First Look: Fionn seeks 4th straight win at Keeneland

The Breeders' Cup countdown clock reads three weeks, but don't fast-forward just yet. This week serves up a stakes menu that includes one of the country's hottest fillies, Maryland Million day and enough quality racing to make you forget about future-book odds for a couple days.

Trainer Brad Cox sends out Fionn in Saturday's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, where the daughter of Twirling Candy aims to make it four straight victories. The 3-year-old has been perfect since ending up third in the Appalachian (G2) in April. Her connections are banking on the 1 1/8-mile distance to keep the streak alive against a field that includes recent Grade 2 winner Laurelin and Del Mar Oaks (G1) runner-up Lush Lips.

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup anchors a week with quality stakes from Kentucky to New York to Toronto and Maryland, with Friday's Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland and Sunday's Franklin (G2) giving handicappers plenty of action before the championship season arrives.

Friday

Sycamore (G3), Keeneland, 1 1/2 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up

Utah Beach attempts to rebound from a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2), where he faded to finish 10 1/4 lengths back. The 5-year-old captured the Elkhorn (G2) and Louisville (G3) this spring. The son of English Channel closed for fourth in the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga after running in the back for most of the race.

Saturday

Glen Cove (G3), Aqueduct, 6 furlongs, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Me Governor makes her graded-stakes debut after a 2 1/4-length allowance score at Colonial Downs, where The Factor filly stalked the pace and kicked clear. She previously took Belmont at Aqueduct's Stewart Manor and finished fourth in Keeneland's Limestone. The dark bay filly has won three times from seven turf starts for trainer Carlos David.

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), Keeneland, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Fionn seeks her fourth consecutive victory after securing the Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational (G3) at Kentucky Downs, the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) at Saratoga and the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Brad Cox-trained filly has finished in the money in all eight career starts, banking over $1.7 million. Her lone setback this season was a third-place effort in Keeneland's Appalachian (G2) in April.

 Maryland Million Classic, Laurel, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Post Time dominated Laurel's Polynesian by 17 lengths Sept. 7 after a disappointing sixth in Saratoga's Whitney (G1). He came home third in the Woodward (G2) at Belmont at the Big A in his last outing Sept. 27. The 5-year-old son of Frosted prevailed in the Deputed Testamony in June and ran third in Churchill's Blame (G3) in May.

Ontario Fashion (G3), Woodbine, 6 furlongs, synthetic, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

A Little Frisky arrives off a fourth-place finish in the Seaway (G3) on Aug. 23, where she rallied late. The daughter of Army Mule rebounded from a turf setback with a 1 3/4-length victory July 26 in allowance company. Prior efforts showed inconsistency, including a fourth in early June.

Sunday

Franklin (G2), Keeneland, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Luna Louska looks to make it five consecutive victories in her first graded-stakes assignment. The 3-year-old filly took the Floral Park most recently, adding to scores in the Clarksville at Horseshoe Indianapolis, a Gulfstream optional claimer and maiden special weight breakthrough. Trainer Gustavo Delgado sends out the Complexity filly in this Grade 2 test with all victories coming during the 2025 campaign.