LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 30, 2021) ― Throughout the year, the NTRA will provide a guide to the best stakes races in North America and beyond. There are nine graded stakes scheduled to be run over the weekend. North America’s top sprinters will be in action on Saturday in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Del Mar’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes. The Bing Crosby will award the winner a free berth into this year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. The 2020 champion male sprinter, Whitmore, who is entered in the Vanderbilt, is one of three reigning Eclipse Award winners slated to race at Saratoga on Saturday. Channel Maker, 2020 champion turf male, is entered in the Grade 2 Bowling Green, and Essential Quality, last year’s champion 2-year-old male, is heavily favored to win the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes. On Sunday, Del Mar hosts a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff with Shedaresthedevil, As Time Goes By and Venetian Harbor set to tangle in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes.
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 on Saturday, July 31 on FS2 from 1-7 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 1, “America’s Day at the Races” will be live on FS2 from 1-4 p.m., and on FS1 from 4-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 31
4:33 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park on TVG
The John Servis-trained Pennsylvania breds Midnight Obsession and Leader of the Band lead nine 3-year-old fillies in a wide open, Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. Midnight Obsession, owned by Main Line Racing Stable, and Leader of the Band, owned by SMD Limited, finished second and third, respectively, in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 3. Both runners have won two starts this year. Paco Lopez rides Midnight Obsession from post 2, while Frankie Pennington has the mount on Leader of the Band from post 3. Allworthy, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., comes north after four starts at Gulfstream Park, breaking her maiden and winning an optional allowance claiming race in her last two starts. Gerardo Corrales rides from post 6. Maryland-bred Edie Meeny Miny Mo, trained by Miguel Vega and ridden by Victor Espinoza from post 9, steps into graded-stakes company for the first time after winning his first two races, both at Pimlico.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH073121USA10-EQB.html
5:03 p.m. ―$350,000 Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on FS2
Three of North America’s top sprinters – Whitmore, Firenze Fire and Mischievous Alex – are set to battle among nine runners entered in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga, going 6 furlongs. Robert La Penta, Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners’ 7-year-old gelding Whitmore, the champion male sprinter of 2020, has been winless in three starts since capturing last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Saratoga. Trained by Moquett, Whitmore finished second in two straight stakes races to C Z Rocket at Oaklawn Park and then was third, beaten less than a length, in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 1. Ricardo Santa Jr. rides Whitmore from post 6. Mr. Amore Stable’s 6-year-old Firenze Fire, is two for three this year, capturing the Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes and the Grade 2 True North, both at Belmont this spring. Trained by Kelly Breen, and ridden from post 3 by Jose Ortiz, Firenze Fire finished a head behind Mind Control in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont on July 4. Mischievous Alex, owned by Cash is King and LC Racing, and trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., has won three of four starts this year, including one of the highest-rated performances of the year in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at Aqueduct. He finished third in the Grade 1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 5 in his most recent start. Jose Ortiz will ride from post 2. Paradise Farms Corps’ and David Staudacher’s 5-year-old gelding Special Reserve has won four of five starts this year for trainer Mike Maker, including the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Matchmaker Series Stakes at Pimlico, and the black-type Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows in his last two starts. Joel Rosario rides from post nine.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR073121USA8-EQB.html
5:39 p.m. ― $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on FS2
Saturday’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga marks the return of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Essential Quality. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality will be heavily favored against five other 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in a prep for the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers Stakes on Aug. 28. Last year’s 2-Year-Old champion, Essential Quality suffered his first defeat when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve as the 5-2 favorite. Withheld from the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, Essential Quality came back in the Belmont and defeated Hot Rod Charlie in a stirring stretch drive by 1 ¼ lengths. Regular rider Luis Saez has the mount, breaking from post 5. Chiefswood Stables Limited’s Canadian-bred Weyburn gave Mandaloun all he could handle in the June 13, Grade 3 TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, losing by a neck. Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Weyburn won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 6. Irad Ortiz Jr., who leads all North American riders in wins (222) and earnings ($14,595,518) through July 29, will ride Weyburn breaking from post 3. FTGGG Racing’s Masqueparade won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown for his third consecutive win. Trained by Al Stall Jr., Masqueparade will be ridden by Miguel Mena, breaking from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR073121USA9-EQB.html
6:13 p.m. ―$600,000 Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga on FS2
Last year’s champion turf male, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s 7-year-old gelding Channel Maker, leads eight older horses in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on turf. Grade 1 wins in the Sword Dancer and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and a third in the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, propelled the Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker to the 2020 Male Turf Eclipse Award. On Saturday, Channel Maker will be making his first start since finishing eighth in the Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, after prompting the pace through the top of the stretch. Mott, who is tied with Todd Pletcher with four Bowling Green wins, is also starting Summer Wind Equine’s Moon Over Miami (Junior Alvarado, post 7), third in the Grade 1, 1 3/8-mile Man o’War Stakes at Belmont, and Trinity Farm’s New York-bred Red Knight (Tyler Gaffalione, post 6), second in the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs. Channel Maker, who will be ridden by Manny Franco from post 5, finished third in last year’s Bowling Green to Calumet Farm’s Channel Cat. Trained by Jack Sisterson, the 6-year-old Channel Cat has one win in four starts in 2021, taking the Grade 1, 1 3/8-mile Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont on May 8. John Velazquez has the mount, breaking from post 1. Pletcher is starting Donegal Racing’s 4-year-old Florida-bred Shamrocket (Irad Ortiz Jr, post 8), who has made his last two starts at Belmont, winning an allowance race and finishing third in the black type Grand Couturier Stakes on July 5.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR073121USA10-EQB.html
9:36 p.m. ―$300,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on TVG
Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, Gary Barber, and Tom Kagele’s 7-year-old gelding C Z Rocket is the one to beat in the $300,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar, a “Win and You’re” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which also will be run at 6 furlongs when Del Mar hosts the World Championships in November. After defeating Whitmore in the listed Hot Springs Stakes and the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, C Z Rocket, trained by Peter Miller, was upset by 23-1 Mo Mosa over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park on May 31. Florent Geroux rides from post 2. Trainer Mark Glatt could have two solid chances, beginning with defending Bing Crosby winner Collusion Illusion, who is making his first start of the year for owners Dan Agnew, Jerry Schneider, Rodney Orr and My Racehorse.com. A winner five times in nine starts, the California-bred Collusion Illusion will be ridden from post 6 by Tyler Baze. Glatt’s second runner is Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, William A. Branch, and Dean Reeves’ 3-year-old Dr. Schivel, who is unbeaten at Del Mar, having broken his maiden there last year and capturing the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Dr. Schivel won a 6-furlong allowance optional claiming race on June 18 at Santa Anita in his 2021 debut. Alfred Pais’s 4-year-old Backyard Ride has won three of five races this year for trainer Craig Lewis, including a last-out 4 ¾ length score in the black type Thor’s Echo at Santa Anita on June 12. Breaking from the No. 9 post, Backyard Ride will be ridden by Juan Hernandez.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR073121USA10-EQB.html
Sunday, Aug. 1
4:11 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 3 Vigil Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
All-time Canadian great sprinter Pink Lloyd and Souper Stonehenge lead a six-horse field in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes at Woodbine going 6 furlongs on the all-weather surface. The 9-year-old gelding Pink Lloyd, who won last September’s Vigil, has won 26 of 34 starts for owner Entourage Stable and Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Robert Tiller. A seven-time Sovereign Award winner, including the 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year, Pink Lloyd will try to turn the tables on Florida-bred Souper Stonehenge, who defeated him last time by 4 lengths in the 6-furlong, Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine on June 20. Rafael Hernandez has the mount from post 3. Live Oak Plantation’s 5-year-old homebred gelding Souper Stonehenge is the even-money morning line favorite in the Vigil off his first dominant win in the Jacques Cartier, which was his first graded-stakes victory. Trained by Mark Casse, Souper Stonehenge has won four races, and was third in this year’s Grade 1 Carter Handicap. Patrick Husbands will ride, breaking from post 2.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO080121CAN7-EQB.html
5:19 p.m.―$175,000 Grade 3 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine on TVG
Eight fillies and mares have been entered in Woodbine’s Grade 3 Royal North at 6 furlongs on the turf, and favoritism should vie between Perry Harrison’s 5-year-old Change of Control and Jim and Susan Hill’s 5-year-old Star Guitar. Making her first start at Woodbine, Change of Control, trained Michelle Lovell, has won two of her last three races. She took the listed Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland on April 10, and after finishing second by three-quarters of a length in Churchill’s black-type Unbridled Sydney Stakes on April 29, Change of Control was back in the winner’s circle, taking Belmont’s 7-furlong, Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes on June 3. Patrick Husbands has the mount from post 4. Star Guitar will be making her Woodbine and 2021 debut after closing out last year with four consecutive turf sprint victories in New York. Trained by George Weaver, Star Guitar won once at Saratoga, twice at Belmont, and once at Aqueduct, closing out the year on Nov. 29 with a victory in the black type Autumn Days Stakes. Star Guitar will be ridden by Rafael Hernandez from post 7.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO080121CAN9-EQB.html
5:39 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga on FS2
Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig’s Drain the Clock and Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior, the top two finishers in the dramatic Grade 1 Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day, are back on Sunday in Saratoga, leading five 3-year-olds in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs. Drain the Clock, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 2, is four of five this year, taking the black type Limehouse and the Grade 3 Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes at Gulfstream, and the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct. In the Woody Stephens, Drain the Clock stayed just off the flank of Jackie’s Warrior down the stretch until edging ahead inside the sixteenth pole to prevail by a neck. Jackie’s Warrior, who finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in last year’s Grade 1 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by PDJF, won the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill on May 2 prior to the Woody Stephens. Joel Rosario will ride from post 3.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR080121USA9-EQB.html
9 p.m. – $300,000 Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on TVG
Two-time Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil comes to California to face a formidable group of fillies and mares in Sunday’s Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar at 1 1/16 miles, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old Shedaresthedevil, owned by Qatar Racing Stables, Flurry Racing Stables and Autry Lowry Jr., won last year’s Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks. In 2021, she won the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn, and earned her second Grade 1 by taking the La Troienne Stakes on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Shedaresthedevil finished third, 3 ¾ lengths behind Letruska in the “Win and You’re In” Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 5. Florent Geroux has the mount, breaking from post 7. Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s 4-year-old As Time Goes By, trained by Bob Baffert, has won her last two starts at Santa Anita ― both Grade 2 races ― taking the Santa Maria on April 24 and the Santa Margarita Stakes on May 22. Mike Smith will ride As Time Goes By from post 3. In her nine races, Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Domenic Savides’ 4-year-old Venetian Harbor has finished first or second eight times, with the lone exception being last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland, when she finished eighth. Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden from post 6 by Mario Gutierrez, Venetian Harbor drew away by 3 ½ lengths to win the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita on June 5 in her seasonal debut. Last year, she won two Group 2 races in the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita and the Lexus Raven Run at Keeneland.
Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR080121USA9-EQB.html
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