Fashion Alert tops Alcibiades on Keeneland opener

Fashion Alert, a Todd Pletcher trainee who captured her first two starts

against stakes company in New York, will break from the rail as a field of 13

juvenile fillies go postward in the Grade 1, $400,000

Alcibiades,

the opening day feature over 1 1/16 miles.

A daughter of Old Fashioned, Fashion Alert flashed speed in both outings,

taking the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria at Belmont by 4 3/4 lengths on June 14. Five

weeks later, the bay dueled and then drew off to take the six-furlong

Schuylerville by 1 1/2 lengths over Take Charge Brandi, who reappears here after

consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Adirondack and Pocahontas.

The Alcibiades field also includes several sharp debut winners. Top Decile

won by a length at Saratoga for trainer Al Stall Jr. going 6 1/2 furlongs, while

Taylor S enters off a strong 3 3/4-length score at Churchill Downs for Dale

Romans over the same distance. Darley, the sponsor of the Alcibiades, will be

represented by homebred Innovative Idea, who won for fun by 4 1/4 lengths at

Arlington at the same trip last month, but the daughter of Bernardini will need

to make a successful transition from Polytrack to dirt.

Others likely to garner some support are Gap Year, a head third in her

Saratoga debut for Godolphin and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin; Calamity Kate, a

six-length maiden winner at Belmont in her third career start; Pangburn,

runner-up in the Pocahontas at Churchill following a turf maiden win; and Naval

Command, who has won three of four including the Happy Ticket on grass at

Louisiana Downs.

Work All Week, the Illinois-bred hero of the Iowa Sprint Handicap in June

over Grade 2 hero Delaunay, will break outside the other speed in the Grade 3,

$200,000

Phoenix over six furlongs. Although beaten last time in a state-bred stakes

at Arlington, Work All Week is undefeated in eight career starts on dirt.

Also entering the Phoenix on hot streaks are Rainbow Heir, who has won three

in a row including the $130,000 Teddy Drone at Monmouth; Bern Identity, unbeaten

in three outings this term including the $100,000 Dave's Friend at Laurel last

time; and multiple stakes winner Mr. Baker, who has won four of his last five.

Completing the Phoenix field are Count Fleet Sprint Handicap winner Lemon

Drop Dream, who has been unplaced in his last three starts; Grade 2-placed

stakes-winning three-year-old C. Zee; Saratoga allowance scorer Eastwood; and

stakes veteran Zee Bros, the trailer in last Saturday's Vosburgh at Belmont.

Both the Alcibiades and Phoenix are Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In"

challenge races -- the Alcibiades for the Juvenile Fillies and the Phoenix for

the Sprint.

The Keeneland Fall Meet runs through October 25, with live racing Wednesday

through Sunday. Gates open at 11 a.m. (EDT); post time for the first race is

1:05 p.m.

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