On Wednesday at Keeneland, the featured race is the 24th edition of the $150,000 Jessamine Stakes. The Grade 3 race will be run at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf and has drawn a field of nine two-year-old fillies potentially using this race as a stepping stone towards the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Topping the field at morning line odds of 7-2 is Quality Rocks who will be making her first start for trainer Bill Mott. A dark bay daughter of Rock Hard Ten, she will be making her first start on turf after winning her previous two starts on synthetics. She was last seen winning the Arlington Washington Lassie over six rivals. Jose Lezcano will be aboard and they are scheduled to break from post four.
Second choice at 4-1 on the morning line is Fila Primera for trainer Chad Brown. Purchased for $250,000 as a yearling, the bay daughter of War Front delivered as the favorite in her career debut at Belmont Park in September and will be making her first try against winners. Javier Castellano, aboard for the maiden score, will be back in the irons and they will break from post position three.
Also in the field at odds of 9-2 is Walking the Kitten, a homebred for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Trained by Michael Maker, the bay filly won her debut at Kentucky Downs as the heavy favorite and has had a bullet workout since that maiden win. Rosie Napravnik, aboard last time out, has retained the mount and they will break from post position eight.
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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