1:00 AM EDT Coolmore Classic ($550,000 purse 3up Fillies and Mares, 7.5 furlongs):

Rankings:  1-10-4-3…I think this race is #1 CATKINS’ to lose.  She is the co-highweight and has post 14 of 17, but she is very versatile and should get a nice ‘trail’ in third from main speeds #4 Steps in Time and #9 Sweet Idea.  Catkins’ speed figures indicate she might well explode to a new top, and if she does, this race is over.  #10 Bonaria is in SUPER form, just a question if she can make the class hike from Gr. 3 to Gr. 1.  #4 Steps in Time is the speed of the speed, figures to win the pace duel, then tire late.  #3 Dear Demi is a good horse, she probably wants longer, and Catkins easily handled her in the Sydney-area prep, but second off the layoff we can expect Dear Demi to move forward.

1:40 AM EDT Ranvet Stakes ($460,000 purse 3up Open, 10.0 furlongs):

Rankings:  1-2-6-4…This race is a lead-in to the $4,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in April, so not THAT much is at stake this week.  #1 Fiorente is completely the one to beat here and the scary thing is the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner may be getting even better.  #2 It’s A Dundeel was moved too early last time; it probably cost him the win and he is second off the layoff here.  Needs to improve about 2 lengths to challenge for the win but that would not be impossible.  #6 Carlton House showed more speed last time and at one juncture was considered one of the best 3 year olds in England.  Exotics threat.  #4 Hawkspur has always threatened to be a top horse and he is fast enough to compete in this spot.  Finished closely to It’s A Dundeel two weeks ago.