UPI Horse Racing Weekend Preview

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Tonalist heads a field including six other Grade I winners in Saturday's $1.25 million Whitney at Saratoga -- the marquee event in weekend Thoroughbred racing.

There also are some top-drawer turf races, a smattering of tests for 2-year-olds and two other graded stakes on the Saratoga card. Among those, last year's 2-year-old filly champ, Take Charge Brandi, returns to action.

On the world stage, there are Group 1 events as far afield as Ireland, France and Germany, at distances from 1,200 meters to twice that.

With plenty of distance to cover, let's get moving.

Classic

Tonalist, who won the 2014 Belmont Stakes as California Chrome's Triple Crown bid went up in smoke, has had some highs and lows since that day. This year, he has been best at 1 mile, winning the Grade III Westchester and finishing a good second in the Grade I Met Mile. With those accomplishments, trainer Christophe Clement remains convinced Tonalist does not need marathon distances to shine.

"People thought after the won the Belmont he's a mile-and-a-half horse," Clement said at the draw. "Well, he finished second in the Met Mile, so he's not a mile-and-a-half horse. He showed pretty good speed, too. He's a good horse. That's what he is."

The Whitney is 1 1/8 miles.

The winner of the Met Mile, Honor Code, is among the opposition this time around, as is last year's upset winner of the Travers, V.E. Day. Noble Bird, winner of the Grade I Stephen Foster in his last start, is ready for another test. Also in the field are Wicked Strong, Lea, Liam's Map, Moreno and Normandy Invasion.

Also on the Classic map is "overlook it at your own risk" Super Derby Prelude Saturday at Louisiana Downs -- a 1 1/16-miles event for 3-year-olds that will line up the local opposition, at least, for the Super Derby. Eight are set to go with Allied Air Raid invading from Churchill Downs as the 6-5 morning-line favorite after finishing second last time out in the Grade III Iowa Derby.

As always, if you can't make it to the track, listen to all the action on Horse Racing Radio Network (www.horseracingradio.net). And for tips on which horses, as the show had it "can do," see www.popejude.com.

Turf

An overflow field is entered for Friday's Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes is for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles. The field is a well-balanced as it is large with seven of the 15 -- three of them also-eligibles -- posted at single-digit odds on the morning line. Night Prowler is the lukewarm favorite at 3-1 in what promises to be an excellent wagering opportunity.

Filly & Mare Turf

Saturday's Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar is 9 furlongs on the green course and presents another of those good betting chances. Nine are set to go with Fanticola the 5-1 favorite on the morning line after winning the Grade II Royal Heroine at Santa Anita in her last outing. But most of the field is capable of making an impression in this one.

The favorites are drawn outside in a full field for Saturday's Grade III Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes at Saratoga as distaffers tackle 1 1/2 miles on the lawn. Danza Cavallo has had three quality U.S. starts after a career in France that included a win at the trip. Queen's Parade and Kitten's Point just missed in the Robert G. Dick at Delaware Park in their last start. There are plenty of other possibilities, though.

Distaff

Take Charge Brandi was a 61-1 upset winner in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile but it was no surprise to Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who then sent the Giant's Causeway filly out to consecutive victories in the Grade III Delta Princess and Grade I Starlet at Los Alamitos to cement her Eclipse Award championship honors. Take Charge Brandi returned to win her first start as a 3-year-old on Jan. 31 at Oaklawn, then got a rest that ends with Saturday's Grade I Longines Test Stakes at Saratoga. Ten 3-year-old fillies will go 7 furlongs and the competition will be stiff, including Irish Jasper, Cavorting, By the Moon, Kathballu and Angela Renee.

Juvenile

There are a couple races to watch here, neither of which is likely to have an impact down the road -- but you never know. Saturday's $200,000 Dr. Fager Division of the Florida Sire Stakes is restricted to Florida-breds. But with the money Gulfstream Park is offering, it should attract the best of that bunch. And Sunday's Tyro Stakes at Monmouth is 5 furlongs on the turf. But, again, you never know.

Juvenile Fillies

Saturday's $200,000 Desert Vixen Division of the Florida Sire Stakes is a ditto for the aforementioned open division.

International

The weekend feature in France is Sunday's Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest for 3-year-olds and up at 1,200 meters. The entrants include Gordon Lord Byron, Muhaarar and Ivawood among the invaders and Esoterique prominent on the home team.

Irish action centers on the Group 1 Phoenix on Sunday at the Curragh with 2-year-old colts and geldings going 1,200 meters. Aidan O'Brien has three of the 10 remaining starters -- Air Force Blue, Washington DC and Painted Cliffs.

In Germany it's Sunday's Group 1 Deutschland Preis for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/2 miles.