Biggest weekend of horse racing ever seems to be on tap

Oct. 2 (UPI) — There probably has never been a bigger weekend of top-class racing around the world than the one that starts October: 19 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe program in Paris and more.

And, yes, the Arc races are among those Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

Here they all are, including the races delayed from last weekend at Belmont because of the late, unlamented Nor’easter:

Turf

Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp (France), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, also is the highlight of the European season.

Last year’s first- and second-place finishers, Daryz and Minnie Hauk, respectively, are back, but face a tough challenge on what’s expected to be unusually fast ground. Minnie Hauk went from the Arc to Del Mar, where she finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

On Thursday at Belmont Park, Minaret Station stalked the pace in the $500,000 Grade Joe Hirsch Classic and then outfinished Far Bridge by 1/2 length.

Asked about the Breeders’ Cup Turf, trainer William Walden gave the unusually candid reply: “Yeah. I mean as long as he comes out of this OK. I’ll give you the typical, ‘See how he is on the road tomorrow and go from there.’ But, yeah, that’s the target.”

Also on tap are Saturday’s $750,000 (Canadian) Grade I Canadian International at Woodbine and Saturday’s Group 3 Cumberland Lodge at Ascot (England).

Filly & mare turf

KathynMarissa rallied sharply outside rivals through the final furlong to win Thursday’s $500,000 Grade II Flower Bowl at Belmont, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, by 3/4 length over Sunlit Uplands.

The 5-year-old American Pharoah mare, trained by Chad Brown, ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.58. Brown confirmed the Breeders’ Cup is the next target.

Shelzawa came from last of 10 to take Thursday’s $200,000 Grade III Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park by 3/4 length as odds-on favorite. The French-bred filly, also trained by Brown, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:34.86.

On tap: Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf; the $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Dance Smartly at Woodbine; and Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp (France), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Turf mile

Here is what is on tap: Friday’s $175,000 Artie Schiller at Belmont Park; Saturday’s $1.25 million Grade I Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile; $800,000 Grade I First Lady for fillies and mares at Keeneland and Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket (England).

On Sunday, there’s the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp (France), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Turf Sprint

Egyptian Mau, a South African-bred mare, rallied through the final furlong to win Thursday’s $200,000 Grade III Belmont Turf Sprint by a neck as a 31-1 long shot.

Coming up Saturday are the $400,000 Grade II Woodford at Keeneland; $250,000 (Canadian) Grade II Nearctic at Woodbine and the Group 3 Bengough at Ascot (England).

On Sunday, there’s the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye Longchamp, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Juvenile turf

On Saturday, they’ll run the $250,000 Grade II Pilgrim at Belmont Park, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

And on Sunday, there will be the Grade II Castle & Key Bourbon at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; the $100,000 Grade III Zuma Beach at Santa Anita; and the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardare at Longchamp, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and a Kentucky Derby points race.

Juvenile fillies turf

Friday will feature the $400,000 Grade II Jessamine at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and on Saturday, there’s the $250,000 Grade II Miss Grillo at Belmont Park, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Sunday schedule includes the $100,000 Grade III Surfer Girl at Santa Anita and the Group 1 Marcel Boussac at Longchamp (France), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Juvenile turf sprint

On Friday, watch for the $175,000 Bertram Bongard and $175,000 Joseph A. Gimma for fillies, both for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

Saturday features the $200,000 Grade II Futurity at Belmont Park; the $250,000 (Canadian) Grade III bet365 Algonquin at Woodbine; and the $100,000 Speakeasy at Santa Anita.

On Sunday, they’ll run the $350,000 Grade III Indian Summer at Keeneland.

On the dirt

Classic

The $200,000 Battery Park at Delaware Park is the big draw Saturday.

Distaff

Saturday’s $500,000 Grade III Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park will be followed by Sunday’s $650,000 Grade I Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Sprint

T Kraft led from gate to wire in Thursday’s $250,000 Grade III Vosburgh at Belmont Park, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and held on to win by a neck over Crazy Mason.

The 4-year-old Connect colt ran7 furlongs in 1:22.78 and trainer Bill Mott said he’s likely to take the ticket to the Breeders’ Cup.

On tap are Friday’s $400,000 Grade II Stoll Keenan Ogden Phoenix at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Chillingworth at Santa Anita.

Filly & mare sprint

R Disaster led virtually all the way to a 1 1/4-length victory in Thursday’s $250,000 Grade II Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park. The winner is a 5-year-old Awesome Slew mare.

On Saturday, there will be the $400,000 Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Dirt mile

Saturday $100,000 Polynesian and $100,000 Twixt for fillies and mares at Laurel Park is the focal point.

Juvenile

Saturday is a big day, with the $500,000 Grade I Juvenile at Belmont Park, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a Kentucky Derby points race and the $650,000 Grade I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a Kentucky Derby points race.

Also that day: the $300,000 Grade I American Pharoah at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a Kentucky Derby points race, and the $150,000 Rocky Run at Delaware Park.

Juvenile fillies

Friday will feature the $650,000 Grade I Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

On Saturday, look for the $500,000 Grade I Frizette at Belmont Park; the $200,000 Grade II Oak Leaf at Santa Anita, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and the $150,000 White Clay Creek at Delaware Park.

Juvenile sprint

Saturday will bring the $200,000 Grade III Matron at Belmont Park and the $100,000 James F. Lewis III and $100,000 Smart Halo for fillies at Laurel Park.