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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman An exciting weekend of racing is on the agenda. In North America alone, 11 graded stakes are slated for Saturday and Sunday. We'll focus our attention on two contests: the Old Dominion Derby (G3) and the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Saturday: Old Dominion Derby (G3) at ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman These days, in the United States, it isn't common to see three-year-olds defeat older horses in Grade 1 races before the Breeders' Cup. With so many rich targets for sophomores on the summer and fall calendar, there isn't much incentive for three-year-olds to step outside their own ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The feature race at Saratoga this Saturday is the historic $1.25 million Travers (G1), but there are four other Grade 1 stakes on the agenda as well. Travers (G1) At least on paper, the Travers isn't shaping up as a great betting race. Only five horses have entered, and #4 ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman A small but high-quality field is slated to start in Saturday's $600,000 Alabama (G1) at Saratoga. Unlike most dirt stakes for three-year-old fillies, which are held over 1 1/8 miles or less, the Alabama takes place over 1 1/4 miles. Sometimes, the unusually long distance gives ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Arlington Million (G1) dates back to 1981 and is fabled as the first Thoroughbred horse race offering a $1 million purse, which it retains to this day. Despite its prestige and lengthy history, the Arlington Million has never been won by a Kentucky Derby (G1) champion. Even ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Who will prevail in Saturday's $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga? The 1 1/8-mile ''Win and You're In'' qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) has drawn a tremendous field with plenty of viable win contenders. A quick pace is expected. Even with #1 Mindframe (5-2) expected ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The field for Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga is small, with only five horses in the entries. But quality runs deep—very deep—in the 1 1/8-mile contest for three-year-olds. Two of the entrants are Grade 1 winners, including a duel classic winner. Two others are ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman In many ways, Saturday's $1 million Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park is shaping up as a rematch of the Preakness (G1). Three of the top four finishers from the Triple Crown's second jewel will battle over 1 1/8 miles in the Haskell. The group includes Preakness winner #2 Journalism ...