Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. captured both of Saturday’s turf stakes at Keeneland aboard favorites. In Italian controlled the Jenny Wiley (G1), and Twilight Gleaming revealed a new tactical dimension in the Giant’s Causeway S.

For the second straight year, Todd Pletcher won the Ashland with a Triple Crown-nominated filly. In 2021, Malathaat just got up. At Keeneland on Friday, 1.70-1 favorite Nest flew to an 8 1/4-length rout, reiterating her status as a prime Kentucky Oaks contender.

Even-money favorite Happy Soul made a winning comeback in Saturday’s $150,000 Dixie Belle S., revealing a new tactical dimension.

Saturday’s $150,000 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park is the comeback spot not only for Happy Soul, one of Wesley Ward’s smashing speedsters, but also Wicked Halo, who was last seen surviving a brutal pace war in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga.

The sight of the late Marylou Whitney’s homebred Pretty Birdie wiring the $150,000 Schuylerville S. (G3) added another layer of emotion to Saratoga's opening day.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opened Thursday with a trio of black-type events. While Con Lima rolled at 8.30-1 in the Wonder Again S. (G3), Change of Control went off at a much shorter 1.45-1 in the Intercontinental S. (G3), and Happy Soul aired as a prohibitive odds-on favorite in the Astoria S.

Wonder Again S., Intercontinental S. and Astoria S. highlight Thursday racing at Belmont Park for Belmont Stakes week!