British 2-year-olds highlight weekend action in N. American turf racing

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Even after last weekend's cascade of top-shelf racing, turf racing at Keeneland, Aqueduct and Woodbine will provide plenty of continuing interest this weekend, and Newmarket in England has the traditional sneak peek at prospects for next year's Classics.

As we await the final lineups for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, here are the immediate handicapping challenges:

Filly & Mare Turf

Saturday's $800,000 Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland presents a puzzle with nine 3-year-old fillies lining up to go 1 1/8 miles.

Laurelin tops the morning line at 5-2 as she tries to extend her undefeated record to six. She has been idle since that fifth win -- a victory in the Grade II Saratoga Oaks Invitational.

Other QE II possibilities include Fionn, Opulent Restraint and Lush Lips. This is always one of the year's nicest races.

Turf

Friday's $400,000 Grade II Sycamore at Keeneland has a field of 11 without a solid favorite. Utah Beach is the lukewarm 7-2 morning-line pick for the 1 1/2 miles, but many others have legitimate claims.

Turf Mile

Big Everest is the 2-1 morning-line pick among six in Saturday's $150,000 Artie Schiller at Aqueduct. A 7-year-old son of The Gurkha, he would be a legit favorite on his own, but also represents a hunch bet just a week before the AUS$20 million The Everest in Australia.

Turf Sprint

Saturday's $175,000 Grade III Glen Cove at Aqueduct has 10 3-year-old fillies to tackle 6 furlongs on the greensward. Love Cervere is the morning-line pick, with several others to get a good look.

Future Is Now is the 7-5 favorite for Sunday's $400,000 Grade II Franklin for fillies and mares at Keeneland. The 5-year-old mare has won five of her last six starts but drew the outside gate in a field of nine.

Distaff

Eight are in for Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Ontario Damsel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the Woodbine all-weather. The 1 1/16-mile event looks like a tossup.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Ontario Fashion Stakes at 6 furlongs on the Woodbine all-weather drew a well-matched field of nine. Gal in a Rush and Les Reys are the early picks.

Juvenile

Distant Storm, a Night of Thunder colt from the Godolphin herd, is the early favorite for Saturday's Grade I Darley Dewhurst at Newmarket. The Charlie Appleby charge has won two of three previous starts but faces his sternest test.

Looking elsewhere? Try Coolmore's Gstaad, second in his last two, both Group 1 races, and Zavateri, who beat Gstaad in one of those.

There are several other 2-year-old stakes on that program that need a look, too.

Sunday's $125,000 (Canadian) Display Stakes on the Woodbine all-weather has seven 2-year-olds. Jupiter, second in the Victoria Stakes back in July, might be the favorite by default over mostly maiden winners and one first-timer.

Juvenile Fillies

Precise is the antepost favorite in a field of 11 for Friday's Group 1 bet365 Fillies Mile at Newmarket. The Starspangledbanner miss is riding a three-race win streak for trainer Aidan O'Brien, including the Group 1 Myglore Stud Stakes at the Curragh in her last start. Godolphin's Dance to the Music and Juddmonte's Legacy Link look like viable options.

Eight are entered for Sunday's $125,000 (Canadian) Glorious Song on the Woodbine all-weather. Sacred Goddess ran well in Saratoga's stakes program. Smooch Up exits two wins at Presque Isle Downs, including the Presque Isle Debutante.

Also ...

Saturday's West Virginia Breeders' Classic Day at Charles Town and Saturday's Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park honor those state's breeding programs.

Around the world, around the clock

Australia / Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Ka Ying Rising, the world's top turf sprinter, finished third in a barrier trial Monday at Royal Randwick in Sydney as he preps for the AUS$20 million (about US$13 million) The Everest on Oct. 18.

The trial was packed with talent, including winners collectively of 71 races in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, 24 of them at Group 1 level. Trainer David Hayes said the spin was "a good, solid trial but he did need it." Purton added: "Pass mark. Needs to improve."

While they savor the buildup to the Everest, Aussie fans can try to build their bankrolls in Saturday' Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, Toorak Handicap and Might and Power Stakes, all at Caulfield.

Japan

Narukami led from gate to wire for an easy victory in Wednesday's Japan Dirt Classic at Oi Racecourse -- a race Forever Young used last year as a prep for his third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Natural Rise, bidding for a sweep of Japan's Dirt Triple Crown, finished second, 3 lengths back. Luxor Café, 12th in last year's Kentucky Derby, was another 9 lengths behind in third.

"He was better than in his last race and ran relaxed. He ran a strong race, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the future," jockey Keita Tosaki said.

Narukami is a son of two-time Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow. His name translates to "God of Thunder."