First Look: Graded stakes at Keeneland, Oaklawn, Santa Anita

You could call the weekend’s light graded-stakes calendar a lull ahead of the Kentucky Derby, but there’s still plenty of interest on tap.

Familiar names such as Skippylongstocking are expected at Keeneland, and Last Samurai looks to keep his win streak going at Oaklawn. And Santa Anita returns with two graded stakes.

Here’s an early look at the likely fields.

Friday

Doubledogdare (G3), Keeneland, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Interstatedaydream, Moon Swag and Hidden Connection would face considerably less formidable competition here than they did in their last start in the Azeri (G2), where Secret Oath and Clairiere finished 1-2. For third-place finisher Interstatedaydream, it was her first start since August, when she finished second to Green Up in the Cathryn Sophia at Parx. Green Up makes her first start since finishing fourth in the Cotillion (G1) in September after winning four straight. Shotgun Hottie also returns from the Cathryn Sophia, where she was fourth.

Saturday

Elkhorn (G2), Keeneland, 1 1/2 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Scarlet Fusion won the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3) in her only start this year. After finishing ninth in last year’s Kentucky Derby, Tiz the Bomb switched to turf and has gone 0-for-5. Another Mystery, second in this event last year, has one win in eight starts since, including a runner-up effort in the Connally.

Ben Ali (G3), Keeneland, 1 3/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Skippylongstocking is coming off a win in the Challenger (G3), where Trademark was fifth. Pioneer of Medina won the Mineshaft (G3) in his first start this year before finishing sixth in the New Orleans Classic (G2). Zozos is 2-for-3 since he finished 10th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, with both wins in optional-claiming allowance races at Fair Grounds.

Oaklawn Handicap (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Last Samurai, winner of this race last year, looks to extend his two-race win streak after scores in the Razorback (G3) and Essex (G3). Classic Causeway was second by a length in the Essex in his first race on dirt since last year’s Ohio Derby (G3). Proxy nearly caught Stiletto Boy in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) but was a neck short. Charge It came off a seven-month break and won an optional-claiming allowance at Gulfstream in February before finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).

Californian (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Off for six months after winning the Affirmed (G1), Hopper came back with a second in the San Pascual (G2) and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) before winning the Oaklawn Mile (G3). Royal Ship’s eighth-place finish in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) was his first start since Oct. 1. In two starts this year, Defunded was second in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and third in the Big ‘Cap.

Kona Gold (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Spirit of Makena is 2-for-2 this year, winning the San Carlos (G2) last out over Forbidden Kingdom, also expected here. Brickyard Ride, winner of this race last year, was third last out in the San Simeon (G3) behind Anarchist, also expected here, in second. Trumped would try his first stakes race after four career starts, winning the last three.