It is that time of year again in the Bluegrass when the temperature starts to cool down, the leaves start to change their colors and of course, Keeneland kicks off its Fall meet tomorrow. There are 15 graded stakes races over the next four weekends and nine of those are packed into opening weekend at the historic track, including the $400,000 Breeders Futurity (G1) on Saturday.
The always unpredictable Breeders' Futurity draws a full field plus some Saturday as the two-year-olds go 1 1/16 miles on the "Polytrack". The field is set for 14 with two also eligibles in another "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 3rd. Todd Pletcher has two of the 14 entries in Charming Kitten and the morning-line favorite Tizracer. Pataky Kidd who is entering off a win in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) is the only graded winner to load the gates in this one. The race is wide open as another colt looks to join the top of this young class heading into the Juvenile.
Up North another field of two-year-olds load the gates Saturday at Belmont in the $400,000 Champagn (G1) to try and secure a spot in next month's Juvenile. While there are only half of the entries in this race as the Futurity, the talent makes up for lack of entrants in this one. Shanghai Bobby and Bern Identity are the two graded stakes winners in this field while Archwarrior, Goldencents and Micromanage all exit very impressive maiden wins. Only going a mile here over the maintrack but the winner of this one will certainly be one of the favorites for the Juvenile.
The two-year-olds are taking to the track all over the country by now as they try and vie to be the next Kentucky Derby winner as the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" is officially underway. Power Broker broke his maiden in the FrontRunner (G1) at Santa Anita last weekend and he established himself as one of the early favorites for the Juvenile.
Breeders' Futurity (G1)
10/6 Keeneland 4:49 EST
10/6 Keeneland 4:49 EST
Two-Year-Olds, 1 1/16m
Race #8
Tizracer 4-1
Coming off a maiden win at Belmont going a mile in which he won by 10 1/2 lengths and posted a triple speed rating.
Pataky Kid 12-1
Broke maiden and won Grade 3 races at Arlington over all-weather track last two times out.
Balance The Books 5-1
Broke maiden in the With Anticipation (G2) on the turf at 1 1/16 miles. First start off turf.
Dynamic Sky 12-1
Come from behind win to break maiden in stakes race at Woodbine on all-weather track.
EX/TRI BX: 5,6,11,12
*Good luck with this full-field of unpredictable two-year-olds
Champagn (G1)
10/6 Belmont 4:34 EST
Two-Year-Olds, 1m
Race #8
Shanghai Bobby 3-1
Grade 2 winner, looks to go 4 for 4 and stay undefeated against a very talented field. Considered by many as the top two-year-old right now.
Grade 2 winner, looks to go 4 for 4 and stay undefeated against a very talented field. Considered by many as the top two-year-old right now.
Goldencents 3-1
Impressive maiden winner in debut posted triple speed rating and won wire-to-wire by 7 1/4 lengths. Going to be tough to catch only going a mile if he repeats last performance.
Fortify 6-1
Long shot I'm not counting out after second place place finish to Shanghai Bobby in Hopeful (G2). Looks to improve again in third start at longer distance.
Archwarrior 5-2
Another impressive maiden winner in his debut is trained by Pletcher.
EX/TRI BX: 2,1,5,4
*Not going to be surprised who wins this with so many impressive maiden winners entered in here.
