Wealthy Strike, seen posing the morning after his Kentucky Derby win, returns in Saturday’s Grade I Clark Stakes with an opportunity to stake a declare for year-end honors. Photograph courtesy of Churchill Downs

Talking of Japan, Sunday’s Grade 1 Japan Cup appears like a uncommon window of alternative for overseas runners. And the fields are set for what guarantees to be one other aggressive version of the Longines Hong Kong Worldwide Races.

And … who’s the 2022 Large Sport of Turfdom? See “Information and Notes” under.

Traditional

Is it potential that Wealthy Strike, winless since his wonderful Kentucky Derby victory and nonetheless eligible for a “non-winners of two other-than,” remains to be a stable contender for the 3-year-old male Eclipse Award?

Nicely, “stable” may be a slight stretch however let’s examine how he does in Friday’s $750,000 Grade I Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs earlier than writing him off.

The Eager Ice colt clearly loves the Churchill Downs floor. In three spins over it, he has two wins, together with the Run for the Roses, and a head-bob second to Scorching Rod Charlie within the Grade II Lukas Traditional Oct. 1. He was final seen ending fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Keeneland.

The opposite six within the Clark are all good horses but when Wealthy Strike can repeat his Derby or Lukas Traditional run, he might be robust to beat. And, ought to he win, he’d have the “tiebreaker” on two different candidates for the Eclipse Award — Epicenter and Taiba, second and twelfth within the Derby, respectively — and two Grade I wins, which is another than Epicenter and the identical as Taiba.

Who ya gonna name?

In different weekend motion within the Traditional division:

Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Berkeley Handicap, 1 1/16 miles on the Golden Gate Fields all-weather, has simply 5 entries and little to separate them.

Defunded, recent off a win within the Grade I Superior Once more at Santa Anita, will attempt to repeat in Sunday’s $150,000 Grade III Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar. The competitors contains final yr’s winner, Azul Coast, and Newgrange, who wheels again on three weeks’ relaxation after a win on the Santa Anita grime.

Sunday’s $150,000 Discovery Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct has a pleasant subject of seven and not using a standout. Eloquist gained his final two begins at Parx Racing and Delaware Park.

Distaff

Already within the books: Performed Laborious, the odds-on favourite, led all through the 1 1/8 miles of Thursday’s $500,000 Grade III Falls Metropolis at Churchill Downs and stored going to win by 1 size over Bellamore.

She’s All Wolfe got here from final of six to complete third. Performed Laborious, a 4-year-old Into Mischief filly, received dwelling in 1:49.39 with Joel Rosario up for coach Philip Bauer.

Kathleen O returns to motion in Friday’s $175,000 Grade III Comely Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct at 1 1/8 miles. The Upstart filly gained her first 5 begins, however then completed fifth within the Kentucky Oaks earlier than going to the sidelines and faces seven in her return.

Turf

Friday’s $250,000 Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar has native favourite Dicey Mo Chara and New York invader The Gray Wizard in opposition to 5 different rivals going 1 1/2 miles.

Saturday’s $300,000 Grade II Purple Smith at Aqueduct drew a full subject to deal with 1 3/8 miles regardless of the presence of 5-2 morning-line favourite Soldier Rising.

The 4-year-old Frankel gelding will get some reduction after two good efforts in Grade I affairs. Additionally have a look at Astronaut and Mooney Love, the latter making his second begin for Invoice Mott after racing earlier in Italy and Germany.

Saturday’s $250,000 Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar has loads of expertise packed right into a nine-horse subject. What it would not have is a transparent favourite with the oddsmaker bunching 5 of the 9 at 5-1 or much less on the morning line.

Santin, the Grade I Arlington Million (at Churchill Downs) winner, will get the lukewarm 3-1 nod regardless of ending ninth in his most up-to-date begin within the Grade I Turf Mile at Keeneland.

Eleven 3-year-olds are on deck for Sunday’s $300,000 Grade III Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs. None is in significantly scorching type besides Barberini, who has gained three in a row nicely down the category ladder.

For the sports activities followers, the sector contains Stolen Base, Play Motion Move, Working Bee and Trademark. Good luck. Additionally, take into account Actuator.

Filly & Mare Turf

Within the books: Dalika bounced again from a sixth-place end in her earlier begin at Keeneland to win Thursday’s $300,000 Grade III Cardinal at Churchill Downs by 1 3/4 lengths over Perseverancia. The favourite, Adventuring, was third.

A 6-year-old, German-bred mare, Dalika ran 1 1/8 miles on agency turf in 1:50.61 below Brian Hernandez Jr. In eight appearances at Churchill downs, she has missed a top-two end solely as soon as. The wins embrace this yr’s Grade I Beverly D.

Additionally within the leger: Bellestreet Bridle pressed the early tempo in Thursday’s $150,000 Grade III Purple Carpet Stakes at Del Mar, took over when requested by jockey Flavien Prat and ran on to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

Quattrolle was better of the remaining, a neck in entrance of Queen ofthe Temple, with the favourite, Sister Otoole, fourth. Bellestreet Bridle, a 3-year-old, British-bred filly by Sir Percy, received 1 3/8 miles of agency turf in 2:15.67.

Friday’s $300,000 Grade III Lengthy Island at Aqueduct has six distaffers tackling 1 3/8 miles. Outstanding is Temple Metropolis Terror, a 6-year-old Temple Metropolis mare exiting a win within the Grade III Dowager at Keeneland. Chad Brown has three, together with Rocky Sky and Capital Construction, first and second within the latest Grade III Waya over the course.

Eleven 3-year-old fillies signed up for Friday’s $300,000 Grade II Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs, assuming the turf observe is prepared to be used after many months of hand-wringing concerning the situation of the floor.

California Angel and Bubble Rock are the morning-line favorites. Small World Division: These two completed eleventh and twelfth in final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Turf Dash

A full subject plus extras is available for Friday’s $150,000, 6-furlongs Aqueduct Turf Dash Championship. Recognizable names embrace Unhealthy Beat Brian, Skinny White Duke, Chewing Gum and Gear Jockey however it’s a wide-open occasion.

Sunday’s $150,000 Autumn Days Stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct has a predominant subject of 11 plus 4 “predominant observe solely” entries to go 6 furlongs.

Dash

Already run: Surveillance outfinished the favourite, Coronary heart Rhythm, by 1/2 size to win Thursday’s $175,000 Thanksgiving Traditional at Truthful Grounds. Chattalot received dwelling third as Surveillance, a 5-year-old Structure gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a quick observe in 1:09.93 with James Graham driving for coach Keith Desormeaux.

Seven signed on for Saturday’s $175,000 Grade III Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. Runninsonofagun and Issue It In are the early picks for the 6 furlongs after working 1-2 within the Grade III Daring Ruler of their final begin.

Already within the books: Tejano Twist rallied from final of 11 to win Monday’s $250,000 Metal Valley Dash at Mahoning Valley by 1/2 size over Knocker Down. Tejano Twist, a 4-year-old Sensible Joke gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a quick observe in 1:10.38 with Chris Landeros driving for coach Chris Hartman.

Filly & Mare Dash

Already within the books: Disco Ebo pressed the tempo in Monday’s $100,000 Youngstown Oaks at Mahoning Valley, took the lead within the lane and gained by 1 1/2 lengths from the favourite, My Kentucky Woman. Disco Ebo, a Weigelia filly, received 6 furlongs on a quick observe in 1:11.50 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up.

Juvenile

Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs is the primary “Street to the Kentucky Derby” race because the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The 1 1/16-mile occasion awards factors on the 10-4-3-2-1 scale.

9 are set for the race, a number of of them coming off comparatively poor showings in latest graded stakes elsewhere.

Of word are On the spot Espresso, a Bolt d’Oro colt from the Brad Cox barn who was fourth within the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity, gained by later Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Forte, and Curly Jack, fifth within the Breeders’ Cup after successful the Grade III Iroquois below the Twin Spires in September. Freedom Path is 2-for-2 however each races have been on the Aqueduct grass.

Saturday’s $120,000 Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct is contested at 1 mile on the turf. Ten are entered and it will be robust to eradicate any certainly one of them proper off the highest. The morning line displays that with Basic Jim, an Into Mischief colt, looking for his third win in a row because the morning-line favourite at 7-2.

Saturday’s $200,000 Edward Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs, 6 1/2 furlongs, has a subject of seven with some reducing again in distance, one attempting a brand new floor and none making a compelling case.

Acoustic Ave, a Maclean’s Music colt, stands out amongst seven entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Pocket book Stakes at Aqueduct with three wins from 4 begins.

Saturday’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse is the primary of 4 races within the “Japan Street to the Kentucky Derby”. Final yr’s sequence did not flip up a runner for Louisville and, all through its historical past, the Japan Street has had solely minimal impression on the Run for the Roses.

Nonetheless, Japanese racing officers, in a nod to worldwide competitors, are reorganizing their grime competitors, primarily run below the auspices of the Nationwide Affiliation of Racing, into an formally acknowledged Triple Crown.

One of many 4 races within the Churchill Downs-sanctioned sequence at the moment is run at an NAR observe. CDI officers informed traders two years in the past they deliberate to increase this sequence and the companion “European Street to the Kentucky Derby” however nothing has occurred but. We’ll see.

Juvenile Fillies

Saturday’s $400,000 Grade II Golden Rod at Churchill Downs has 10 fillies set to go 1 1/16 miles together with Fairly Mischievous and Hoosier Philly, each 2-for-2. A number of others have been examined in graded stakes and search for a step ahead.

Amongst these is the Chris Block-trained Knockyoursocksoff, second within the Grade II Jessamine at Keeneland after lacking the break. She makes her first begin on the grime. American Rockette and Mustang Woman final competed within the Grade I Frizette at Aqueduct and Grade I Alcibiades at Keeneland, respectively.

Key of Life involves Saturday’s $200,000 Fern Creek at Churchill Downs off three straight wins together with the Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland in her final. Six are entered to go 6 1/2 furlongs.

Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Mazarine Stakes has a aggressive subject of seven to 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine all-weather however three of them are cross-entered within the open Gray Stakes earlier on this system (see above).

Additionally of word on this bunch: Friday’s $200,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred fillies at Penn Nationwide, Friday’s $50,000 Golden Gate Debutante at Golden Gate Fields, 6 furlongs on the all-weather and Sunday’s $120,000 Tepin Stakes, 1 mile on the Aqueduct turf.

Around the globe, across the clock

Japan

Sunday’s Grade 1 Japan Cup appears like a golden alternative for a overseas customer to win the celebrated race for the primary time since Alkaased in 2005. Japanese runners have dominated the Japan Cup ever since, normally leaving the abroad challengers nicely up the observe.

This yr, the worm might flip. The Japanese crew appears the least spectacular in a few years whereas three of the 4 worldwide runners have already got Grade I wins within the financial institution and seem in good type.

Shahryar, a 4-year-old Deep Affect colt, is essentially the most imposing of the locals with wins within the 2021 Yushun Himba or Japanese Derby and this yr’s Group 1 Dubai Sheema Traditional.

However in his final two, he was fourth within the Grade I Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and fifth within the Grade I Tenno Sho (Autumn) on his return to Japan.

French-trained mare Grand Glory not solely outran Shahryar within the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, ending a head in entrance of him in third, but additionally completed third in final yr’s Japan Cup — an expertise that may present precious expertise for each the mare and her connections.

It is nonetheless a troublesome ask for any overseas horse to ship in and the locals are seasoned and skilled. That is all the time an important race and it is even higher when it serves its unique function of teeing up worldwide competitors.

Hong Kong

The worldwide raiders have been introduced for the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong Worldwide races and, as anticipated, the locals could have some robust worldwide rivals there, too.

The marquee race would be the Mile, with Hong Kong’s brightest star and his most promising rival — Golden Sixty and California Spangle — defending the house pitch in opposition to the likes of Japan’s Salios, Schnellmeister and Danon Scorpion, in addition to England’s two-time Group 1 winner Saffron Seashore. This ought to be a extremely good one.

Romantic Warrior might be Hong Kong’s predominant hope within the 2,000-meters Cup with 5 Japanese rivals plus Eire’s Order of Australia and others out to dislodge his crown.

Hong Kong has gained seven of the final eight runnings of the 1,200-meter Dash and appears nicely positioned to increase that dominance with Wellington and Fortunate Sweynesse main the best way. Japan has three Grade 1 winners within the subject and Singapore additionally might be represented.

The two,400-meter Vase normally is the perfect probability for foreigners as the space is seldom run in Hong Kong. Eire’s maestro, Aidan O’Brien, fields Broome, Bolshoi Ballet and Stone Age whereas Japan’s Glory Vase will chase a 3rd win within the occasion.

Information and Notes

Cody Dorman, the 16-year-old namesake of Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile winner Cody’s Want, has been named 2022 Large Sport of Turfdom by the Turf Publicists of America. The honors an individual or group of people that enhances protection of Thoroughbred racing by cooperation with media and racing publicists.

Dorman was born with a uncommon genetic dysfunction and is unable to stroll or talk with out using a pill. He met a then-unnamed Curlin foal when Godolphin hosted Cody and his household throughout Keeneland’s Make-A-Want Day.

They bonded instantly and lent one another power by the connection. Cody’s Want has by no means misplaced a race with Cody in attendance.

“Cody has dropped at the forefront what it means to be robust and courageous in his private life in addition to highlighting the extraordinary interplay that happens between horses and people,” TPA President Wendy Davis stated. “He offers inspiration to us all.”