LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 20, 2021) ― The $1 million Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic headlines five graded stakes races at Del Mar this Saturday. San Diego Handicap winner Express Train leads a wide-open field of nine starters, with the winner gaining a “Win and You’re In” berth for the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. The stakes-rich card also includes the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association. On Sunday at Woodbine in Toronto, the Queen’s Plate – North America’s oldest continuously run Thoroughbred race – will be held for the 162nd time for 3-year-old Canadian-breds. The opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown is the centerpiece of four stakes races on the program.
Races in the rundown 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 Del Mar, Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Woodbine 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 from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, Aug. 21 on FS2 from 2-7 p.m.; and on Sunday, Aug. 22, on FS2 from 1-4 p.m., and on FS1 from 4-6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 20
6:20 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on TVG
La Providencia and LNJ Foxwoods’ Scottish Star (ARG), winner of the Group 1 Polla de Pontracas in Brazil last October, finished second by a neck to Don Alberto Stable’s Summer Sound in her US debut on July 29 at Del Mar in an optional allowance claiming race. Those two return among five fillies and mares in Saturday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs. The 4-year-old Scottish Star, trained by Richard Mandella, will be ridden from post 1 by Flavien Prat. Stellar Sound was making her first start since Dec. 29 for trainer Michael McCarthy when she defeated Scottish Star. Now a three-time winner, the 4-year-old Stellar Sound will be ridden by Juan Hernandez from post 3
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082021USA6-EQB.html
Saturday, Aug. 21
4:03 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG
W.S. Farish’s 5-year-old Code of Honor, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, leads a seven-horse field in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park. Trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, Code of Honor captured the 2019 Grade 1 Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, but has not won since taking the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park in June of 2020. Paco Lopez has the mount from post 5. The hard-knocking 7-year-old gelding Phat Man will be making his seventh start this year for owners Marianne Stribling, Five Force Racing, and Two Rivers Racing Stable. Trained by Kent Sweazy and ridden from post 6 by Jose Ferrer, Phat Man comes into the race off a 2-length win in the listed Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park on July 10. Rising out of the claiming ranks is Hollendorfer, Tri-Star Racing and George Todaro’s 4-year-old gelding Brice. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Brice has won five consecutive races, and the last four at Monmouth. Brice will be ridden by Isaac Castillo from post 7.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH082121USA9-EQB.html
4:34 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on TVG
Making just her fourth start, Baoma Corporation’s Private Mission headlines seven 3-year-old fillies going 1 mile in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar. Trained by Bob Baffert, Private Mission, the 9-5 morning line favorite, was a front-running winner in a 6-furlong optional allowance claiming race at Santa Anita on June 12 in her 2021 debut. Flavien Prat will ride Private Mission, a daughter of Into Mischief, from post 7. Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing and Richard Hausman’s Lady Mystify broke her maiden in February at Santa Anita for trainer Peter Eurton and returned on July 29 to win again, wiring the field in an optional allowance claiming race at 1 mile. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 1. Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Forest Caraway has won two of three starts at Del Mar. Trained by Peter Miller and ridden from post 4 by Juan Hernandez, Forest Caraway, who finished second in last year’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante to the highly regarded Princess Noor, returned to Del Mar on Aug. 1, and won a 6-furlong optional allowance claiming race by 3 ¼ lengths.
https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082121USA6-EQB.html
4:47 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
A field of eight older horses – four bred in Ontario and four bred in Kentucky – has been entered in Woodbine’s Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on the turf. Mark Grier’s Kentucky-bred Eons got his first win of the year on July 26, taking the black type Buckland Stakes at Colonial Downs by a head. Trained by Arnold Delacour, Eons will be ridden by Patrick Husbands from post 1. NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods’ Ontario-bred Belichick was a prominent player in last year’s Canadian Triple Crown, winning the Breeders’ Stakes after finishing second in the Queen’s Plate. Trained by Josie Carroll, Belichick finished second in the Niagara Stakes in his last start on July 25 at Woodbine. Luis Contreras rides from post 6. Breaking from post 8 is Augustin Stable’s 6-year-old gelding Corelli, winner of the listed Henry Clark Stakes at Pimlico in April. Trained by Jonathan Thomas and ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Kentucky-bred Corelli finished sixth in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes at Saratoga on July 16.
Entries : https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082121CAN8-EQB.html
5:04 p.m. $200,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Stakes at Del Mar on TVG
Bardy Farm and OG Boss’s 5-year-old Mo Forza, the defending champion, makes his seasonal debut on Saturday in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Stakes on turf against five rivals. Sidelined due to injury last fall, the 5-year-old Mo Forza, trained by Peter Miller, has won five graded stakes, which includes the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in 2019, and his 4 ¼-length win in last year’s Del Mar MiIe. Flavien Prat has the mount from post six. Cannon Thoroughbreds’ Smooth Like Strait has been solidly consistent all year. After being defeated by less than a length in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May, the Michael McCarthy-trained 4-year-old scored a wire-to-wire win in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita. In the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar on July 24, Smooth Like Strait finished second by a head to United. Umberto Rispoli has the mount from post 3. DK Racing, Radley Equine, Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold, Tony Maslowski and Dave Oldmark’s 4-year-old Hit the Road, winner twice in three starts this year, returns since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 9. Trained by Dan Blacker, Hit the Road began the year with two wins at Santa Anita, taking the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes and the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, defeating Smooth Like Strait by a neck. Florent Geroux will ride Hit the Road from post 2.
https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082121USA7-EQB.html
5:39 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga on FS2
Klaravich Stables’ Technical Analysis (IRE) headlines six 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes. Trained by Chad Brown, Technical Analysis looks to repeat the form she displayed in winning the 1-mile Grade 3 Lake George by 1 ¼ lengths at Saratoga on July 23, which was her third win in five starts. Jose Ortiz has the mount on the 6-5 morning line favorite from post 2. Lawrence Goichman’s New York bred Runaway Rumor had won her first three starts before finishing fourth in the Lake George for trainer Jorge Abreu. Jose Lezcano will ride the daughter of Flintshire (GB) from post 4. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber’s Spanish Loveaffair is seeking her first win of the year after four defeats, including a controversial disqualification from first to fourth in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. Trained by Mark Casse, Spanish Loveaffair finished second in Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs on May 29, but trailed the field last time out in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in July 10. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides from post 6.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082121USA9-EQB.html
5:53 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
LNJ Foxwoods’ Boardroom and Gary Barber’s Our Secret Agent, the 12 finishers in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes on July 19, headline a field of seven fillies and mares going 7 furlongs on the all-weather surface at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes. Trained by Josie Carroll, Boardroom won the Whimsical by a neck in her first start since December. Luis Contreras rides from post 7. Breaking just inside of Boardroom from post 6 is the Mark Casse-trained 4-year-old Our Secret Agent, who is looking to break into the win column this year after finishing third in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine on July 24. Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Our Secret Agent. Terra Racing Stable’s 5-year-old Ontario-bred Amalfi Coast, third in the Whimsical, came back to win Woodbine’s Grade 2 Royal North Stakes by a nose on Aug. 1 for trainer Kevin Attard. She will be ridden by Justin Stein from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082121CAN10-EQB.html
6:13 p.m. ―$600,000 Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on FS2
Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat looks to make amends following her first career defeat in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks to Maracuja, in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama. Seven 3-year-old fillies have been entered in 1 ¼-mile Alabama, which was first run in 1872. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat scored back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and the Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs before losing the Coaching Club by a head to Maracuja in one of the most riveting stretch drives of the Saratoga meeting. Malathaat will be ridden from post 6 by John Velazquez, who won his first of three Alabamas in 1996 aboard Yanks Music. Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Barry Fowler’s Maracuja broke her maiden at Aqueduct in February, was second in the Grade 3 Gazelle and seventh in the Kentucky Oaks, before taking the Alabama at 14-1. Trained by Rob Atras, Maracuja will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. from post 4. Three Diamonds Farms’ Army Wife, trained by Mike Maker, has wins in the Grade 2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico in May and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows on July 2. Tyler Gaffalione rides from post 7. Phoenix Thoroughbreds III’s Crazy Beautiful has won three of five this year, including consecutive wins in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on May 30 and a widening 6-length romp in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks on July 3 for trainer Kenny McPeek. Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 1.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082121USA10-EQB.html
9:03 p.m. ―$300,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar on TVG
CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano’s Going Global (IRE), a four-time winner this year, is the 9-5 favorite against eight 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1 /8 miles on the turf. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Going Global reeled off four straight wins at Santa Anita to begin 2021, including Grade 3 triumphs in the Sweet Life, Providencia and Honeymoon Stakes, before finishing second by a half-length to Madone in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on July 24. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 3. Kaleem Shah’s Madone won last year’s listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes, and won the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita in her 2021 debut on May 1. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Madone finished sixth in the Honeymoon prior to winning the San Clemente. She will be ridden by Juan Hernandez from post 4. Head of Plains Partners’ Fluffy Socks returns to Del Mar where she won the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes last November. Trained by Chad Brown, Fluffy Socks, to be ridden from post 7 by Joel Rosario, comes in from Saratoga where she finished second in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes on July 23. Godolphin’s Javanica finished second by a neck to eventual Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer in the listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February. After two off-the-board finishes at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks and the Grade 3 Senorita, Javanica, trained by Eoin Harty, won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar on July 18. Drayden Van Dyke rides from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082121USA9-EQB.html
9:33 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar on TVG
Saturday’s Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic at 1 ¼ miles drew nine starters at Del Mar, and is a wide-open affair with the trio of Express Train, Royal Ship (BRZ) and Dr Post, likely to draw most of the interest. CRK Stable’s Express Train won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 17 for trainer John Shirreffs. It was the second win of the year for Express Train, who won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January. Juan Hernandez has the mount from post 5. Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm’s Royal Ship, trained by Richard Mandella, won the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita in April, lost the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup to Country Grammer by a head, and then finished third in the San Diego Handicap. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has the mount from post 4. In from Saratoga is St. Elias Stable’s Dr Post, trained by Todd Pletcher. Dr Post won the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park on May 1, and in his last start, rallied six wide in the stretch to take the 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 17 by 1 ¼ lengths. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 3. Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler have teamed up to win two of the last three TVG Pacific Classics, with Accelerate and Higher Power in 2018 and 2019, respectively. On Saturday, they will start the 4-year-old Tripoli, who finished just a half-length behind Express Train in the San Diego Handicap. Tiago Pereira has the mount from post 1. The TVG Pacific Classic winner gains an automatic berth into the $6 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082121USA10-EQB.html
10:03 p.m. ― $300,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association
Eleven horses have been entered in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association at 1 3/8 miles on the turf course, with the winner getting an automatic starting position into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, also a Del Mar. Trainer Phil D’Amato has won six of the last seven editions of this race and has entered defending champion Red King, who defeated odd-on favorite United by a head in last year’s race. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte, Red King has third-place finishes this year in the Grade 3 Charles Whittingham and the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita, and finished fifth in his return to Del Mar on July 18 in the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes. Joel Rosario rides from post 3. LNJ Foxwoods’ United has won two of three starts in 2021. Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Flavien Prat from post 4, United has won nine races, and recently captured his second consecutive Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, defeating Smooth Like Strait by a neck. In March, the 6-year-old gelding won the Grade 2 San Luis Stakes at Santa Anita. In 2019, he finished second by a head to Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Coneway’s 7-year-old gelding Arklow is also a nine-time winner. Trained by Brad Cox, Arklow won last year’s Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar. He opened 2021 by winning the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 15, and finished sixth in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 17. Arklow will be ridden from post 8 by Florent Geroux.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082121USA11-EQB.html
Sunday, Aug. 22
3.:03 p.m. ―$150,000 Ontario Coleen at Woodbine on TVG
The graded stakes action on Queen’s Plate Day at Woodbine gets underway with the Grade 3 Ontario Coleen as eight 3-year-old fillies have been entered going 1 mile on the turf. Peter Brant’s Misspell, a daughter of American Pharoah, is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Trained by Chad Brown, Misspell broke her maiden last September at Churchill Downs. She made her 2021 debut on July 17 at Saratoga in an optional allowance claiming race, and after making a determined stretch drive was beaten by a nose at the wire. Jose Ortiz rides from post 8. Live Oak Plantation’s Our Flash Drive, trained by Mark Casse, has won both her starts this year at Woodbine. She broke her maiden on June 19 by 3 ¾ lengths at 7 furlongs over the all-weather surface, and came back on July 10 to win the Grade 3 Selene Sakes. Patrick Husbands rides from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082221CAN6-EQB.html
4:55 p.m.―$175,000 Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine on TVG
Peter Brant, Mrs. M.V. Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan’s Etoile (FR), last year’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes winner, returns to Woodbine against six rivals in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on the turf. Trained by Chad Brown, Etoile finished second in last year’s Dance Smartly. This year, the 5-year-old daughter of Siyouni (FR) finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 10. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 5. Al Shira’aa Farm’s Mutamakina (GB) finished second in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes on May 1 and was third, beaten less than a length in the listed River Memories at Belmont on July 11. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Cloonan and Timothy Thornton’s Blame Debbie won the listed Search Stakes at Pimlico on June 13. Trained by Graham Motion and ridden from post 1 by Kazushi Kimura, Blame Debbie finished fifth in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial in her most recent start on July 10.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082221CAN9-EQB.html
5:42 p.m.― $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on TVG
The Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, drew a field of 13, which includes the Raroma Stable’s filly Munneyfor Ro. Trained by Kevin Attard, Munnyfor Ro finished second in the Grade 2 Selene Stakes on July 10 at Woodbine and came back to win the listed 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks on Aug. 1. Justin Stein has the mount from post 6. Joshua Attard’s Keep Grinding is the tepid 4-1 morning line favorite. Trained by Tina Attard, Keep Grinding finished second in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on July 11. He will be ridden by Rafael Hernandez from post 8. WellSpring Stables’ Safe Conduct will be making his first start in Canada after six races in Florida and New York, Trained by Phil Serpe, Safe Conduct was fourth in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park on May 29 and eighth the July 10 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes on turf. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride from post 1.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082221CAN10-EQB.html
6:25 p.m. ―$350,000 Grade 1 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
Bobby Flay and Elizabeth Merryman 4-year-old filly Caravel is challenging seven male rivals in the Grade 1 Highlander Stakes going 6 furlongs on the turf. Trained by Graham Motion, the Pennsylvania-bred Caravel has won seven of nine races, including her last three. After winning The Very One Stakes at Pimlico and the Goldwood Stakes at Monmouth, Caravel won the Grade 3 Caress Stakes at Saratoga on July 24 by 2 ½ lengths. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post 7. Trainer Mark Casse has three entered in the Highlander, led by D. J. Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds 4-year-old Turned Aside, who closed out last year by winning the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championships Stakes. A bay son of American Pharoah, Turned Aside has not started since finishing ninth in the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on April 3. The Estate of Gustav Schickedanz and Donald Howard’s Ontario-bred 7-year-old gelding City Boy finished second in his lone start this year in an optional allowance claiming race at Woodbine on Aug. 1 Trained by Mike Keogh, City Boy finished second in last October’s Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes. David Moran will rid