Fall Racing Season Begins at Belmont

Some of racing's best will kick off the fall racing season at Belmont Park this weekend."]

Summer racing at Saratoga and Del Mar may have come to an end, but the fall championship season at Belmont Park is just beginning. The park's official opening day is Friday, Sept. 5, but the action really gets underway on the weekend, which will feature three exciting races.

The Ruffian Handicap, a Gr. 1 event with a purse of $300,000 for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, will be run on Saturday. Test Stakes and Prioress Stakes champion Indian Blessing has been nominated, and the Bob Baffert-trained filly will be putting her two-race unbeaten streak on the line. She is expected to be challenged by Tough Tiz's Sis, who is also trained by Baffert, and Godolphin Stable's Little Belle, who has finished no worse than third in the seven races of her 2008 campaign.

Also to be run on Saturday is the Gr. 1 $250,000 Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf. Pure Clan, winner of both the American Oaks and the Regret Stakes earlier this year, is expected to run; she has a stellar record of four wins in four starts on turf this year. Other notable nominees include Appalachian Stakes winner Alwajeeha, Irish-based Shaker and the speedy Raw Silk.

The $100,000-added Schenectady Handicap will be featured on Sunday, Sept. 7. This race is for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, and looks to be a rematch of the Union Avenue Stakes that was held in August. One-two finishers By the Light, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., and Just Zip It, trained by William H. Turner Jr., are slated to face off once again. Also nominated are Precise Lady, Salt Water Reign and Under Serviced.

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