Intriguing Stakes Races Throughout Country Saturday

The way the calendar falls this year, the last Saturday in August comes on Labor Day weekend and unofficially signals the end of another summer.

It's the final Saturday at Saratoga Race Course and Del Mar, and those summer destination tracks host the nation's only grade 1 races: the Woodward Presented By NYRA Bets (G1) and the Del Mar Debutante (G1). The Woodward is preceded by three other graded stakes including the Prioress (G2) featuring unbeaten 3-year-old filly sprinter Break Even. The Del Mar Debutante comes two races after the John C. Mabee (G2T), which Vasilika is favored to win for the second straight year after taking down six more graded stakes on the Southern California circuit since then.

Aug. 31 is also opening day of the Runhappy Kentucky Downs meet, which offers a pick four on four stakes collectively worth $2 million, topped by the $750,000 Tourist Mile.

As well, it is the biggest day of the season at resurrected Colonial Downs, where sophomore turf runners are showcased in the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) and Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks.

Woodward (Sar, race 11, 6:00 ET): If the injury-plagued Tom's d'Etat (9) is ever going to win a big-time race, this is the spot, because this is not exactly a Woodward for the ages. The only grade 1 winners in the field are Vino Rosso (3), who upset Gift Box in the Gold Cup At Santa Anita (G1) two starts back, and Yoshida (7), who posted a 6-1 score in last year's Woodward but hasn't won since.

Yoshida comes off a solid second in the Whitney (G1) behind division leader McKinzie. It was nearly five lengths back to Vino Rosso in third and another length or so back to tiring pacesetter Preservationist (5) in fourth. Yoshida is a deep closer who needs a lot of things to go right, and he could be susceptible to a regression coming off a lifetime peak figure. Vino Rosso is removing blinkers, which is taken as a positive sign, and he breezed five furlongs in an eye-popping 58-and-change Aug. 23. Preservationist had a tough trip going five wide around the first turn, and never changed leads in the stretch, perhaps "bouncing" off a big win in the Suburban (G2).

The day before the Whitney, Tom's d'Etat reaffirmed his affinity for Saratoga with a measured win in the Alydar Stakes over Wooderson (8), the latter a half brother to Rachel Alexandra, who won the Woodward on the way to Horse of the Year honors in 2009. That win improved Tom's d'Etat to 3 for 3 at the Spa, all at 1 1/8 miles, and the one-length margin is a bit deceiving since he was merely coasting through the late stages.

A - 9

B - 3, 7

C - 5, 8

Del Mar Debutante (Dmr, race 9, 6:14 PT): There's always guesswork involving juveniles stretching out in distance. In this case, we're following the money with Inspiressa (7) and Bast (5), who resepectively sold for $850,000 and $500,000 and ran one-two in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden dash earlier at the meet.

Inspiressa appeared to have something left after wiring Bast by just over a length, and the daughter of The Big Beast  may be right at home going seven-eighths of a mile, as her sire won the 2014 King's Bishop (G1) at the distance. She will look to put the finishing touches on a sensational summer for trainer John Sadler.

Bast was tardy changing leads, not doing so until deep stretch. Her sire, Uncle Mo , was nailed in the last stride of the 2011 King's Bishop by eventual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Caleb's Posse . Expect the Bob Baffert-trained filly to improve.

The backups here are Leucothea (4), who is back in 16 days after blitzing $62,500 maidens by better than 14 lengths; and Baffert's other entrant, Stellar Sound (8), who is back just 13 days after a debut maiden win.

A - 5, 7

B - 4, 8

Virginia Oaks (Cnl, race 8, 8:15 ET): Tasting the Stars (5) puts her perfect record on the line after returning from a layoff in late July to take the Just Jenda Stakes at Monmouth Park.

That was the third victory in as many starts for Tasting the Stars, who won twice on dirt at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots over the winter for Michael Stidham.

Tasting the Stars sat off a sharp pace and overpowered the leaders through the stretch of the Just Jenda, but she may have a tougher time getting by Ionic (4), who is a nose away from being 3 for 3 herself. Ionic, a homebred City Zip filly trained by Arnaud Delacour, rolled to an impressive debut win at Tampa Bay Downs, and returned four weeks later at Laurel Park to miss in a head-bob finish. She rebounded with an easy front-running win over allowance company at Delaware Park, kicking away late from stablemate Gardenista (6), who is back for another try after garnering her first-level allowance condition at Laurel. 

Ionic doesn't need the lead and can sit right off Agi's Cait (2) if that one is sent early, as she was in her turf debut last time out.

Mercilla (1) displayed a solid late kick beating older rivals first time in the United States, and was flattered when second finisher Something Magical subsequently won two allowance events. Draw a line through her follow-up race in the off-the-turf Christiana Stakes.

A - 4, 5

B - 1, 6

Virginia Derby (Cnl, race 9, 9:00 ET): Calumet Farm is loaded for bear with the duo of Tracksmith (6) and English Bee (8).

Tracksmith, trained by Joe Sharp, exhibits a promising figure pattern after posting two wins to begin his 3-year-old campaign. English Bee, based at Fair Hill with Graham Motion, comes off a tough-trip fourth in the Hall of Fame (G2T) when shuffled back early and again on the far turn.

The potential sleeper could be Jais's Solitude (3), who has turned in three good races at three tracks since adding blinkers. Three races back he was beaten less than a length by Global Access, who came back to win the Marine (G3T) and ran a close third in the Hall of Fame. Two back he was nosed by Crafty Daddy, who was subsequently beaten a neck in the American Derby (G3T) and dueled to deep stretch of the Secretariat (G1T).

A - 6, 8

B - 3

Tourist Mile (KD, race 8, 4:11 CT): A full gate of a dozen plus two also-eligibles signed on for this rich event over the unique layout at Kentucky Downs. It often pays to give special consideration to horses that have run well over the course in the past, and the ones that fit that description are Snapper Sinclair (1), Next Shares (2), Hembree (4), Parlor (5), Siem Riep (6), Mr Cub (9) and Great Wide Open (10).

Great Wide Open set the pace and held for second at 18-1 in the 2018 Tourist Mile, and it's worth noting he was coming off a layoff just as he is this time around.

Snapper Sinclair won the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Juvenile Stakes. He has only run on grass twice since then, including a difficult trip in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) from post 11.

Next Shares rallied from well off the pace to beat Siem Riep, Parlor and Mr Cub in the 2018 Old Friends on this course, before going on to win the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) and San Gabriel (G2T). He returns from a layoff off sharp workouts and may get a favorably fast pace up front.

A - 2, 4

B - 1, 10

C - 5, 6, 9