Keeneland: Full spectrum of stars will be out for FallStars weekend

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Keeneland will hit the ground running next weekend, hosting a slew of Win and You’re In stakes toward the Breeders’ Cup, which the Lexington track will host for the third time Nov. 4-5.

Eleven stakes are on tap for the three-day FallStars weekend that kicks off the 17-day fall meet at Keeneland, including major preps for most of the BC events. Six of those stakes will be run on turf, a surface that will have gone unused on the Kentucky circuit for a 23-day span since turf-only Kentucky Downs closed Sept. 14. Turf racing was unavailable throughout the September meet at Churchill Downs.

All but the First Lady and Woodford are Win and You’re In stakes on opening weekend.

Friday entries will be drawn Tuesday, Saturday will be drawn Wednesday, and Sunday will be drawn Thursday.

All listed purses include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

Here's a rundown of what’s ahead:

Grade 1, $500,000 Alcibiades (Friday): Wonder Wheel, runner-up as the favorite in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga after winning the Debutante at Churchill in her previous start for Mark Casse, heads the field for the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades, a lead-in to the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Fun and Feisty, a last-out winner of the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill, and Just Cindy, winner of the Grade 3 Schuylverville at Saratoga, are among the other 2-year-old fillies expected.

Grade 2, $350,000 Phoenix (Friday): Necker Island, beaten just two noses in the recent Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill, is going to dance another dance for Chris Hartman when part of a wide-open field in the 170th Phoenix. Sibelius and Special Reserve are other notable prospects for a six-furlong race that could get eight to 10 runners, including perhaps Nakatomi, a Wesley Ward 3-year-old.

Jackie’s Warrior, by far the leader of this division, will bypass an October prep and will make his final career start in the BC Sprint.

Grade 2, $350,000 Jessamine (Friday): Traditionally held the Wednesday after opening weekend, this 1 1/16-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies has been assimilated into the FallStars schedule for the first time. The maximum field of 12 is possible, with likely starters to include at least a handful of last-out Kentucky Downs fillies such as Alluring Angel, Chop Chop, Play the Music, Towhead, and What an Honor.

Grade 1, $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (Saturday): With the 2020 winner, Ivar, more likely to head straight to the BC Mile, according to trainer Paulo Lobo, the richest race of the meet still will attract plenty of top turf milers, including In Love, the 2021 winner also trained by Lobo. Other confirmed starters include Casa Creed, Greyes Creek, Santin, Set Piece, Smooth Like Strait, Somelikeithotbrown, and Winfromwithin.

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Grade 1, $750,000 First Lady (Saturday): The composition of this one-mile turf race for fillies and mares could pivot on entry-time decisions of trainer Chad Brown, who could be represented by a pair of Grade 1 winners, In Italian and Regal Glory. Other possibles include the Mike Stidham pair of Alms and Princess Grace, along with Dalika and Lady Speightspeare.

Brown has won the last four runnings of the First Lady and five overall, his first coming in 2014 with the eventual BC Filly and Mare turf winner, Dayatthespa.

Grade 1, $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (Saturday): Forte, a three-length winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful to end the Saratoga meet, was withheld by Todd Pletcher from the Champagne this weekend to await this 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. The Violence colt is likely to be favored in what could be a sizable group which will also include Funtastic Again, Lost Arc, and the Kenny McPeek pair of Frosted Departure and Honed.

Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): With Neil Pessin mulling whether or not to give Bell’s the One another prep leading into the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, the list of probables for the six-furlong TCA includes Club Car, Happy Soul, Joyful Cadence, Liberty M D, Palm Cottage, and Sconsin.

Grade 2, $350,000 Woodford (Saturday): Golden Pal, already a huge favorite to win the BC Turf Sprint, will have his final prep in this 5 1/2-furlong turf race, perhaps limiting field size. The confirmed opposition includes Bound for Nowhere, his 8-year-old Wesley Ward stablemate, but not many others.

Grade 1, $600,000 Spinster (Sunday): Malathaat and Letruska and possibly Shedaresthedevil are enough to make this 1 1/8-mile prep for the BC Distaff one worth taking in. Among the other nominees are Clairiere, Search Results, Travel Column, and Played Hard.

Grade 2, $350,000 Bourbon (Sunday): This 1 1/16-mile turf race has become a key lead-in for the BC Juvenile Turf, and this year should be no different with promising 2-year-olds such as Boppy O, Gigante, Mendel’s Secret, Oscar Award, Reckoning Force, and Really Good on the list of probables.

$250,000 Indian Summer (Sunday): Wesley Ward, who has won the last three runnings of the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint, is expected to be represented in this 5 1/2-furlong prep with No Kay Never and No Nay Hudson. Another big field of 2-year-olds appears likely.

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