Weekend Stakes Rundown: Woodbine's Grade 1 Sunday

Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week top-level grass races at Woodbine and Keeneland are the main events. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews can be found through the link for each race.

Saturday, Oct. 14

4:46 p.m.—$150,000 Futurity Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park

Sagamore Farm and Stanley Hough's Barry Lee will switch surfaces in search of his first graded victory. After a 6 1/2-length debut win at Laurel Park in July, the Violence  colt finished a far-back eighth in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Coors Light (G2), then came back to win the Arlington-Washington Futurity on the Arlington International Racecourse synthetic main track Sept. 9.

Entries: Futurity S. (G3)

Belmont Park, Saturday, October 14, 2017, Race 8

• Grade III
• 6f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 2 yo
• 4:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Red Peril (KY)	Luca Panici	118	Rohan Crichton	12/1
2	2Happy Like a Fool (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	115	Wesley A. Ward	5/2
3	3Barry Lee (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Horacio DePaz	5/1
4	4Mojovation (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
5	5Smooth B (PA)	Paco Lopez	120	Robert E. Reid, Jr.	15/1
6	6Engage (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Chad C. Brown	2/1

5:19 p.m.—$200,000 Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park

Hope Jones' Party Boat is one of the most accomplished 3-year-old fillies in the field, with graded placings in the Aug. 19 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) and July 21 Lake George Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course in her previous two starts.

Entries: Pebbles S.

Belmont Park, Saturday, October 14, 2017, Race 9

• STK
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:19 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Adorable Miss (KY)	Luis Saez	121	Todd A. Pletcher	6/1
2	2Rubilinda (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Chad C. Brown	8/5
3	3Thais (FR)	John R. Velazquez	121	Chad C. Brown	5/2
4	4Party Boat (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	H. Graham Motion	5/1
5	5Sylphide (KY)	Junior Alvarado	119	Jane Cibelli	20/1
6	6Lido (KY)	Nik Juarez	117	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	20/1
7	7Bellavais (KY)	Manuel Franco	121	James J. Toner	15/1
8	8Dynatail (KY)	Paco Lopez	121	Michael Dini	12/1
9	9Scheme (KY)	Joe Bravo	117	H. James Bond	20/1

5:30 p.m.—$500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland

It wasn't that long ago that La Coronel owned bragging rights over a chunk of her expected foes in the QEII. After toppling the likes of New Money Honey and stablemate Dream Dancing in the April 13 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G3T), she notched a half-length victory in the Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G3T)—a win that led to a trip to Royal Ascot for a run in the June 23 Coronation Stakes (G1), where she finished fifth. She's since finished fourth in the Lake Placid (G2T) and second in the Sands Point (G2T)

Entries: Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. presented by Lane's End (G1T)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 14, 2017, Race 9

• Grade IT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $500,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Con Te Partiro (KY)	Mike E. Smith	121	Wesley A. Ward	30/1
2	2Proctor's Ledge (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	121	Brendan P. Walsh	9/2
3	3Daddys Lil Darling (KY)	Robby Albarado	121	Kenneth G. McPeek	20/1
4	4Dream Dancing (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	121	Mark E. Casse	6/1
5	5Unforgetable Filly (GB)	Josephine Gordon	121	Hugo Palmer	20/1
6	6La Coronel (KY)	Jose Lezcano	121	Mark E. Casse	6/1
7	7Wuheida (GB)	William T. Buick	121	Charles Appleby	4/1
8	8Madam Dancealot (IRE)	Jamie Theriot	121	Richard Baltas	15/1
9	9Beau Recall (IRE)	Joseph Talamo	121	Simon Callaghan	12/1
10	10Uni (GB)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Chad C. Brown	9/2
11	11New Money Honey (KY)	Javier Castellano	121	Chad C. Brown	4/1

6:02 p.m.—$100,000 California Distaff Handicap at Santa Anita Park

Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz's Miss Sunset seeks her third straight California-bred stakes victory, following back-to-back dirt scores in the July 30 Fleet Treat Stakes and Sept. 4 C.E.R.F. Stakes at Del Mar. The Into Mischief  filly is not unfamiliar with the Santa Anita hillside turf course, however, as her victory in the Feb. 12 Sweet Life Stakes over the unique course is one of two stakes she's won on grass.

10:30 p.m.—$350,000 West Virginia Breeders' Classic at Charles Town

After winning the 2015 edition of the West Virginia Breeders' Classic and a second-place finish in 2016, Charitable Annuity will try to win the race for a second time. The 5-year-old Charitable Man gelding has 14 wins overall and five stakes victories, but has just one win from six starts in 2017—a June 8 allowance at Charles Town.

Entries: West Virginia Breeders' Classic S.

Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, Saturday, October 14, 2017, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $350,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 10:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Big Bad Dude (WV)	Darius Thorpe	122	Anthony M. Rideoutt II	20/1
2	2North Atlantic (WV)	Arnaldo Bocachica	122	Jeff C. Runco	3/1
3	3Charitable Annuity (WV)	Christian Hiraldo	122	James W. Casey	9/5
4	4Ello Govna (WV)	Jose Montano	122	Ollie L. Figgins, III	4/1
5	5Rockhopper Penguin (WV)	Jevian Toledo	122	Ronney W. Brown	20/1
6	6Weekend Liberty (WV)	Gerald Almodovar	122	Jeff C. Runco	15/1
7	7Green Time (WV)	Jenn Miller	122	Wayne Potts	20/1
8	8Profit Machine (WV)	Oscar Flores	122	Timothy C. Grams	20/1
9	9Follow the Notion (WV)	Luis A. Batista	122	Gary L. Williams, Jr.	6/1
10	10Blazin Luck (WV)	Xavier Perez	122	Ollie L. Figgins, III	10/1
11	11Navigate (WV)	J. D. Acosta	122	James M. Day	20/1
12	12Run Real Quiet (WV)	Luis A. Batista	122	Gary L. Williams, Jr.	20/1
13	13Charitable Mark (WV)	Jan C. Batista	122	Raimondo Schiano-Dicola	20/1

Sunday, Oct. 15

2:01 p.m.—$150,000 Matron Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park

After an off-the-board finish in her first try at a route, Bruce Tallisman's Take Charge Paula will return to sprinting in the Matron. After a 4 1/4-length debut win July 7 at Monmouth Park, the daughter of Take Charge Indy  captured a three-length win in the White Clay Creek Stakes Aug. 9 at Delaware Park. Take Charge Paula then stretched out in the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs, where she finished 10th.

Entries: Matron S. (G3)

Belmont Park, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 3

• Grade III
• 6f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 2:01 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Tarawa (KY)	Dylan Davis	117	David P. Duggan	15/1
2	2Take Charge Paula (KY)	Nik Juarez	119	Kelly J. Breen	3/1
3	3Happy Like a Fool (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	117	Wesley A. Ward	7/5
4	4Valuable Package (FL)	Wilmer A. Garcia	117	Skip Einhorn	8/1
5	5Honey Graeme (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Richard A. Violette, Jr.	2/1

3:48 p.m.—$250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine

Robert Evans' homebred White Flag has found his best stride sprinting in New York and will ship across the border with hopes he'll continue his roll. The last-out Allied Forces Stakes winner against fellow 3-year-olds Sept. 10 on the grass at Belmont Park will take on graded competition for the first time.

Entries: Nearctic S. (G2T)

Woodbine, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 6

• Grade IIT
• 6f
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:48 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dowse's Beach (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	117	Brad H. Cox	5/2
2	2White Flag (KY)	Joel Rosario	116	Christophe Clement	7/2
3	3Circle of Friends (ON)	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	116	Robert P. Tiller	20/1
4	4Ikerrin Road (IRE)	David Moran	119	Vito Armata	6/1
5	5Conquest Tsunami (ON)	Patrick Husbands	117	Mark E. Casse	8/1
6	6Yorkton (ON)	Jesse M. Campbell	116	Stuart C. Simon	15/1
7	7Cotai Glory (GB)	Oisin Murphy	117	Charles Hills	2/1
8	8Field of Courage (ON)	Luis Contreras	117	Mark E. Casse	15/1

4:21 p.m.—$125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine

Queen's Plate winner Holy Helena will take on males once again in the Ontario Derby, where she'll face Preakness Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Senior Investment. After finishing 3 1/2 lengths in front of fellow Ontario Derby entrant Tiz a Slam in the Queen's Plate, Holy Helena was unsuccessful in her lone grade 1 attempt against fillies in the Aug. 19 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

Entries: Ontario Derby (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 7

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• All Weather Track
• $125,000
• 3 yo
• 4:21 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Gorgeous Kitten (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	117	Michael J. Maker	8/1
2	2Grizzel (IRE)	David Moran	116	Michael J. Doyle	3/1
3	3Guy Caballero (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	119	Catherine Day Phillips	20/1
4	4Senior Investment (KY)	Robby Albarado	119	Kenneth G. McPeek	4/1
5	5Undulated (KY)	Patrick Husbands	117	Mark E. Casse	15/1
6	6Tiz a Slam (ON)	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	117	Roger L. Attfield	6/1
7	7Colonel Samsen (KY)	Patrick Husbands	117	Mark E. Casse	20/1
8	8Holy Helena (ON)	Luis Contreras	118	James A. Jerkens	2/1
9	9Cool Catomine (ON)	Gary Boulanger	119	John A. Ross	12/1

5:28 p.m.—$500,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine

Looking to redeem herself from a seventh-place finish in last year's E. P. Taylor is Nezwaah, who has won two stakes this year, including the July 2 Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) over fellow E. P. Taylor entrant Rain Goddess. The Roger Varian-trained Dubawi filly was most recently fourth behind Enable in the Aug. 24 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1).

Entries: E. P. Taylor S. (G1T)

Woodbine, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 9

• Grade IT
• 1 1/4m
• Turf
• $500,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Kitten's Roar (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Michael J. Maker	12/1
2	2Fourstar Crook (NY)	Javier Castellano	124	Chad C. Brown	8/1
3	3Quidura (GB)	Junior Alvarado	124	H. Graham Motion	3/1
4	4Rainha Da Bateria (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	124	Chad C. Brown	10/1
5	5Sassy Little Lila (KY)	Florent Geroux	124	Brad H. Cox	12/1
6	6Nezwaah (GB)	Andrea Atzeni	124	Roger Varian	5/2
7	7Rain Goddess (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	119	Aidan P. O'Brien	9/2
8	8Blond Me (IRE)	Oisin Murphy	124	Andrew Balding	6/1
9	9Puca (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	William I. Mott	20/1

5:30 p.m.—$70,000 Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Mourinho could not have been much more impressive in a 4 1/2-length debut win Sept. 30 at Santa Anita and the Bob Baffert-trained Super Saver  colt will encounter stakes winner Show It N Moe It in the six-furlong Speakeasy.

Entries: Speakeasy S.

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 5

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $70,000
• 2 yo
• 2:29 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Candy Crew (KY)	Martin A. Pedroza	120	John W. Sadler	4/1
2	2Soul of Discretion (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Jeff Bonde	8/1
3	3Show It N Moe It (CA)	Evin A. Roman	119	Gary Sherlock	6/1
4	4Beautiful Shot (FL)	Kent J. Desormeaux	120	J. Keith Desormeaux	5/2
5	5Here Is Happy (OH)	Joseph Talamo	118	Craig Anthony Lewis	10/1
6	6Mourinho (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Bob Baffert	6/5

6:10 p.m.—$800,000 Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine

Erupt, who provided a 12-1 upset in last year's Canadian International, will look to become the fourth back-to-back winner of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. Other back-to-back winners of the Canadian International are Shepperton (1942-43), George Royal (1965-66), and Joshua Tree (2012-13).

9:15 p.m.—$50,000 Bull Dog Handicap at Fresno

Graded stakes winners Point Piper and G. G. Ryder clash in the closing-day feature at the Big Fresno Fair. One of four Jerry Hollendorfer trainees in the field of eight, G. G. Ryder won the Bull Dog in 2015 and ran second in 2016. With 13 wins from 39 starts and $635,695 in earnings, the 6-year-old son of Chhaya Dance has two graded wins on his résumé—the All American Stakes (G3) in 2015 and 2017.

Entries: Bull Dog H.

Fresno, Sunday, October 15, 2017, Race 7

• STK
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $50,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:52 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Pass Due Payment (CA)	Rocco Bowen	114	Ricardo Perez	20/1
2	2Point Piper (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Jerry Hollendorfer	5/1
3	3Street Moxie (KY)	Catalino Martinez	117	Jonathan Wong	12/1
4	4Street Lad (KY)	Frank T. Alvarado	121	Jerry Hollendorfer	9/2
5	5G. G. Ryder (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	124	Jerry Hollendorfer	3/1
6	6Dixie Pistol (KY)	Pedro M. Terrero	117	Rhoda March	8/1
7	7Force (IRE)	Juan J. Hernandez	125	John F. Martin	5/2
8	8Seattle Serenade (KY)	William Antongeorgi III	119	Jerry Hollendorfer	6/1