Five stakes scheduled for night program on Saturday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Locust Grove is getting a Kentucky Oaks winner, while big fields of 2-year-olds seeking an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup are shaping up for the Iroquois and Pocahontas.

That’s the outlook for the first Saturday of the 12-day September meet at Churchill Downs, where a nighttime card anchored by that trio of Grade 3 races at 1 1/16 miles – the $400,000 Locust Grove, $300,000 Iroquois, and $300,000 Pocahontas – will also include companion sprints, the $300,000 Open Mind for fillies and mares and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society for their male counterparts.

Shedaresthedevil, winner of the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, looms a big favorite in the 37th Locust Grove. Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Monday that she’ll be in gate. She is expected to oppose Crystal Ball, Envoutante, Lady Kate, Our Super Freak, and perhaps another two or three fillies and mares.

Known prospects for the Iroquois include the one-two finishers last month in the Ellis Park Juvenile, Roger McQueen and Lucky Boss, as well as Husband Material, a 20-length maiden winner at Delaware Park, and Major General, a Saratoga debut winner for Todd Pletcher.

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The Pocahontas field is expected to include a pair of last-out Saratoga maiden winners, Goddess of Fire and Lemieux, along with Ontheonesandtwos, runner-up as the favorite behind Behave Virginia in the Debutante on closing day of the Churchill spring meet.

The Iroquois and Pocahontas not only are Win and You’re In races toward their respective Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 5 at Del Mar, but also the first qualifying events for the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Oaks, with 10 points to each winner.