Tommy Jo stretches out in BC WAYI Alcibiades

Keeneland opens with a bang on Friday, with a trio of Breeders’ Cup Challenge events highlighting the racing action. 

Unbeaten Spinaway (G1) romper Tommy Jo stretches out to two turns in the $650,000 Alcibiades (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The 1 1/16-mile test also serves as a qualifier on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, offering points on the 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers.

Tommy Jo already secured her Juvenile Fillies spot in the seven-furlong Spinaway. Dispatched as the even-money favorite after dominating her Saratoga debut, the Todd Pletcher pupil rolled by 6 1/2 lengths. Spendthrift Farm’s homebred daughter of Into Mischief figures to handle the added distance at Keeneland, and only five rivals are willing to challenge her. 

Spinaway runner-up Percy’s Bar, who rallied from further off the pace, could move up over a route. Trained by Ben Colebrook, the Upstart filly had won her first two starts, a maiden here in April and the Debutante S. at Churchill Downs. 

Trainer Kenny McPeek, a five-time Alcibiades winner, sends out a pair of one-mile Ellis Park maiden winners in The Grumpy Rabbit and Go to Girl. Florida shipper Haute Diva just broke her maiden over a mile on the Gulfstream Park turf. Rounding out the sextet is the maiden Wonzee Weather, who also employs the turf-to-dirt angle.

The $400,000 Jessamine (G2) lured an overflow field of 14, including two also-eligibles, seeking a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). 

As in the Alcibiades, Pletcher has the one to beat in Time to Dream, who, like Tommy Jo, brings a 2-for-2 mark from Saratoga. The Repole Stable runner stamped herself as one to watch by overcoming trouble in her debut. Next time, she demolished the P.G. Johnson S. by five lengths, proving herself at this 1 1/16-mile distance. 

For the rest of the field, Kentucky Downs form looms large. Red Beretta was runner-up by a head in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies, where Rose Room was a near-miss fourth, and Loveliest checked in seventh. Carolyncaroline comes off a fourth in the Untapable S. 

Rusty Arnold’s Mackinac, third on debut to the talented Snow Face Princess at the Spa, closed strongly to capture a Kentucky Downs allowance. Victor Help Me was fourth in that allowance. 

Other Kentucky Downs graduates include the Brad Cox duo of Aggressive Lime and Infinite Sky (a half-sister to Wet Paint), Imaginationthelady, Lit Ship, and Diablo Shiraz. The also-eligibles are Soloist, fifth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies blanket finish, and Dyna, exiting a third in the Catch a Glimpse S. at Woodbine.

A short field of six is set for the $400,000 Phoenix (G2), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). 

Nakatomi, second in the Phoenix for the past two years, hopes that the third time’s the charm. Wesley Ward’s Grade 1 star was most recently third in his title defense in the July 19 Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2), and he won’t have to face Book ‘em Danno or Mullikin here.

But Mullikin’s stablemate from the Rodolphe Brisset barn, World Record, sports top-level form himself. Last year’s Amsterdam (G2) hero was just third as the favorite in the Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar.

Grade 3 veterans Here Mi Song, Skelly, and Durante wheel back from losses in the Sept. 13 Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. at Churchill. Here Mi Song did his best work late to head pacesetter Skelly for runner-up honors, but Durante was a tough-trip fifth. Ward’s other entrant, Whatchatalkinabout, also aims to return to his career best, as displayed in the John A. Nerud (G3) at Aqueduct back in May.