First Look: See likely fields for 12 graded stakes at 5 tracks

Aqueduct celebrates Independence Day with six graded stakes over the long weekend. Endlessly returns to turf in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby after falling short in the run for the roses, and Next looks to extend a four-race win streak with a repeat win in the Brooklyn (G2) on Friday.

Stronghold is expected to make his first appearance since the Kentucky Derby in the Indiana Derby (G3), and Beholder Mile (G1) winner Sweet Azteca is expected back in the Great Lady M (G2).

Here is an early look at the likely fields.

Thursday

Victory Ride (G3), Aqueduct, 6 1/2 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

All the entries here are last-out winners. Mystic Lake led at every call in winning the Miss Preakness (G3) by 4 1/2 lengths. Emery is 2-for-2 this year after winning as the odds-on favorite at Churchill Downs. Halina’s Forte was fourth in the Eight Belles (G2) before returning with an optional-claiming allowance win. Autumn Evening tries her first stakes after going 2-for-2 this year.

Friday

Brooklyn (G2), Aqueduct, 1 3/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Next won this race last year, starting a four-race win streak that included his 2024 debut in the Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight. This will be his shortest distance since 2022. Crupi’s half-length win in the Suburban (G2) was his first start since a 10th-place finish in the Dubai World Cup (G1). Masqueparade, also entered here, was third in the Suburban and is 1-for-4 this year.

Saturday

Belmont Derby (G1), Aqueduct, 1 3/16 miles (turf), 3-year-olds

Endlessly would return to turf here after trying dirt in the Kentucky Derby and finishing ninth. His 5-for-7 record includes three wins on turf and two on synthetic. The first- through third-place finishers in the Pennine Ridge (G2) are expected, with Legend of Time getting his fifth win from seven starts in the May 25 race. Trikari won the American Turf (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard before finishing third in the Penn Mile (G3) by a nose and a neck.

Belmont Oaks (G1), Aqueduct, 1 3/16 miles (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Buchu started the year with a win in the Appalachian (G2) before finishing sixth in the Edgewood (G2) and second in the Regret (G3). Dynamic Pricing was 0-for-2 this year before rallying to win the Edgewood. In her first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, She Feels Pretty won the black-type Hilltop Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths, bringing her record to 4: 3-0-1.

John A. Nerud (G2), Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up

Prevalence had an eight-race losing streak before winning an optional-claiming allowance and then finishing second in the Maryland Sprint (G3). Everso Mischievous has an 8: 5-2-0 record, with his only off-the-board finish coming when 11th in the Cigar Mile (G2). In his only start this year, he won an optional-claiming allowance at Churchill Downs. Little Vic is 1-for-7 since winning last year’s Tom Fool Handicap (G3). After nearly nine months off, Mullikin is 2-for-2 this year and would try graded company for the first time.

Dwyer (G3), Aqueduct, 1 mile, 3-year-olds

Nash had never finished out of the money until last out in the Woody Stephens (G1), when he stumbled at the start. Billal’s only win in four starts this year came in an optional-claiming allowance at Keeneland in April. Save the Trees has raced only twice, winning his debut in April at Keeneland and scoring in a starter allowance at Churchill Downs on June 9.

Delaware Oaks (G3), Delaware Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies

Sidamara moves up to a stakes after breaking her maiden in April and winning an optional-claiming allowance in May. Power Squeeze won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and third in the Acorn (G1). Ringy Dingy won a one-mile listed stakes at Delaware Park in October then was seventh in the Demoiselle (G2). In her only start this year, she finished sixth in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2). Trainer Kenny McPeek nominated the two listed here and is likely to enter one.

Indiana Derby (G3), Horseshoe Indianapolis, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Stronghold worked five furlongs Sunday in a bullet 59.0 seconds ahead of his first expected start since he finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby. E J Won the Cup scored in the Texas Derby in his first start since a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Real Men Violin and Informed Patriot, also expected here, were third and ninth, respectively, in the Texas Derby. Dragoon Guard is a Juddmonte homebred who is 2-for-2 this year for trainer Brad Cox.

Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3), Prairie Meadows, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Hit Show’s win in a May 11 optional-claiming allowance at Churchill Downs was his first start since September and his first win since the 2023 Withers (G3). Red Route One is 1-for-5, with the win coming in the New Orleans Classic (G2) in March. Heroic Move’s win in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) was his first graded-stakes score.

Great Lady M (G2), Los Alamitos, 6 1/2 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Sweet Azteca is 2-for-3 on her career and would make her first start since a gate-to-wire win in the Beholder Mile (G1) on March 9. After finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Three Witches opened the year with a win in the Santa Monica (G2) then returned three months later with a seventh-place finish in the Derby City Distaff (G1). Daddysruby closed 2023 with a win in the La Brea (G1) then returned to finish third in the black-type Spring Fever and second in the Matron on March 30.

Probables were not available for the Hendrie (G3) at Woodbine.

Sunday