Legend of Time will have a handful of key variables in his favor Saturday, when the European runner takes on the consistent Triple Espresso and the promising Risk Tolerance in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct.

The race, which is for 3-year-olds, will be run over 1 1/8 miles on the outer turf. The first three finishers in the field of seven will earn an invitation to the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby on July 6, according to the New York Racing Association.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Betting value is elusive in both early stakes Saturday at Santa Anita, but horseplayers may find appealing options in three late stakes on the California-bred program.

The likely favorite is vulnerable in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine, race 6. Not that Stay and Scam cannot win the filly-mare turf stakes, but she took a hit at the draw. Stay and Scam got stuck with the outside post in a field of 11. Not good for a mile on turf.

The theme this week, as we wind toward the end of the Triple Crown trail, is turf. Turf in Florida, turf in New York, turf in California. Let’s have at it.

Pennine Ridge

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is no red carpet for the star of the show Saturday at Santa Anita, but there certainly is for the main supporting player. Seems it should be the other way around.

Millionaire gelding The Chosen Vron probably will win the $100,000 Thor’s Echo anyway, but he must overcome an unwelcome obstacle – post position – in the race 3 sprint that is the first of five Cal-bred stakes on Saturday.

Octane, who took his game to another level with his upset victory in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park during the winter, turns back to seven furlongs in his local return as the likely favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Big Drama at Gulfstream Park.

The seven-furlong Big Drama shares top billing on a stellar 10-race program along with the $95,000 Mr. Steele Stakes for older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Holy Tutta Bella is the horse to catch in Saturday’s six-furlong feature race at Emerald Downs. The $10,000 claiming event drew an initial field of seven, but Big Mama Thornton was entered back on Sunday and is expected to be scratched.

Holy Tutta Bella has proved to be an astute claim by trainer Justin Evans, who co-owns the mare with Rockingham Ranch. Evans took the mare from a race at Turf Paradise on April 25 for $6,250. The daughter of Tizdejavu returned quick dividends when picking up the winner’s share of $9,405 in a starter-allowance event on May 12 at Emerald Downs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Irish import Lady Onyx romped in her local debut on Tapeta in her first start trainer for Mark Casse. She moves up to conditioned allowance company in a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint with a $50,000-$47,500 claiming option in Saturday’s Woodbine topper for fillies and mares.

Lady Onyx started five times last year on turf in Europe. After notching her debut over soft ground at Gowran Park in Ireland, she finished third in back-to-back stakes at minor tracks in Scotland and England. She went on hiatus after tailing off late in the summer.

Weather conditions, and race conditions, could turn a pair of turf allowances Friday at Churchill Downs into dirt sprint stakes.

Races 3 and 9 on the Friday card share eligibility conditions, and both are carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, the lone differentiating factor a sex restriction – older fillies and mares – in race 3. These races, at base, are for third-level allowance horses or $100,000 claimers, but a surface-related condition in both spots could change everything.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The last time Be of Courage and Sell Something faced each other, the former appeared to be a much-the-best winner before a questionable call by the stewards reversed the order of finish.

That was six months ago in a first-level allowance for New York-breds at Aqueduct. Friday, Be of Courage and Sell Something meet again in a second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming race at Aqueduct. Be of Courage comes in off a win while Sell Something is coming off a layoff in the 1 1/16-mile race.

The South Florida-based Skippylongstocking is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster next month at Churchill Downs, according to his trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Skippylongstocking went over $2 million in earnings in his last start, when he captured the Oaklawn Handicap with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 107. It’s the best number an older horse has earned on dirt so far in 2024.

“Skippy’s doing well,” Joseph said. “He had his second work back and right now we’re on target for the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.”