By Dennis Miller
We are one week out from the Breeders’ Cup and the two days of thrills that come with the event!
Before then we have two graded stake races at Keeneland, as well as two different race festivals at two different tracks.
The Maryland Millions Day takes place at Laurel Park and features eight stake races. Over at Belmont there are five stakes.
Below are the two graded races at Keeneland and make sure to look for two previews next week with an in depth look at both days of the Breeders Cup!
Keeneland
Grade III Fayette
(8th race, 1:44 p.m. PDT)
This is for 3-year-olds and up, going 1-1/8-miles on the main track. There is a full field of 12 horses entering here. Here are some horses I have found interesting.
Hit Show (Brad Cox, Irad Ortiz) has been off since August 22 when he was fifth in the Grade I Pacific Classic after flattening in the stretch. He won this race last year coming from off the pace to get up by a length. This year he has hit the board in three of five starts, with the lone win coming back in February in the Grade III Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds. Before the Pacific Classic he was second in the Grade II Suburban and third in the Grade III Blame. The 6-year-old has over $9 million in career earnings.
Tiztastic (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario) was 10th in the Kentucky Derby in 2025. Recently the 4-year-old was fourth as the favorite in the Grade II Lukas Classic on September 26. Before then he was fifth in the Grade I Whitney in early August and was third in the Grade II Suburban in early July. He only has four wins in the 17 career starts but has run well in several strong races. Should consider for a spot on your ticket.
Tumbarumba (Brian Lynch, Tyler Gaffalione) comes back to the United States for the first time since November 1, 2025, when he was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Up to that point he has been in the United States but after the BC he shipped to the UAE where he ran in four graded races, included a third in the Saudi Cup in February. Since being back stateside he has put together a consistent and strong work tab in the morning. He has won over $3 million.
Silent Tactic (Mark Casse, Javier Castellano) is only a 3-year-old but he was active in Kentucky Derby preps, winning the Southwest, then running second in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby – all three at Oaklawn Park. He went to the bench through the Triple Crown races but came back in August in the Jim Dandy and was third. He was eased in the Travers but came back to win the Oklahoma Derby Sept. 27 at Remington Park. Young but he has been solid all year, hitting the board in six of seven starts.
Willy D’s (Michael Maker, John Velazquez) is coming off a win on August 28 in the Grade II Charles Town Classic at Charles Town, earning a 99 Beyer in the process. He has won three of five starts this year. He has some starts in lesser stake races but he has also run well in graded events when given the chance.
Grade II Bryan Station
(9th race, 2:16 p.m.)
This one goes on the turf for 3-year-olds, with a full field of 12 horses entered.
Bottas (Miguel Clement, Tyler Gaffalione) is sitting on a two-race winning streak. On August 7 he won the Grade II Hall of Fame at Saratoga, then on September 7 he was the winner of the $178,000 Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs. He got marks of 90 or higher in both starts, coming from off the pace to win each.
Remember Mamba (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) finished second, third, then fourth in three Grade I races. He was second May 2 in the American Turf on Derby Day at Churchill, then third in the Belmont Derby July 4 at Saratoga. Finally, in his most recent start he was fourth in the Saratoga Derby August 8 at Saratoga. He likes to close and has not ducked anyone this year. He should get some pace to run at here.
Touch of Fire (Brad Cox, Irad Ortiz) has won three of his seven starts but all three wins came in non-graded races. Still, he hasn’t run bad in some big races, finishing fourth in the Grade I Belmont Derby and third in the Grade II Hall of Fame at Saratoga in early August. In his last he was fourth in the Gun Runner on Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. Could be a part of the early pace factor.
Alpyland (Mark Casse, Javier Castellano) has hit the board in seven of eight starts this year with four of the last five coming again graded company. Last time out on Sept. 7 he was third in the Grade II Mint Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs. Before then he was third in the Grade II Secretariat on August 1 at Colonial Downs. He has tactical speed and a big run here could put him over $1 million in career earnings.