LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2021) ― Throughout the year, the NTRA will provide a guide to the best stakes races in North America and beyond. Eleven graded stakes will be contested in the U.S. over the holiday weekend in California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa and New York. On Friday evening at Prairie Meadows, Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner Knicks Go leads the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap. On Saturday, Mystic Guide, the top-rated horse in the NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll and Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner, returns in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park. The Suburban winner will gain a free berth into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. A “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be on the line at Gulfstream on Saturday in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney led by California shipper Ce Ce. Crazy Beautiful is the one to beat in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. On Sunday, Firenze Fire goes for his 15th win in Belmont’s Grade 2 John A. Nerud, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.
TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Prairie Meadows, Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Los Alamitos and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.
“America’s Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live on Saturday, July 3 on FS1 from 1-3:30 p.m. and on FS2 from 3:30-5 p.m. from Belmont Park. On Sunday, July 4, “America’s Day at the Races” will be live on FS1 from 1-6 p.m., and on Monday, July 5 from 1-5:30 p.m. on FS2.
Friday, July 2
9:42 p.m. ― $225,000 Grade 3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows on TVG
Three Diamonds Farm’s Army Wife and Stonestreet Stables’ Pauline’s Pearl lead seven 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks. Trained by Mike Maker, Army Wife, a daughter of Declaration of War, has won two of three starts this year, including the Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 14, where she took command at the eighth pole and drew off by 2 ¾ lengths. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 1. Breaking from the stall next to Army Wife is the Steve Asmussen-trained Pauline’s Pearl, who scored a 1-length victory in the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park on April 3. A gray/roan daughter of Tapit, Pauline’s Pearl will try to rebound from an eighth-place finish last time out in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on April 30. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 2. Susan Moulton’s Oliviaofthedesert has a victory at Prairie Meadows in the 1-mile Panthers Stakes on June 4, which was her fourth win. A daughter of Bernardini, Oliviaofthedesert is trained by Kenny McPeek and will be ridden from post 6 by Shane Laviolette.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PRM070221USA7-EQB.html
10:12 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap
Korea Racing Authority’s 5-year-old Knicks Go, winner of both the Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational, is the even-money favorite against six rivals in the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. In his last two starts, Knicks Go, trained by Brad Cox, finished fourth in the $20 million Grade 1 Saudi Cup at Abdulaziz Racecourse, and was fourth again in the Grade 1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park after prompting the pace to the head of the stretch. Joel Rosario has the mount aboard the Maryland-bred, breaking from post 5. Michael Dubb, Steve Hornstock, Michael J. Caruso and Nice Guy Stables’ Last Judgement has won three of five starts this year. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden from post four by Jose Oritz, the Florida-bred Last Judgement won the black type Sunshine Classic Stakes in January at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 3 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March, and last out wired the field in the 1 3/16-mile, Grade 3 Pimlico Special Match Series Stakes on May 14, winning by 1 ¾ lengths over Pamela and Martin Wygod’s Modernist. Trained by Bill Mott, Modernist also finished second last to Last Judgement in the Michelob Challenger. But in between those defeats, the son of Uncle Mo won the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on April 3. Junior Alvarado will ride Modernist from post 7.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PRM070221USA8-EQB.html
Saturday, July 3
4:15 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park on TVG
M Racing Group’s Like the King leads nine 3-year-olds, with two also-eligibles, for the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at 1 1/8-miles on the Delaware Park turf course. Trained by Wesley Ward, Like the King won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 27 and then finished 12th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Ward then switched the chestnut son of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice to the turf, and Like the King finished fifth in the black type Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 29. Godolphin’s Gershwin won the Grade 3 Penn Mile at Penn National on May 28 for trainer Mike Stidham. Joe Bravo will ride Gershwin, a son of Distorted Humor, from post 1. Edge Racing’s Just This Time, trained by Kelly Breen, has won four of five starts this year, including the black type English Channel Stakes last out at Gulfstream on May 8. Madaket Stables’ Wooten Asset came from France last fall after two wins and nearly captured the Laurel Futurity, losing by a nose. Trained by Graham Motion and ridden from post 7 by Victor Carrasco, Wooten Asset will be making his first start since trailing an 11-horse field in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes last October at Del Mar.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL070321USA7-EQB.html
4:45 p.m. ―$300,000 Grade 3 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park on TVG
Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Crazy Beautiful tops the field of 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Crazy Beautiful, slated to face eight rivals, is trying to win her third “Oaks” this year, having taken the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in March and the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on May 20. In between those two races, the daughter of Liam’s Map finished 10th in the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks. Crazy Beautiful will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith from post 7. Main Line Racing Stable’s Pennsylvania-bred Midnight Obsession, trained by John Servis, has won two of three starts, including a second-place finish in the Lyphard Stakes at Penn National on May 28. Joe Bravo has the mount from post 3. Cash is King and LC Racing’s Juror Number Four has two wins in seven starts for trainer Brittany Russell. The Maryland-bred daughter of Into Mischief finished fourth in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 14. Sheldon Russell, Brittany’s husband, has the mount, breaking from post 3.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL070321USA8-EQB.html
5:02 p.m. ― $200,000 Grade 3 Smile Sprint Invitational at Gulfstream Park on TVG
Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and Patrick L. Biancone Racing’s Diamond Oops will try to win his second Grade 3 Smile Sprint Invitational at Gulfstream when he faces seven foes in the 6-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Biancone, Diamond Oops, a 6-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky, won the 2019 Smile Sprint, which was the first of his three graded-stakes wins. Last year, he won back-to-back Grade 2 races in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs last September and the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland in October. This year, Diamond Oops finished fourth in defense of his Twin Spires Turf Sprint title and then returned to Gulfstream to prep for this race by winning a 6-furlong handicap over Miles Ahead on June 5. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 6. The local talent is Shooting Star Thoroughbreds’ Chance It, a 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Currency Swap, who has won four races at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. In his first start of the year on May 23, Chance It finished second to Double Crown in a 6-furlong optional allowance claiming race. Chance it will be ridden by Edgard Zayas from post 4. David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa’s 4-year-old Miles Ahead has won seven of 15 starts for trainer Eddie Plesa, but will be starting in his first graded-stakes race on Saturday. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Double Crown has won four of seven starts for trainer Kathy Ritvo. Double Crown finished third in last year’s race.
Entries: ― https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP070321USA10-EQB.html
5:35 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 2 Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG
California shippers Ce Ce and Laura’s Light will challenge morning line favorite Estilo Talentoso in the Grade 2, 7-furlong Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes for fillies and mares, which attracted eight starters. The Princess Rooney is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Bo Hirsch’s Ce Ce, trained by Michael McCarthy, won back-to-back Grade 1s last year, taking the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita and the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Victor Espinoza will ride, breaking from post 5. Gary Barber’s 4-year-old Laura’s Light, trained by Peter Miller, has won seven of 12 starts, including her last two races, an optional allowance claiming race at Santa Anita in May and the black type Ouija Board Distaff Stakes at Lone Star Park on May 31. Florent Geroux will ride Laura’s Light from post 6. Estilo Talentoso, owned by Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Little Red Feather Racing and Black Ridge Stables, has finished in the money in all five of her starts this year at five different racetracks. Trained by Juan Arriagada, Estilo Talentoso comes into the race off a neck victory in the 7-furlong Bed o’ Roses at Belmont Park on June 4. Javier Castellano has the mount from post 1.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP070321USA11-EQB.html
5:55 p.m. ―$400,000 Grade 2 Suburban Handicap from Belmont Park on NBC
Godolphin’s Mystic Guide, the No. 1 ranked horse in the latest NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll makes his long-awaited return to the races after winning the March 27 Group 1 Dubai World Cup in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park going 1 ¼ miles against five rivals. The Suburban, first run in 1884, is a “Win and You’re In” for an automatic starting position into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Trained by Mike Stidham and ridden by Luis Saez, Mystic Guide opened the season on Feb. 27 by winning the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park. In the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, Mystic Guide, a 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper, eased up to the lead at the top of the stretch and powered home to a 3 ¾-length victory. Wertheimer and Frere’s 4-year-old Happy Saver, unbeaten in five starts, defeated Mystic Guide by three-quarters of a length in last October’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 6, Happy Saver, a chestnut son of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, opened this season by winning a one-mile optional allowance claiming race at Belmont Park on May 28. Pletcher is also starting Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ 5-year-old Moretti, a winner of four races, who finished second in last year’s Suburban. Moretti made his first start of the year in the June 5, 1 ½-mile Brooklyn Stakes, finishing third. Flavien Prat has the mount, breaking from post 1.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL070321USA10-EQB.html
Sunday, July 4
5:28 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby at Los Alamitos Derby on TVG
Five 3-year-olds have been entered for the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby, with Defunded and Classier starting for trainer Bob Baffert. Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Defunded finished second by 1 ¼ lengths in Santa Anita’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Prior to that, the son of Dialed In finished fourth in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs. Abel Cedillo has the mount from post 3. Classier, owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm and Robert Masterson, finished eighth in last year’s Grade 1 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and opened his 2021 season with a third-place finish in Santa Anita’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes on June 13. A son of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, Classier breaks from post 1 under Mike Smith. Florida-bred It’s My House, owned by Doug Gans, Gary Jacobs, Larry M. Katz and Kevin Riggs, has two wins in five starts this year, including the Turf Paradise Derby in Arizona on March 12. It’s My House will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRC070421USA4-EQB.html
5:44 p.m. ― $250,000 Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park on NBCSN
Mr. Amore Stable’s Firenze Fire, a winner of 14 races, leads a field of seven in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at 7 furlongs. The Nerud winner will gain an automatic berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. Trained by Kelly Breen, the 6-year-old Firenze Fire has won seven races at Belmont, including his last two starts, taking the Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes on May 8 and the Grade 2 True North on June 4. A son of Poseiden’s Warrior, Firenze Fire will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 1. Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Mind Control, now trained by Todd Pletcher, has seven victories, and is looking to get back into the win column after a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct in April and a seventh-place in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 1. The 5-year-old Mind Control will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 2. The 6-year-old American Power, owned by Sanford Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb and the Estate of Ira Davis, has won 11 races, including the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes in January and the listed Caixa Electronia in March, both at Aqueduct. Trained by Rob Atras, American Power finished third in his last start, the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on June 4. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 3.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL070421USA10-EQB.html
Monday, July 5
―$250,000 Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2
Among the nominees for the Dwyer, for 3-year-olds, are Mark T. Anderson’s Civil War, fourth in last year’s Grade 1 Champagne Stakes; Shadwell Stable’s impressive maiden winner Mahaamel; Cash is King and LC Racing’s Ridin With Biden, who has consecutive wins at Parx Racing and Godolphin’s Snow House, who is two for three this year.
―$200,000 Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on TVG
Michael Lund Petersen’s Gamine, the 2020 Champion female sprinter, leads the list of nominees for Monday’s Great Lady M. Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 4-year-old Gamine is two for two this year, winning the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita in April and the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 1.
###