Fallstars Weekend concludes with three more graded stakes races, headlined by the grade 1 Juddmonte Spinter, the most profilic prep race for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Good luck!
1st Race
1- Lil Trick ran the best race of his career off a long layoff and if he runs back to that effort, he can certainly win this. 7-Capital Connection has been consistent throughout the year and he comes off back-to-back runnerup efforts at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park. 4-Captain Mercury ran well to win at Colonial two back, then shipped to Churchill to face better and endured a wide trip. He can improve with Irad Ortiz in the saddle.
2nd Race
8-Maginnesontap faces maiden-claiming company for the first time in the second start off a layoff for the Walsh barn. And this one ran well on the main track here in the spring. 1-Get Them Roses drops out of straight maiden company, too, and moves into the Will Walden barn. 4-Private Show lost the rider last time so focus on the previous effort at this level back in July and he ran one of his best races behind a next-out winner.
3rd Race
8-Terrapin Station has never raced at a level this low and that class drop could be the ticket to the winner's circle. Draw a line through his last outing and the 2026 form looks good enough to win this. 2-State Conceal shipped here from Colonial last fall and just missed getting the win. His early speed from this post position should serve him well in this spot. 7-Kokomo Joe ran his best race on the Keeneland main track in the spring and the Sims barn has solid numbers off this kind of layoff.
4th Race
2-Just a Holiday has a pedigree to relish two turns and he had trouble at the start in his only race on dirt. It's the Ward barn and this one appears to be training well over the Keeneland surface. 7-Belzoni just missed winning first time out and then caught a bear in the second start. This one, too, should improve with added distance. 4-Damavand stretches out for his second start and the pedigree says he should like it. 11-Patriots Quest improved with added distance in start two but suffered a troubled trip. Forgive the turf experiment at Kentucky Downs and the form says he has a shot.
5th Race
9-Ortley Avenue held his own in stakes company last year and has run well at a lower level in two starts off a long layoff. He's finished first or second in five of six starts for a barn that excels with turf sprinters. 11-Guy Smiley ran big off a long layoff for the Ward barn last month and John Velazquez can work out a trip from this wide post, this one is a major player. 3-Murdock didn't seem to care for the course at Kentucky Downs but otherwise, his form is good and he's won over this turf course.
6th Race
6-Tarantino was the heavy favorite last time at Churchill but his late run could not enable him to overcome a troubled start. That was a softer spot than he had been facing and with a better trip, he can take advantage of that class drop this time out. 4-High Ceiling had a horrendous start in allowance company at Ellis two back but otherwise, his dirt form is very good and Jose Ortiz in the saddle adds to the appeal. 3-Timing Difference drops in class a notch and he's finished in the top three in more than half of his starts.
7th Race
5-Pimlott won first time out and then ran well against winners despite having to overcome traffic issues. And he's trained well out of that race. 11-Tre Italiani finished first here in a race this past spring but he was disqualified and he's continued to run well in three subsequent starts. 8-Embry Show broke his maiden in start four and he's caught some salty fields so winning right back for Baffert would certainly not be a surprise. 3-Ezum had lots of trouble in his first race off a lengthy break so improvement with a clean trip would not be a surprise.
8th Race
Two Ward-trained fillies merits much respect in the grade 3 Indian Summer Stakes. I'll lean to 8-Ruiva off a very good effort in a grade 3 at Del Mar last time out. This one was well regarded off her debut win last spring. 7-Fanshell Beach, like the top choice, ran well on turf at the Royal Ascot meet and this one caught back with a nice lower-level stake win at Ellis. 1-Adonius has shown improved two form in his two starts off a layoff and the Euro shipper gets Johnny V in the saddle.
9th Race
When you start handicapping the Breeders' Cup Distaff each year, it's always good to check on the form from the grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, as no prep has produced more Distaff winners. That trend could continue with either of the top two choices this year. I'll lean to the three-year old, 2-Counting Stars. She was super-impressive in two grade 1 stakes winners this summer after her third in the Kentucky Oaks. Last time out, maybe the added distance did her in but whatever the reason, she's likely to bounce back with her 'A' game. 4-Fully Subscribed's last two races have been her best two and if she runs back to that 106 Beyer last time, she'll give the top choice all she wants.
10th Race
8-Hemingway is the choice to win the grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes. He didn't do any running on the dirt in his debut but he was bet off the board for the next out on the Kentucky Downs turf and he did not disappoint. Trainer Brad Cox says his colt has trained well out of that effort and there's a decent chance today will mark the first two wins on the local turf this month for Hemingway. 9-Blaring Ambition impressed in a last-to-first run in his debut last month and that form makes him a serious contender. 10-Let Em Know broke his maiden second time out and then held his own against grade 1 company at Woodbine. 2-Agate showed much improved form off a freshening.
Buy Tickets