Breeders' Cup Challenge Races Bring out Superstars on Belmont Stakes Undercard

All eyes will be on American Pharoah on Saturday in his Triple Crown bid, but two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races are bringing out some of the superstar older horses including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Untapable and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victor Bayern. 

The brilliant filly Untapable, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning three-year-old filly, will take on five foes in the $1 million Ogden Phipps (G1). The winner will earn an automatic starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) this fall at Keeneland.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Five fillies or mares have won the prestigious Ogden Phipps during an Eclipse Award-winning campaign for older females: Close Hatches (2014), Ashado (2005), Sky Beauty (1994), Personal Ensign (1998) and Proud Delta (1976), per Kevin Martin of Hello Race Fans.

Bayern won last fall’s roughly run Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for top three-year-old, losing out to Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner California Chrome. He faces a stellar field in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Mile (G1), with the winner stamping a ticket to this year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

Peter Morgan/Associated Press

The Classic winner faces a strong field that includes last year’s Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist, last year’s Wood Memorial (G1) winner Wicked Strong, Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) winner Honor Code and Godolphin Mile (G2) winner Tamarkuz.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge "Win and You’re In" Series will continue throughout the summer and early fall with 10 telecasts on NBC and NBCSN.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31. There are 71 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, with the winner of each earning an automatic starting spot and paid expenses into the corresponding Breeders’ Cup race.

Let’s look at Saturday’s two “Win and You’re In” races:

The $1 million Ogden Phipps (Post time 1:52 ET on NBCSN)

Untapable did not look fully wound up when she was second in the Azeri (G2) two back at Oaklawn Park, which was her first go off a four-and-a-half-month layoff. The weather was lousy and trainer Steve Asmussen may not have got enough works into her.

She bounced back with sharper effort last out winning the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and she looks primed for a big effort in this spot. She won six of her seven starts last year while winning the Eclipse award for top three-year-old filly, capping off the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Wedding Toast was a sharp winner of the Ruffian (G2) last out at a mile over the main track at Belmont Park, her third win in four trips with a second over the main track. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has this gal on the top of her game right now and she can handle the extra ground. She gets a real class test here facing the champ but looks capable of making it close.

Princess Violet won the Madison (G1) two back at Keeneland and then was no match for Wedding Toast last out in the Ruffian. She has run well over the main track at Belmont Park including a second to Untapable in the Mother Goose (G1) last year. She needs to run a career top to get by the top pair, but could offer some value if she goes off near her 8-1 morning line.

Selections: Untapable—Wedding Toast—Princes Violet

Belmont Park Race 9 The Metropolitan Handicap (Post time 4:49 ET on NBC)

Private Zone stretches back out to a mile here after taking the field gate to wire to win the seven-furlong Churchill Downs (G2) on Derby Day. The gelding zipped through fractions of 22.38 and 44.64 and had plenty left late. The gelding has landed in the exacta in three of his four trips at a mile, including a second in the 2013 Cigar Mile (G1) and a win in that race last year earning a career top Beyer Speed Figure of 110. The gelding is quick and breaking from the rail is going to be the one to catch here.

Tonalist, last year's Belmont Stakes winner, earned a career top Beyer Speed Figure last out winning the Westchester (G3) at today's one-mile distance over the Belmont park main track. He is perfect in four starts at Belmont Park including winning the Belmont Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last year. The Christophe Clement trainee makes his second start off a six-month layoff and should get a good trip sitting mid-pack.

Honor Code was outrun in the early going and came with a seven-wide run late to finish fifth last out in the Alysheba where the early pace failed to develop. Two back he won the Gulfstream Park Handicap with a strong late run to get up late. His lone start over the main track at Belmont Park was a neck loss in the Champagne (G1) in his juvenile season. He should get some pace to run at and will be flying late.

Bayern made his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic and tossed in a real clunker in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2). That was at seven furlongs, which is not his best distance. He has bounced back from dull efforts in the past, winning the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) last year after getting outrun in the Travers (G1) and winning the Woody Stephens (G2) after checking in 21 lengths back in the Preakness. He figures to show more but doubt he is going to offer much value for the top spot.

Selections: Private Zone—Tonalist—Honor Code

Odds via Equibase

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