(Monday, October 3) The brilliant filly Havre de Grace put in her final prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday by trouncing her rivals with a breathtaking victory in the Beldame (G1) at Belmont Park.

The Fox Hill Farm owned filly won her fifth race in six starts this year, and will head to Churchill Downs with a chance to be the third consecutive female to take down Horse of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

She handled her four rivals in the Beldame easily, drawing clear to win by 8 ¼ lengths, with the talented three-year-old filly Royal Delta left in her wake to pick up the runner up spot.

She is proven against the boys, winning the Woodward (G1)on Sept. 3 at Saratoga, and that effort looks all that much better now that the runner up Flat Out came back with an impressive victory in Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Replay of the 2011 Beldame won by Havre de Grace ($2.90)

Her lone loss this year was in the Delaware Handicap (G2) where she came up just a head shy of her arch rival Blind Luck.

Blind Luck returned to the track on Saturday with a disappointing effort in a last place finish in the Lady’s Secret (G1) at Santa Anita and will now skip the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1) according to her trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Havre de Grace would be the prohibitive betting favorite if she went to the Ladies Classic, but will seek to lock down the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year by beating males in the Classic.

Among those standing in her way are Whitney Handicap (G1) winner Tizway, who missed the Jockey Club Gold Cup when he spiked a fever and will train up to the Classic, Flat Out, and Kelso (G2) winner Uncle Mo.

The 2010 champion two-year-old who was knocked off the Triple Crown Trail with a liver ailment, Uncle Mo appears to be back on track with a sensational fast time winning the one mile Kelso.

The Mike Repole owned runner earned a 118 Beyer Speed Figure, the second highest Beyer of 2011, topped only by Big Drama’s 120 winning the Mr. Prospector in January at Gulfstream Park.

Uncle Mo took the field gate to wire in the Kelso over a wet track that was kind to horses on or near the lead that day.

Replay of the 2011 Kelso won by Uncle Mo ($3.20)

Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In Winners from Last Weekend

Saturday:
The Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (G1): Flat Out
Flower Bowl Invitational (G1): Stacelita
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1): Cape Blanco
Beldame Invitational (G1): Havre de Grace
Vosburgh Invitational (G1): Giant Ryan
Kelso Handicap (G2): Uncle Mo
Goodwood Stakes (G1): Game on Dude
Lady's Secret Stakes (G1): Zazu
Norfolk Stakes (G1): Creative Cause
Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G1): Dubawi Heights

Sunday:
Oak Leaf (G1) : Weemissfrankie
Qatar Petroleum Prix de L'Opera (G1): Nahrain
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1): Dabirsim