First Look: Belmont, Santa Anita host 6 weekend graded stakes

The racing calendar leans heavily toward Churchill Downs this weekend, but Belmont Park and Santa Anita also have graded stakes on the agenda.

Here is an early look at the likely fields.

Friday

Sheepshead Bay (G2), Belmont, 1 3/8 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Mylady raced in Germany before moving to the U.S. last fall. Now with Chad Brown, she won The Very One (G3) last out, with Higher Truth and Virginia Joy, both expected here, finishing second and fourth. Amazing Grace also raced in Europe before winning her first U.S. race, the Orchid (G3) on April 1, with Atomic Blonde, also expected here, finishing third.

Westchester (G3), Belmont, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up

White Abarrio still hasn’t won away from Gulfstream, but he did get his first score since last year’s Florida Derby (G1) in an optional-claiming allowance at the Florida track last out. Weyburn won the Sir Schackleton at Gulfstream last out, his first victory in six starts since winning the same race last year.

Saturday

Fort Marcy (G2), Belmont, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Ottoman Fleet is expected to make his first U.S. start here after compiling a record of 10: 3-3-3 overseas, including a score last out in the Earl of Sefton (G3) at Newmarket on April 18. City Man makes his first start since finishing 12th in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Before that, he had won three in a row .

Ruffian (G2), Belmont, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Kathleen O, who started her career last year 4-for-4, looks to get back to winning after three straight runner-up efforts. She also is listed as probable in the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs on Friday. Pass the Champagne has had three starts this year after being off since January 2022, with two seconds and a fourth, all in stakes. Mommasgottarun had her first graded-stakes start last out, winning the Distaff Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct.

Señorita Stakes (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Fast and Shiny returns to a graded stakes after winning her last two starts including the listed Angels Flight stakes last out by a half-length over Teena Ella, also expected here. Procrastination has only one start this year, finishing second in a Santa Anita allowance April 1.

Probables were not available for Sunday’s Beaugay (G3) at Belmont at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up.