Will Miss Forester stretch out? That is one of the questions handicappers must ponder regarding Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
In the most wide-open stakes of the holiday weekend, 10 sophomore fillies with various credentials will clash in the 66th running of the 1 1/8-mile Comely Stakes.
A week after Jeremy's Legacy won her U.S. debut in a flashy victory against maidens on turf, she is back on Del Mar's turf course for Saturday's $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
In a graded stakes race in New York that features three horses from trainer Todd Pletcher's barn and one apiece from Chad Brown and Bill Mott, it's unheralded Marialice Coffey who has the most accomplished runner in the field. Coffey sends out Flora Dora in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Demoiselle Stakes for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct.
Certain events that transpired last month at Keeneland surely will resonate with horseplayers when nine fillies line up Saturday for the 72nd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Since the Stars of Tomorrow program was inaugurated 10 years ago at Churchill Downs, 36 Grade 1 winners and 23 millionaires have competed on those 2-year-old-only cards, according to track data. That's fine and dandy – and truly impressive – but what horseplayers really want to know is this: Who's next?
You can review hundreds of races and not see many quite like the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, with a horse having five consecutive triple-digit Beyers, another with eight straight triple-digit figures and, finally, the obvious favorite and defending champ with 10 straight if you throw out a grass experiment.
The tests generally get tougher at this time of year for 2-year-olds, but Saturday's $50,000-added Golden Gate Debutante may not be as tough a test for the undefeated filly Code Warrior as her last one.
Many of the best local turf horses of both sexes will be on display Saturday at Turf Paradise in the $35,000 Walter R. Cluer for 3-year-olds and up and the $35,000 Queen of the Green for fillies and mares.
Double Secret and You Bought Her finished first and second in last year's Lightning City Stakes, but neither is favored in Saturday's optional-claiming prep for the $100,000 Lightning City, which is scheduled for Dec. 19. The 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's featured ninth race is Joya Real, who has never run at Tampa.
