Penn Mile Stakes & Pennine Ridge Stakes Preview

There is set to be a bumper weekend of racing action for fans to look forward to this weekend, with a stack of graded races in store for a special bank holiday racing schedule. Two of the graded races that fans will be able to look forward to include the Penn Mile Stakes and Pennine Ridge Stakes, which are both Grade 2s.

The graded action this weekend gets underway on Friday evening at Penn National, as the Penn Mile Stakes takes place. Horses that are three are able to enter this prestigious race, which is run on turf over a distance of one mile. There is a purse of $300,000 available in this race, and the declarations for this year’s renewal can be found below:

A field of seven are likely to go to post for the Grade 2 action at Penn National, and it looks set to be a thrilling battle to get the win. The top two in the betting are difficult to separate, as cases can be made for both Annex and Outadore. All of Annex’s career starts have come this season, as he has won three from four starts. His only defeat to date came in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes, but he looks more than ready for a second attempt at graded company. He has already won two competitive stakes races this season in the Cutler Bay Stakes and Palm Beach Stakes.

However, the slight preference for the Penn Mile is for Outadore, who looks primed for a first graded success. The four-year-old was competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last season, as he finished third. That run came after he had won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes. He has already returned to the track with a win this season, as he won the Animal Kingdom Stakes on his reappearance.

The graded action continues at Belmont Park on Saturday, as the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes takes place. The race is competed over 1 1/8 miles on turf, and three-year-olds are eligible to enter. Nine horses have entered the race, and you can find the field for the Grade 2 below:

This race looks a competitive one to call, as a case can be made for many of the contenders that will be lining up. Four horses come into this race with wins in their last race, including The Reds, who won the Federico Tesio, and Hard Love, who won the Woodhaven. Sainthood will be an interesting selection that many will be intrigued by, as the Todd Pletcher-trained horse will be making his first start since finishing eleventh in the Kentucky Derby.

Shawdyshawdyshawdy is still highly regarded by many, despite finishing in a disappointing sixth in the Woodhaven last time out. Safe Conduct and Shaftesbury both come into this after allowance wins last time. The slight preference for the Pennine Ridge Stakes is for Public Sector. No trainer has won this race more than Chad Brown, with his most recent success coming with British-trained Dermarchelier in 2019.

He has another British-bred contender this year, and he showed signs of improvement when finishing second last time out. That was a much stronger run than his 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and he should be well-positioned for a strong run at winning a first graded race this weekend.