Keeneland’s 2013 fall meet opens October 4 with the start of Fall Stars Weekend, which features nine graded stakes worth $3.15 million over three days. Five Fall Stars stakes are Grade 1 events: the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades on October 4; the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile, $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity, and $400,000 First Lady on October 5; and the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster on October 6.
Eclipse Award winners Wise Dan and Groupie Doll are among the horses considered as probable participants when Keeneland kicks off its 17-day meet Friday highlighted by Fall Stars Weekend.
Nine graded stakes, five of them Grade 1, are scheduled for Friday through Sunday (Oct. 4-6), with seven of the stakes being Win and You’re In races for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be held November 1-2 at Santa Anita.
Morton Fink’s 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan tops the list of probables on stakes coordinator Allison DeLuca’s list for the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) to be run Saturday. Considered as definite to oppose Wise Dan are Silver Max, Skyring, Summer Front and Willcox Inn with Nikki’s Sandcastle, Sayaad, Turallure and Whatthecatdrugin listed as possible.
Groupie Doll heads the list of likely starters for the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a race she won last year as a springboard to success in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Considered as likely to challenge Groupie Doll on Saturday are Gypsy Robin, Judy the Beauty, Livi Makenzie, Purely Hot and Tanglewood Tale.
Possible lineups for the remaining Fall Stars stakes as compiled by DeLuca follows:
Friday, Oct. 4
Darley Alcibiades (G1) – Likely: Designer Legs, Maria Maria, My Conquestadory, Richies Party Girl, Rosalind, She’s Offlee Good,Sweetsoutherndame, Thank You Marylou. Possible: Battlefield Angel, Granny Mc’s Kitten, Lien On Kitten.
Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3) – Likely: Gentleman’s Bet, Ghost Is Clear, Go Blue Or Go Home, Laugh Track, Laurie’s Rocket, Marchman, Occasional View, Winning Cause, Xbalanque. Possible: Central Banker, Console.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity(G1) – Likely: Arctic Slope, General Jack, Give No Quarter, Laddie Boy, Lunarwarfare, Oogeley Eye, Solitary Ranger, Tiznowforamerica, We Miss Artie. Possible: Bro Rodrigeaux, Conquest Titan.
First Lady (G1) – Likely: Better Lucky, Daisy Devine, Dayatthespa, Hungry Island, Miz Ida, Say (IRE), Solid Appeal. Possible: Assateague, Samitar (GB), Unavailable.
Woodford (G3) – Likely: Stormofthecentury.
Sunday, Oct. 6
Juddmonte Spinster (G1) – Likely: Byrama (GB), Closing Range, Emollient, Hard Not to Like, Hard to Resist, On Fire Baby, Open Water, Sisterly Love, Summer Applause, Wine Princess. Possible: Discreet Marq.
Bourbon (G3) – Likely: All Cash, Bashart, Boji Moon, Poker Player, Solar Flair.