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Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The Arlington Million, Beverly D. and Secretariat Stakes, the former "International Festival of Racing," move to the Secretariat turf course at Colonial Downs in Virginia this weekend with fields composed almost entirely of American horses. There's more turf action at Saratoga and Del Mar, and Ellis Park continues its extended meeting with some interesting races.
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Two-year-olds start to ramp things up at tracks from coast to coast, and the weekend's big race in Ireland also is for the juveniles. His Majesty is running in it, if you can believe. See the "Around the world ..." section.
Also internationally, Sunday's Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville is a "Win and You're In" for the Fan Duel Breeders' Cup Mile and has a rather spectacular field.
The Beverly D. and the Grade I Fourstardave on the Saratoga turf also are Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" challenge races.
Hopping right to the task:
Turf
Saturday's $1 million Grade I Arlington Million moves to Colonial Downs in Virginia for Saturday's renewal and drew a field of 11 accomplished turf experts.
Oddly for a race at this level, only one of the horses won his last race and only two have run over the Secretariat Turf Course at Colonial, which hosts by far the biggest day of its existence.
Atone, winner of the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January, is the lukewarm 7-2 favorite, although he's finished ninth and fifth, respectively, in his last two starts and has never ventured as far as this 1 1/4 miles.
Santin, winner of the 2022 Million when it ran at Churchill Downs, returns but has not hit the board in six intervening starts. Chad Brown, who dominated this race during the end of its glory years at Arlington International Racecourse, sends two runners, neither of them in the front rank of his powerful stable.
There are no foreign entries in the Million. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Colonial Downs and sold Arlington for demolition, did not actively seek international competition.
There is one foreign-owned entry in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Colonial Downs -- Silver Knott. The Godolphin runner, however, has become almost a permanent U.S. resident.
After finishing second, beaten a nose, in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, he finished up the course in the Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, and then returned to New York for his last two starts.
He was third and fifth, respectively, in those and looks for a rebound.
The opposition includes Nagirroc, third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf, and Mo Stash, who was second behind the promising Wadsworth in the American Derby in his last outing.
More Than Looks and Northern Invader both look interesting for trainer Cherie DeVaux, but the former also is entered Friday at Saratoga.
Friday's $500,000 Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds, rescheduled from last weekend, features a progressive sort in More Than Looks, a More Than Ready colt who has won three of five and prevailed nicely in his last start, the Grade III Manila Stakes at Belmont Park.
Brown has three in this field, any of whom could jump up to play a role.
Filly & Mare Turf
Fev Rover is the 2-1 favorite on the morning line in a field of seven for Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Beverly D. at Colonial Downs, a "Win and You're In" for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The 5-year-old, Irish-bred mare exits a third-place finish in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga for trainer Mark Casse.
Brown saddles a dangerous pair in Gina Romantica and Rocky Sky. Ignacio "Nacho Quatro" Correas IV fields Didia, who is 4-for-5 since arriving from Argentina.
Saturday's $250,000 Grade II Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar has a field of seven. Three of them are trained by Phil D'Amato, but none measures up to the males his barn has been sending out this year. None of the others inspires a lot of confidence, either, so some sharp handicapping skills are called for here.
Turf Mile
Last year's winner, Casa Creed, returns Saturday as the favorite in a field of seven for the $500,000 Grade I Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile on the turf.
The Bill Mott trainee, a 7-year-old entire son of Jimmy Creed, finished second in the race in 2020 and 2021 before breaking through last year.
After finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland, he reported second, beaten just a head by Japanese star Bathrat Leon, in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia.
He subsequently was third in the Grade I Jaipur and won the Grade III Kelso. In five starts at the Spa, he has three wins and two thirds.
Todd Pletcher provides plenty of competition in the Fourstardave with Grade III Poker Stakes winner Emmanuel and Kelso runner-up Annapolis. Mark Casse saddles three, with Ice Chocolat, fourth in the Kelso, the least unlikely.
The 3-year-olds
Bet you thought we forgot this crazy division. Nope. The big guns are silent this weekend, but there's a Derby here, a Derby there, a Derby Derby everywhere.
Sunday's $250,000 Ellis Park Derby tops the list with a field that includes the morning-line favorite, How Did He Do That, winner of the Iowa Derby by the disqualification of One In Vermillion; Denington, who was on the fringes of the Triple Crown chase and last seen finishing fourth in the Iowa Derby; and Transect, fourth in the Indiana Derby in his most recent.
Blue Light and Loyal Company look progressive.
Also on tap are Saturday's $100,000 Minnesota Derby for state-breds at Canterbury Park, Saturday's $75,000 Robert Dupret Derby at Santa Rosa, Sunday's $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs and Sunday's $75,000 Bald Eagle Derby on the Laurel Park turf.
Speaking of the so-called sophomores, Red Route One, winner of last weekend's West Virginia Derby, could be making a surface switch to run in the $1 million Dueling Grounds Derby on the Kentucky Downs grass Sept. 3.
He started his career with a victory there before going on to finish second in the Grade III Southwest and Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park and fourth in the Preakness.
Aside from the magnitude of the purse, the race makes sense for the Gun Runner colt as his owner, Ron Winchell, is co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs.
Another win on the lawn would open up the full spectrum of year-end possibilities. Winchell racing manager David Fiske said the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Derby "looks like a real possibility."
Distaff
Interstatedaydream is the morning-line pick in a field of 11 set for Sunday's $150,000 Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park.
The Ontario-bred 4-year-old finished third behind Clairiere and Secret Oath in the Grade II Azeri at Oaklawn Park earlier this year, won Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico, and was second to Le Da Vida in the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline at Thistledown in her last outing.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Topsy and Merlaza head up the morning line for Sundays' $150,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park.
The Bee Jersey filly was overmatched in the Grade III Victory Ride at Belmont Park in her most recent race but before that, won the Leslie's Lady at Ellis and finished second in the Grade III Miss Preakness at Pimlico.
Merlaza was fourth in the Indiana Oaks in her last start and fifth in the Black-Eyed Susan on Preakness weekend. She cuts back in distance for this 7 furlongs.
Juvenile
Rhyme Schemes is the odds-on, morning-line favorite to handle five rivals in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Saratoga Special. That's based on his 9 1/2-length score, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 94, in winning his second start June 15 at Ellis Park.
Supporters are urged to take that with a grain of salt, at least to the extent of not taking odds-on. The others haven't done anything to write home about but their purchase prices say they might do so soon. Edified, a Tapit colt who fetched $650,000 last year, could be the one.
Bob Baffert sends out two of the five entered for Sunday's $200,000 Grade III Best Pal at Del Mar. Muth, by Good Magic, and Prince of Monaco, by Speightstown, both won at first asking.
They will have to deal with Tranche, a Collected colt who finished third in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs in May, and then won the Fasig-Tipton Futurity at Santa Anita in June. Raging Torrent and Who is Pavel complete the field.
Nine are in for Sunday's $150,000 Juvenile at Ellis Park with the pointer swinging directly toward Call Me Andy. The Midshipman colt won his first start at Churchill Downs on June 1, and then was third in the Bashford Manor at Ellis.
The others are maiden winners, but on name alone, Ham Sandwich should get some play. If ever there were a Kentucky Derby-worthy name ...
Friday's $125,000 Graduation Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar has a field of eight to tackle 5 1/2 furlongs. Refocus is the morning-line pick off a third in the Fasig-Tipton Futurity in his last but it's a tossup.
Saturday's $65,000 Proud Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park has eight Florida-bred youngsters auditioning for the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes events. Watch and learn.
Juvenile Fillies
Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar is what you'd expect - several maiden winners at various levels and the odd first-time starter. Given his record with 2-year-olds, Baffert is likely to have the favorite in Dua, an Arrogate filly who won her debut nicely at Del Mar on July 22.
Youalmosthadme is the odds-on favorite in a field of 10 set for Sunday's $150,000 Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park. The Oxbow filly is 2-for-2 and won the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs in May, against males, by 8 3/4 lengths that could have been more.
Brad Cox trains her, and she's been working steadily at Churchill Downs for the return and stretch out from 5 furlongs to 7.
Sunday's $65,000 Sharp Susan at Gulfstream Park has a field of seven, six of them potential candidates for the Florida Sire Stakes races.
Around the world, around the clock
France
Sunday's Group 1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville, a "Win and You're In" for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile on turf, features Triple Time.
The Frankel colt won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in his last start and has four wins from seven starts overall.
Onesto, another by Frankel, makes his first start since finishing an honorable seventh in the Group 1 Japan Cup in November.
Also in the Marois field are the second and third from the Queen Anne, Inspiral (yet another by Frankel) and Light Infantry.
Godolphin fields Life In Motion, second in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild in his last outing. Marhaba Ya Sanafe, winner of the French 2,000 Guineas, looks to get back to the winner's circle.
Good Guess was the upset winner of the Group 1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat on July 9.
Big Rock won four in a row, and then was second in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club or French Derby in his last race.
Ireland
Saturday's Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh has a short field of just six, and only two of those are trained by Aidan O'Brien.
Ryan Moore rides the more likely, Unquestionable, a Wootton Bassett colt who come off a close second to Bucanera Fuerte in the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes.
That rival is back, and the two are well-fancied in early wagering. So, too is the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Porto Fortuna, undefeated after three starts. He hasn't been seen since winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot but Oisin Murphy is along to ride the Caravaggio filly.
The elder O'Brien's second-stringer is the optimistically named His Majesty, last seen finishing second in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.
Meanwhile, back in North America
Saratoga
Venti Valentine came from last of five to win Wednesday's $125,000 Johnstone Mile Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares by 1/2 length over Timeless Journey. The even-money favorite, Betsy Blue, finished third.
Venti Valentine, a 4-year-old daughter of Firing Line, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:38.98 for jockey Manny Franco.
Hawthorne Race Course
Katie M'lady was quickly out front of nine rivals in Thursday's $75,000 Romacaca Handicap for fillies and mares on the turf and drew off down the stretch to win by 4 1/4 lengths as the favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race. Wave of Goodness was second, a neck in front of Trail Ridge Road.
Katie M'lady, a 5-year-old, Illinois-bred mare by Dominus, stopped the timer at 1:40.72. Julio Felix rode for trainer Michele Boyce.
Asinobia Downs
Local runner Mano Dura let the invaders from the States fight it out on the lead in Monday's $75,000 (Canadian) Manitoba Derby, and then shot by to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
Heroic Move, last seen finishing third in the Iowa Derby for trainer Robertino Diodoro, settled for second as the odds-on favorite. Tshiebwe, a Race Day colt who won at Ellis Park in his last start, was third.
Mano Dura, a Kentucky-bred colt by Keen Ice, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:51.87 with Antonio Whitehall up.
Presque Isle Downs
Jill Jitterbug shook loose from a traffic jam rounding the turn in Monday's $80,000 Lady Erie Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, found the front and held off the closers to win by 1/2 length.
The Cross Traffic filly, with Pablo Morales in the irons, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:09.60.
