Keeneland: Nine graded stakes on opening weekend

Keeneland begins its 17-day meet next Friday with the usual barrage of major Breeders’ Cup preps on the opening three-day FallStars Weekend. Nine graded stakes, with all but two carrying Win and You’re In provisions toward the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup, will be run Friday through Sunday at the Lexington, Ky., track.

Here are some quick takes on the weekend races. Entries for the Friday opener will be drawn Tuesday, with a 72-hour draw schedule also in effect for Saturday and Sunday and for most of a meet that runs through Oct. 29.

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades (Friday): Daddys Lil Darling, already with a Win and You’re In to the BC Juvenile Fillies after capturing the Sept. 17 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs, will wheel back in less than three weeks in this 1 1/16-mile race.

“We considered going straight to the Breeders’ Cup, but she bounced out of the race just great,” said trainer Ken McPeek.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix (Friday): Jazzy Times, one of several horses being sent here from Southern California by trainer Bob Baffert, will have Favorite Tale and Limousine Liberal among his opponents in this six-furlong race.

◗ Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (Saturday): With or without Tepin, this shapes up as a terrific race. Probables include the one-two finishers in the Arlington Million, Mondialiste and Kasaqui, along with the 2015 Shadwell winner, Grand Arch. Tourist, Ironicus, and What a View are among the others.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (Saturday): Graded winners Classic Empire and Gunnevera are among the 2-year-olds likely for a 1 1/16-mile race that drew 47 nominations.

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (Saturday): If Tepin goes in the Shadwell, then Miss Temple City and Celestine figure as favorites in here, with European shippers Nemoralia and Now Or Never among the other probables.

The First Lady and the Woodford for turf sprinters are the only weekend races that are not Win and You’re In events.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): Stonetastic will be prepping for a third straight berth in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint when she faces a couple of Southern California shippers, Luminence (Baffert) and Bendable (Richard Mandella), in this six-furlong race. Sarah Sis, Spelling Again, and Fioretti are among other probables.

◗ Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford (Saturday): Mongolian Saturday, upset winner of the 2015 BC Turf Sprint over the Keeneland turf, will be looking to advance to Santa Anita as part of a sizable field expected for this 5 1/2-furlong turf race.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster (Sunday): I’m a Chatterbox and Paid Up Subscriber will clash for a third straight race as likely favorites in a 1 1/8-mile race likely to draw only six or seven fillies and mares.

◗ Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon (Sunday): Keep Quiet, All Right, Wellabled, and Royal by Nature are likely starters among the 64 2-year-olds nominated to this 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Rocco will ride again soon

Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. said he expects to be back in action for the second week (Oct. 12-16) of the Keeneland meet after recovering from an injury incurred on Sept. 16, opening day of the September meet at Churchill Downs.

Rocco, 34, was diagnosed with two non-displaced fractures in his left wrist. He was involved in the first of two spills that day, with Jon Court later sustaining rib and back injuries that have sidelined him indefinitely.