Rich Saturday card draws plenty of stars

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Easily the richest program of the 17-day meet will be held Saturday at Keeneland when the fall showcase, the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile, and four other graded stakes are part of a sensational 10-race card.

Miss Temple City once again will take on male rivals when part of a capacity field of 14 in the Shadwell, one of three Grade 1 events on a program that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Miss Temple City made track history in 2016 by sweeping the Maker’s 46 Mile and Shadwell.

Here is a rundown of the FallStars Weekend events for Saturday: Grade 2, $200,000 Woodford (race 5, 3:25): Hogy, the 8-year-old warhorse who was claimed for $80,000 at Saratoga and quickly paid for himself and more by winning a rich Kentucky Downs stakes, heads a field of nine in this 5 1/2-furlong turf race. Other notables include Mongolian Saturday, Commend, and Conquest Panthera.

Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (race 6, 4:00): Finley’slucky charm will be a solid favorite for trainer Bret Calhoun breaking from post 4 in a field of eight fillies and mares in this six-furlong race. Bendable, Vertical Oak, and Ivy Bell are the chief threats. Grade 1, $400,000 First

Lady (race 7, 4:35): This onemile turf race is a good one, despite having drawn a field of just seven fillies and mares. Dickinson, winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley here in the spring, will square off against Dona Bruja, Hawksmoor, and Roca Rojo. Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (race 8, 5:10): Free Drop Billy, runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful at

Saratoga, will be trying to give trainer Dale Romans his fourth victory in this 1 1/16mile fixture when facing 12 other 2-year-olds, seven of whom are entered off sharp last-out maiden victories.

Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (race 9,

5:45): In this case, the best is truly saved for last. Besides Miss Temple City, the field for the 32nd Shadwell includes such bona fide standouts as Heart to Heart, American Patriot, Suedois, Mondialiste, and Divisidero.

The Breeders’ Futurity and Shadwell will be linked with two stakes from Belmont Park, the Champagne and Jockey Club Gold Cup, in a pick four wager. Keeneland also is offering pool guarantees of $350,000 for its own pick four (races 6-9) and $250,000 for the pick five (races 5-9).

The Breeders’ Futurity and Shadwell will be part of a onehour telecast on NBC Sports (5-6 p.m. Eastern).

All FallStars Weekend events except the Woodford are Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.

Bar of Gold to Spinster

The Grade 1 Spinster got a top contender for its 62nd running Sunday when trainer John Kimmel sent the standout New York-bred mare, Bar of Gold, here early in the week along with his Alcibiades starter, Pacific Gale. Most recently second in the Presque Isle Masters at 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, Bar of Gold has become a model of versatility when competing effectively over a variety of surfaces at different distances.

Other likely favorites for the 1 1/8-mile Spinster include the 1-2-3 finishers in the recent Locust Grove at Churchill Downs – Romantic Vision, Blue Prize, and Tiger Moth. The Spinster is a Win and You’re In to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Honorable Duty eyes Fayette

Honorable Duty came out of his 4 3/4-length victory in the Lukas Classic last weekend at Churchill in fine shape and soon will move over to Keene-land to train for the closing-day feature, the Grade 2 Fayette on Oct. 28.

Honorable Duty is expected to clash with McCraken in the 1 1/8-mile Fayette, with both looking to advance to the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24. The Fayette is the last of eight graded stakes that follow the nine FallStars races of the opening three-day weekend. The Oct. 14 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is the sixth and last Grade 1 of the meet.

Lady Aurelia stays sharp

Lady Aurelia has logged thousands of frequent-flyer miles already. From that standpoint, a flight to California later this month for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be a breeze for the Keenelandbased European champion.

For now, though, the 3-yearold filly continues to train at her home base, with Wesley Ward focusing on her mental preparations as much as physical. In company, Lady Aurelia breezed five furlongs Tuesday morning on the turf.

“Hopefully, the next few weeks, she gets to settle a little bit, get a couple more of these,” Ward said. “We don’t need to go any faster or any slower, just perfect. Keep her as sound as she is right now, it’ll take a hell of a horse to beat her.”