Sundays racing card at Saratoga is highlighted by the 11th running of the $100,000 Waya Stakes. The mile and a half contest will be run on the inner turf course and has drawn a full field of twelve fillies and mares with three waiting in the wings as also-eligibles.
The slight favorite in the contentious race is Concise (GB), tabbed at 4-1 on the morning line. Trained by Graham Motion, the four-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid will break from the inside post under Luis Saez. After beginning her career in Great Britain, she made her United States debut at Saratoga last summer and has won two of her thirteen total starts. She was second in the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3) last time out.
Breaking from post position eight is another loaded shooter from the Motion barn, Inimitable Romance at 9-1 on the morning line. The six-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon is a multiple graded stakes winner and will have Alan Garcia in the irons. She is trying to rebound off of a sixth and last place finish in the New York (G2) and earn her third victory of the year. She has been on the board in all four starts at Saratoga.
Also in the field is Levanto (IRE), a longshot at 20-1 for turf specialist Christophe Clement. After a lackluster United States debut in June after racing primarily in Ireland, the four-year-old filly will get a jockey change to Irad Ortiz, Jr. for her second start of the year. She had three wins overseas and will break from post position six. She was ninth and last in her most recent start, beaten twenty-five lengths.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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