Weekend Watch: Stakes of note preceding a Derby frenzy

Each weekend, Horse Racing Nation previews the top races to tune into coast to coast and runs down the main contenders. All times are Eastern, with these the Saturday stakes of note…

Santa Anita Park, Race 5, 6:02 p.m.

Even if you’re not interested in playing the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds going a mile on turf, this is a must-see for Soi Phet, the gelding making his 11-year-old debut. The 4-1 second choice in the morning line takes the winter off and managed to win twice last year, taking this race along with Los Alamitos’ July 4 Bertrando Stakes.

Oaklawn Park, Race 9, 6:28 p.m.

Gray Attempt, who routed in Derby trail races but looked at his best when around one turn, cuts back for the $150,000 Bachelor, and he’ll have some talented company. Nitrous will take another shot after fourth to Gray Attempt in Oaklawn’s Gazebo, while Classy John is a multiple stakes winner in the Louisiana-bred ranks. Finally, trainer Ron Moquett gets Frosted Ice back to the races, and he could be any kind yet sits 10-1 on the morning line.

Golden Gate Fields, Race 9, 7:35 p.m.

Some familiar 3-year-olds return in the $100,000 California Derby, with both the horses to beat shipping North from Santa Anita Park. Sparky Ville has been off since winning the San Vicente (G2), while Kingly was a distant second at this course/distance to Anothertwistafate in the El Camino Real Derby. Blaine Wright, Anothertwistafate’s trainer, conditions Erlich, who should take money as a local winner.

Santa Anita Park, Race 8, 7:50 p.m.

This looks like the spot in which Paradise Woods, winless since the 2017 Zenyatta Stakes (G1), can finally break through. She’ll have Mike Smith up from the outside, No. 8 post in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita in what will be the 5-year-old Union Rags mare’s third start in trainer John Shirreffs’ care. Paradise Woods ran into some giants last time in the Beholder Mile (G1) but in this nine-furlong test sees Lemoona, an allowance winner, as the second morning line choice.

Golden Gate Fields, Race 10, 8:10 p.m.

The feature on the stakes-packed Gold Rush Weekend card, the Grade 3, $250,000 San Francisco Mile, also attracted some Southern California invaders, with familiar turf campaigners River Boyne and Bowies Hero bookending a 10-horse gate. As a Jerry Hollendorfer-trained 15-1 longshot, Choo Choo is an intriguing local coming in off a mile win on the synthetic.

Churchill Downs, Race 8, 9:39 p.m.

Bulletin will break from the inside post in a field of eight, but don’t expect that to hinder him in Churchill Downs’ $125,000 William Walker Stakes, an expected final prep before the unbeaten colt heads to Royal Ascot. This race goes as the feature on opening night at Churchill Downs, with Wesley Ward-trained Abyssinian the second choice behind odds-on Bulletin. Last time, Abyssinian was no match for the favorite in Keeneland’s April 4 Palisades Turf Sprint.

…and one more on Sunday:

Lone Star Park, Race 7, 5:40 p.m.

The 7-year-old Shotgun Kowboy will host some younger foes in the Grade 3, $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile, with Steve Asmussen-trained Title Ready receiving morning line favoritism from the inside post in a field of 10. King Abner ships in from California as the second choice, while Air Strike is another out of Santa Anita who could offer value at 10-1 should he return to last season’s form. This race is considered a local prep for the Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) later in the meet.