Let's make another handy-dandy timetable and take a quick look at Saturday's 11 graded stakes around the country worth a combined $3.8 million:
3:35 p.m. EST, Kee race 5: G3 $300k TCA S. 6f-Poly (Prep for BC F&M Sprint)
The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is one of five graded stakes at Keeneland Saturday, all of them contentious affairs complicated by Polytrack. This possible prep for the BC F&M Sprint drew a field of 11 with Baroness Thatcher the 5-2 ML favorite off her narrow loss to Maryfield in the G1 Ballerina last time out. She's going to have to work out a trip fom the rail, and Wild Gams (7-2) might be a more reliable play closing into in a speed-packed field over Poly.
4:11 p.m. EST, Kee race 6: G3 $250k Phoenix S. 6f-Poly (BC Sprint)
Probably the worst "Win and You're In" race yet, this Grade 3 sprint drew only two graded winners in Saint Anddan and the tailing-off Teuflesberg. Inidan Chant looks like the dominant inside speed but will have to clear early and easily to hold up on this surface. An interesting longshot might be the 3-year-old Calder import Dream of Angels (15-1), who won three stakes last year at 2 and has moved forward in each of three starts this year.
4:30 p.m. EST, Bel race 7: G1 $400k Champagne S. 1 m-dirt (BC Juvenile)
Majestic Warrior and Ready's Image return from their 1-2 finish in the Hopeful, and Majestic Warrior may be strongly favored off his visually-impressive victory, but he had a dream set-up that day and might be worth playing against. Ready's Image faces less pace pressure this time and drew nicely on the outside. War Pass is also worth a look in his stakes debut, and at 15-1 Pyro merits consideration off poor starts in both his races.
4:45 p.m. EST, Kee race 7: G2 $400k First Lady 1m-T (BC F&M Turf/BC Mile)
This 'tweener race -- is it a prep for the 11-furlong BC F&M Turf or for taking on males in the BC Mile? -- drew a very nice field of older-filly milers, inluding G1 winners Precious Kitten, Vacare and Arravale, but Lady of Venice can blow by all of them on her best day.
5:02 p.m. EST, Bel race 8: G1 $400k Frizette S. 1m-dirt (BC Juvenile Fillies)
Indian Blessing, who won her Saratoga debut with a monstrous Beyer of 97, is 8-5 to stretch from 5 1/2 to 8 furlongs and maiden-special to G1. Skeptics may want to consider Backseat Rhythm, winner of the very fast maiden turf race that already yielded Friday's Alcibiades winner, and Armonk, who adds blinkers after middle-moving too early in the Matron.
5:15 p.m. EST, Kee race 8: G1 $500k Breeders' Futurity 1 1/16m-Poly (BC Juvenile)
The Roundhouse is the tepid 4-1 favorite off two stakes placings at Saratoga but like almost everyone else in here is in new territory stretching out around two turns over Poly. Good luck.
5:34 p.m. EST, Bel race 9: G2 $300k Jamaica H. 1 1/m-T (BC Mile)
Nobiz Like Shobiz and Red Giant look like solid favorites in a field of nine turf 3-year-olds where the Europeans Shamdinan and Adagio may be hampered the hard, parched turf in New York.
5:37 p.m. EST, Lrl race 10: G3 $200k Safely Kept S. 6f-dirt (BC F&M Sprint)
Change Up and Sindy With an S could run their way into the new F&M Sprint with good efforts here. Change Up was a top-rate 2-year-old filly last fall but has run just once since.
5:45 p.m. EST, Kee race 9: G1 $600k Shadwell Turf Mile 1m-T (BC Mile)
This rich BC Mile prep drew just one European but he's probably the one to fear: Astronomer Royale, the French 2,000 Guineas winner though a loser of three straight since then. Art Master, Cosmonaut and Shakis look the best of the locals.
7:30 p.m. EST, OSA race 8: G1 $250k Clement Hirsch 1 1/4m-T (BC Turf)
The Tin Man is 4-5 against a familiar cast of previous victims in a race unlikely to produce a serious BC Turf contender.
10:50 p.m. EST, Hoo race 10: G2 $500k Indiana Derby 1 1/8m-dirt (BC Classic)
Not usually a hotbed of BC Classic contenders, the Indiana Derby could yield a longshot starter or two from the likes of second-tier 3-year-olds Medici Code and Zanjero.
The last four Keeneland stakes and the Champagne are BC Challenge Win-And-You're-In's and will be televised by ESPN between 4 and 6 pm eastern.
