Keeneland kicks off its traditional Fall Meet with the Alcibiades Stakes as the feature attraction

Tommy Jo will aim to remain unbeaten following her brilliant triumph in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga

Tommy Jo left a notable impression at Saratoga / ADAM COGLIANESE / NYRA

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Keeneland launches its Fall Meet on Friday, one of the most anticipated stops on the U.S. racing calendar, where tradition, sales, and top-level racing come together on a single stage. As is customary, the opener will feature a high-profile test: the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1, 1 1/16 miles, dirt), carrying a purse of $650,000 and serving as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, awarding a direct berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar on October 31 and November 1.

The star attraction will undoubtedly be the unbeaten Tommy Jo (Into Mischief), representing Spendthrift Farm, who will aim to maintain her perfect record while stretching out for the first time to 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly debuted with a solid win at Saratoga in July before exploding in the Spinaway Stakes (G1), scoring by a length and establishing herself as one of the most promising two-year-olds of the season. A daughter of the celebrated Into Mischief out of multiple G1-placed Mother Mother (Pioneerof the Nile), she will break from post three with John Velázquez aboard, who was in the irons for her debut.

The main rival is Percy’s Bar (Upstart), bred by Airdrie Stud and owned by Hat Creek Racing, who also impressed with a win in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs. Runner-up to Tommy Jo in the Spinaway, she will now break from post one with Brazilian jockey Luan Machado, seeking revenge after a troubled trip at Saratoga. “She didn’t have the best trip, got pinched, and ran better than the chart suggests,” explained trainer Ben Colebrook, confident that a return to Keeneland could produce a different outcome.

Trainer Kenny McPeek arrives with a pair of contenders: The Grumpy Rabbit (Not This Time), who won by six lengths at Ellis Park, and Go to Girl (Knicks Go), also a winner in her debut at that track and now slated to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. The former will have Flavien Prat aboard, and both were purchased at the Keeneland September Sale, which has produced so many future stars.

Completing the field is Haute Diva (Constitution), from JSM Equine and trained by Patrick Biancone, who broke her maiden over a mile of Gulfstream Park turf after three consecutive seconds on dirt.

In addition to being a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Alcibiades also awards points toward the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1), with 10-5-3-2-1 going to the top five finishers.

With Tommy Jo as the centerpiece, Keeneland will open its Fall Meet promising plenty of excitement, kicking off three weeks of top-level racing at a venue steeped in history.