First Look: Hot Rod Charlie's return leads 7 graded stakes

The Triple Crown is over for the year, but there are plenty of graded stakes to tide us over until the summer classics.

Hot Rod Charlie returns in the Salvatore Mile, one of seven graded stakes this weekend across Belmont Park, Monmouth Park and Santa Anita.

Here's an early look at the likely fields.

Saturday

Salvator Mile (G3), Monmouth Park, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up

Hot Rod Charlie looks to make his 2022 U.S. debut here after winning the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) and coming in second to Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Expected to challenge him are Mind Control, who is 0-for-2 since winning the listed Parx Dirt Mile in September, and Fulsome, winner of the Oaklawn Mile (G3) before his sixth-place finish in the Alysheba (G2).

Eatontown (G3), Monmouth Park, 1 1/16 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Princess Grace would make her first start of 2022 here. She raced five times last year, with wins in the Dr. James Penny Memorial (G3), the Yellow Ribbon (G2) and the Kentucky Downs Lady Turf (G3), and third-place finishes in the Goldikova (G2) and the Matriarch (G1). Plum Ali won two black-type stakes at Aqueduct before finishing seventh in the Beaugay (G3) last out.

Monmouth Stakes (G3), Monmouth Park, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Only three probables were listed for this race. Tax, winner of three graded stakes in his career, would make his first start since finishing seventh in the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup (G1). Carpenters Call had a three-race win streak before stepping to to stakes company and finishing third in the Kitten's Joy (G3) and sixth in the listed Cliff Hanger. Yes This Time was fourth in the Cliff Hanger, his fourth straight loss since winning the Kent (G3) last July.

Masen was second in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) and won the listed Seek Again in making his first U.S. starts this year. Before that, he was 3-for-7 in Ireland. Public Sector, winner of three graded stakes last year, finished sixth in the Turf Classic (G1) in his first start after a 5-month layoff. Safe Conduct is coming off a 1 1/16-mile Belmont allowance win in his second start of the year.

Santa Maria (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Blue Stripe won the Santa Margarita (G2) last out in her second U.S. race. She finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Distaff after two years of racing in Argentina. Varda, also expected here, was third in the Margarita in her second start back after a 14-month layoff. She also was third in the Beholder Mile under former trainer Bob Baffert.

Sunday

San Juan Capistrano (G3), Santa Anita, 1 3/4 miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Cash Equity tries graded-stakes company after winning a Santa Anita allowance and finishing second in his U.S. debut in another allowance after two years of racing in France. Red King was beaten by 1 1/4 lengths by Cash Equity in their last race. Muhammad Ali makes his first U.S. start after compiling a 20: 2-4-4 record in Peru.

American (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Tripoli, winner of last year's Pacific Classic (G1), is expected here for his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Hong Kong Harry is 2-for-2 this year, with both starts at Santa Anita, after going 4-for-7 in the U.K. the last two years. Last year's American winner, Restrainedvengence, is possible here.