There's always a feeling of melancholy when racing at Del Mar and Saratoga Race Course comes to an end, signifying another summer has come and gone and we're all another year older.
At least those of us who relish turf racing can fight off handicapper's hangover by delving into the stakes for Saturday, Sept. 7, because with the exception of the Super Derby (G3) at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, where Knicks Go will be favored to notch his first victory since the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) 11 months ago, all the noteworthy action is on grass.
Opening Saturday at Belmont Park is highlighted by the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational and $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational, which respectively conclude the inaugural "Turf Trinity" and "Turf Tiara" series for 3-year-olds.
It's also the biggest day of the short-but-sweet Runhappy Kentucky Downs meet, where a pick five is available on five stakes worth a combined $3.2 million and topped by the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3T), which Arklow will try to win for the second straight year. The first four legs are the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, the Runhappy Turf Sprint (G3T), the Three Chimneys Ladies Turf (G3T) and the Spendthrift Farm Ladies Sprint (G3T).
Jockey Club Oaks (Bel, race 9, 5:15 ET): European invaders typically do well over the expansive courses at Belmont, particularly at this time of year when the weather gets cooler and the turf courses soften a bit. No surprise, then, to see three of the most popular choices on the morning line are Edisa (1), Love So Deep (5) and Wonderment (6), all of which last ran in France at Deauville.
Wonderment was a group 1 winner last fall but is without a win from three tries this year. She'll get Lasix for the first time. Edisa and Love So Deep both look to be on the improve—the former no worse than second from her past four starts, and the latter coming off two sharp efforts against older mares.
Among the North American-based runners, Lady Prancealot (3) and Art of Almost (8) have the best credentials, though the former has never been beyond nine furlongs and attempts to go a quarter-mile farther than that here.
The sleeper could be Dyna Passer (7), a half sister to the long-winded grade 1 winner (and barn mate) Sadler's Joy. She figures to keep developing for Tom Albertrani as things go along.
A - 1, 5
B - 6
C - 3, 7, 8
Jockey Club Derby (Bel, race 10, 5:47 ET): The first two legs of the series went to American-based upsetters as Henley's Joy (3) took the Belmont Derby (G1T) at 20-1 and A Thread of Blue (1) wired the Saratoga Derby at 13-1.
Digital Age (8) rallied with too little too late in each of those races, but beat A Thread of Blue and Henley's Joy prior to that in the American Turf (G2T), and still has loads of upside making his sixth career start.
The one they all have to fear is the improving Spanish Mission, who "didn't get the best of runs" as put by the track announcer when he ran a close third in the Qatar Gorden Stakes (G3T) last out at Goodwood. He ships across the pond dropping eight pounds off that race and getting first-time Lasix.
A - 9
B - 1, 3, 8
Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint (KD, race 6, 3:05 CT): I thought about just putting in a single "caveman" ticket on this pick five, theorizing "If I'm right, I'm right," but then realized that even at 50 cents it had ballooned into four-figure territory, which is par for the course with the overflow fields they throw at you at this place. This sequence goes 12x10x9x12x12 not including also-eligibles, which my phone says amounts to 155,520 possible permutations or a $77,760 play.
The best I can do in the leadoff leg is get it down to half the field: Cambria (4), Souper Dormy (5), Prince of Thieves (8), Chimney Rock (9), Alcools (10) and Scocciatore (11).
Even though she has never been on grass, I have a hard time believing Cambria will be anything close to her 12-1 quote off two wins in as many starts followed by a couple of bullet works for Wesley Ward. Her sire, Speightstown , is 21 for 69 (30%) with juvenile turf sprinters over the past five seasons.
Note also that Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, et. al. privately purchased Alcools and Scocciatore after their maiden wins at Woodbine last month.
Mark Casse sends out Souper Dormy and Prince of Thieves off debut wins at Ellis Park. Prince of Thieves overcame a slow start and was forced to go very wide.
A - 4, 8
B - 5, 9, 10, 11
Runhappy Turf Sprint (KD, race 7, 3:53 CT): This is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), as well it should be given the fact that last year's BC winner, Stormy Liberal (9), is in the field and also his half brother Leinster (8), who is perfect from three turf sprints capped by the Troy (G3T) at Saratoga in course-record time.
Also coming off a course-record win is Totally Boss (10), who took the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint from far back at Ellis.
Imprimis (4) hasn't been out since running a troubled sixth in the King's Stand Stakes (G1T) at Royal Ascot, but fired big to win the Silks Run off a six-month absence earlier this year, followed by a win in the Shakertown (G2T) over a dozen opponents.
A - 3, 8
B - 9, 10
Three Chimneys Ladies Turf (KD, race 8, 4:28 CT): Storm the Hill (5) is back for another try after finishing fourth in a slow-paced renewal of this event last year, and figures to get a better setup with speed merchants Mitchell Road (7) and Ms Bad Behavior (9) in the mix this time.
Storm the Hill is third off the bench after finishing a game second between the multiple graded stakes winners Beau Recall and Vasilika in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T).
In the Diana (G1T), Mitchell Road was done in by Thais, a rabbit for Chad Brown's other runners who wound up sweeping the top three positions headed by 2018 champion turf mare Sistercharlie.
Simply Breathless (2) beat Storm the Hill in the Wilshire (G3T) at this distance (a mile) when the latter was making her first start of the year, and may rebound after finding 1 3/16 miles beyond her scope in the Modesty Handicap (G3T).
A - 5, 7
B - 2
Spendthrift Farm Ladies Sprint (KD, race 9, 5:01 CT): Oleksandra (3) comes off a win over Ruby Notion (10) in the Smart N Fancy at Saratoga, a 5 1/2-furlong dash that actually might've been a bit short for her. That effort made Oleksandra 3 for 3 under Joel Rosario, who is back aboard the Australian-bred daughter of Animal Kingdom once more.
Ruby Notion was caught a bit wide finishing a close third in the Smart N Fancy, and it's worth noting she came off a Spa sprint to win this race last year in 1:15.80 seconds, a tick off the course mark.
At double-digit odds on the line, Cool Beans is worth a look as she turns back off a pair of sharp two-turn races to begin her 4-year-old season for Brad Cox, who has compiled excellent route-to-sprint numbers.
A - 3, 10
B - 8
Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (KD, race 10, 5:35 CT): Arklow (10) has been in the money in three straight graded stakes and looks to break into the win column for the first time since taking this event in 2018.
Campaign won a long-distance maiden and first-level allowance race on this layout in an eight-day span last September, and returns to grass after winning three dirt races this year including the Tokyo City (G3) and Cougar II Handicap (G3).
Bigger Picture (5) and Zulu Alpha (9) are a couple of grizzled campaigners trained by Mike Maker who are capable on any given day.
Pillar Mountain (7) is lightly raced for Todd Pletcher, and comes off a respectable try in the Sword Dancer (G1T) that followed back-to-back allowance wins at 11 furlongs.
A - 10, 11
B - 5, 9
C - 7