By J.N. Campbell
Tickets, please! Keeneland's fall meet has the turnstiles primed Friday and that means the featured GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes will fill the apron on what promises to be massive weekend with some 30 graded races across North America–half of which have Breeders' Cup implications.
The signature top-level race at the site of the Old Keene Farm was named for a foundational mare who was bred at Hal Price Headley's Beaumont–where modern-day Mill Ridge resides. Alcibiades won the 1930 Kentucky Oaks for Headley, who was one the Keeneland Association's founders and its president from 1935 to 1951.
Looking to honor this mare's legacy, throw down around two turns for the first time and earn a “Win and You're In” spot for the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a field of seven after The Queens M G (Thousand Words) elected to stay in New York for the GI Frizette Stakes on Saturday.
Godolphin homebred Immersive (Nyquist) makes a strong case for why she is the Alcibiades deserving favorite after the Brad Cox trainee won over the mud in the GI Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on the last day of August. The runner-up that day was 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon). The Shortleaf homebred earned that badge of distinction with a maiden-breaking score by 6 1/4 lengths upstate Aug. 4.
“We could tell she was special,” said Quietside's trainer John Ortiz. “She just looked the part. We watched her train, and she had the right attitude. Sure enough when she started breezing, you could see all of her ability starting to shine through. I told [Shortleaf owner] Mr. John Ed Anthony 'this one might have it' and she has proven me right.”
Immersive over Quietside at the Spa | Sarah Andrew
As this pair renew their rivalry, the Spinaway's third-place finisher Sherbini (Cairo Prince) has also drawn. The rest of the field appears intriguing with second-out winner Quickick (McKinzie), GIII Pocahontas Stakes runner-up Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map), undefeated Continuity (Speightster) and surface switcher Rich City Girl (City of Light).
The Keeneland card also includes the GIII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes which offers entry into the newly sponsored GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint.
On top of the morning-line odds is Nakatomi (Firling Line) who has enjoyed three wins over the local course. The gelding trained by Wesley Ward was the runner-up in the Phoenix last year and he comes back to Keeneland off a score in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga in late July.
Looking to net his first graded stakes is Federal Judge (Army Mule). The WinStar and Siena Farms 4-year-old ran up the score by six lengths against optional claimers at the Spa Aug. 31. Also, it would not be a Keeneland meet without some invaders from Gulfstream Park. Comedy Town (Speightstown) and Swirvin (Girvin) will represent the Sunshine State under trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
The Haggin Turf Course will once again host the GII Jessamine Stakes and up for grabs is a pass to GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The last time trainer Rusty Arnold celebrated a Jessamine win it was in 2018 with Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy). Six years on, Arnold rolls into Keeneland with Totally Justified (Justify) who won the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 28.
The filly is up against a field which includes a trio of Kentucky Downs debut winners in Isle of Capri (Munnings), Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) and Correto (English Channel). May Day Ready (Tapit) won the bob over Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) at Saratoga in early August, then the 2-year-old captured the Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs. Both will see one another again in the Jessamine.
One More For Good Measure
Not to be left out of the 'Win and You're In' festivities on Friday is the GIII Futurity Stakes at the Big A. With passage to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at stake, the field sports a pair from Todd Pletcher's shedrow.
Gate to Wire (Munnings) did not quite live up to his name, but the colt did graduate at first asking for Donegal Racing at the Spa Aug. 30. Trying turf for the first time is stablemate Mentee (City of Light), a full-brother to last year's champion 2-year-old Fierceness. The Repole homebred was well-beaten in the GI Hopeful Stakes upstate as the meet closed.
Not to be overlooked are a pair with a bit of history. Under Who's Radar (Violence), who was taken down and placed second after he was disqualified in the Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 1, will get another crack at the horse who benefitted from his foul, Chasing Liberty (Constitution).
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