It’s opening weekend at Keeneland, and one of the premier meets in the country boasts a stellar Saturday program. We’ve got 11 races on tap, including five graded stakes that serve as key preps for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
One of the feature events on Saturday’s stakes-packed card at Aqueduct is the $400,000 Frizette Stakes, an important prep race for the Oct. 31 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
On Friday at Aqueduct’s “Belmont at the Big A” race meet, 11 talented 2-year-olds will race 1 1/16 miles on turf in the $200,000, Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Oct. 31.
There’s a reason why #3 Tommy Jo (2-5) is an overwhelming favorite to win Friday’s $650,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes on opening day of the Keeneland fall meet: she’s the fastest filly in the field.
The $500,000 Champagne Stakes is one of New York’s most prestigious races for 2-year-olds and has been for over a century. The one-turn mile race will be held again this year at Aqueduct, substituting for under-construction Belmont Park, as part of the Belmont at the Big A meet.
