First Look: Likely fields for non-Breeders' Cup graded stakes

The Breeders' Cup takes the spotlight this weekend, but those top-notch events aren't the only graded-stakes races on offer.

Keeneland's Breeders' Cup undercard on Friday is expected to draw recent graded-stakes winners Rattle N Roll and Heywoods Beach for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2). Older fillies, including Brad Cox’s Coach, are expected in Friday's Turnback the Alarm (G3) on Aqueduct, with 2-year-olds facing off at the New York track Sunday in the Nashua (G3). And Woodbine hosts the Autumn (G2) on Sunday.

Here is an early look at the entries for the Turnback the Alarm and the likely fields for the TAA and Nashua.

Friday

Turnback the Alarm (G3), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Coach returned from a 7 1/2-month layoff and finished second last out in Laurel Park’s Twixt. That race was won by Battle Bling, also entered here, bringing her record to 8: 3-4-1 for the year. Exotic West returns to graded-stakes company after finishing seventh last out in the Aug. 19 Summer Colony at Saratoga. W W Fitzy has a record of 8: 3-1-3 this year but hasn’t tried a graded stakes since 2020.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2), Keeneland 1 5/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Rattle N Roll is coming off his first graded-stakes win of the year in the Oklahoma Derby (G3). That was his second victory in a row after he won the St. Louis Derby. Heywoods Beach is 2-for-4 this year, winning the Tokyo City Cup (G3) last out and the Couger II (G3) two starts back. Bal Harbour’s first start of the year was a fifth-place effort in the listed Alydar Stakes at Saratoga in August, and he easily won a claiming race at the Spa in his last start for his first win since 2018.

Sunday

Nashua (G3), Aqueduct, 1 mile, 2-year-olds

Champions Dream was a gate-to-wire winner in his first start, a Saratoga maiden special weight in September. Then he was fifth in the Champagne (G1) last out. Torrone also was a maiden winner but has gone 0-for-2 since. Full Moon Madness was third in his first two starts at Saratoga but won his last race easily during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. And Love Me Not is 1-for-3, winning his second start but then finishing fifth in the Nownownow at Monmouth Park.

Probables were not available for the Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.