First Look: Haskell, CCA Oaks lead 14 weekend graded stakes

This weekend we can expect to see Taiba and Jack Christopher in the Grade 1 Haskell and two great matchups of fillies: Secret Oath and Nest in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Clairiere and Malathaat in the Shuvee (G2).

And that's just a start. Fourteen graded stakes are on the weekend calendar at four tracks – including the San Clemente, the first graded stakes at Del Mar, which opens Friday. Here's an early look at the fields.

Friday

Lake George (G3), Saratoga, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Eminent Victor's win in the listed Wild Applause at Belmont Park was her first start since finishing third in last year's Natalma Stakes (G1). Koala Princess won her first two starts last year before a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, which was her most recent race. After four tries, Al Qahira broke her maiden last out over a field of 12 at Churchill Downs.

Saturday

Haskell (G1), Monmouth Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

Taiba had impressive wins in his maiden start and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby, only his third start. Jack Christopher is undefeated in four starts, most recently a 10-length win in the Woody Stephens (G1) But they're not the only strong contenders. Cyberknife, 18th in the Kentucky Derby, won the Arkansas Derby (G1) and caught Howling Time at the wire to win the Matt Winn (G3) last out. White Abarrio impressed with wins in the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1), and after a 16th-place showing in the Kentucky Derby, he finished second in the Ohio Derby (G3).

United Nations (G1), Monmouth Park, 1 3/8 miles (turf), 3-year-olds and up

Gufo looks to pick up another Grade 1 after finishing second- and third-place finishes in the Man o' War (G1) and the Manhattan (G1), respectively. He's expected to meet again with Tribhuvan, whose win in the Manhattan was his first since scoring in last year's United Nations. The second-place finisher in the Manhattan, Adhamo, is looking for his first U.S. win after two seconds and a third this year.

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

Mind Control got his first win of the year when he dueled with Hot Rod Charlie in the Salvator Mile (G3) before winning at the wire. Highly Motivated took the rest of the year off after finishing 10th in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. He returns to graded-stakes company after a fourth and a win in two allowance optional claiming starts this year.

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

Search Results won the Ruffian (G2) by two lengths before finishing third behind Clairiere and Malathaat in the Ogden Phipps (G1), with Bonny South in fourth. Army Wife got her first win in two starts this year, beating Crazy Beautiful by three-quarters of a length in the listed Lady Jacqueline.

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

Vigilantes Way looks for her first win since August after finishing second in three straight starts, including last month's loss in the Eatontown (G3) to Stolen Holiday, who also is expected here.

Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Saratoga, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-old fillies

After Secret Oath beat Nest in the Kentucky Oaks, she finished fourth against the boys in the Preakness and Nest went on to finish second in the Belmont Stakes. Two other expected challengers are coming off wins. Society is 2-for-2 this year and 3-for-3 overall after winning the black-type Monomoy Girl Overnight at Churchill Downs. Butterbean won the Iowa Oaks (G3) going away for her third win in a row.

Caress (G3), Saratoga, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Souper Sensational was a neck short of winning her first race after a seven-month layoff, finishing second in the Royal North (G2). Caravel, winner of last year's Caress, is 2-for-3 this year and won the Intercontinental (G3) last out over three others expected here.

San Clemente (G2), Del Mar, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Tezzaray, 2-for-2 to close out last year, will make her first start since winning the Jimmy Durante (G3). Lady T broke her maiden in May in her sixth start then finished second in the Summertime Oaks (G2). Island of Love, who debuted with two wins in Rome last year, won the Señorita (G3) before finishing second in the Honeymoon (G3) last out.

Sunday

Shuvee (G2), Saratoga, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

This one could feature a rematch of the top four finishers of the Ogden Phipps. Clairiere won that event by a head bob over Malathaat, with Search Results – also listed as a probable in the Molly Pitcher – coming in third. Bonny South also is listed as probable in both races, is looking for her first win since the Doubledogdare (G3) in April 2021.

Cougar II Handicap (G3), Del Mar, 1 1/2 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Tizamagician, winner of this race last year, returns after an eight-month layoff. There Goes Harvard has finished in the money in all 11 starts except a did-not-finish last year and most recently got his first graded-stakes win in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). Red King rallied to finish second by a head in the San Juan Capistrano (G2) last out.

Probables were not available from Woodbine for Saturday's Connaught Cup (G2) or the Dance Smartly (G2) and Hendrie (G3) on Sunday.