First Look: Beyond Breeders’ Cup, there are 4 graded stakes

Breeders’ Cup races could be included here, but let’s be honest. That would not be a first look. Besides, they would take up server-crushing space and more than dwarf the four graded stakes this week that are not branded as championships.

Like the one sports-bar screen tuned to a soccer game on an NFL Sunday, here is a preview dedicated to the potential fields for those races early on the Saturday undercard at Del Mar and Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.

Saturday

Goldikova (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Ireland-bred Kathmandu is a maiden-winning 3-year-old who makes her U.S. debut at a distance where she made her biggest impression in Europe. Carrying 45-1 odds she lost by only a head placing second May 12 in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1), France’s version of the 1,000 Guineas. Three-time stakes winner Ruby Nell, a 4-year-old by Bolt d’Oro, also made her presence felt three starts back. That was March 3 at Santa Anita, where she won the Buena Vista (G2). Sacred Wish, a Not This Time 4-year-old, finished second in both the Matchmaker (G3) and Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3), her two most recent assignments.

Bayakoa (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Two-time Grade 2 winner Sugar Fish, a 3-year-old Accelerate filly trained by Jeff Mullins, comes in with four wins in her last five starts. That hot streak includes last month’s Zenyatta (G2), where 4-year-old Alpha Bella finished second. Both are listed by the Del Mar racing office as probable as are two Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-olds who have a combined seven victories this year. Hope Road won each of her last three races by at least five lengths including the Aug. 31 Torrey Pines (G3) over the same course and distance as the Goldikova. Juddmonte homebred Show Card is 3-for-3 against older rivals including her Sept. 21 victory in the Dark Mirage at Los Alamitos, which used to be the host track for this race that had been held in December.

Sunday

Grey (G3), Woodbine, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic, 2-year-olds

Tapit Kissit Winit not only has a 2-for-2 record, he has bloodlines that catch the eye, too. Bred in Florida by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Stud and trained by five-time Grey winner Mark Casse, the colt is by Tapit out of Into Mischief mare Let It Ride Mom. His first two races on the Woodbine turf produced a debut victory by 1 1/4 lengths going five furlongs Sept. 8 and an allowance score by 2 1/4 lengths as an odds-on favorite going a mile Oct. 10.

Mazarine (G3), Woodbine, 1 1/16 miles, synthetic, 2-year-old fillies

With a record 10 Mazarine victories including the last three, Casse said he would cross-enter four fillies into this race and the Grey. They include maiden winner No Time, who was bought as a yearling for $250,000 by Gary Barber. She raced against males and was promoted from fourth to third in the Cup and Saucer going 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine turf.