On Monday at Santa Anita, two-year-olds will take center stage in the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes. The six-furlong contest has drawn a field of ten colts and geldings.
Lord Nelson has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $340,000 as a yearling by Peachtree Stables, the chestnut son of Pulpit won his career debut over synthetics at Del Mar as the favorite before finishing fourth in the Front Runner (G1) at Santa Anita. He is cutting back to a sprint after going long last time out and will have regular rider Martin Garcia aboard from the outside post.
Second choice at 5-2 on the morning line is Tizcano, making his first start for Peter Miller after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in June. Purchased for $710,000 by Rockingham Ranch, the bay son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow delivered sharply in his debut over a field of six rivals in Florida. Since then, he has been training steadily with a recent bullet workout. Tyler Baze will be aboard for the first time and they will break from post four.
Also in the field at 3-1 on the morning line is Story to Tell, the most experienced juvenile in the race with four starts under his belt for trainer Dan Hendricks. A $200,000 purchase in March, the bay son of Bluegrass Cat broke his maiden at first asking at Santa Anita in May. He was second against stakes company next out and won a minor stakes race at Los Alamitos in his third outing. He was last seen finishing sixth in the Best Pal (G2). Joe Talamo will be aboard from post five.
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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