Brisnet.com

Notable Speech and Deterministic won’t be waiting until Breeders’ Cup Day to take off the gloves. The England-based reigning turf male champion and America’s leading older grass specialist will get in a pre-Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) sparring match in the C$1 million Woodbine Mile (G1), one of four Breeders’ Cup Challenge preps at the Toronto course on Saturday.

Harper's Corner dominated the Schuylerville S. to become the first stakes winner for freshman sire Speaker's Corner (Photo by Chelsea Durand/Coglianese Photos) The $300,000 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday has attracted several fast fillies, one of whom will walk away with an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 30. Harper’s Corner has won both of her starts by a combined margin of 13 lengths, including the Schuylerville S.

Golden Tempo (left) and Renegade (center) fought out the finish of the Kentucky Derby (G1) (Photo by Horsephotos.com) The $1.25 million Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday will produce one of two things: a virtual coronation of Golden Tempo as the season’s leading three-year-old or a window of opportunity for another horse to ultimately make a similar claim during the final few months of the year.

Counting Stars wins the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. (Photo by Coaglianese Photo) An open-lengths winner of the Acorn (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga already this summer, Counting Stars will be heavily favored to make it three in a row on Saturday in the $600,000 Alabama (G1). Although her stamina will be tested in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama, Counting Stars holds a serious class advantage over her five rivals. Her main rival, Always a Runner, was not entered.

Luster will be heavily favored to add her name to an illustrious list of filly winners of the C$1 million King’s Plate at Woodbine on Saturday. The 1 1/4-mile King’s Plate, the first Canadian classic of the year, is restricted to Canadian-bred three-year-olds. Luster was installed the even-money favorite on the morning line and will break from post 1 in a field of 12. Luster enters with four wins from five starts and is undefeated around two turns.

Sunday’s dirt stakes at Saratoga both showcased new talents. The three-year-old division picked up an exciting new face in Sea Strike, who romped over Triple Crown trail veteran Chief Wallabee in the $150,000 Curlin S. With this sensational stakes and two-turn debut, the Chad Brown pupil entered the conversation for the Aug. 29 Travers (G1).