UPI Horse Racing Weekend Preview

The Arc in France, the Sprinters Stakes in Japan, the Moir Stakes in Australia and a whole slew of Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races – including appearances by California Chrome, Beholder, Flintshire and Runhappy – make up a stellar weekend of Thoroughbred racing around the globe.

We'll get to the overseas competition shortly. But first, there are seven Breeders' Cup berths at stake amid the avalanche of graded stakes at Belmont Park and Santa Anita. So let's start there, with a few additions from Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park.

Classic

The headliner in U.S. weekend racing is Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita and the star there is California Chrome.

The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Dubai World Cup and, most recently, Pacific Classic winner drew the inside gate in a field of seven with his main rivals, Dortmund and Hoppertunity, just to his outside. To their right are Win the Space, Soi Phet, El Huerfango and Hard Aces.

California Chrome, seemingly in his prime at age 5, won the Grade I Pacific Classic by 5 lengths over super mare Beholder with Dortmund another 2 1/4 lengths back in third and Hoppertunity fourth, another 1 length in arrears.

"He galloped a mile and five-eighths this morning," assistant trainer Alan Sherman said Wednesday. "The horse is very happy. Everything's going great. I think he's better now than he was before the (2014) Kentucky Derby."

The Pacific Classic, like the Breeders' Cup Classic, Kentucky Derby and the World Cup, is 1 1/4 miles. Saturday's heat is a furlong shorter.

Noble Bird is the narrow morning-line favorite for Saturday's $175,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, where nine 3-year-olds and up will tackle 9 furlongs. Bradester and Breaking Lucky are both posted at 5-2.

Noble Bird won the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill last year and the Grade III Pimlico Special this season but misfired in his last two in New York. Breaking Lucky comes off a brave fourth in the Grade I Woodward, where he finished only three necks behind big guns Shaman Ghost, Mubtaahij and Frosted. Bradester had three straight wins going into Woodward, where he faded from the lead to finish eighth.

Distaff

Beholder drops back in with the fillies and mares in Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Zenyatta at Santa Anita and finds her old rival, Stellar Wind, among four rivals.

Stellar Wind caught and passed Beholder in the stretch run of the Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar in July but was second to that same foe in the Grade I Vanity Mile in June. Stellar Wind also was a close second last fall behind Stopchargingmaria in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, which Beholder missed.

"I'm excited," said Stellar Wind's trainer, John Sadler. "The Zenyatta is the last prep before the Breeders' Cup Distaff and it's going to be another classic match up, two great fillies, four Eclipse Awards between them ... Stellar Wind has trained really well and hasn't missed a day or an oat or anything since her last race, so we're looking forward to it."

The other rivals in the Zenyatta are Off the Road, Vale Dori and Tara's Tango – nice fillies all but needing another gear here.

Seven distaffers are entered for Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Beldame at 1 1/8 miles around one turn on the massive Belmont oval. None of them looks like a threat to Songbird, Beholder or Stellar Wind but Forever Unbridled won the Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and has run well twice since behind Cavorting in Grade I events.

"She's been doing great since Saratoga," said Forever Unbridled's trainer Dallas Stewart. "The biggest concern is the weather, so we have to think that out. The thinking in running her here is that it would set her up great for the Breeders' Cup."

Among the others: Going For Broke was second to Songbird in the Grade I Alabama in her last start -- 7 lengths back. Paola Queen won the Grade I Test at the Spa -- at 55-1 odds.

Speaking of Stopchargingmaria, she will be offered in the November Fasig-Tipton sale in Lexington by her owner, Town & Country Racing LLC. The recently retired Tale of the Cat mare finished her career with nine wins from 18 starts including the Breeders' Cup Distaff, the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks and the Grade I Alabama Stakes.

"Opportunities to purchase a Breeders' Cup Distaff winner like Stopchargingmaria do not come along very often," said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning. The last such, in fact, was Royal Delta, who sold for $8.5 million at the 2011 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, then went on to race for two more years.

Town & Country President Shannon Potter said the tough decision to offer Stopchargingmaria "will allow us the best opportunity to expand and improve our breeding stock."

Turf

The top three from last month's Grade I Sword Dancer -- Flintshire, Money Multiplier and Twilight Agenda -- return for Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont. In fact, they make up three-fourths of the field.

Flintshire has had no problem winning all three starts this year, defeating Money Multiplier and Twilight Agenda by open lengths in the Sword Dancer after getting a friendly opening on the hedge turning for home. "Of course, there's some concern with the possibility of rain," said Flintshire's trainer, Chad Brown. "He prefers firm ground but we'll hope for the best. He's a top-class horse so he should be able to handle the conditions."

The newcomer is British-bred 5-year-old Ectot, who won four straight graded stakes in France in 2013-14 but hasn't approached that level since. Small fields can be tricky but Flintshire's rider, Javier Castellano, knows his way around. This is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf, run at the same 1 1/2-miles distance.

Ten are in for Sunday's $200,000 Grade II John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. Although it's run over the same brand-new turf course that will host the Breeders' Cup in a few weeks' time, this bunch isn't likely to scare away Flintshire, et al.

Still, Ashleyluvssugar is a good one and gets Gary Stevens in the irons. He, Metaboss and Texas Ryano, all in this field, finished 1-2-3 in the Grade II Del Mar Handicap last time out. German-bred Messi won the Grade II Sky Classic at Woodbine in his last start and may be on the upswing. The race is named for the winner of the inaugural Arlington Million and still the only two-time victor in that Chicago-area classic.

Surgical Strike is the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday's $100,000 Jefferson Cup for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs, a 9-furlongs event on the Matt Winn turf course. He won the Grade III Arlington Classic in may. Also in the well-balanced field of 10, One Mean Man won the Grade III American Derby at Arlington this summer, then finished fourth in the tough Grade I Secretariat Stakes over the same course.

Filly & Mare Turf

Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita promises to be a real scramble with 14 starters and a shortage of consistency at this level. Avenge comes off a Grade II win at Del Mar in her last start. Decked Out has been close in her last three starts in California. Zipessa was third in the Grade I Beverly D. at Arlington. A Breeders' Cup spot is at stake in this one, too.

Sprint

Reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Runhappy returns to action Saturday at Churchill Downs for the first time since winning the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita last December – his only start since the Breeders' Cup. The 4-year-old Super Saver colt, now trained by Laura Wohlers, has won seven of eight starts and faces five rivals as the 1-2 morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Grade III Ack Ack Handicap. The others have had their moments but will be up against it if Runhappy is on his game.

X Y Jet has been in mothballs, recovering from a chip in his knee, since he just missed in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen back in March. He finally reappears in Saturday's $350,000 Grade I Vosburg at Belmont Park, a 6-furlongs Breeders' Cup Sprint "Win and You're In" event. The Kantharos gelding had five straight wins going into the Meydan heat and lost by just a neck to Muarrab after leading most of the way.

"He's fresh. He's ready," said trainer Jorge Navarro. "We just want to see how he runs. We're expecting a good performance because he's doing really good."

He'll need to be on his toes here, though, as the opposition includes A.P. Indian, Holy Boss, Joking and Green Gratto – graded stakes winners all.

Note: The Group 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan also is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Last year's Breeders' Cup winner, Wavell Avenue, drew gate No. 6 in a field of seven for Saturday's $300,000 Grade II Gallant Bloom, a 6 1/2-furlongs dash around the Belmont Park main track. The 4-year-old Tiz Wonderful filly hasn't been particularly wonderful since the 10-1 upset at Keeneland, winning just once in five intervening races.

Paulassilverlining has been right there in five starts this year, all graded stakes, but has had trouble getting beyond 6 furlongs against top competition. Hot City Girl and Quezon have been butting heads with fellow New York-breds but that's not necessarily an indictment in this group.

Turf Sprint

Saturday's $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita for 3-year-old fillies is a bit under the radar on a big weekend. But the venue is unique and it's worth watching for a potential upsetter in November. Here's one now: Tourny, a recent import from France who was third in the Prix Morny at Deauville but seems to run better on firm going. She ran well enough in a Del Mar warm up. Coppa won three in a row before stubbing her toe in the Grade II Prioress at Belmont Park earlier this month. It's a full field with many possibilities.

Juvenile

Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Front Runner at Santa Anita, another Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In," has a field of seven. Among them are the top three from the Grade I Del Mar Futurity – Klimt, Straight Fire and Midnight Pleasure. Klimt has won three straight races for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Rafael Bejarano and scored by 4 1/2 lengths in the Futurity. The inside pair of Gormley and Plum Dandy are worth a look.

The Florida Sire Stakes series for state-bred 2-year-olds concludes with Saturday's $500,000 In Reality Division at Gulfstream Park. Twelve are signed on, including the undefeated Three Rules, who goes for the sweep. Front Loaded and Legacy Azteca return after chasing Three Rules home in the 7-furlongs Affirmed Division, hoping 1 1/16 miles will produce a different result. Thegreatcollection joins this fray after winning the Delta Downs Prince Stakes in his last start.

Juvenile Turf

There are nine in the main body of Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Pilgrim at Belmont Park and seven of them come off maiden wins. The others, Bird's Eye View and French visitor My Bo Chop, finished close-up third and fifth in the Grade II With Anticipation at Saratoga. The one to watch: Oscar Performance, a Kitten's Joy colt who took two tries at Saratoga to find the winner's circle, scoring by 10 1/4 lengths with a Beyer Speed Figure of 80 on Aug. 20. Oiseau de Guerre (Warbird) is a cleverly named War Front colt from the Arch mare Lauren Byrd. Two others are entered for "main track only" and showers and thundershowers are in the forecast.

Juvenile Fillies

Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Chandelier at Santa Anita features the undefeated winner of the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, With Honors, trying the main track for the first time, and the second, third and fourth finishers from the Grade I Del Mar Debutante – American Cleopatra, Champagne Room and Noted and Quoted. There are plenty of recent maiden winners in the full field, all seeking a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" berth.

Cajun Delta Dawn drew outside in a field of 13 for Saturday's $500,000 Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl Division at Gulfstream Park. The Kantharos filly has won all four career starts and goes for a sweep of the series. Stormy Embrace and U S Diva, the second- and third-place finishers from the Susan's Girl Division, also return.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Back east, seven are in for Sunday's $200,000 Grade II Miss Grillo at Belmont Park – three trained by Chad Brown. Create a Dream was fourth in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Dancing Waves comes direct from her maiden-breaker at Down Royal in Ireland. New Money Honey was second at Saratoga in her only previous start. Among the others: Rymska scored her first win at Deauville now has two in a row, Coast is a Saratoga stakes winner, Joust ditto at Kentucky Downs and Chubby Star ditto at Monmouth.

Marathon

The Breeders' Cup Marathon is history but Santa Anita will stage its own on the Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend so we keep track. Eight are entered for Sunday's $200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational at Belmont Park, hoping to get 1 5/8 miles on the main track. Scuba won his last start going 1 1/2 miles. The only 3-year-old, Extinct Charm, gets in with a feathery 112 pounds, getting 12 pounds from most of his rivals. The others are worthy enough but the distance is a question for most.

Now, back to the international action:

The Arc

Postponed carries a six-race winning streak into a rather wide-open renewal of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Sunday to face Epsom and Irish Derby winner Harzand, Japanese Derby victor Makahiki and several other proven adversaries.

Aidan O'Brien brings three runners for the 1 1/4-miles test -- King George winner Highland Reel, 2015 Irish St Leger winner Order of St George, and 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Found, who has finished second in five straight big races.

The Grey Gatsby hasn't won in more than two years but usually seems to be in the chase late. Andre Fabre brings a pair, most notably New Bay, who won the Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp during last year's Arc meeting. The race is relocated to Chantilly this year while Longchamp is being rebuilt.

Three of the eight in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for 2-year-old colts and geldings -- Whitecliffsofdover, Utah and Peace Envoy – are trained by Aidan O'Brien. The Irish master also sends out Promise To Be True as a potential favorite in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac for 2-year-old fillies.

The undefeated Dubawi filly So Mi Dar, trained by John Gosden for Lord Andrew Lloyd-Weber, steps up in class amid eight prospective starters in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera for fillies and mares. Pleasach scored in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks two starts back. Speedy Boarding won the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last time out. Jemayel was second in her last race behind La Cresonnaire, who would have been among the favorites for the Arc had she not suffered an untimely minor injury. Pagella was third in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Best In The World represents Coolmore and O'Brien.

Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Mecca's Angel and Group 1 King's Stand Stakes winner Profitable are in with the usual huge field for the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp at 5 furlongs.

The Group 1 Qatar Prix de Foret at 7 furlongs drew Group 1 July Cup winner Limato, Spectre, Suedois and Jimmy Two Times among a baker's dozen.

On Saturday's Chantilly card, Vazirabad stands out among 12 in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at 4,100 meters. The 4-year-old Manduro gelding already has three wins this year, including the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March.

The Saturday program also includes four Group 2 events.

Japan

Big Arthur is the likely favorite for Sunday's Group 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama – the kickoff of Japan's fall Group 1 season and a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. The 5-year-old won the first major Japanese sprint, the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, in the spring season and was a surprising gate-to-wire winner in his fall comeback race, the Sept. 11 Centaur Stakes.

Mikki Isle, second in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, is back for another try but has yet to notch a Group 1 triumph. There will be a full field for this event, with an abundance of 3-year-olds, so there is considerable uncertainty about the outcome.

Among the older set, 8-year-old Snow Dragon, winner of the 2014 Sprinters Stakes, may be on the upswing after an injury and could be a factor. There are no foreign runners.

Australia

Before the Japanese sprinters battle in Nakayama, Chautauqua and Buffering both return to action for the first time since the northern hemisphere spring. Chautauqua was last seen landing the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong in May. Buffering was last of 14 in that heat, but two months earlier won the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on World Cup night.

That pair faces eight rivals in Friday's Group 1 City Jeep Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley, going 1,000 meters. Chautauqua could have landed the US$1 million Global Sprint Challenge prize by winning the Sprinters Stakes in Japan on Sunday. The decision to keep him home means the Challenge prize likely will go unclaimed for yet another year.