Fillies and mares take center stage in weekend Thoroughbred racing, on turf and on the main track, from California to Ireland.
There also is a strong supporting cast of juveniles as trainers start to sort out which of the 2-year-olds might stand out from the crowd. Those races have new interest because of a new Breeders' Cup Championship race for juveniles at 6 furlongs.
Atop the list of distaff races is a rematch between Havre de Grace and Blind Luck in Saturday's $750,000, Grade II Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park. It will be the sixth time the pair have squared off on the track, with Blind Luck shipping from California for the race, which she won last year by a nose over Havre de Grace.
"We have never ducked anybody, especially with this filly," said Blind Luck's trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer. "Sometimes we win and sometimes we take our lumps. But we are always in there trying."
Havre de Grace is locally owned by Richard Porter, who said winning the Delaware Handicap "is certainly high on the list" of his racing wishes. "Obviously, being from Delaware and being the biggest race in Delaware, it is high -- very high -- on my list," he said.
In Ireland, and on the grass, Dancing Rain will try to become the third straight filly -- after Sariska and Snow Fairy -- to complete a double of the British and Irish Oaks after winning at Epsom. Sunday's Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh is sponsored by Darley. Godolphin Racing entered Blue Bunting, who won the 1,000 Guineas but then finished fourth behind Dancing Rain in the Oaks. Aidan O'Brien has a stable full of potential starters as he seeks his fourth win in the race.
Other weekend filly and mare match-ups include the $250,000, Grade I American Oaks at Hollywood Park, the $150,000 and the Grade III Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.
Colonial also offers the $600,000, Grade II Virginia Derby on the grass on Saturday. That 10-furlong event, along with the 1 1/2-mile Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park and Saturday's $150,000 9-furlong Toronto Cup for 3-year-olds at Woodbine in Canada headline the weekend's open turf tussles.
Sunday's $100,000, Grade III Jaipur Stakes at 7 furlongs at Belmont Park and the $100,000 Arlington Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs offer competition for grass-running speed-balls.
California juveniles get a chance to make their mark in Sunday's $100,000, Grade III Hollywood Juvenile. Woodbine has the $150,000 Colin Stakes on Saturday. Prairie Meadows cards the $75,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile and Colonial Downs has the $50,000 Chenery Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass for 2-year-olds.
For 2-year-old fillies, Hollywood offers Saturday's $100,000 Landaluce Stakes, Woodbine will run the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes for Ontario-foaled fillies, Colonial has the $50,000 Tippet Stakes on the turf and Prairie Meadows runs the $75,000 Prairie Gold Lassie.
While the grading process hasn't yet caught up with the quality of Parx Racing stakes, the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" program has. Saturday's $200,000 Greenwood Cup at 12 furlongs includes a guaranteed spot in the Breeders' Cup Marathon.
Other weekend "Win and You're In" events are Saturday's $200,000, Grade II A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park (Filly & Mare Sprint), and the Delaware Handicap.
