Six Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races Kick off Keeneland Fall Meeting

Fall is in the air and the Breeders’ Cup is less than a month away, which means racing at Keeneland has arrived.

The Fall meeting kicks off on Friday with a pair of graded stakes, and we have six Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races over the first three days of the meet.

Keeneland is celebrating its 75th anniversary season with a 17-day meeting , with most of the big stakes front loaded during the opening weekend of the meeting, nine stakes in total over the first three days, all which likely will have Breeders’ Cup ramifications.

On Friday a field of seven will go six furlongs in the $175,00 Phoenix (G3), a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

The Wesley Ward trained Flashpoint is the 8/5 morning line favorite, looking to rebound off a fifth place finish in the King’s Bishop (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 27.

The three-year-old colt has won two stakes this year, the Hutcheson (G2) in February in his first start against winners, and the Jersey Shore (G3) at Monmouth Park in the mud on July 3.

The son of Pomeroy will be making his first career start over a synthetic surface.

His main rival is going to be Aikinite, who is proven over polytrack. The Todd Pletcher trainee is 3 for 3 over the Keeneland surface including winning the Commonwealth (G2) at the spring meeting.

Friday’s feature is the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for two-year-old fillies, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

The race drew a full field of 14 with one also-eligible, and my selections and analysis are below.

Saturday’s card is outstanding, featuring five graded stakes, three of which are “Win and You’re In” races.

The stakes action kicks off in the fifth race with the $150,000 Woodford (G3), a 5 ½ furlong sprint on the turf which drew a full field.

The Christophe Clement trained Varsity is a tepid 4/1 morning line favorite off a nose loss in the Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park on July 10.

The $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) drew a field of eleven fillies and mares who will go six furlongs on the main track.

Switch ships in from the left coast for John Sadler off a third place finish in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) and is the 9/5 morning line favorite.

The winner earns an automatic stating spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

The Aidan O’Brien trained Together, making her U.S. debut is the 7/2 morning line favorite in the $350,000 First Lady (G1).

Ballston Spa (G2) winner Daveron and Garden City (G1) runner up Theysken’s Theory figure to give her a run for her money.

Another overflowing field will head to the gate in the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), with the winning two-year-old assured a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Arlington Washington Futurity (G3) winner Shared Property and Del Mar Futurity (G1) third place finisher Majestic City figure to vie for favoritism.

Gio Ponti and Sidney’s Candy will square off in the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and a date with facing Goldikova.

Three time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti is winless in four starts this year, his most recent outing a runner up finish in the Arlington Million (G1) behind recently retired Cape Blanco.

Sunday’s feature is the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) which drew a field of 13. The race is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1).

New this fall, “Autumn at Keeneland” presents live coverage from Keeneland over two weekends beginning on Friday, October 7, on VERSUS and culminating with a live broadcast of the track's 75th anniversary on Saturday, October 15, on NBC. VERSUS will have hour-long programs on October 7, 8 and 9 from 5-6 p.m. (ET). The October 15 program on NBC is from 5-6 p.m. (ET).

Additionally, the cable network TVG will feature live coverage of Keeneland each race day beginning at 1 p.m. Fans also can watch the live races streamed on Keeneland.com.

Michael Dempsey provides his full card report for Belmont Park and Keeneland each racing day. Mike’s full card report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations. Get a month of action from the Belmont Park meeting or the entire Keeneland meeting for a special price of $79.95!

Let’s head out to Keeneland for Friday’s featured race of the day:

KEE Race 9 The Darley Alcibiades G1 (5:45 ET)

• Tu Endie Wei 6/1
• And Why Not 5/1
• Sweet Cat 6/1
• Frolic's Revenge 8/1

Analysis: Tu Endie Wei is perfect in two starts over the polytrack at Woodbine, breaking her maiden in her debut, then taking the Ontario Débutante as the short priced favorite. The runner up in that race was Northern passion, who came back to win the Natalma (G3) in her next outing on Sept. 17. She has plenty of pedigree to handle the stretch out to two turns., She is by Johar out of an Indian Charlie mare that has dropped one other foal to race, stakes winner Biofuel ($781K), a five time stakes winner who did her best work going long on poly.

And Why Not broke her maiden in impressive style in her debut at the Spa for the Matz barn that seldom wins first time out. She came back with a third in the Spinaway (G1) in her next start, getting off a beat slow and made a mild late rally to finish third while no threat to the winner Grace Hall, who returned to win the Blue Hen in her next start on Oct. 1 at Delaware Park. The $775K purchase should love the extra ground. She is by Street Cry out of a stakes placed A.P. Indy mare.

Wagering

• WIN: Tu Endie Wei to win at 4/1 or better.
• EX: 4,9 / 4,5,9,10
• TRI: 4,9 / 4,5,9,10 / 1,2,4,5,9,10