Keeneland packs 10 stakes into first few days of meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The seasonal turnover of stall space has been ongoing at Keeneland as officials at the Lexington, Ky., track continue their preparations for the 17-day fall meet.

Yearlings who went through the sales ring earlier this month have been displaced by active racehorses throughout the barn area at Keeneland, where an action-packed, front-loaded meet will get under way Friday. Ten stakes will be run during the first three days, known as FallStars Weekend.

All but one of the FallStars stakes, the Woodford, are designated as Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Here’s a quick look ahead:

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades (Friday): Perfect Alibi, winner of the Adirondack and Spinaway at Saratoga, heads what could be a sizable field of 2-year-old fillies in this 1 1/16-mile race. Other known prospects include Alandra, Gone Glimmering, Heir of Light, Spitefulness, and Western Taffy.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix (Friday): The late-running 3-year-old Hog Creek Hustle will meet accomplished older rivals such as Whitmore and Recruiting Ready in the 167th running of this six-furlong fixture. Others likely are Cove Blue, Heartwood, Lexitonian, Promises Fulfilled, and Zipp on By.

◗ Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (Saturday): The 14-horse maximum might have to be enforced for the richest race of the meet, as racing officials already have a long list of probable starters that includes Divisidero, Get Western, Lucullan, March to the Arch, Synchrony, and several European runners. ◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (Saturday): Basin, a romping winner of the Hopeful on Sept. 2 at Saratoga for Steve Asmussen, heads the prospective lineup for this 1 1/16-mile race. Gouverneur Morris, a flashy maiden winner on the same Sept. 2 card for Todd Pletcher, is among the expected challengers.

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (Saturday): A classic East vs. West matchup is in the making for this one-mile turf race, as Chad Brown will send out Rushing Fall versus the California invader Vasilika. Other fillies and mares expected are Awesometank, Hanalei Moon, Indian Blessing, Juliet Foxtrot, and Mitchell Road.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): Chalon, beaten just a head last year in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, will try to earn her way back to the Breeders’ Cup when she faces Danuska’s My Girl, Dawn the Destroyer, Mia Mischief, and a few others in this six-furlong race.

◗ Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford (Saturday): With Totally Boss training straight to the BC Turf Sprint, trainer Rusty Arnold will be represented by Leinster in this 5 1/2-furlong turf race. Imprimis and Extravagant Kid are among other notables.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster (Sunday): Elate figures as a solid favorite when she faces a couple of other Grade 1 winners, Blue Prize and She’s a Julie, in this key 1 1/8-mile prep for the BC Distaff. Dunbar Road, the standout 3-year-old trained by Chad Brown, and Vexatious also will go.

◗ Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon (Sunday): A sizable field of 2-year-old colts and geldings looking to advance to the BC Juvenile Turf will contest this 1 1/16-mile turf race, including Fighting Seabee and Peace Achieved, both stakes winners already.

◗ $200,000 Indian Summer (Sunday): Old Chestnut and Mystic Lancelot are among the top contenders in what probably will be a big field of 2-year-old turf runners in this 5 1/2-furlong prep for the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The entry schedule for opening weekend is as follows: Tuesday for Friday; Wednesday for Saturday; Thursday for Sunday.

The long-range forecast for opening day calls for mostly sunny skies and a high in the mid-70s. First post daily is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.