Early Churchill Downs stakes taking shape

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Fields for the first four stakes of the 11-day September meet at Churchill Downs are taking shape for next Saturday, led by a pair of 2-year-old fixtures carrying implications toward the Breeders’ Cup and the annual May classics.

Both the Grade 2 Pocahontas for fillies and Grade 3 Iroquois for 2-year-olds are Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 2-3 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill, as well as the first qualifying points races toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby and Oaks. As such, both 1 1/16-mile races are expected to draw competitive fields.

The Churchill meet opens Friday and runs through Sept. 30. Entries for opening day will be taken Tuesday, with the Saturday card being drawn the following day.

Here’s a quick look at the Saturday stakes, all to be run on dirt:

Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas: Serengeti Empress, a 13 1/2-length winner of the Ellis Debutante for Tom Amoss, figures to be favored from a nominations list of 29. Other 2-year-old fillies likely to start include Two Dozen Roses for Todd Pletcher, and Love My Honey for Mike Maker.

Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois: Tobacco Road, winner of the Ellis Juvenile for Steve Asmussen, could be favored in a field also expected to include Classy John, Hog Creek Hustle, Manny Wah, and quite a few more from a nominations list of 36 colts and geldings.

Grade 3, $100,000 Locust Grove: Blue Prize, winner of the Grade 2 Falls City last fall and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis in June, returns to her favorite track as a solid favorite in this 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. Others likely are Champagne Problems and Tiger Moth.

$100,000 Open Mind: This six-furlong race for fillies and mares could turn out to be a good one, with Vertical Oak, Miss Kentucky, Golden Mischief, Classy Act, Girls Know Best, and Astrollinthepark among the nominees.