What to watch for: Rushing Fall leads Jenny Wiley probables

The Arkansas Derby will headline this weekend's stakes action, but it's far from the only significant race on the calendar with other Grade 1 races on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what we'll be watching for...

Heart to Heart defends Maker's 46 Mile

The 8-year-old journeyman Heart to Heart will make his fourth consecutive appearance Friday in the Grade 1, $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland. The son of English Channel, who has cleared 40 lifetime starts and $2 million in earnings, made this race his first career top-level score a season ago.

Winless since, the front-running son of English Channel still sizes up as the one to catch going eight furlongs on the Keeneland green. Heart to Heart tuned up with a half mile breeze on Saturday in 50.40 over the turf.

Delta Prince ships in after third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1); the consistent Qurbaan is looking for his second graded score stateside; and the Chad Brown-trained Raging Bull looks like a serious threat in his 4-year-old debut. The colt finished his 2018 season with a victory in the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar.

Also Friday, in other graded action, Oaklawn Park hosts its Fantasy (G3), the final major prep for the Kentucky Oaks.

Rushing Fall should feel at home

Brown will saddle another of his turf stars Saturday at Keeneland, where Rushing Fall is termed probable to return in the Grade 1, $350,000 Jenny Wiley.

The 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready is 3-for-3 over the surface with wins in the Jessamine (G3), Appalachian (G2) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1). There's plenty of back class on her resume, too, as the winner of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Overall, Rushing Fall has won six of seven starts and should be favored in the layoff.

Also Saturday at Keeneland, Anothertwistafate, Sueno and Harvey Wallbanger will look to the Lexington (G3) as a final chance to earn points for the Kentucky Derby, and the familiar Flameaway should star in the Ben Ali (G3) off a last out victory in Tampa Bay Downs' Challenger Stakes.

On the Arkansas Derby undercard, Quip could be the one to beat in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) also expected to include upset Razorback Handicap (G3) winner Rated R Superstar. The Count Fleet Sprint may pack more star power with Whitmore taking on Mitole, an up-and-comer in the division.

Pride of Manitoba takes on Apple Blossom

Oaklawn Park will play host to another must-see race on Sunday when Midnight Bisou and Elate run back from their 1-2 finish in the Azeri Stakes (G2). They'll have some significant new competition in Escape Clause, the Manitoba-bred mare owned and trained by Don Schnell who's in for the Grade 1, $750,000 Apple Blossom.

A winner of 18 races, most of those north of the border, the 5-year-old moved to California last November and most recently won Sunland Park's March 24 Harry Henson Handicap with ease.

“She's been quite a story,” Schnell said. “She knows how to win, but we're taking on some monsters in the Apple Blossom. But she deserves one try there.”

Also expected in the field is Wonder Gadot, who beat the boys in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown last season and then tried the Travers Stakes (G2). The Mark Casse trainee will be making her second start of 2019 on Sunday, a month removed from her second-place finish in a comeback allowance.

The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, who breezed four furlongs locally in 51.8 on Saturday, is looking to bounce back from a tough end to her 3-year-old campaign, which included a third in the Cotillion (G1) and a ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.  The lifetime earner of $1.5 million hasn’t found the winners circle since a July 24 win in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.

The Apple Blossom's other early probable, Chocolate Martini, won her 4-year-old debut Feb. 24 in allowance company at Oaklawn.