No Grade 1 races this week and only one Grade 2 race of note as we all anticipate Breeders’ Cup weekend next week.

On Saturday Keeneland cards the Grade 2 $150,000 Fayette Stakes on closing day. A field of 10 will face the starter with the role of favorite likely going to 6-year-old Parading, from the Shug McGaughey barn who will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Up and coming 3-year-old Blame, from the Albert Stall barn, who was runner-up to Regal Ransom in the Super Derby  has yet to finish off the board in three career starts. It should be noted that both contenders won their only previous start over the Keeneland Polytrack surface. Longshot players might consider Giant Oak, a talented former Kentucky Derby contender who’s been badly mismanaged but has shown flashes of talent; and Medjool, who does his best running on the grass, a colt who has earned excellent and competitive Equibase Speed Figures in those races and figures to be a HUGE price on the tote board.

Vineyard Haven, one of the top 2-year olds of 2008, has apparently found his niche sprinting.  Entered in the Grade 1 Kings Bishop at Saratoga after a half-year layoff, Vineyard Haven gave a good account of himself finishing ahead of Capt. Candyman Can and Munnings, though he was disqualified and placed 2nd for interference in that race. That effort and a little rest should have him tight enough to beat this field, with one Grade 2 win amongst the rest of the field. Adding to an already strong crop of 3-year olds, the Goldophin colorbearer takes on 8 older challengers in the $300,000 Grade 1 Frank S. Defrancis Dash on Saturday at Laurel Park.

The other big race of the week is the $300,000 Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes for 3-year old fillies. A large, evenly matched field is set to face the starter for, this 7 furlong test on the Keeneland Polytrack. Heading the field is another Godolphin runner, Flashing, winner of the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga at this same distance, and the consistent Just Jenda. Those looking for longshots might consider Pretty Prolific, and the improving Sky Haven.

A great weekend of graded stakes action from coast to coast.

It’s October and that means that it’s time for the Keeneland Fall Meeting. With high purses and a plethora of chances for horses to earn black type, the Keeneland meet draws horses from all over.

Keeneland starts the graded stakes action on Friday with the Grade 1 $500,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes for 2-year old fillies. Expected to vie for for the bettors dollars are Beautician, from the always dangerous Kenneth McPeak stable, and She Be Wild, undefeated in three starts over Arlington’s Polytrack surface.

The Saturday features at Keeneland starts off with the Grade 2 $300,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes where Informed Decision will go off less than even money to take the top prize. Female milers compete in the Grade 1 $400,000 First Lady Stakes featuring Forever Together, winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. While not her best distance, the star filly seems to have this field overmatched a as she puts in her last tuneup in preparation for a repeated engagement in the Breeders’ Cup. The Grade 1 $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile annually attracts some of the best turf milers in the world and a strong field of nine will face the starter including Justenuffhumor, who’s been the winner of his last six starts. The Grade 1 $500,000 Spinster Stakes rounds out the action featuring Icon Project and recent Ruffian winner Swift Temper. Finally, top 2-year olds will compete for the $500,000 purse in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity.

Belmont Park cards the top races for 2-year olds for it’s fall meeting, the Grade 1 $400,000 Champagne and Frizette Stakes. The Champagne has drawn Dublin, who won the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga for D. Wayne Lukas, and Homeboykris, from the Richard Dutrow barn. The Frizette is expected to draw Awesome Maria, who will be among the favorites if she goes, as well as Franny Freud, Touching Beauty, and Devil May Care. Also on the card is the Grade 1 $300,000 Jamaica Handicap at a mile and one eighth on the grass expected to draw Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes winner Take The Points.

Oak Tree at Santa Anita has stacked it’s weekend with preps for the Breeders’ Cup as well. On Saturday Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will take on his elders for the first time in the Grade 1 $500,000 Goodwood Stakes, a very strong field expected to include Pacific Classic winner Richard’s Kid, 2007 Goodwood winner Tiago, Informed, Parading, and Colonel John. Super filly Zenyatta puts her unbeaten string on the line as she seeks to repeat in the Grade 1 $300,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes against many of the same fillie’s she’s beaten many times before. She’ll be a very short price on the tote. Let’s hope jockey Mike Smith doesn’t take this field as lightly as he did in Zenyatta’s last race. Another heavy favorite figures to rule the Grade 1 $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, that being Magical Fantasy.

Two more Grade 1 races are on the Sunday card at Oak Tree. The $350,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Stakes has drawn 9, includng invader Presious Passion facing locals Artiste Royal, Spring House, and Medici Code (GB). Ten colts and geldings square off in the Grade 1 $200,000 Ancient Title Handicap. With pro-tem division leader Zensational not in the race it figures to be a wide open affair.