Shadwell Mile tops five graded stakes Saturday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – If not for the Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup, the Saturday card on opening weekend would be easily the richest this month at Keeneland.

As it is, it’s still pretty good.

The Shadwell Turf Mile, the traditional fall-meet signature event, anchors a 10-race card that features five straight graded races. All but one, the First Lady, are Win and You’re In events toward the Breeders’ Cup. NBC has live coverage from 5-6 p.m. Eastern.

In reverse order, snapshots of the Saturday races:

◗ Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (race 9, post 5:45): An exceptionally deep field of 13 is headed by The Pizza Man, the winner of the Arlington Million, and Bobby’s Kitten, the winner of the BC Turf Sprint last fall. Other top contenders include King Kreesa, Grand Arch, Jack Milton, Tourist, and Seek Again.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (race 8, 5:10): Exaggerator, Sheikh of Sheikhs, and Uncle Vinny are among the 12 2-year-olds trying to take a big step forward in this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (race 7, 4:35): Tepin, a top performer in the female turf division all year, may be using this as a prep for a run against boys in the BC Mile; she was assigned the outside post in a field of 11.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (race 6, 4:00): Judy the Beauty, the reigning divisional champion, faces Leigh Court, Sweet Whiskey, and five other fillies and mares in this six-furlong race.

◗ Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford (race 5, 3:25): Sixteen were entered, and 14 can start in a raucous 5 1/2-furlong turf race that will have Undrafted, Channel Marker, and Holy Lute among the favorites.