US actions starts in Wednesday in Belmont Park this week in the Gr-III Westchester Handicap (3yo+, 8f). 

Grasshopper, coming off a second and a first in the NO and Mineshaft ‘caps, looms large over the small field and should prevail.  Last year’ Withers winner Divine Park, who last out broke through the gate in his first race back after a long injury layoff, and stakes winner Sightseeing, coming back himself from a 7+ month layoff, are his main threats.

Skipping to Sunday, we have the Gr-III Nassau County Breeders Cup Stakes (3yo f, 7f), held at Belmont Park, where Gr-I winner Irish Smoke will be making her long anticipated ’08.  Her main challenge looks like local Carolyn’s Cat, last out winner of the Gr-III Cicada, and who should be on the front end early.

(updated 4/30)

Churchill Down kicks off their “Derby” festivities on Friday with five graded stakes, headlined by the Gr-I Kentucky Oaks.

First on tap is the Gr-IIIT Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (3yo+, 5f), where Mr. Nightlinger, Indian Ashton and Salute the Count appear evenly matched and above the rest of the field.

Moving on to the Gr-II Louisville Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 8.5f), we have a class of some of the top older females, led by ’07 Champion Older Female Ginger Punch, looking to rebound from a dissapointing third in the Gr-I Apple Blossom last out, having lead the whole way but fading in the stretch.  She is the class of the field, but will face a stiff challenge from two other multiple stakes winner’s looking to get back in gear, Lear’s Princess, who’s lost back to back turf stakes to Dreaming of Anna this year, and Kettleoneup, who was off the boards last out in the Apple Blossom.

Next up is the Gr-III Alysheba Stakes (3yo+, 8.f), featuring a group of the B-level handicap horses.  Watch out for front running duel Jonesboro, recent Razorback Handicap winner, to steal the race if he is not challenged early.  If not the returning Chelokee, out since last June with an ankle injury, will stalk the pace and take advantage.

That race will be followed by the Gr-IIIT Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (3yo, 8.5f). This evenly matched field will feature a group of colts that were on the Ky Derby trail at some point but did not quite measure, with some of them now turning to the turf in hope of better results. Halo Najib, who still may run in the Derby if there is one more defection, looks to have his best shot at a win in a while, having had his best recent race when second in the polytrack Lane’s End.  But out to surprise again is Boss Latiffe, winner of the Transylvania Stakes, also on the polytrack, last out and one of the few coming in off a win.  And keep watch on Cannonball, who owns a pair of wins on the grass, which is more than the others can say.

Finally, we have the Gr-I Kentucky Oaks (3yo, f, 9f).  Presently, Eight Belles is being pointed toward the Kentucky Derby, but the final decision will be based on today’s post position draw.  If she goes to the Oaks, she will be the one to beat, no doubt.  If she bypasses the race, it is a whole new ballgame, where the quartet of Bsharpsonata, Pure Clan, Country Star and Proud Spell are all evenly matched.  The best form of late has been shown by Bsharp’, whose second in the Ashland, where Proud Spell was third and Country Star fifth, broke a four race winning streak.  Pure Clan meanwhile has lost back to back to Eight Belles, finishing third and second her last two tries.  Ashland winner Little Belle will also run, but we buy that victory as a bit of a fluky steal.   With all that said, do not be surprised if late running Golden Doc A, off back to back seconds in shorter distances, comes sweeping around to pass them all. The big “if” for her is that this will be her traditional dirt debut.

Then on Saturday, there are five more graded stakes in addition to the Kentucky Derby. First, the Gr-I Humana Distaff Handicap (3yo+, f&m, 7f) features some of the top sprinting ladies in the country, led by Sugar Swirl who has demolished the Florida sprint scene this spring and is on a 4 stakes win streak. But Gr-I winner Hystericalady will be tough to overcome, coming off a sharp, front runnig victory in the Azeri.

The Gr-II Churchill Downs Stakes (4yo+, 7f), features the return of the speedy Wanderin Boy in his first race since the BC Mile where he finished fourth.  But the improving Noonmark, winner of the Gr-III Mr. Prospector, has won two in a row and will be hard to beat. And keep an eye on British invader Thousand Words , who scorched the track in his US debut, an allowance race last month.

Moving on to the sprinting fillies in the Gr-III La Troienne Stakes (3yo, f, 7.5f), Gr-II winner Game Face looks prime to score again, especially if American County, Secret Gypsy and Keep the Peace burn themselves in an early speed duel.

The Gr-IIIT Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (3yo+, f&m, 8f) will see former Eclipse champion Dreaming of Anna looking to score her third straight stakes race in '08. Going to the lead, she will control the pace and be hard to beat.  But if anyone will, it will likely be former British racer Ventura, coming off a pair of impressive ungraded stakes wins over polytrack.

The final pre-Derby race will be the Gr-IT Woodford ReserveTurf Classic Stakes (3yo+, 9f), where Gr-I winner Einstein, first and second last out at the highest level, will be tough to conquer, coming in front of challengers Thorn Song and War M.onger.