Stars Will Come Out Today

There will be plenty to occupy horse racing fans around the country this afternoon.

With the Breeders’ Cup only three weeks away, many stars will have their final preps for the big day, including three horses who probably will be favored on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.

At Santa Anita, defending Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Kona Gold is the 3-5 favorite in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Kona Gold, the defending champion in the race, is seeking his eighth consecutive win.

At Belmont Park, Officer, the brilliant 2-year-old who has won four starts by a combined 221/2 lengths, will be heavily favored to capture the $500,000 Champagne on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

A race later, Flute, the nation’s best 3-year-old filly, will look for her fourth win in a row in the $750,000 Beldame as she prepares for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Her opponents include Beautiful Pleasure, who isn’t what she used to be; Spain, the upset winner of last year’s Distaff, and Exogenous.

The card at Belmont also includes the $500,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, topped by a rematch of You and Cashier’s Dream, who staged a memorable battle in the Adirondack on Aug. 13 at Saratoga; and the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup, which attracted A P Valentine, Aptitude, Generous Rosi, Sumitas, Scorpion, Albert The Great and Country Be Gold.

Keeneland’s main events are the $250,000-added Phoenix Breeders’ Cup, a race 9-year-old Bet On Sunshine will be running in for the fifth time, and the $400,000-added Lane’s End Futurity for 2-year-olds. In the lineup are local shippers Siphonic, Sunkosi, Metatron and Kamsack.

Race of the day: There are plenty to choose from, but a good wagering race at Santa Anita is the fifth, a 10-furlong turf race for $50,000 claimers. The 5-2 favorite is War Declaration, a recent claim by Bob Baffert. Contention runs deep in the race, which kicks off the pick six.

Who’s hot: Mike Machowsky. Going into Friday, the trainer had won with four of his first six starters at Oak Tree.

Who’s not: Isaias Enriquez. The rider was winless through the first seven days of the meet.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Janadel in the fourth, using all in the fifth and Lunatic Fringe, Babbler and Satin Dolly in the sixth.