We’re going to see the kickoff of the Fall Championship Meet at Belmont Park in just a week’s time and I, for one, am really looking to all of the graded stakes action that we’ll have at our disposal.
While many of us will be giving most of our attention to races like the Futurity Stakes and the Grade 1 Beldame in the earlier part of the meet, I’m extremely excited for the Graded action that involves two year-olds towards the middle of October.
I think it’s going to be a great opportunity to check out some of next year’s high-stakes talent and I have a very good feeling that we’ll be seeing some of next year’s Triple Crown contenders running at both Belmont Park and the Hollywood Park Autumn meet. In particular, the Champagne Stakes and the Frizette Stakes are both Grade 1 races involving two year-olds and I think these two could be some of the best previews of massive clashes we’ll see next year at Churchill, Belmont and Pimlico.
Here is the full line-up of graded action taking place during the 2009 Fall Championship Meet at Belmont Park.
Bowling Green Handicap Gr 2 9/11
Garden City Stakes Gr 1 9/12
Ruffian handicap Gr 1 9/12
Futurity Stakes Gr 2 9/12
Natalma Stakes Gr 2 9/19
Matron Stakes 9/19
Noble Damsel Handicap Gr 3 9/19
Gallant Bloom Handicap Gr 2 9/26
Jockey Club Gold Cup Gr 1 10/3
Beldame Gr 1 10/3
Flower Bowl Gr 1 10/3
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Gr 1 10/3
Vosburgh Stakes Gr 1 10/3
Kelso Handicap Gr 2 10/4
Miss Grillo Stakes Gr 3 10/4 (2 year olds)
Pilgrim Stakes Gr 3 10/4 (2 year olds)
Champagne Stakes Gr 1 10/10 (2 year olds)
Frizette Stakes Gr 1 10/10 (2 year olds)
Jamaica Handicap Gr 1 10/10
Jerome Handicap Gr 2 10/11
Athenia Gr 3 10/17
Knickerbocker Gr 3 10/18
