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LADIES’ CLASSIC SPOT ON THE LINE IN BELMONT’S RUFFIAN;
TURFWAY’S FALL CHAMPIONSHIP PROVIDES MARATHON BERTH

GO FOR WAND WINNER SEVENTH STREET HEADLINES BELMONT PARK’S RUFFIAN

Saturday’s $300,000, grade I Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park is the first of six races at the meet designated as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifier. The other “Win and You’re In” races to be contested at Belmont Park in the fall are the Gallant Bloom Handicap (Sept. 26), Miss Grillo (Oct. 4), Pilgrim (Oct. 4), Champagne (Oct. 10) and Frizette (Oct. 10).

The 1 1/8-mile Ruffian, to be run around one turn, will provide its winner with an automatic starting berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 6.

The rapidly improving SEVENTH STREET, one of many in Godolphin Stable’s loaded arsenal of stakes winners this year, is the likely Ruffian favorite. Along with stablemate Music Note, who is not expected to run in the Ruffian, Seventh Street was assigned high weight of 122 pounds.

A daughter of Street Cry, Seventh Street enters the Ruffian following a 1 ½-length score in the grade I Go For Wand Handicap at Saratoga Aug. 2. The 4-year-old has won three of five starts this year. In addition to the Go For Wand, Seventh Street won the grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in April. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Seventh Street also captured an allowance race at Aqueduct in her 2009 debut, which was followed by a second-place finish in the grade II Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park in February.

In her lone start at Belmont Park, Seventh Street finished second in the grade I Ogden Phipps Handicap in June, behind the now-sidelined Seattle Smooth.

Also considered definite for the Ruffian is the D. Wayne Lukas-trained BE FAIR (112 pounds). The 3-year-old filly will be taking on older horses for the first time. In her two most recent races, Westrock Stable’s Be Fair won the off-the-turf Lake George at Saratoga and followed with a sixth-place finish in the grade I Alabama. The last 3-year-old to win the Ruffian was Tomisue’s Delight in 1997.

Taking a giant leap in class is EXOTIC INDY (114), a 3-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy trained and owned by Grant Forster. Exotic Indy only exited the maiden ranks in July, and then notched the second win of her seven-race career by capturing the off-the-turf Omnibus Stakes in the slop at Monmouth Park.

Possible Ruffian starters include New York-bred DON’T FORGET GIL, the runner-up to Funny Moon in the grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont in July, SKYLIGHTER (116), a grade II winner for trainer Graham Motion, and the well-bred but untested in stakes SOLO PIANO (114), a daughter of Empire Maker out of champion Flute.

DOMINICAN AMONG TURFWAY PARK FALL CHAMPIONSHIP PROBABLES

The Turfway Park fall meet gets underway Wednesday in Florence, Ky., and opening week will be highlighted by Saturday’s $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship, a “Win and You’re In” designated race for the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park.

Among the probables for the grade III, 12-furlong Fall Championship to be run on Polytrack are DOMINCAN, ELEUTERIO, GANGBUSTER, RAN RAN RAN and SUPER CLASS (BRZ).

Trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to run either ALAAZO or NITE LIGHT.

The Darrin Miller-trained Dominican won the 2007 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in an upset over Street Sense, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby in his next start.

A 5-year-old son of El Corredor, Dominican has earned $739,383 during his career, and has a record of 4-3-6 from 20 starts. The gelding finished third in last year’s Fall Championship for owners Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton.

Delightful Kiss, who won last year’s Fall Championship, finished fourth in the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park.

Entries for the race will be taken Wednesday.

COUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A list of the upcoming major stakes races this week:

BREEDERS’ CUP LADIES’ CLASSIC DIVISION

Sept. 12 - $300,000 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park. Run at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP TURF DIVISION

Sept. 11 - $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park. Run at 1 3/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DIVISION

Sept. 9 - $200,000 Palomar Handicap at Del Mar. Run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

Sept. 12 - $300,000 Garden City at Belmont Park. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yos fillies.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE SPRINT DIVISION

Sept. 12 - $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters at Presque Isle. Run at 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Sept. 12 - $150,000 Endine at Delaware Park. Run at 6 furlongs for fillies and mares.

BREEDERS’ CUP MARATHON DIVISION

Sept. 12 - $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship at Turfway Park. Run at 1 ½ miles for 3yos & up.

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“They Said It”

“I liked the way he behaved today. This is all the racing for him for now. I want to keep him real sharp for the Breeders’ Cup. You know, trainers live for the Classics and the Breeders’ Cups.”
-Bob Baffert speaking about Zensational following the 3-year-old’s scintillating victory in the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar, one of two Breeders’ Cup Challenge wins for the Hall of Fame trainer over the weekend. On Sunday, 24-1 Richard’s Kid earned as spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic following his shocking win in the Pacific Classic.