Stakes Capsules, Entries, Previews for June 6-7 Races
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Mind Control, part of the June 6 Carter Handicap field, wins the Tom Fool Stakes at Aqueduct
Throughout the year, the NTRA and BloodHorse will provide a guide to the best stakes races in North America. Races are listed in chronological order (all times ET). Full previews when available can be found through the link for each race.
Belmont Park will offer four graded stakes on the first Saturday of its meet, including the June 6 Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1), which offers a berth the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and will kick off the first of five consecutive Saturdays of grade 1s at Belmont Park. Santa Anita Park offers top-level action on the West Coast with the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) on Saturday.
Racing at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs will be featured on Fox Sports show "America's Day at the Races". This Saturday, NBCSN continues its simulcast of TVG's "Trackside Live," which shows live racing from Santa Anita Park and other tracks. The Santa Anita Derby will be featured in the simulcast from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET.
Saturday, June 6
3:59 p.m.—$150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park on FS1
A graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf, Instilled Regard will seek a third graded stakes win, competing in the Fort Marcy over the inner turf course. Owned by Larry Best's OXO Equine, the 5-year-old son of Arch is one of four contenders for trainer Chad Brown. Instilled Regard will attempt to make amends following a sixth-place finish as the lukewarm favorite in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where he chased a slow pace and never challenged wire-to-wire winner Factor This, finishing sixth.
Belmont Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 6Entries: Fort Marcy S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Temple (KY)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
120
Michael J. Maker
10/1
2
2Gucci Factor (NY)
Junior Alvarado
122
Christophe Clement
6/1
3
3Somelikeithotbrown (NY)
Eric Cancel
120
Michael J. Maker
15/1
4
4Flop Shot (IRE)
Javier Castellano
120
Chad C. Brown
6/1
5
5Instilled Regard (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Chad C. Brown
7/2
6
6Synchrony (KY)
John R. Velazquez
120
Michael Stidham
4/1
7
7Devamani (FR)
Joel Rosario
118
Chad C. Brown
5/1
8
8Social Paranoia (KY)
Manuel Franco
122
Todd A. Pletcher
9/2
9
9Tribhuvan (FR)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Chad C. Brown
12/1
4:32 p.m.—$100,000 Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on FS1
Code of Honor will make his 4-year-old debut and first start since November's Breeders' Cup Classic in the 92nd running of the Westchester. Owned and bred by W.S. Farish, Code of Honor is looking to build on a sophomore campaign in which he captured the Runhappy Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and was elevated to first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) in September at Belmont. The Noble Mission colt finished his year with a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Belmont Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 7Entries: Westchester S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Endorsed (KY)
Joel Rosario
120
William I. Mott
6/1
2
2Monongahela (PA)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Chad C. Brown
4/1
3
3Mihos (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
James A. Jerkens
10/1
4
4Payne (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
118
Chad C. Brown
8/1
5
5Prendimi (NJ)
Reylu Gutierrez
118
Chad Summers
50/1
6
6Joevia (KY)
Junior Alvarado
118
Gregory D. Sacco
20/1
7
7Senior Investment (KY)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
122
Scott A. Lake
10/1
8
8Forewarned (OH)
Manuel Franco
118
Uriah St. Lewis
30/1
9
9Code of Honor (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Claude R. McGaughey III
6/5
10
10Wait for It (PA)
Mychel J. Sanchez
118
Edward J. Coletti, Jr.
20/1
11
11Backsideofthemoon (KY)
Eric Cancel
118
Robert P. Klesaris
20/1
5:04 p.m.—$100,000 Intercontinental Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park on FS1
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out a quartet of challengers for the Intercontinental for fillies and mares going seven furlongs over the Widener turf course. Making her first start following an 11-month hiatus, Grade 1-winner Newspaperofrecord headlines the Brown brigade, breaking from post 5. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the 4-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega was made the post-time favorite in all six of her career starts, but went winless in her trio of sophomore outings. She was last seen when running a distant ninth in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July and will attempt her first trip to the winner's circle since a 6 3/4-length romp in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs.
Belmont Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 8Entries: Intercontinental S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Viadera (GB)
Joel Rosario
118
Chad C. Brown
6/1
2
2Victim of Love (KY)
Jose Lezcano
122
Todd M. Beattie
50/1
3
3Eyeinthesky (FL)
Javier Castellano
122
Mark E. Casse
20/1
4
4Slimey (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
118
David A. Cannizzo
6/1
5
5Newspaperofrecord (IRE)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
118
Chad C. Brown
3/1
6
6Jakarta (PA)
Kendrick Carmouche
120
Michael J. Maker
15/1
7
7Regal Glory (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Chad C. Brown
5/1
8
8Getmotherarose (KY)
Junior Alvarado
122
Thomas M. Bush
10/1
9
9Rose Flower (GER)
Manuel Franco
118
Christophe Clement
8/1
10
10Jc's Shooting Star (NY)
Dylan Davis
118
David G. Donk
30/1
11
11Saratoga Treasure (NY)
Eric Cancel
122
David G. Donk
12/1
12
12Significant Form (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Chad C. Brown
5/2
5:32 p.m.—$200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park on TVG
Swiss Skydiver seeks her third consecutive graded stakes victory as she heads a field of five sophomore fillies going 1 1/16-miles in Saturday's Santa Anita Oaks. Based with trainer Kenny McPeek at Churchill Downs, Swiss Skydiver's primary opposition will likely come from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speech. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Speech has been second in her last three starts, including the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) in California two starts back on March 8. A daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah , Bob Baffert's Merneith will be stretching out off a 10 1/4- length maiden score at Oaklawn Park and could be good enough to spring an upset.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 5Entries: Santa Anita Oaks (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Swiss Skydiver (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
Kenneth G. McPeek
6/5
2
2Merneith (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
124
Bob Baffert
2/1
3
3Speech (FL)
Flavien Prat
124
Michael W. McCarthy
8/5
98
4Smiling Shirlee (CA)
SCRATCHED
0
UNKNOWN
-
4
5Regal Beauty (KY)
Abel Cedillo
124
Bob Baffert
10/1
5:36 p.m.—$250,000 Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on FS1
Multiple grade 1-winner Mind Control and Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's rising star Performer will each bring multi-race win streaks into Saturday's Carter. Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old Mind Control's NYRA ledger includes a pair of grade 1 wins at Saratoga, beginning with the Hopeful as a juvenile and the H. Allen Jerkens in August to close out his sophomore season. The Stay Thirsty colt opened his 2020 campaign with a narrow nose win over Nicodemus in the Toboggan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Belmont Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 9Entries: Runhappy Carter H. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Firenze Fire (FL)
Manuel Franco
122
Kelly J. Breen
7/2
2
2Performer (KY)
Joel Rosario
119
Claude R. McGaughey III
3/1
3
3Still Having Fun (MD)
Dylan Davis
117
Timothy L. Keefe
20/1
4
4Nitrous (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Steven M. Asmussen
15/1
5
5Network Effect (FL)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
116
Chad C. Brown
8/1
6
6Midnightcharly (PA)
Mychel J. Sanchez
115
Edward J. Coletti, Jr.
50/1
7
7American Anthem (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
117
Danny Gargan
15/1
8
8Bon Raison (KY)
Eric Cancel
114
David A. Cannizzo
30/1
9
9Majestic Dunhill (KY)
Reylu Gutierrez
116
George Weaver
20/1
10
10Mind Control (KY)
John R. Velazquez
124
Gregory D. Sacco
4/1
11
11Vekoma (KY)
Javier Castellano
119
George Weaver
7/2
5:50 p.m.—$100,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on FS1
Whitham Thoroughbreds' Four Graces, an impressive winner of a first-level allowance event three weeks ago beneath the Twin Spires, will attempt her first try at stakes competition as she tops eight 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's 45th running of the Dogwood. The seven-furlong Dogwood is a designated prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and will award the Top 4 finishers 20-8-4-2 points. Four Graces, a daughter of Majesticperfection, debuted as a 7-1 winner at Gulfstream Park in March. The half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner McCraken finished fourth in her second start at Gulfstream but quickly rebounded with an emphatic 1 3/4-length score on May 16 at Churchill Downs under Julien Leparoux.
Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 10Entries: Dogwood S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Clivetty (KY)
Martin Garcia
119
Don Chatlos
15/1
2
2Four Graces (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
119
Ian R. Wilkes
5/2
3
3Bayerness (KY)
Florent Geroux
119
Cherie DeVaux
6/1
4
4Ain't No Elmers (KY)
Adam Beschizza
119
W. Bret Calhoun
5/1
5
5Magic Dance (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
119
Steven M. Asmussen
7/2
6
6Lady Glamour (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
119
Larry W. Demeritte
20/1
7
7Naughty Thoughts (MD)
Tyler Gaffalione
121
Jonathan Maldonado
8/1
8
8Edgeway (KY)
Tyler Baze
119
John W. Sadler
3/1
7:09 p.m.—$400,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park on NBCSN
Unbeaten in three starts and a winner most recently of two graded stakes by a combined 10 lengths, Authentic will renew his rivalry with talented Honor A. P. as they head a field of seven sophomores going 1 1/8 miles in the Santa Anita Derby. Authentic has been nothing short of brilliant for trainer Bob Baffert in winning his past two races in gate-to-wire fashion. A first-out maiden winner at odds of 3-5 going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 9, this colt by Into Mischief aired by 7 3/4 front-running lengths going a mile in the Sham Stakes (G3) on Jan. 4. He was a 2 1/4-length winner of the San Felipe (G2).
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 8Entries: RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Friar's Road (KY)
Geovanni Franco
124
Michael W. McCarthy
20/1
2
2Rushie (FL)
Flavien Prat
124
Michael W. McCarthy
8/1
3
3Shooters Shoot (KY)
Abel Cedillo
124
Peter Eurton
8/1
4
4Anneau d'Or (KY)
Victor Espinoza
124
Blaine D. Wright
15/1
5
5Azul Coast (KY)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
124
Bob Baffert
15/1
6
6Honor A. P. (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
John A. Shirreffs
9/5
7
7Authentic (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
124
Bob Baffert
4/5
8:12 p.m.—$300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita Park on TVG
Locally based Midcourt, the beaten favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), leading money earner Higher Power, Improbable, a grade 1 winner at two, and eastern-based millionaire Tenfold head a field of six 3-year-olds and up in the Hollywood Gold Cup. A winner of four races in a row this past year, Midcourt ran the best race of his career two starts back, as he went gate to wire in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on February 1, winning by 3 1/2 lengths.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, June 06, 2020, Race 10Entries: Hollywood Gold Cup S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Parsimony (PA)
Mario Gutierrez
122
Doug F. O'Neill
15/1
2
2Midcourt (KY)
Victor Espinoza
124
John A. Shirreffs
2/1
3
3Higher Power (KY)
Flavien Prat
124
John W. Sadler
9/5
4
4Brown Storm (CHI)
Abel Cedillo
122
Michael W. McCarthy
12/1
5
5Improbable (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
122
Bob Baffert
2/1
6
6Tenfold (KY)
Mike E. Smith
122
Steven M. Asmussen
6/1
Sunday, June 7
7 p.m.—$200,000 Triple Bend Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on TVG
Idle since distanced in the Saudi Cup on February 29, grade 1 winner McKinzie is back home for Sunday's Triple Bend Stakes (G2), to be contested at seven furlongs over the Santa Anita main track. McKinzie hasn't sprinted since winning the Malibu Stakes (G1) on Dec. 26, 2018. The Triple Bend, to be run for the 69th time, has attracted a strong group of five 3-year-olds and up, including the John Sadler-trained Flagstaff, a grade 2 winner two starts back.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, June 07, 2020, Race 8Entries: Triple Bend S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Flagstaff (KY)
Victor Espinoza
126
John W. Sadler
5/2
2
2Ax Man (KY)
Abel Cedillo
122
Bob Baffert
8/1
3
3Dark Vader (OH)
Flavien Prat
122
Peter Eurton
8/1
4
4Fashionably Fast (CA)
Tiago Josue Pereira
122
Dean Pederson
6/1
5
5McKinzie (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
Bob Baffert
3/5