An outstanding set of races is set for this weekend, including 6 Gr-I's and four tickets to the Breeders Cup from to 'Challenge races.

Kicking things off Saturday with what might be the race of the year, as the top three turf runners in the US, Gio Ponti (above), Einstein and Presious Passion will square off against stiff international competition in the Gr-IT Arlington Million (3yo+, 10f) with a slot in the BC Turf on the line.  Gio Ponti is coming on the heels of three straight Gr-IT wins, Presious Passion has won two in a row, including a record setting performance in the Gr-IT UN last out and Einstein is coming off a very troubled third in the dirt in the Gr-I Stephen Foster following a pair of Gr-I wins, one on the turf, the other synthetics.  If any of them win, they should be considered at the top of the division.... But it will definetely not be a three horse race, as Italy's dual Gr-I winner Cima de Triomphe and Brazil's Gloria de Campeao, second in the Dubai World Cup and winner of the Gr-I Singapore International Cup, fly in to take a shot at the US's best ..Will be a very tactical race, as 'Passion will sprint out to the lead, Einstein is typically stalking and Gio Ponti will come from way back.  Also will provide a good early gauge as to how the US horse will match against the Euro's come BC day...

French import Spirit One won this race last year in a upset.  That was his last win and has since been retired.

The Gr-I Whitney Handicap (3yo+, 9f) will in turn feature the top dirt horses with a slot in the BC Classic on the line.  Ageless Commentator (well, he is 8) is the pre-race favorite, based mostly I would say on his impressive workouts, as he has only raced in two ungraded stakes this year against less than stellar competition, and lost one of them.  Nevertheless if he is allowed to set his own pace in front, he will lead them all the way.  He won this race in 2005 and 2008, one of his 14 careers wins.  Should he place, he will go over $2M in earnings. But he will have to work hard to beat the much improved Macho Again, coming off the heels over his big win the in the Gr-I Foster... A win by him, and he takes the top spot in the Older Horse division... Also in the mix will be the UAE's Asiatic Boy, looking for his first win in the US after two seconds, including the Foster, and Smooth Air, coming if off two seconds after his win in the Gr-II Gulfstream Park 'Cap... top race that will define the division...

The ladies are up next in the Gr-IT Beverly D Stakes. (3yo+, 9.5f) with the winner earning a slot in the BC F&M Turf. Pure Clan and Black Mamba lead the US contingent, coming off sharp Gr-III and II wins respectably, and will face of against a trio of Euro invaders, Gr-III winners Alnadana, Mad About You and Denomination... wide open race that go to anyone.  Have a feeling about MAY though...

Mauralakana was the '08 winner, one of her five wins in '08.  She finished 6^th in the BC F&M Turf.

Moving on, we have the Gr-IT Secretariat Stakes (3yo, 10f), which is the third leg of Arlington Parks's Mid-America Triple.  The top two choices are the winners of the first two legs, Giant Oak, who took the Arlington Classic, and Reb, who won the American Derby, as well as the second place finisher in the American, Oil Man... not the greatest group, but the 3yo turf group is not particularly stellar, especially compared to the older group.  Then again, Gio Point was doing these rounds last year so we should keep an eye for any late bloomers.

Irish invader Winchester was the big surprise winner last year, the only race in which he placed outside of a couple of ungraded stakes back in Ireland.

The speedsters then will take to the track in the Gr-I Bing Crosby Handicap, (3yo, 6f), where surging sprinter Zensational will be the heavy favorite, hot on the heels of his impressive win the Gr-I Triple Bend.  Up to challenge him again will be late closing Rush With Thunder, who finished second in the Triple Bend... A win here, and Zensational may move to the top of the division and become the early favorite for the BC Sprint.

Things conclude Saturday with the fillies in the Gr-I Test Stakes (3yo, 7f), where undefeated Cat Moves, who burst into the scene with her big win in the Gr-I Prioress in only her third career start, will tackle a deep group of graded winners, as she looks to slide up the F&M Sprint division.

Indian Blessing won this race last year, on of five, on her way to F&M Sprint champion honors.  She was also '07 Champion 2yo Filly.

Moving to Sunday, we have the Gr-II Clement L. Hirsch (3yo+, 8.5f), where champion and defending race winner Zenyatta will look to remain undefeated and make it 12 wins in a row.  She has been working out great and, all things even, she should roll again.  Up against her will likely be multiple graded stakes winner Lethal Heat and Life is Sweet... Tough foes, but Zenyatta is the class of the division, if not the country, and she should keep her streak alive... And hopefully a showdown with Rachel Alexandra is somewhere in the future...

Finally, we wrap things up in France and the Gr-I Prix Maurice de Gheest, which this year has been made part of the BC challenge, and the winner will earn a slot in the Turf Sprint.  The early favorites are King's Apostle, a Gr-II winner and in the top 3 in 12 of 17 starts, and African Rose, a Gr-I winner in England and second in this race last year.

Wrapping things up, we look back at yesterday's Cougar II Handicap, where Unusual Suspect (inside) next to last on the betting, outkicked Richard's Kid by a head for the big upset win and a spot in the BC Marathon...

yawn...

So have fun and see ya' at the races.