Your Saturday Stakes Sweep: October 1, 2011

More than 50 (count ’em!) added-money events on the docket now. You mean horses actually prepare for the Breeders’ Cup?

We suppose! The Grade II Kelso and the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup from Belmont are available on the free page. Respectively, they are Races 8 & 10.

Before those two, the fifth is the Grade I Flower Bowl. In it, #8 Stacelita will take some beating.

Race 11 at the Calder is the Cassidy, and it’s also on the free page.

Before that there, it’s the eighth, the Birdonthewire, and #2 Hello Prince looks legit.

Open in the eighth at Delpark, the Blue Hen, where #5 Filare l’Oro can outrun her 15-1 (!) on the morning line.

Pay-side joy in Laurel’s fourth, fifth and sixth, the Distaff, Distaff Starter and the Nursery.

Complimentary longshot in the seventh there, the Ladies: #10 Vera Belle. Also open in the ninth, the Turf, where #1 Irish Lion may yet roar. Finally, Race 11 is the Starter, where #6 Please Sir receives multiple confirmations.

Amazingly, with six live (read: playable) races at the Oak Tree today, you’d guess more than one of them would be a stakes. But you’d be incorrect! As Trebek would say in his inimitable Ontarian way, “Oooh…surrie”. Aha! #1 Blind Luck seems too strong in the sixth, the Grade I Lady’s Secret. However, it’s really wide open in the 10th, the Grade I Yellow Ribbon. Catch that one on the free page.

At Woodbine, Race 4 is the Victorian Queen, and #5 Notacloudinthesky appears prohibitive.

Potential upsets in the Hoosier headliners. First is the 11th, the Grade II Indy Oaks. Straight-up call to #5 Withgreatpleasure. The next race at that place is the Grade II Indy Derby, and #3 Little Drama is poised to create a big one, 12-1 on your morning line! As well in the longshot frame is #2 Decisive Moment.

Chalk-lovers can seek refuge in the eighth at Keystone, the Brandywine, an erstwhile chariot-racing plant near Wilmington, Del. #1 Say a Novena should prove pleasing to the ears of the racing gods.

Absolute madness on the other side of the Commonwealth today, and it starts in the seventh at Presque. It’s the Deubtante, and #11 Blue Forty is as worthy as any of the others. The eighth is the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvy; we go with #5 Mr. Prankster. Rounding out the Western Penna. stakes trio is the ninth, the H.P.B.A, where #6 Fugitive Angel is not a lost cause.

Finally, the B Cup Races are going on at Lethbridge in Canada. Sorry, we are unable to provide support there. Apologies. (Are you snickering yet?!)

OK. Exhale. Best wishes for a prosperous Saturday.