The Japan-based Fame Game, the future-book favorite for the Grade 1 Melbourne Cup in Australia on Nov. 3, will have his first start since May in Saturday’s $2.17 million Caulfield Cup at about 1 1/2 miles on turf at Caulfield Racecourse in Australia.
The last of three allowances Friday at Keeneland not only offers the most money, but also happens to be the most interesting. A well-matched group of filly-and-mare turf sprinters will clash for a $60,000 purse while fans try to figure out which horse deserves to be favored.
Evidently was disqualified from first place in a second-level allowance race here in July, and she returns to Belmont Park and to the same allowance condition in Friday’s $85,000 feature, set for 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf course.
An outstanding field for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint continued to take further definition with several additions and defections in recent days. Uzzili, Leigh Court, No Fault of Mine, and Flutterby all have bowed out of the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint, while the brilliant 3-year-old Super Majesty and the comebacking Artemis Agrotera are foremost among those newly confirmed.
When rain forced the California Distaff Handicap from the hillside turf course to the main track at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, Chaulk O Lattey remained in the barn. The alternative race is an optional claimer at a mile on turf on Friday. The distance is longer than the California Distaff Handicap and the competition equally as tough.
A number of horses remain possible for the Dirt Mile, but it doesn’t appear as though the $1 million race at Keeneland will be oversubscribed when pre-enteries are taken on Monday.
Trainer John Sadler will get what he hoped for – a low profile – for his 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind heading into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
John Gosden was on his way from a sale to his stables – driving on the wrong side of the road – when a caller from the States pestered him with the only question that matters on this side of the pond: When does Golden Horn arrive?
Despite the presence of Legatissimo, one of Europe’s top 3-year-old fillies, in the $2 Million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, up to 20 horses may be pre-entered for the race on Monday. But because of the track configuration at Keeneland, only 12 will be allowed to run.
Harmonize stamped herself as the clear favorite for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct. 30 with a remarkable win over Sapphire Kitten in the Grade 3 Jessamine at Keeneland last Wednesday.
