Horse Racing News on September 25, 2014

A past Epsom Derby runner-up, and two-for-two since his importation from England, Main Sequence tops a solid field of seven in the Grade $1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Itsmyluckyday will try to add the Kelso Handicap to his resume Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.

While Chad Brown trainees Stephanie's Kitten and Alterite have each failed to earn a trip to the winner's circle this season, no one will be ignoring the two Grade 1 winners Sept. 27 when they start in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes.

Repole Stable's Stopchargingmaria, winner of back-to-back Grade 1 races against 3-year-old fillies, will attempt to expand her horizons Sept. 27 against older fillies and mares in the $400,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.

With most of the big-name older horses having been retired this year, horses of all ages and from every locale seemingly are eyeing the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Reputation runs up against recent form when two-time champion Beholder is tackled by 2014 dual Grade 1 winner Iotapa in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes over the Santa Anita Park main course Sept. 27.

The illustrious Stonestreet Farms broodmare band gained two more celebrities Sept. 24 with the announcement that two of their star fillies, My Miss Aurelia and Dreaming of Julia, have been retired.

American Pharoah looks to solidify his status as the likely favorite for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes Sept. 27, taking on nine others at Santa Anita Park.

Undefeated Shared Belief looms a heavy favorite as he heads a field of eight in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/8 miles Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park.