'Stars' Aligning for Keeneland Opener

The equine stars will be out at Keeneland Oct. 2-4, with three reigning Eclipse Award winners and Arlington Million (gr. IT) winner The Pizza Man expected to compete opening weekend.

Dubbed "Fall Stars Weekend" and one of the last big round of stakes prior to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Oct. 30-31, the weekend kicks off the 17-day fall meet at the Lexington track. Among the nine graded stakes over the weekend, five are grade I events and seven races are "Win and You're In" contests for the Breeders' Cup.

Headlining the Eclipse Award winners is Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2014. Winner of the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in a six-for-seven campaign last year, Untapable is a probable starter in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4.

The Juddmonte Spinster is a "Win and You're In" race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. Among those likely to face Untapable in the Juddmonte Spinster is this year's Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria, who also won the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. 1) during Keeneland's spring meet.

Owner-trainer Wesley Ward's Judy the Beauty, winner of the 2014 DraftKings Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. 1) who has won all four career races at Keeneland, is the headliner for the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. I) Oct. 3.

Midwest Thoroughbreds' Work All Week, winner of the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) last year en route to an Eclipse Award as champion sprinter, is expected to run opening day in a bid to repeat in the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III). He is trained by Roger Brueggemann.

Midwest also owns and Brueggemann trains The Pizza Man, who is undefeated in three races this year. The Arlington Million winner is expected to go postward Oct. 3 in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT).

The Oct. 2 program features the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and the Phoenix at six furlongs.

Here is the list of stakes probable starters as compiled by Keeneland racing secretary Ben Huffman and stakes coordinator Allison DeLuca:

Friday, Oct. 2:

$400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I, Win and You're In Juvenile Fillies Division): Probables are Chief Attraction, Dothraki Queen, Gomo, Marquee Miss, Midnight On Oconee, Put Da Blame On Me. Possible starters are Delicate Lady, Pretty N Cool, Princess Kennedy, Thrilled.



$250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III, Win and You're In Sprint Division): Probables are A. P. Indian, Alsvid, Barbados, Fast Anna, Holy Boss, Nates Mineshaft, Runhappy, Waco, and Work All Week. 



Saturday, Oct. 3:

$1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT, Win and You're In Mile Division): Probables are Dutch Connection, Grand Arch, Grand Tito, Heart to Heart, Jack Milton, Kelinni, King Kreesa, Seek Again, Smarty's Echo, The Pizza Man, and War Envoy.

$500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I, Win and You're In Juvenile Division): Probables are Brody's Cause, Exaggerator, Gametown, Hawkbill, Sticksstatelydude, Threefiveindian, Uncle Jerry, and Uncle Vinny. Possible starters are Discreetness, Mt Veeder, and Wild Man.

$400,000 First Lady Stakes (gr. IT): Probables are Crowley's Law, Easter, Jealous Cat, Kiss Moon, Outstanding, She's Not Here, Solid Appeal, and Tepin. Possible starters are Filimbi and Tango Time.

$250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II, Win and You're In Filly and Mare Sprint Division): Probables are Brown Eyed Mary, Fioretti, Judy the Beauty, Leigh Court, Spelling Again, and Sweet Whiskey. Uzziel is possible for the race.

$150,000 Woodford Stakes presented by Keeneland Select (gr. IIIT): Probables are Billy Two Hats, Bobby's Kitten, Cyclogenisis, Hogy, Holy Lute, Marchman, Mongolian Saturday, Obsidian Splendor, Something Extra, Stacked Deck, Summation Time, Sylven Park, and The Great War. Possible starters are Channel Marker and Pure Sensation.

Sunday, Oct. 4:

$500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I, Win and You're In Distaff Division): Probables are Diva's Diamond, Frivolous, Got Lucky, Lovely Maria, Tiz Windy, Untapable, and Yahilwa. Mei Ling is a possible starter.

$250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT, Win and You're In Juvenile Turf Division): Probables are Airoforce, Finnegan, Hot Ore, Hunter O'Riley, Sallisaw, Surgical Strike, Unbridled Daddy, and Uncle Brennie. Camelot Kitten is possible for the race.