Keeneland continues its Autumnal program with several races attracting raiders from Europe.
Saturdays graded stakes starts with the Woodford Gr 2 over 1100m turf with 9 runners with the raider being Khadeem from Charlie Hills's yard and Dettori riding – they are on 4/1. Ahead of them in the market are Doncho 3/1 for Lovell- J L Ortiz and World Record on 7/2 for Brissett- Torres.
The Thoroughbred Club of America Gr 2 is over 1200m for f&m with 7 to run led by Cherie deVaux's Vahva with J L Ortiz on board. We quite like Vodka With A Twist on 4/1 for d'Amato- Gaffalione.
The First Lady is Gr 1 over 1600m turf with a full field of 12 and 4 emergencies, with one of the latter group the top pick is she gets a run and that is Special Wan on 7/2 for Walsh-Velazquez. Dynamic Pricing is on 4/1 for Brown – D Davis and stablemate Segesta on 5/1 with Prat the jockey. English raider Choisya is on 9/2 for the Crisfords although the US only allows one trainer name so it is down at Simon and Dettori will ride.
The Breeders' Futurity is Gr 1over 1700m for the 2yos with 7 to run and Pletcher's Into Mischief colt Ted Noffey is on 4/5 with Velazquez riding. Big Dom is on 4/1 for Amoss-I Ortiz.
The Coolmore Turf Mile is Gr 1 and the field is headed by Irish raider Diego Velazquez with O'Brien calling on Dettori to ride and they are on 7/2. Program Trading is on 9/2 for Brown-Prat and Woodshauna 5/1 for d'Angelo- E Jaramillo. Another raider here this time from England is Andrew Balding's Jonquil on 15/1 and D Davis has the ride.
On Sunday there's the Juddmonte Spinster Gr 1 over 1800m for f&m – there's only five starters but since one of them is Thorpedo Anna that's not surprising. Change of jockey here and McPeek has booked Prat for the ride. They are on 8/5 and the next best is Nitrogen on 5/2 for Casse – J L Ortiz.
The Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes is Gr 2 over 1700m turf for 2yos and 12 to run. Final Score is on 8/5 for Pletcher- I Ortiz = he' s by Not This Time. Exonerate is by Justify and is on 9/2 for Cox-Prat and Vintur is on 6/1, a Violence colt with Casse and Geroux to ride.
Belmont at the Big A is also busy starting with the Jockey Club Invitational Gr 2 over 1900m turf for 3yos. Don't know how many invitations they sent out but there's only 7 who have accepted. There are two Browns here – Asbury Park on 5/2, a Frankel with Franco riding and Hill Road 7/5 with D Egan on board – he's by Quality Road.
The Frizette is Gr 1 over 1600m for 2yo fillies and there's 11 to run. Iron Orchard is an Authentic filly on 3/1 for Gargan-Rosario, Five Bars by Maxfield is on 5/1 for McCaughey-Franco and Chopsticks is by Essential Quality and is on 8/1 for Cox-Geroux.
The Champagne is Gr 1 over 1600m for 2yos with 9 to run. It's Our Time is by Not This Time and on even money for Amoss-Saez. Talkin is by Good Magic and on 5/1 for Gargan-Carmouche and Curtain Call 6/1 for Casse-Santana and he's by Tiz The Law.
The Miss Grille is Gr 2 over 1700m turf for 2yo fillies with the full 12 field and 2 emergencies. Deep Learning is by Cairo Prince and on 5/2 for Brown-Santana with Mott saddling Quiet Street, by Street Boss and Alvarado riding. One we like is Fille d'Or on 5/1 for ox-Franco and she's by the late Wooton Bassett.
Over to California and to Santa Anita where we have the American Pharoah Gr 1 over 1700m for the 2yos with 6 to run headed by Kristofferson on 9/5 for Baffert-Smith – he's by Nyquist and the stablemate Desert Gate is by Omaha Beach and will be ridden by J J Hernandez.
The Rodeo Drive is Gr 2 over 2000m turf for f&m with 8 to run. Amber Cascade is on 5/2 for Maker- J J Hernandez, Long Ago on 3/1 for Money- Smith and we like Alpha Bella on 4/1 for Sadler- Berrios.
The Oak Leaf is Gr 2 over 1700m for the 2yo fillies and 6 to run here. Baffert seems to have this in the bag with Explora, by Blame on 4/5 with J J Hernandez on board and Himika 3/1 with Smith riding the Curlin daughter.