Saturday’s Grade 3 Debutante at Churchill Downs marks the first graded stakes for 2-year-olds this year. Seven fillies, all making their stakes debuts, will go six furlongs, with probable favoritism going to Salty Strike, a daughter of Smart Strike. She won easily in her first start and the second and third place finishers behind her both returned to win. Another filly to watch is Just Louise, a half-sister to Sara Louise, who defeated Rachel Alexandra in 2008. Following the Debutante, jockeys Calvin Borel, Robby Albarado, and Shaun Bridgmohan will board a chartered flight for Iowa where they all have mounts in the three graded stakes at Prairie Meadows that night.

Prairie Meadows will showcase 3-years-olds in the Iowa Derby and its counterpart, the Iowa Oaks; both are 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 contests. The G2 Cornhusker Handicap is open to 3-year-olds and up who will go 1 1/8 miles. The Cornhusker has attracted nine starters, including local luminary Red Lead, who goes for his third consecutive win. Challenging him will be Bob Baffert’s Mythical Power and the well-traveled fan favorite Brass Hat.

The Iowa Derby has some star power with the return of Winslow Homer. The striking grey colt was a Triple Crown candidate after winning the G3 Holy Bull in January, but was sidelined with a stress fracture in a cannon bone. Winslow Homer has been installed as the 2-1 favorite, while Concord Point, another from Bob Baffert’s Southern California contingent, is the 5-2 second choice.

The seven starters in the Iowa Oaks are so evenly matched that they are all on the morning line at odds of 8-1 or less. Quiet Temper, with Albarado aboard, is listed as the tepid favorite at 3-1. All Due Respect and Harissa ship in from California; Mike Smith and Martin Garcia have the respective mounts.

On the East Coast on Saturday, Belmont will present the G1 Mother Goose, and Monmouth Park is host to the G3 Boiling Springs, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for 3-year-old fillies. The first four finishers in the Little Silver Stakes, run here May 30, all return here. They face Bay to Bay, a winner in her last out, the American 1000 Guineas at Arlington Park.

Five 3-year-old fillies are expected at the post for the Mother Goose, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles this year, rather than the usual 1 1/8 miles. Devil May Care, the lone filly in this year’s Kentucky Derby field, returns here. In the Derby, Devil May Care was in contention turning for home, but flattened out in the very sloppy going down the long Churchill stretch and ended up 10th, about 12 lengths behind Super Saver. The Todd Pletcher trainee will be challenged by two of her stablemates, Ailalea and Katy Now, as well as Biofuel and Connie and Michael.

The G3 Beverly Hills Handicap, Saturday at Hollywood Park, features eight fillies and mares, all looking for their first graded stakes score of the season. Without division leader Tuscan Evening in this 1 ¼-mile turf race, General Consensus may finally get her moment in the sun. The Paddy Gallagher-trained mare has finished third, second and fifth to Tuscan Evening in her most recent starts. Others to watch here include Princess Haya, Restless Soul and Turning Top, who has won her previous three starts.

Tags: Calvin Borel, churchill downs, Cornhusker Handicap, Debutante Stakes, Iowa Derby, Iowa Oaks, KBC Horse Supplies, prairie meadows, Rachel Alexandra, Robby Albarado, Salty Strike, smart strike, Weekend Stakes: Where to Watch

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