Breeders’ Tuneups Continue

The final major preps for the Breeders’ Cup three weeks from today at Churchill Downs will be run today in New York and Kentucky.

Two significant races for 2-year-olds will be run at Belmont Park. Scat Daddy and nine others are scheduled to go in the $400,000 Champagne, and upset winner Meadow Breeze will take on eight other fillies in the $400,000 Frizette.

Meanwhile, at Keeneland, on turf, Gorella will try to continue her roll in the $400,000 First Lady Stakes, and Magnificent Song, the other talented 3-year-old grass filly trained by Todd Pletcher, heads a quality field in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Gorella, winner of the Just A Game at Belmont Park and the Beverly D. at Arlington in her two most recent starts, will be favored in the First Lady.

“She’s excellent,” trainer Patrick Biancone said. “She is the best filly in the country.”

It is unclear which Breeders’ Cup race Gorella will run Nov. 4. She could take on males in the Mile, or stay with her own sex in the longer Filly and Mare Turf.

My Typhoon, a six-time winner; Karen’s Caper; Mea Domina, who will be ridden by Tyler Baze; and Wend are scheduled to oppose Gorella in the one-mile First Lady.

Magnificent Song also has had a big year. The daughter of Unbridled’s Song has won five of her last six. Garrett Gomez will ride the gray, who is owned by L and D Farm, against a field that includes French sensation Germance, who has won five of six and will be ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal.

Scat Daddy, also trained by Pletcher, will stretch to a mile for the first time in the Champagne.

Among his opponents are Sapling winner Xchanger; Got The Last Laugh; Big Timer, an unbeaten Group III winner in England who will be making his first start on dirt; and Nobiz Like Shobiz, who was impressive beating maidens in his debut Sept. 9 at Belmont.

Trained by Barclay Tagg for owner-breeder Elizabeth Valando, Nobiz Like Shobiz, a son of Albert The Great, won by 10 3/4 lengths at the Champagne distance.

“I know you don’t go from a maiden race to a Grade I, but what else is there?” Tagg said. “The first time I saw him, I thought he was something special. Of course, you wish you had more experience, but he has a pretty good mind.”

Meadow Breeze, a Meadowlake filly, will be trying to prove her 34-1 shocker in the Matron on Sept. 23 was not a fluke in the one-mile Frizette. Among her challengers are Allude; Lilly Carson, who dominated maidens in her Saratoga bow on Sept. 1; Awesome Ashley; and Ticket To Seattle.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com