Oct. 23 (UPI) -- This week's pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup World Championships produced few surprises, but a pair of disappointments with the news that Ombudsman and Gstaad will not make the trip from England.
Godolphin's brain trust, including co-trainer John Gosden, judged the turnaround too quick after 5-year-old Ombudsman' impressive score in the Group 1 British Champion Stakes on Oct. 17.
Gstaad, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, was ruled out after finishing a well-beaten eighth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
The two would have been popular additions to the two-day program at Keeneland, which nonetheless is replete with many of the world's top horses, including as many as seven who during the 2025 event at Del Mar.
Chief among them is Japan's Forever Young, who seeks to become only the second two-time winner of the Classic.
Final entries will be taken and post positions drawn Monday at Keeneland's sales pavilion.
Meanwhile, how do promoters elsewhere deliver an attractive program on the weekend before the Breeders' Cup World Championships? The answer: Stage a festival for state-bred horses.
That's what several American tracks have done this weekend, with 10 New York-bred races Saturday at Belmont Park, six for locally bred steeds at Horseshoe Indianapolis, a dozen races on the Maryland Million card at Laurel Park and five for Buckeye-breds at Mahoning Valley.
It would be a shame to ignore these days. They're important to local owners and breeders for financial reasons and for bragging rights. And the fields often are good-sized and competitive, making for good wagering opportunities.
That's not to say there aren't some worthwhile graded stakes on the weekend schedule, including Australia's celebrated Cox Plate on Saturday and the final leg of Japan's Triple Crown series on Sunday.
Keeneland wraps up its autumn meeting Saturday with the $400,000 Grade II Bowman Mill for 2-year-olds at 6 furlongs and the $350,000 Grade III Hagyard Fayette for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.
Kentucky racing strolls down the road to Churchill Downs for Sunday's $200,000 Grade III Street Sense for 2-year-olds and $200,000 Rags to Riches for 2-year-old fillies, both at 1 1/16 miles. Both are points races for the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, with 10 points to the winners.
Santa Anita on Saturday sends fillies and mares down the hillside turf course in the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy. On Sunday, 3-year-old fillies tackle 1 mile on the grass in the $100,000 Grade III Autumn Miss.
Belmont's Sunday card has the $200,000 Grade III Glen Cove at 1 mile on the lawn for 3-year-old fillies.
Around the world, around the clock
Australia
Saturday's Group 1 Cox Plate runs at Flemington while its usual home at Moonee Valley is being renovated.
Three-time Group 1 winner Aeliana enters for trainer Chris Waller, who has won six of the last 11 Cox Plates, four times with Winx and twice with Via Sistina.
The age, and weight, spread is broad and includes 6-year-old Sir Delius and 3-year-old Warwoven, who comes off wins in the Group 1 Golden Rose and Group I Caulfield Guineas.
Japan
Lovcen can join the exalted ranks of Japanese Triple Crown winners with a victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Kikuka Sho or Japanese St. Leger at Kyoto. Only eight horses have achieved the sweep, dating to St. Lite in 1941 and more recently including Epiphaneia in 2013, Kitasan Black in 2015 and Contrail in 2020.
Lovcen won the Grade 1 Hopeful in December and the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho or Japanese 2,000 Guineas in April, both at 2,000 meters. He successfully stretched out to 2,400 meters to win the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby in May. The Kikuka Sho tacks on another 600 meters, but note Lovecen's sire, World Premier, won the Kikuka Sho in 2019.
England / France
It's last call for the 2-year-olds on both sides of the Channel.
Doncaster on Saturday hosts the Group 1 William Hill Trophy for 2-year-old colts and fillies.
On Sunday at Saint-Cloud, the juveniles go 1,600 meters in the Group 1 Criterium International and 2,000 meters in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Saint-Cloud then wraps up the major European Group 1 flat racing season Sunday with the Royal Oak for 3-year-olds and up at 3,100 meters.