The Platinum Queen, fittingly, launched her racing career in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. A dedicated Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Queen Elizabeth died in September, and The Platinum Queen has continued to provide tribute.

The 2-year-old filly bested older foes in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye on Oct. 2 – albeit, with a huge weight allowance – and appears headed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, where Queen Elizabeth II visited and has a race named in her honor.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jerry O’Dwyer doesn’t quite know how Sibelius has gotten as good as he has, but the 41-year-old Irishman is absolutely certain that he’d love to see the 4-year-old gelding earn his way into the Breeders’ Cup.

“There’d be hugs all around,” said O’Dwyer.

Sibelius, off Beyer Speed Figures of 101 and 106 in recent back-to-back victories, figures as a major player Friday at Keeneland when the Grade 2, $350,000 Phoenix Stakes is run for the 170th time. The winner of the six-furlong race gets a Win and You’re In berth into the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

A pair of 4-year-olds coming off outstanding performances and based on opposite coasts with Hall of Fame trainers will make for an intriguing matchup in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Laurel River is the 5-2 early favorite for the race on Daily Racing Form’s line set by Brad Free. The Bob Baffert-trained runner earned a berth into the race for his win in the Pat O’Brien on Aug. 27 at Del Mar.

Two-time Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal has been the king of the Keeneland turf course. This month, he will prepare to defend that home turf against Highfield Princess, a serious threat to his crown as she is expected to travel from Europe for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Golden Pal is the 5-2 early favorite for the Nov. 5 Turf Sprint on the line of Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free. Highfield Princess is 3-1.

Take the undisputed leader of the male sprint division, Jackie’s Warrior, add his filly counterpart Kimari, and you get the major storyline of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be decided at six furlongs for a $2 million purse on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

No Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner has come back to win another Breeders’ Cup race, a trend Modern Games will be expected to end Nov. 5 in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kenny McPeek enjoys few things more than winning a Grade 1 at Keeneland, the place where he became enamored with horse racing more than 40 years ago. The trainer already has a fistful of wins in the Grade 1 Alcibiades, and one more would equal the record of six held by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas.

“Hopefully, we have the filly to do it,” said McPeek, whose latest Alcibiades triumph came two years ago with Simply Ravishing.

The Group 3 Autumn Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday at Newmarket in England, and the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland will help determine the shape of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. But already the likely favorite for the $1 million fixture is no mystery.

Seven times in his career, trainer Bob Baffert has recorded double-digit wins with 2-year-olds at Del Mar’s summer meet. The last three times that happened – 2021, 2018, and 2002 – one of those horses won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The distance of the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf varies from year to year, depending on the configuration of the turf course at the host track.