Thursday, Nov. 8, preview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With tracks such as Laurel and Aqueduct off the turf Thursday, Churchill Downs refreshingly remains on the grass due to lower-than-forecasted precipitation in the area over the past two days.

The main track is fast, and the turf course is “good” – though there is still a chance of rain in the afternoon.

The first of the two grass races Thursday, the sixth race, has two scratches: #9 FLASHY SUNRISE and #10 RAINBOW TRIP. Neither looked like a contender on the turf.

As has been the case repeatedly during a fairly wet autumn in New York, a rainy forecast puts both of Thursday’s scheduled grass races, the fifth and ninth, in jeopardy of being moved to a wet main track.

Race 5, for fillies and mares, is the classiest event on the card, a $69,000 optional claimer with second-level allowance conditions.

As a two-turn turf mile, it shapes up as a logical next step for Marbre Rose, an Irish-bred import who recently won her U.S. debut stylishly on yielding turf from off the pace as a poorly kept secret at 8-5.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, preview

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Forecasted showers never materialized overnight in the Louisville area, with only light drizzle for the most part – resulting in the turf races remaining on the grass as of Wednesday morning, though officials are calling it “good.” The main track is fast.

Even with the featured sixth race, an allowance turf sprint, staying on the grass, four early scratches were reported: #2 Spun Cap, #3 Reflector, #5 Hogy, and #9 Tell All You Know.

As the second week of Aqueduct’s fall meet begins, it ushers in a busy stretch of racing. As part of a reconfigured schedule to allow for a Christmas-time break, there will be racing next Monday, which was originally a dark day. Starting with Wednesday’s card, the Big A will be open for live racing 11 of the next 12 days through Sunday, Nov. 16.

Chalky start on dirt

Anything can happen during the waning weeks of this marathon meet, which concludes Dec. 7.

There will be numerous cheaper claiming races with full fields that are often indecipherable.

Trainers who haven’t won here all year will win. Some horses taking a substantial drop in class will find the mark, while other such runners will fail miserably. Several of the hard-working blue-collar jockeys who aren’t in the top five will win enough races to make their year.

Numerous runners will compete on short rest, sometimes successfully.

Friday, Oct. 31 - Santa Anita

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (race 6)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On a day when both Aqueduct and Woodbine have moved their scheduled turf races to their main tracks, Churchill’s turf races remain on despite overnight frost. Clear weather is on tap, though it is chilly.

There are three turf races among the 10 Sunday at Churchill Downs: two starter allowances, the third and the seventh, and a maiden race for older horses in race 10.

This handicapper found the third race difficult to decipher, and that race is a watch-for-overlays affair in which just about anything looks like it could happen.

The last two scheduled turf events at the meet are Sunday, but the races were taken off the soggy course Saturday, which could be the case again.

In the third, a surface change would hinder Interpol, Bangkok, and Crushin Hard in the 10-furlong allowance. Niigon Express seems made to order for extended distances on the Polytrack, over which he won his last start at 1 1/16 miles in a combo race for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 non-winners of three claimers. Bay King can handle either surface and also could run big in the third race of his form cycle.

One last swing at pick four riches as the Santa Anita meet closes and a chance for those licking their wounds from all the Breeders’ Cup activity to get something back.

Race 7

First post shifts to 12:20 p.m.

With the clocks turned back, Aqueduct’s opening week concludes with a shift back to 12:20 p.m. Eastern first post.

Exceptions will be an 11:25 a.m. start Thanksgiving Day, and noon starts on Black Friday (Nov. 28) and Cigar Mile Day (Nov. 29)

2-year-olds in the spotlight

In potential lead-ins to the Remsen and Demoiselle, 2-year-olds go one mile in a pair of $250,000 stakes on Sunday: The Grade 2 Nashua is race 3; the Grade 3 Tempted for fillies is race 6.