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10-05-2009, 10:09 AM
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Keeneland Opening Weekend Stakes Probables
This just about sums up who's pointing to them by Marty McGee.
Fatal Bullet is not included but he's on track for the Phoenix on Friday LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Nine graded stakes, all but one of them guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Breeders' Cup, are set for the three-day opening weekend at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., where the 17-day fall meet will get away to its customary fast start Friday. Two stakes will be run on both the Friday and Sunday cards, bookending a Saturday program that will include five stakes, three of them Grade 1's. All nine stakes except the Woodford on Saturday carry Win and You're In designations toward the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. Here is a quick early look at what has become known as FallStars Weekend at the front-loaded Keeneland meet: * Grade 1, $500,000 Darley Alcibiades (Friday): Beautician, runner-up in the Grade 1 Spinaway, and the undefeated Chicago filly She Be Wild are among the 2-year-old fillies ready for this 1 1/16-mile race. * Grade 3, $250,000 Phoenix (Friday): This six-furlong fixture is likely to get Capt. Candyman Can, Greeley's Conquest, and My Pal Charlie among a short field. * Grade 1, $600,000, Shadwell Turf Mile (Saturday): Justenuffhumor brings his six-race winning streak to the richest race of the meet, which also will get a short field, including Mr. Sidney. Sterwins, coming off a 3rd place finish in the Woodbine Mile will also be in the field. * Grade 1, $500,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (Saturday): Backtalk, Dixie Band, and Stately Victor are among the known prospects in what should be a sizable field in this 1 1/16-mile race, considering 44 2-year-olds are nominated. * Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady (Saturday): Defending divisional champion Forever Together will be a solid favorite over Acoma, Diamondrella, My Princess Jess, and maybe a few other fillies and mares in this one-mile turf race. * Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (Saturday): Informed Decision should be odds-on in this six-furlong race, for which just 19 fillies and mares were nominated. * Grade 3, $125,000 Woodford (Saturday): This should be one of the more competitive races of the weekend, with 26 older turf-sprint specialists having been nominated, including Awakino Cat, Chamberlain Bridge, Fort Prado, and Mr. Nightlinger. * Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (Sunday): Icon Project passed on the Beldame at Belmont in favor of this 1 1/8-mile race and should be a solid favorite in what looks like another short- to mid-sized field. * Grade 3, $125,000 Bourbon (Sunday): This 1 1/16-mile turf race should be quite competitive, with Family Foundation, Gleam of Hope, and Scottkeith'skitten among the 35 2-year-olds nominated. The fall meet runs through Oct. 31, with Mondays and Tuesdays dark. Subsequent races of note include the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 17, the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run on Oct. 24, and the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 31. Keeneland announced Friday that it will provide simulcast outlets a full 15-camera high-definition production of all its races. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ory?id=4527064 NT 
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