months. Idiomatic’s 2023 Private Ensign win was an eye-opener as she romped by 4 lengths to seize her first Grade 1 victory. The daughter of Curlin then gained the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland previous to rallying late and taking the Longines Distaff by a half-length over Randomized at Santa Anita. Each Idiomatic and Randomized are entered in Saturday’s Private Ensign to proceed what has turn into an thrilling rivalry.
Related accolades apply to the $500,000 Forego Stakes, held this 12 months Aug. 24 at Saratoga. Many runners from this seven-furlong race named after the mid-70s celebrity have gone on to make noise within the Qatar Racing Dash or, much less typically, the Large Ass Followers Filth Mile, and three of them gained the Forego and the Dash in the identical 12 months: Orientate (2001), Midnight Lute (2007), and extra not too long ago Mitole (2019). Few would argue in opposition to placing the latter pair in a prime 10 checklist of North American sprinters from this century, nor would anybody dispute the excellence of the 2022 Forego winner at distances as much as one mile. Certainly, after utilizing the Forego as a coming-out social gathering of types by defeating 0.15-1 favourite Jackie’s Warrior, Cody’s Want subsequent tried racing a mile round two turns at Keeneland in November, and he thrilled hundreds of thousands of onlookers through TV and one particular household trackside with a heart-pounding win within the 2022 Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile.
Cody’s Want skipped the 2023 Forego however repeated within the Large Ass Followers Filth Mile en path to incomes Horse of the Yr honors. Gunite posted a light upset within the Forego final 12 months over champion sprinter Elite Energy, and the 2 reversed these positions months later within the Breeders’ Cup Dash as Elite Energy picked up his second consecutive win within the $2 million race.
Two extra races this week at Saratoga have had an influence on the World Championships: the $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes Aug. 22, and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes Aug. 24. 2012 Ballston Spa winner Zagora skilled on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, turning into one of many first stars skilled by eventual a number of Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown. The seven-furlong Jerkens – which was named the King’s Bishop Stakes till 2017 when it was modified to honor the New York-based Corridor of Fame coach nicknamed “The Chief” – is arguably essentially the most prestigious race of the 12 months for 3-year-olds that’s shorter than one mile. It’s typically served as a launching pad for quick sophomore runners to check their elders within the Breeders’ Cup Dash, and three of them have managed to win each in the identical 12 months: Squirtle Squirt in 2001, Runhappy in 2015, and Drefong in 2016. Moreover, 2011 King’s Bishop/Jerkens winner Caleb’s Posse gained the Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile.
European Problem Collection races:
The Juddmonte Worldwide Stakes Aug. 21 at York, probably the most prestigious races on the English racing calendar, was made a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional in 2019 and supplied an automated bid to the Longines Turf earlier than then. The race, held on turf at simply over 1 ¼ miles, has been gained by most of the greatest racehorses in Europe since its first working in 1972. Three Juddmonte winners got here very near defeating U.S. stars within the Traditional in years previous, beginning with “The Iron Horse,” Big’s Causeway, who completed a neck behind Tiznow within the 2000 Traditional at Churchill Downs. A 12 months later, Juddmonte victor Sakhee shipped to the U.S. solely to lose by a good shorter margin to Tiznow – a nostril – in an emotionally-charged Traditional at Belmont Park. And 12 years after that, Juddmonte winner Declaration of Warfare was third by a head to Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Cost within the 2013 Traditional at Santa Anita.
The Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 22 has likewise been gained by some supreme European-based fillies and mares. From a Breeders’ Cup perspective, one stands out: Allow. A homebred of Juddmonte Farms skilled by John Gosden, Allow dominated European racing throughout a 3 1/2-year span from 2017-2020, together with open-length wins within the 2017 and 2019 Yorkshire Oaks. In 2018, she shipped to Louisville for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and scored a brave three-quarter-length win over Magical. Fellow Juddmonte homebred Noon gained the 2009 Filly and Mare Turf and later took the 2010 Yorkshire Oaks throughout her personal stellar profession.
Lastly, the Coolmore Wooton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes, held Aug. 23 this 12 months, has hardly ever despatched its winners on to compete within the Breeders’ Cup. An exception was 2022, as Nunthorpe winner Highfield Princess shipped to Keeneland and completed fourth behind U.S. star filly Caravel within the Turf Dash. Large Evs, winner of final fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash, is entered in Friday’s Nunthorpe and is the 4-1 second betting selection within the five-furlong race on Paddy Energy’s bookmaking web site.
