Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races didn't produce hot favorites

Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Five Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races, including two for the $7 million Classic, made the Labor Day weekend a labor of love for handicappers, but didn't appear to unearth any hot favorites for the two-day extravaganza in November at Del Mar.

The weekend also saw the first half of the rich, all-grass meeting at Kentucky Downs achieve a major goal of attracting international attention -- in a big way. Saratoga's summer meeting, like summer itself, wound down all too quickly.

Let's look before it's all gone!

Classic

It's probably a safe bet that neither of the weekend's two $1 million Grade I "Win and You're In" races produced a favorite for that November showdown, especially considering the quality of the international competition eyeing the race. Still, there were some hints.

Saturday's Pacific Classic lost its main interest when trainer Bob Baffert scratched his filly, Adare Manor, after she suffered a minor medical issue. In her absence, 22-1 long shot Mixto chased down 8-1 long shot Full Serrano to win by 1/2 length.

Baffert's other entry, Reincarnate, finished third and hasn't won since July of 2023. The favorite, Dr. Venkman, had some traffic issues and finished fourth.

"He gave us a few hints of being a special horse," winning trainer Doug O'Neill said of Mixto, "but today he really validated the horse he is. When you look at his [past performances], he's run in a lot of different places and he's always been surrounding them and today it just unfolded perfectly and Kyle Frey just rode a perfect race."

At Saratoga, Highland Falls emerged from the pack in the stretch run of Sunday's Jockey Club Gold Cup and spurted away to win by 4 lengths over Pyrenees. Disarm completed the all-long shot trifecta with Tapit Trice fourth and the favorite, Arthur's Ride, finishing fifth.

Highland Falls, a 4-year-old Godolphin homebred son of Curlin, ran 1 1/4 miles on a fast track in 2:03.25 with Flavien Prat up for trainer Brad Cox . It was his first Grade 1 victory.

Another prospect for the Nov. 2 Classic: Muth, idle since his Arkansas Derby win, returned with an impressive victory in Sunday's $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar for Baffert.

Turf

Bellum Justum, an Irish-bred colt with Frankie Dettori riding, took charge in the long Kentucky Downs stretch and won Saturday's $3.1 million Grade III DK Horse Nashville Derby by 2 1/4 lengths over Carson's Run. Rothschild finished third in the 1 5/16-mile trip.

Bellum Justum came into the Derby off a runner-up finish in a Group 3 event at Goodwood in England. He finished seventh in this year's Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs.

Gold Phoenix found room along the rail heading for home in Saturday's $300,000 Grade II Del Mar Handicap, caught pacesetting Dicey Mo Chara nearing the finish and was up to win by a neck over that rival.

Gold Phoenix was fourth in the 2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. Saturday's win provided a "Win and You're In" chance to try that race again.

Also: Formidable Man won Sunday's $300,000 Grade II Caesar's Sportsbook Del Mar Derby, West Hollywood took Friday's $175,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds at Saratoga and Running Bee was home first in Sunday's $150,000 Bernard Baruch at the Spa.

Turf Mile

A powerhouse field turned out for Saturday's $1.5 million Grade III Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes and Walkathon wound up doing the best running. The 5-year-old Twirling Candy mare led early, gave up the advantage and came again to win by 3 lengths, with Evvie Jets third.

Also: Conclude won Saturday's $300,000 Grade II Del Mar Mile by a head over Almendares, Goliad won Sunday's $500,000 Tight Spot Handicap at Kentucky Downs, He'spuregold got the gold in Monday's $127,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park and Piper's Factor won Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Toronto Cup for 3-year-olds at Woodbine.

Filly & Mare Turf

Idea Generation shot out to a big lead in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga and held on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over the favorite, War Like Goddess, at odds of 31-1.

Trainer Chad Brown said it's unlikely she will use the "Win and You're In" pass to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Also, Maman Joon won Saturday's $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park by 1 3/4 lengths over Beach Bomb. Beach Bomb qualified for the Makers' Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf with a victory in the Group 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes in January before leaving South Africa.

Turf Sprint

California invader Ag Bullet took the lead early in Saturday's $1.5 million Grade II Exacta Systems Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs and never looked back.

At the end of the 6 1/2 furlongs, the 4-year-old Twirling Candy filly was 5 1/2 lengths in front of the closest rival. Back in California, Motorious started near the back of the pack in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, circled rivals and outfinished Johnny Podres by 3/4 length for the win, earning a "Win and You're In" spot to the Breeders' Cup.

And Big Invasion was just up in the final yards to win Monday's $150,000 Harvey Pack Stakes at Saratoga by a head over fellow closer Our Shot.

Filly & Mare Sprint / Dirt Mile

Brightwork, making her first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, won Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. Show Card showed her heels to four rivals in Monday's $100,000 Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar, winning by 10 lengths.

Sprint / Dirt Mile

Dean Delivers, the odds-on favorite, won a stretch duel with Downtownchalybrown in Sunday's $100,000 Rumson Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Distaff

Hope Road, the overwhelming favorite, won Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar by 5 lengths.

Juvenile

Chancer McPatrick outfinished the odds-on favorite, Ferocious, in a ferocious stretch battle in Monday's $300,000 Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga. Both could go on to the Breeders' Cup.

At Monmouth Park, Crazy Frazy won Saturday's $200,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park by a head.

Juvenile Fillies

Immersive outfinished the favorite, Quietside, by 1 1/4 lengths in Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Spinaway at Saratoga.

Hot Girl Walk took Monday's $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar by 1 1/4 lengths.

Juvenile Turf

Chasing Liberty was awarded the victory in Sunday's $1.5 million National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs as the judges ruled the first to finish, Under Who's Radar, was guilty of obstruction in the stretch run.