There is a handful of Grade 3 races taking place this weekend across the United States. The Old Forester Mint Julep is one of the races, which will take place at Churchill Downs, while the Salvator Mile Stakes will take place at Monmouth Park. Below, we will go through both Grade 3s and assess the field involved.
Old Forester Mint Julep Preview & Contenders
The Mint Julep will be the Grade 3 action taking place at Churchill Downs this weekend. Fillies over the age of four will be involved in the race, which is run over 1 1/16 miles on turf. The field that will be going to post for the race can be found below:
| Horse | Jockey | Odds Courtesy of Jazzsports |
| MINTD | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | +1200 |
| JULIET FOXTROT | Tyler Gaffalione | +120 |
| HENDY WOODS | Florent Geroux | +600 |
| VEZPA | Joseph Talamo | +3000 |
| LASHARA | Julien R. Leparoux | +2000 |
| DOMINGA | Shaun Bridgmohan | +800 |
| FLASH N’ DANCE | Marcelino Pedroza | +3000 |
| TUNED | David Cohen | +1200 |
| CRYSTAL BALL | James Graham | +600 |
| SISTER HANAN | Corey J. Lanerie | +1000 |
| SHE’SONTHEWARPATH | Adam Beschizza | +800 |
Juliet Foxtrot is the standout horse in the field for the Mint Julep. The six-year-old for Brad Cox has achieved numerous graded victories throughout her career. She was most recently the winner of the G1 Jenny Wiley, as she traveled well throughout to see off the challenges of La Signare and Tamahere. This will be her second attempt at the Mint Julep, as she finished sixth in the race 12 months ago.
Mintd and Sister Hanan are the two most likely challengers for Juliet Foxtrot this weekend. Mintd, for trainer Brendan Walsh, is yet to win on the track but has been progressive in quality fields in the Ellis Park Turf and Tipperary Stakes. She will return to the track this weekend for the first time in just over a year. Sister Hanan also looks open for improvement, after finishing third in the G3 The Very One and fifth in the G3 Orchid on her last two starts.
Salvator Mile Stakes Preview & Contenders
Monmouth Park will also host a Grade 3 this weekend, as the Salvator Mile takes place. This race covers a distance of one mile and is contested on the dirt between horses aged three and older. The likely entries for the race are:
| Horse | Jockey | Odds Courtesy of Jazzsports |
| GALERIO | Pablo Morales | +600 |
| WEST WILL POWER | Nik Juarez | +600 |
| BAL HARBOUR | Mychel J. Sanchez | +600 |
| GREEN LIGHT GO | Dylan Davis | +800 |
| INFORMATIVE | Jose C. Ferrer | +3000 |
| CROATIAN | Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. | +1500 |
| NY TRAFFIC | Paco Lopez | +180 |
| BASIN | Albin Jimenez | +800 |
| WAR STOPPER | Ruben Silvera | +1200 |
| PIRATE’S PUNCH | Robby Albarado | +500 |
There are a number of contenders in this field that will be looking for a first graded victory this weekend. The Todd Pletcher Basin could be the leading contenders.
Basin is a horse that we like a lot, and we fully expect a stronger run that he put in last time when eighth in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes. Before that run, he had won Sir Shackleton and was second in the G2 Amsterdam. Warrior’s Charge also looks like one that will improve, as he was recently sixth in the G3 Steve Sexton Mile.
West Will Power and NY Traffic both picked up allowance victories on their last start and could be primed for a strong run with graded company. Green Light Go and Bal Harbour also can’t be ruled out for place positions after finishing fifth in the Essex Handicap and eighth in the Richard W. Small Stakes, respectively.
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