Keeneland fall meet shaping up as Breeders' Cup showcase

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With the Breeders’ Cup set to return to Churchill Downs for the first time in seven years, local racing fans will be able to see many Breeders’ Cup hopefuls in their final preps when the 17-day Keeneland fall meet opens Friday in Lexington, Ky.

Ten stakes toward the Nov. 2-3 Breeders’ Cup make up a three-day FallStars Weekend that will get the meet away to its usual flying start. All but the newly revived Indian Summer, which serves as a prep for the new BC Juvenile Turf Sprint, are graded events, and all but the Woodford carry a Win and You’re In designation for the Breeders’ Cup.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades (Friday): Catherinethegreat, winner of the Grade 3 Schuylerville, and Restless Rider, most recently second in the Grade 1 Spinaway, are among a terrific field of 2-year-old fillies expected for this 1 1/16-mile race. Into Trouble, unbeaten winner of the Arlington-Washington Lassie, also goes.

Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix (Friday): Grade 1 Forego winner Whitmore, Promises Fulfilled, and Limousine Liberal are among the principals in this six-furlong prep toward the BC Sprint. All three will be turning back from seven furlongs.

Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (Saturday): This prep for the BC Mile is shaping up as one of the best races of the weekend, with Heart to Heart, winner of the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile in the spring, among the prospective lineup. Others: Bound for Nowhere, Forge, Mr. Misunderstood, Next Shares, Qurbaan, Synchrony, Voodoo Song, and Zulu Alpha.

Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (Saturday): Chad Brown, who once again is dominating the filly-mare turf division, told Keeneland officials he intends to send out the trio of A Raving Beauty, Off Limits, and Quidura in this one-mile race. Dona Bruja and La Sardane are among the six to eight expected to oppose.

Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (Saturday): A capacity field of 14 could go in this 1 1/16-mile prep for the BC Juvenile, with the top names being Mind Control, Cairo Cat, Sombeyay, and the Brown duo of Looking At Bikinis and Standard Deviation.

Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): Miss Sunset, winner of the Raven Run last fall, will be back from California and faces Florida shipper Curlin’s Approval and another half-dozen or so more in this six-furlong prep for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford (Saturday): Bucchero, the 2017 winner of this 5 1/2-furlong turf race, is expected among a sizable field that also will include Holding Gold, Will Call, and Undrafted.

Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster (Sunday): Eskimo Kisses, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama, will prep for the BC Distaff by facing older horses for the first time in this 1 1/8-mile fixture. Talk Veuve to Me and Blue Prize will be among the challengers.

Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon (Sunday): A big field of 2-year-olds is expected for this 1 1/16-mile prep for the BC Juvenile Turf, including Line of Duty for Godolphin and the Kentucky Downs Juvenile winner Henley’s Joy.

$200,000 Indian Summer (Sunday): Wesley Ward holds the strongest hand, with at least three 2-year-olds likely for this 5 1/2-furlong race, including Shang Shang Shang, a Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot in June. A big field appears probable.

Although rain is in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday, conditions are expected to be perfect by opening day, with the long-range forecast calling for sunny skies and a high temperature near 80.

Entries for opening day will be taken Tuesday. Racing will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 27.