Stakes Tracker: Sunday's Spinster, Frizette take shape

A final packed afternoon of Breeders’ Cup preps on Sunday is almost all about the ladies, with the Grade 1 events at both Keeneland at Belmont Park leading to championship races for the fillies and mares. Here’s an early glance at the fields ahead of Thursday’s post position draws:

Keeneland

Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster

In a Distaff division that has seen leaders Abel Tasman and Monomoy Girl defeated in recent weeks, this race has taken on new importance. On its own, the Spinster shapes up as a nice betting event, too, with 3-year-old Alabama Stakes (G1) winner taking on Blue Prize, a specialist over the Distaff track at Churchill Downs who’s already qualified to run Nov. 3 under the Twin Spires. Presumably, the longer the better for Eskimo Kisses, who cuts back to nine furlongs here but could continue her late season emergence on the Keeneland dirt.

• Grade 3, $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon for 3-year-olds on turf

• $200,000 Indian Summer, a new turf sprint for juveniles

Belmont

Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette

Bellafina is unquestionably the horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies coming from the West Coast. Her East Coast counterparts will state their cases in this one-mile feature, and there appears a clear standout in Covfefe. Named for the controversial tweet by President Donald Trump, the Brad Cox trainee broke her maiden with authority last month at Churchill Downs and will quickly take the step up in class. Cox originally mentioned an un-graded Churchill stakes as Covfefe’s next possible step. Consider shipping to New York a sign of confidence in the daughter of Into Mischief.

Also Sunday at Belmont…

• Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl for fillies and mares on turf

• Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity for juvenile sprinters now on the grass