Breeders' Cup hopefuls in action at Keeneland on Saturday

Opening day of the Keeneland fall meeting, which will offer a record $5.3 million in purses October, has nine stakes races this weekend, beginning with the Grade I $500,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Friday.

Many Breeders' Cup hopefuls will be in action Saturday, with the Grade I $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile one of the marquee events. Shakis, a 7-year-old turf specialist trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is favored in the race.

Shakis, the 7-year-old son of Machiavellian who, is coming off a victory at the Aug. 25 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga. He has two wins in four starts in the U.S. and has not been worse than fourth since arriving at McLaughlin's barn from Dubai. Jockey Alan Garcia, who has ridden Shakis in all of his U.S. starts, will again be the mount Saturday.

Shakis' biggest challenge could be from Patrick Biancone-trained Cosmonaut. The 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid was recently fifth the Bernard Baruch and won the Arlington Handicap on July 21.Meanwhile, even though the Breeders' Cup Distaff is fast approaching, trainer Carl Nafzger is hoping for a hard run in his candidate's final Breeders' Cup prep race at Keeneland.

Nafzger will send out 3-year-old Lady Joanne in Sunday's Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster, where other scheduled rivals are Grade 1 winners Asi Siempre, Panty Raid, and Sugar Shake, and graded stakes winners Teammate, High Heels, Rolling Sea, and Baghdaria, the older half-sister of Lady Joanne.

"That's a good thing," Nafzger said. "If you're going to the Breeders' Cup, you got to run tough to get there."

The Spinster, run at 1 1/8 miles over Keeneland's Polytrack, was won by Asi Siempre last year, who then second in the Distaff but was disqualified to fourth.