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The Labor Day weekend unofficially closes out summer and semiofficially kicks off the final push toward November's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Headlined by Saturday's $750,000, Grade I Woodward Stakes for Breeders' Cup Classic hopefuls at Saratoga, the weekend has pretty much something for everyone somewhere around racetracks from California to Germany.
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The Woodward, run at 9 furlongs over Saratoga's main track, drew a field of eight, including the super filly, Havre de Grace, who will be trying to equal Rachel Alexandra's 2009 feat of beating the boys in this race. Havre de Grace has been no worse than third in all 12 of her lifetime starts, and is 3-1-0 from four starts this year. She lost by a nose to Blind Luck in the Delaware Handicap.
"Obviously, we think we have a chance to be Horse of the Year," owner Rick Porter said. "And after we got beat (by) a nose in the Del 'Cap, we thought we had to do something aggressive … We had to do something to get everybody's attention, hopefully."
Havre de Grace drew post position No. 6 for the Woodward and was installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. And while running a filly in the Woodward gets people's attention all by itself, winning would be riveting because the competition is tough.
Among the entrants are one of last year's top Triple Crown also-rans, Ice Box; Flat Out, winner of the Suburban Handicap at Belmont and second in the recent Whitney Invitational, and the somewhat enigmatic but talented Giant Oak.
Ice Box won the 2010 Florida Derby, then finished second in the Kentucky Derby behind Super Saver -- both times running from well back in the field. Trainer Nick Zito gave him a chance to show speed in an otherwise meaningless prep race a month ago and he finished third. In the Woodward, Zito said, he expects Ice Box to return to his late-running tactics.
Giant Oak's victory in the Donn Handicap early this year at Gulfstream Park is his seasonal high-water mark. He was third in the Grade I Whitney a month ago, behind Tizway and Flat Out. Trainer Chris Block said Giant Oak missed the break and was compromised by a slow pace and he's hoping for improvements on both fronts in the Woodward as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Other potential preps for the Classic are Saturday's $100,000, Grade III Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park and the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds on Monday at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania.
Handicappers trying to figure out the 2-year-olds should get some hints. The $250,000, Grade I Three Chimneys Hopeful is the marquee event on Saratoga's Labor Day card, expected to feature J.C.'s Pride and Power World. The projected favorite, Overdriven, has been sidelined with an injury. The 7-furlong race is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Monmouth has the $150,000, Grade III Sapling at 6 furlongs on Saturday. And there is a good scattering of rich events for state-bred juveniles throughout the weekend, any of which could toss up a contender or two.
For the juvenile fillies, there's Sunday's $250,000, Grade I Spinaway at Saratoga, with the young ladies trying 7 furlongs. Across the continent, the $250,000, Grade I Del Mar Debutante, also at 7 furlongs, is Saturday's big race where the turf meets the surf. Monmouth has the $100,000 Sorority at 6 furlongs on Sunday's program. And there is a good mix of state-bred races for the young distaffers, too.
Turf sprinters are on display in Monday's $350,000, Grade III Turf Monster Handicap and $200,000 Turf Amazon for fillies and mares -- both at 5 furlongs over the Parx Racing lawn. The Turf Monster is a Breedrers' Cup "Win and You're In." Saturday at Haydock in England, sprinters will go 6 furlongs in the Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup.
Like the longer turf races? The Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Saturday is right up your alley at 10 furlongs for more than $1 million with the Aidan O'Brien-trained So You Think a standout among the six declared starters. Also expected in that field is the globetrotting filly Snow Fairy, whose campaign has been delayed the past couple weeks by unsuitable ground and even less suitable French racing rules.
Then stick around until Sunday for the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden in the scenic spa region of Deutschland; the $250,000, Grade II Del Mar Derby at 9 furlongs on the green course; and the $100,000, Grade III Sarnac Stakes at Saratoga, also at 1 1/8 miles.
Turf milers will be on display in Sunday's $150,000, Grade III Cliff Hanger Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Fillies and mares tickle their toes on the turf in Monday's $100,000, Grade III Glens Falls at 11 furlongs at Saratoga, Sunday's $150,000, Grade II Palomar Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar and Saturday's Group 1 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes going 1 mile at Leopardstown in Ireland.
The $300,000, Grade I Personal Ensign at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt for fillies and mares -- washed out last weekend by Hurricane Irene, will run Saturday at Saratoga.
And, last but certainly not least, Saturday's $250,000, Grade I Forego over 7 lengths of the Saratoga main track usually is an excellent pointer to contenders for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
