Stakes Tracker: Early look at Pennsylvania Derby contenders
With the big summer meets over with at Saratoga and Del Mar, we’re not going to get top-level Grade 1s moving forward each weekend. But there’s still plenty to look forward to early this fall, the focus of our latest look at Horse Racing Nation’s Stakes Tracker.
First, this coming weekend will be all about the large fields, low takeout and turf specialists at the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet. The $750,000 Kentucky Turf Cup leads five stakes to be run at the Franklin, Ky., track, and the nominations are packed with familiar names.
Later this month, with the Travers Stakes in the rearview, the 3-year-old division picks up with the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. Set for Sept. 22 at Parx, there should be an intriguing field given the presence of Bob Baffert-trained McKinzie coming back from injury. Plus, many figure we haven’t seen the best yet from Hofburg, who missed the Travers due to a fever.
Triple Crown stalwart Bravazo, Smarty Jones Stakes winner Axelrod and Mr Freeze, who ran off the screen in the West Virginia Derby, make for a strong supporting case.
The card will also include the Grade 1 Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies. While that field is much more in flux, it has a headliner in Monomoy Girl, who will enter on a streak of four Grade 1 wins. Wonder Gadot, the filly who tried the Travers, is possible to meet her in a rematch of the Kentucky Oaks.
A current look at the Pennsylvania Derby:
The New York circuit shifts to Belmont Park later this week, with the big weekend of Breeders’ Cup qualifiers set for Saturday, Sept. 29. Whereas some of the Breeders’ Cup Classic division contenders skipped last weekend’s Woodward Stakes, they should be back for the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup.Defending Gold Cup winner Diversify is expected to face Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow in the latter’s first race on dirt since the March 31 score. Chad Brown will give Gronkowski another try after his Travers flop, while this could be the spot for Travers winner Catholic Boy if connections choose to run him again before the Classic.
A current look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup:
Out West, the premier race on Sept. 29 will happen in the 2-year-old division. Game Winner closed best to win Monday night’s Del Mar Futurity, but what happens if Rowayton can switch leads and Roadster improves going 1 1/16 miles? Instagrand is likely to go favored in a Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes that should cement a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite.A current look at the prospective field: