With a Gr 2 and 6 Gr 1 races on the card there should be great racing.
The Baliston Spa Gr 2 for f&m over 1700m on the turf and as with all the graded stakes here it is a non-lasix event. Amazing how these non-lasix races have not produced any disasters!
As it is on turf Chad Brown will saddle the top three in the market – take your pick with Kalifornia Queen on 2/1, Viadera 8/5 and Tamahere 7/2.
In the Ballerina Gr 1 over 1400m there are 7 runners with Gamine on the obvious choice on 3/5 for Baffert-Velazquez with the only runner in some sort of contention is Ce Ce on 4/1.
The Forego is over 1400m with 8 runners with Yaupon on 5/2 (Asmussen-Santana) just ahead of Mind Control in the market – 7/2 for Pletcher Velazquez and our old friend Firenze Fire is having another shot at this and is on 6/1.
The H. Allen Jerkins is for 3yo also over 1400m and 6 will contend with Jackie's Warrior on evens just ahead of Life Is Good on 8/5.
The Personal Ensign is for f&m over 1800m with a field of 9 and the possibility of a real contest here. Letruska is on 6/5 and Swiss Skydiver, who hasn't had the best of luck recently, probably more at home in this and on 7/2 and from the West Coast As Time Goes By on 6/1 with Mike Smith riding for Bob Baffert.
The Sword Dancer is over 2400m on the turf and has more international appeal. Tribhaven is the Brown runner here with Flavian Prat riding and they are on 2/1, with Gufo on 3/1 and Aidan O'Brien shipping Japan over for this and bringing in Ryan Moore to ride him – they are on 9/2.
The Travers alone should be worth the price of admission as although there are only 7 runners for the 2000m contest it will have Essential Quality looking to show his class. He's very short of course on 4/5 with Brad Cox legging up Luis Saez. Midnight Bourbon could be the bridesmaid.
At Del Mar it's the Pat O'Brien Gr 2 for 3y+ over 1200m and there will be 10 of them. CZ Rocket is a recent winner and is on 5/2 for Peter Miller and Florent Geroux, with Flagstaff on 3/1 for Sadler-Bravo and then there are a few own 6/1.
