Fields Shaping Up for Super Saturday Card
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Belmont Park's TVG Super Saturday card Sept. 27 looks to be shaping up as a stellar day of racing with a number of elite runners listed as likely to compete in six graded stakes, including five grade I races, worth combined purses of $3.4 million.
Of the top-level races on Super Saturday, four are Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" events, including the card's marquee race, the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).
The 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), is expected to attract V. E. Day, Wicked Strong, and Tonalist, the top three finishers of the Travers (gr. I) Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course. Also probable are Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno, Suburban Handicap (gr. II) victor Zivo, Big Cazanova, Last Gunfighter, Prayer for Relief, and Stephanoatsee. Speak Logistics is possible.
Fillies and mares will travel 1 1/8 miles in the $400,000 Beldame (gr. I). Stopchargingmaria, victorious in the Alabama and Coaching Club American Oaks (both gr. I) at Saratoga, is slated to take on older runners for the first time. Probables also include Delaware Handicap (gr. I) winner Belle Gallantey, Hot Stones, and Stanwyck.
A star-studded field is expected for the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT), a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). The prospective lineup for the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon is likely to feature last year's runner-up Big Blue Kitten and Sword Dancer (gr. IT) winner Main Sequence.
Big Blue Kitten, trained by Chad Brown for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, returned off a 10-month layoff to take the 1 1/16-mile Lure Stakes Aug. 2 at Saratoga and was a fast-closing second in the 1 1/8-mile Cliff Hanger (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park. Main Sequence enters the Turf Classic off victories in the United Nations (gr. IT) at Monmouth and the Sword Dancer, both races having been won by Big Blue Kitten in 2013.
The field is also likely to include multiple grade I winner Real Solution, whose lone win on the year came in the grade I Knob Creek Manhattan at Belmont, former 1 1/2-mile world record holder Twilight Eclipse and graded stakes winners Hangover Kid, Medal Count, and Micromanage.
Another Brown/Ramsey horse, Stephanie's Kitten, is likely to headline the $600,000 Flower Bowl (gr. IT) at 1 1/4 miles on turf for fillies and mares. The race is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Stephanie's Kitten is winless in 2014, but has finished second in each of her past two starts, the TVG Diana (gr. IT) at Saratoga and the Beverly D. (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse. The 5-year-old daughter of Kitten's Joy became a grade I winner last year in the Just a Game at Belmont, but her season ended prematurely after a third-place finish in the Diana on July 27.
The 1-2 finishers from the Ballston Spa (gr. IIT) at Saratoga are both expected to enter the Flower Bowl. Abaco, a neck winner of the Ballston Spa, will likely represent Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, while runner-up Strathnaver is probable for trainer H. Graham Motion.
Rounding out the list of probables are Alterite, also trained by Brown, and Tannery, second in this race a year ago. Either Aigue Marine or Irish Mission, both trained by Christophe Clement, is anticipated to be among the field, with the other going to Santa Anita Park's Rodeo Drive (gr. IT), also Sept. 27.
In the $400,000 Vosburgh (gr. I), a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), New York-bred Palace will shoot for his third straight grade I victory.
Expected to line up against the Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Forego (both gr. I) winner are Happy My Way, unraced since finishing second as the favorite in the Vanderbilt on Aug. 2; Clearly Now, beaten favorite in the Forego; 3-year-old Coup de Grace, winner of the Amsterdam (gr. II) who next was third as the 2-1 choice in the Ketel One King's Bishop (gr. I); Carter (gr. I) winner Dads Caps; Private Zone, winner of last year's Vosburgh; and Ribo Bobo, who will be making his Belmont debut.
Woodward (gr. I) winner Itsmyluckyday will be taking an unconventional route to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) as he heads the field for the $400,000 Kelso (gr. II) at a mile. Likely to challenge the Lawyer Ron colt are Ack Ack (gr. II) winner Bradester, who has a 3-2-0 line in seven starts this year; Capo Bastone, most recently fourth in the Forego; River Rocks, returning to graded stakes company off a career- and field-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure last time out at Saratoga; Scarly Charly, winner of a one-mile allowance in July at Belmont, and Vyjack, stretching out a furlong after finishing third in the Forego.