First Look: Churchill Downs hosts Derby, Oaks points preps

Churchill Downs opens its September meet Thursday and will host the first points qualifiers for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

Graded stakes also are on the calendar at tracks across the country, from Aqueduct to Hastings, and Woodbine offers three Breeders' Cup win-and-you're-ins.

Here's an early look at the likely fields, where available. 

Saturday

Iroquois (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 mile, 2-year-olds, 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Edified won his debut at Ellis Park before his fifth-place finish in the Saratoga Special (G2). Market Street was second in the Saratoga Special, 9 1/2 lengths behind Rhyme Schemes, before finishing seventh in the With Anticipation (G3). Seize the Grey's third-place finish last out in the Skidmore was on a muddy track at Saratoga.

Pocahontas (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 mile, 2-year-old fillies, 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Empire Island gained the lead in the late stretch to win her debut at Saratoga at odds of 5-1. Hot Beach was second in her debut at Ellis Park but won the black-type Ellis Park Debutante in her next start. Riperton won her first start then rallied to finish second in the Ellis Park Debutante, with Youalmosthadme, also entered here, in third.

Locust Grove (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Pauline's Pearl makes her first start since winning the three-horse Fleur de Lis (G2) on July 1, with A Mo Reay second after a DQ, also her most recent start. Falconet and Hidden Connection finished 1-2 last out in the Groupie Doll. Search Results is looking for her first win since the Molly Pitcher (G3) in July 2022.

Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3), Pimlico, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Doppelganger, 4-for-6 this year, tries turf for the first time. Wolfie’s Dynaghost started the year with two wins, then was fifth in two graded stakes before coming back with an allowance win last out at Kentucky Downs. Smokin T has finished in the money in all six starts this year and was a close third last out in the Mint Millions (G3).

British Columbia Derby (G3), Hastings, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

Probables weren’t available, so the nominations are listed here. Abeliefinthislivin won as the favorite over others possible here last out in the Canadian Derby (G3). Formerly trained by John Sadler, Riverside has had one start for James Brown after being claimed in his previous race.

Probables weren’t available for the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) at Aqueduct. They also weren’t available for weekend stakes at Woodbine, including the Woodbine Mile (G1), the Natalma (G1) and the Summer (G1), all of which are Breeders' Cup qualifiers.