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Pick Pony | Sept. 6, 2024, 2:06 p.m.
This weekend, horse racing is focusing on turf events in various locations. Kentucky Downs is hosting several races, including two Breeders' Cup qualifying races on Saturday and four more high-stakes races on Sunday. Colonial Downs is featuring the Virginia Derby and Oaks on the turf, while Del Mar is also showcasing significant grass races. Internationally, the Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday promises to be one of the most exciting mile races in Europe. Additionally, the Sprint Cup is taking place at Haydock. Furthermore, the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge program has races in Seoul, Korea.
Integration, who finished second in the Grade I Arlington Million in his last start, is the morning line favorite for Saturday's $2 million Grade II Kentucky Downs Turf Cup. This race serves as a "Win and You're In" for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. The Quality Road colt, trained by Shug McGaughey, is listed at 8-5 on the morning line, with the closest competitor being the Irish import Chief Little Rock at 4-1.
Deterministic is the morning-line pick for Saturday's $500,000 Grade III New Kent County Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. The Liam's Map colt was on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year but seems to have found new life on the green course, finishing a solid third in the Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational in his last start.
Saturday's $150,000 Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs features a 1 1/2 mile race with Webslinger as the odds-on favorite.
It seems like there are some exciting horse racing events coming up. Didia and Anisette are expected to shine in the $250,000 Grade II John C. Mabee at Del Mar, competing against six other entries. The $2 million Grade III Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon features a tough competition with nine entries, while the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs has 13 fillies vying for the win. Lastly, in Thursday's $500,000 Jeff Ruby One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs, Safeen managed to hold off She's Lookin Lucky by a head at the finish line after leading from the early going. Both horses were last seen at Ellis Park.
Cogburn has won five of his last six starts, with the only loss in that stretch coming in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, last year's Grade II event. He is returning as the 6-5 favorite in Saturday's $2 million renewal of that event, aiming to improve on his performance and secure a "Win and You're In" spot for the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
The $2 million Grade I Franklin-Simpson Stakes for 3-year-olds and the $2 million Grade II Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs both feature full fields, with no standout contenders.
In addition, Saturday's $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs will showcase Isivunguvungu, a South African horse sent early this year to target the Breeders' Cup. The favorites in this event are Dream Shake, Nothing Better, and Run Carson. Isivunguvungu means "storm" in a Zulu language.
The ancient Rome, last year's winner, is the morning-line pick among 11 horses in Saturday's $2 million Grade III Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. Brilliant Berti is the early favorite in a full field for Sunday's $1.5 million Gun Runner race for 3-year-olds.
Bob Baffert is set to saddle three out of the seven horses entered for Sunday's $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Futurity. Getaway Car, who is undefeated and was the winner of the Grade III Best Pal in his latest race, appears to be the strongest contender. McKinzie Street, who put on an impressive performance to win his debut under trainer Tim Yakteen, also deserves a close look.
Rated By Merit is the even-money favorite among the eight young horses set to compete in Saturday's $100,000 Dr. Fager Division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Sunday's $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile and $100,000 Grade III Del Mar Juvenile Turf are both fully subscribed and difficult to predict. The Kitten's Joy on Saturday has 11 entries, but the standout is Thrilla, who won his last race at the course by a remarkable 18 lengths to break his maiden.
Sunday's $1 million Untapable Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Kentucky Downs at 6 1/2 furlongs delivers yet another full field with ... oh heck, you know the drill. Also, check Saturday's $125,000 Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs.
Baffert saddles Nooni and Tenma for Saturday's $300,000 Grade I FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante with Nooni and Tenma. It's not all-Baffert, though. Vodka With a Twist and So There She Was look tough, too.
Win N Your In is the even-money pick in a field of seven 2-year-old fillies for Saturday's $100,000 Desert Vixen Division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Twelve are in the main field and four on the waiting list for Sunday's $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies. Good luck.
Thought Process is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 12 for Saturday's $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. Casalu, third in the Grade III Sorrento on the Del Mar dirt, gets a whirl on the green course.
Around the world, around the clock
England
Sheik Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has two of the best-fancied entries in Friday's Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock with Group 1 Coronation Cup winner Inisherin and Group 3 Hackwood Stakes winner Elite Status. It's a 6-furlongs sprint.
France
If all seven entries go, Sunday's Group 1 Moulin de Longchamp will be one of the more notable 1-mile tests of the season. Holding tickets are the likes of Notable Speech, winner of the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Group 1 Sussex Stakes; Charyn, winner of the Group 1 at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Jacques le Marois at Deauville; and Henry Longfellow, second in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes.
Korea
Japanese invaders Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro loom large in Sunday's Grade III Korea Cup. Wilson Tesoro finished fourth in this year's Dubai World Cup. The winner gets an to the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Trainer sent Anarchist across the Pacific to contest the Grade III Korea Cup Sprint, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He's a multiple graded stakes winner in North America but meets some tough international competition including Japan's Remake.
Hong Kong
With any luck, Hong Kong will have recovered from a hit by Severe Typhoon Yagi in time for Sunday's season-opening program at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Assuming all is in order, the traditional opening ceremony will feature a lion dance, eye-dotting and a gong striking, all while the jockeys welcome the new season.