Showdown looms for Kentucky Oaks winners in Spinster

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A rare matchup of Kentucky Oaks winners is among the many highlights in store for racing fans when the first Breeders’ Cup meet at Keeneland gets away to a flying start next Friday, Oct. 2, in Lexington, Ky.

Untapable, the 2014 Oaks winner, and Lovely Maria, the 2015 winner, are expected to square off in the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster Stakes on Sunday, Oct. 4, the third and final program of the opening FallStars Weekend. It would be the first meeting of Oaks winners since Silverbulletday (1999 Oaks) was fourth and Keeper Hill (1998 Oaks) was fifth behind Heritage of Gold in the Louisville Breeders’ Cup (now the La Troienne) at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day in 2000.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said this week he is very pleased with how Untapable is coming up to the Spinster. The 4-year-old filly ran third Aug. 29 in the Personal Ensign on the Travers undercard in her most recent start.

“She had a really strong breeze this week at Churchill,” said Asmussen. “I’ll probably do a little something with her Tuesday, but she’s pretty much ready to go.”

The 1 1/8-mile Spinster is one of nine graded stakes (five of them Grade 1 races) on opening weekend. All but two (the First Lady and Woodford) are Win and You’re In events toward the Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup.

Here’s a quick rundown of the FallStars events, with a helpful hand from Keeneland stakes coordinator Allison De Luca:

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (Friday): Dothraki Queen, Just Wicked, and Gomo are among a fairly sizable field of 2-year-old fillies expected for this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix (Friday): Work All Week will tune up for a title defense in the BC Sprint when going six furlongs against Runhappy, Alsvid, Fast Anna, and maybe five or six others.

◗ Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (Saturday): Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man will shorten up in distance when preparing for the 1 1/2-mile BC Turf and facing Grand Arch, Jack Milton, King Kreesa, Reload, Seek Again, and more.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (Saturday): Exaggerator, Uncle Vinny, and Sticksstatelydude are the biggest names among the 2-year-olds likely to contest this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (Saturday): Tepin, a major player in the filly-and-mare turf ranks this year for Mark Casse, is the dominant name in the prospective lineup for this one-mile grass race.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): Defending BC Filly and Mare Sprint winner Judy the Beauty could have Leigh Court, the 2014 TCA winner, as her main opposition, as well as Sweet Whiskey. About seven or eight are expected.

◗ Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford (Saturday): This should be one of the best betting races of the weekend, as a full field of turf sprinters is likely, including Bobby’s Kitten, Marchman, and Something Extra.

◗ Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (Sunday): Besides the two Oaks winners, another five or six fillies and mares are probable, including Frivolous, Got Lucky, and Yahilwa.

◗ Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon (Sunday): This also should get a big field, with Cajun Schill, Hot Ore, Sallisaw, Unbridled Daddy, and Uncle Brennie among the 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

The FallStars entry schedule: Tuesday for Friday, Wednesday for Saturday, and Thursday for Sunday.