Art Collector – Bruce Lunsford’s homebred 4yo colt Art Collector galloped about a mile and a quarter on the Del Mar main track Thursday morning at just past 8:45 with Neil Poznansky aboard. The Bill Mott pupil will attempt to give the conditioner a third victory in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“All’s good,” Mott said. “He galloped today and he’s good. He was strong and full of himself.”
Mott also touched on the news of champion turf horse Channel Maker, third in the Longines Turf in 2020, making it into the race after the Thursday defections of Domestic Spending and United: “We’ve got to be in to have a chance to win.”
Art Collector is a son of 2006 Classic runner-up Bernardini and 2011 Filly & Mare Turf fourth Distorted Legacy and will be his owner-breeder’s eighth Breeders’ Cup chance. His closest finish was when favorite First Samurai was third after a troubled trip in the 2005 Juvenile at Belmont Park.
“I’ve been in the business 33 years and don’t own a horse farm,” Lunsford said. “I am in it to race and enjoy the experience. I would say it would clearly be the biggest win of my career if he could win. I own the mare and siblings and I have a half-brother, so that’s great. With his dam, we only got beat a head and neck for second and she ran a huge race. We bred to Bernardini at a not-too-exorbitant price and obviously it’s worked out well.
“As far as the 10-furlong distance, I think Bill’s pretty comfortable with him, since he’s won three at 9 furlongs and a lot of others haven’t run or won at a mile and a quarter yet,” Lunsford continued. “It’ll be an interesting race because of the pace.
“The reason we moved him to Bill is because of all the big races in New York. (Previous trainer) Tom (Drury) and I have a long history together and will continue to do so, just like I have had with Bill. Bill has this great ability to work his way around the New York races and my only (stipulation) with Bill was that if he’s going to take him, I want him right outside his office. Bill is really happy with the horse. (Art Collector) is like a pet now and he’s a good horse who I think can get better.”
Lunsford reflected on his most disappointing loss with the aforementioned First Samurai, who has gone on to become a credible stallion for Claiborne Farm.
“We obviously had a great trainer with Frankie (Brothers) and the best rider with (Jerry) Bailey that day, but he just had trouble at the gate and had to work his way to the front,” he said. “He got tired at the end and we got beat by a horse (Stevie Wonderboy) who never won again and a horse we beat in the Champagne, Henny Hughes. In the end, I think we were the best 2-year-old that year, along with Henny Hughes.”
Essential Quality/Knicks Go – Keeping to their same routine, Essential Quality went out before the break and Knicks Go was the last of the deep Brad Cox-trained arsenal to train Thursday morning. The two grays have both kept strong campaigns in 2021 in hopes of making it to the Classic at the end of the year. Knicks Go, the 5-2 morning line favorite, could sew up Champion Older Male honors with the win, while Essential Quality, the 3-1 second choice, could secure Champion 3-Year-Old honors with a good showing.
“It's been a great year for both horses and, obviously, they both performed well the second half of last year. Both horses have stayed in good form for the most part. Knicks Go had a little bit of a setback obviously. We felt like we may have rushed him a little bit with the Pegasus with the quick turnaround shipping halfway across the world or to the other side of the world for the Saudi Cup and then the Met Mile. But aside from those two bumps in the road, he's been ultra-consistent and proud of what he's accomplished. Essential has never missed a beat. He ran a big race in the Derby. His only defeat in his career and we could argue that he’d probably ran the best race that day, one of the better races, to end up fourth. But, both horses have had great years and hopefully we can add to their resume at Breeders’ Cup Saturday.”
Express Train – Following his customary pattern, Express Train galloped his standard 1 1/2m this morning, with Amy Vasco aboard, in preparation for the Classic.
Trainer John Shirreffs supervised the exercise from the backstretch viewing stand.
“He likes this track a lot and he’s doing well,” Shirreffs said. “This race looks like there’ll be a lot of speed. If so, ideally, I’d like to see him break running, then follow the leaders in the second flight of horses. He likes to be outside of horses. That was how he won the San Diego Handicap here this summer.”
Hot Rod Charlie – Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Hot Rod Charlie left trainer Doug O’Neill’s Barn Y just before after 8 o’clock and galloped about 1 ½m, two days before the Classic in which he is considered a serious contender. The Belmont Stakes and 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up drew post three and is listed as the 4-1 co-third choice in the Classic.
While the focus right now is the Classic, the fact that Hot Rod Charlie has steadily increased his speed figures and general performance level over the past year has his connections excited beyond the big race.
“The goal is to keep him in training next year,” O’Neill said. “We have a great group of owners and Gainesway is in, as well, so as long as he stays injury-free, we will have a chance to compete next year. Races like the ($12 million Dubai) World Cup and ($20 million) Saudi (Cup) could definitely on the horizon, if things work out well.”
Co-owner Strauss was very much on the same page: “As we think ahead and he continues to grow and develop and mature, we are definitely excited about next year with him. After we finished second in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile) last year, we then plotted out how to get to the (Kentucky) Derby; how to get there and what prep races. After that, we plotted how to get to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. When this is over, we’re going to go and set our goal for next year. There’s no obvious Derby-type race, but there are so many big races like Dubai and Saudi. Next week, the ownership group will get together with Doug and his team and strategize.”
Max Player – The connections of Max Player are seeing their patience rewarded in 2021 as they head into the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a horse, who appears to be peaking at the right time after winning his past two races.
The Honor Code colt, owned by George Hall and SportsBLX Thoroughbred Corp and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was considered a top 3-year-old last year after thirds in the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, but lost some luster when he finished fifth in the both the rescheduled Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last fall and then performed poorly in the Saudi Cup to begin this year. He started to make amends by winning the Suburban and followed that with a strong victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
“The horse has matured as expected pedigree wise, and he has stayed extremely sound,” Asmussen said. “He’s very good. And, I think things have lined up with where he is with the draw (post nine), the way the racetrack’s playing, and how he's doing right now. We expect him to show who he is Saturday.”
Max Player galloped once around the track Thursday.
Medina Spirit – Classic winner Medina Spirit stretched his legs this morning with two trips around Del Mar’s main track this morning as he winds down his preparation for the Classic. The sophomore colt, trained by Bob Baffert, is looking to collect his fifth stakes victory of the year in the 10f championship race.
Stilleto Boy – With owner Steve Moger looking on, Stilleto Boy galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Jose Sandoval early Thursday morning at Del Mar.
Winner of the Iowa Derby for previous ownership, Stilleto Boy will be making his fourth start for Moger and his brother, trainer Ed Moger Jr.
Stilleto Boy debuted for the Mogers at Del Mar in the La Jolla Handicap going 1 1/16m on the grass.
“We thought we would try him on grass,” Ed Moger Jr. said. “He ran good on it (finishing fifth beaten 2 ½ lengths in his lone turf try) and he will probably run on it again at some point.”
Tripoli – Pacific Classic winner Tripoli galloped Thursday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.
As Time Goes By/Private Mission – Private Mission, a winner of both career two-turn stakes starts, and As Time Goes By, who captured the Santa Anita’s winter-spring meeting’s distaff title, galloped for trainer Bob Baffert this morning while readying to compete in Saturday’s $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). As Time Goes By, who was on the track immediately after the renovation break, galloped twice around the oval, while Private Mission emerged from the barn with the stable’s next set of horses to gallop a mile.
Blue Stripe (ARG) – Pozo de Luna’s Blue Stripe (ARG) visited the paddock and then jogged 2 ½ times around the main track under exercise rider Alex Jimenez.
Blue Stripe will represent the fifth Breeders’ Cup starter for trainer Marcelo Polanco and first since 2005 when Island Fashion finished 10th in her second try in the Distaff.
“It is exciting to be back (in the Breeders’ Cup),” Polanco said. “The filly is doing real good. However, this is all about timing. Your horse has to be 100 percent. You can have the best horse, but if something goes wrong …”
Clairiere – Stonestreet Stable’s Cotillion (G1) winner Clairiere had an easy gallop Thursday as she prepares to give her trainer Steve Asmussen his second Breeders’ Cup Distaff victory with a 3yo filly. He also won the race in 2014 with Untapable, who secured champion 3yo filly honors after winning the Distaff and Kentucky Oaks.
Dunbar Road/Royal Flag – Both of trainer Chad Brown’s Distaff contenders, W. S. Farish’s Royal Flag and Peter Brant’s Dunbar Road, galloped easy circuits of the Del Mar main track Thursday morning.
Dunbar Road, who was Brown’s final of 12 gallopers on the morning, was out just past 9 o’clock, while Royal Flag went out about 20 minutes prior.
Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road will make her final start in the Distaff, while G2 winner Royal Flag’s plans have not been decided, per Brown. Both are five years of age.
Horologist – Bill Mott reported that his Distaff contender Horologist galloped about a mile and a quarter of the Del Mar main track Thursday morning. Owned by There’s a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, the Grade 2 winner is a 30-1 longshot in the Distaff.
“She’s good,” Mott said.
Letruska – St. George Stable’s 8-5 morning line favorite for the Distaff Letruska, continued her preparation for the $2 million race Thursday with a 1 ½m gallop under Roger Horgan at Del Mar.
Trainer Fausto Gutierrez, 54, discovered racing as small child in Spain, became a fan while growing up in Mexico, and moved toward a training career while in college. He spent about a decade working as a turf writer at a Mexico City newspaper before turning to training on full-time basis.
Gutierrez has developed the Kentucky-bred Letruska for St. George Stable LLC, owned by the Mexican billionaire German Larrea Mota-Velasco. She has won six of seven starts in 2021, four of them Grade 1, and is the leading contender to win the Eclipse Award as the older female dirt horse.
Gutierrez majored in communications in college and thought it would lead to a job in television or advertising. As a college freshman, one of his professors noticed that he had a sales catalogue with him. The professor, who had a horse in the sale, invited him to visit the backstretch with him and introduced him to a trainer. That meeting led to the start of his training career and a few years later into journalism
“I had a good friend who liked (soccer) and he started to work for the Periodico Reforma. It is one of the most important in Mexico,” he said. “When the newspaper started, he called me. We are very good friends from the university, we finished together, and he told me ‘I’m looking for a person to write about the horses.’ A special (contributor), or something like that. I thought, ‘why not?’
Gutierrez balanced the unusual combination of training and journalism for several years and often had to write about his own horses. He spent 1998 and 1999 training horses in Texas for Mexican owners while the track in Mexico City was closed. Gutierrez’s association with Larrea Mota-Velasco began in 2001 when the CEO of Mexico’s largest mining company asked him to represent him at the Keeneland sales following the 9/11 attacks.
The owner-trainer partnership grew into a massive, powerful stable and Gutierrez was the leading trainer at the country’s only track for 10 consecutive years. He twice won Mexico’s Triple Crown.
Gutierrez found international success and U.S. exposure when the Clasico del Caribe series was relocated to Gulfstream Park in 2017. His victories included Jaguaryu (MEX) in the 2017 Lady Caribbean; Jala Jala (MEX) in the 2017 Caribbean Classic and 2018 Confraternity Caribbean Cup; Kukulkan (MEX) in the 2018 Caribbean Classic and 2019 Copa Confraternidad del Caribe and Letruska in the 2019 Copa Invitacional del Caribe, facing older males as a 3-year-old filly.
Larrea Mota-Velasco decided that he wanted a division in the U.S. and Gutierrez brought Letruska and some other runners to Florida early in 2020. Letruska is the leader of his current 15-horse stable and his first Breeders’ Cup runner. He hopes to stay in the U.S. and building a bigger, but not too large, stable.
“Any trainer to continue to be competitive needs to have material, to have horses,” he said. “I want to have an operation that I can control very closely. Maybe I can have 30 to 40 horses that I can pay attention to. In Mexico before I trained nearly 200 horses at the same time. It’s different. At this point, I prefer to be closer to the horses and make more decisions.”
Malathaat – In her first start since a victory in the Alabama on Aug. 28 at Saratoga, Malathaat could become the 12th 3yo filly to win the $2 million Distaff – being run for the 38th time – and the fourth Kentucky Oaks winner to complete the double with the Distaff in the same year.
Monomoy Girl (2018), Untapable (2014) and Ashado (2004) are the only fillies to win both races in the same season. All three won the Eclipse Award as the division champion.
Royal Delta (2011) is the only Alabama winner to double in the Distaff as a 3yo, which led to a division title.
Malathaat, owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, has won six of her seven career starts. She will face older horses for the first time in an eagerly anticipated showdown with speedy Letruska, who has a five-race winning streak.
“We would benefit from a good, honest pace,” Pletcher said. “Letruska is a forwardly placed filly, although I think she's also had success when she's not on the lead, but she's usually going to be close. Hopefully we get a good, honest pace and a clean trip and we'll see. It's always a challenge running against older mares for the first time, but she's put together a pretty impressive resume herself. We're excited about it.”
Malathaat’s lone loss, by a head to Maracuja, came at Saratoga Race Course in the Coaching Club American Oaks. Marcuja, who was 14-1, pressed the 1-5 Malathaat early, retreated for a while under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. while Clariere presented the challenge, and rallied in the stretch.
“It was a tricky race,” Pletcher said. “There was a four-horse field. She drew the rail. There was no obvious speed on paper. And then they kind of ran relays at her. Santana made what turned out to be a smart decision and one that most of the time guys go to, to let their horse fall back in the middle part of the race and then come on again. It was one of those things that just nothing, nothing really went the way we wanted it to. She still ran courageously off the layoff and just couldn't get her head down on the wire, but certainly made amends in the Alabama.”
Thursday morning Malathaat galloped 1 ¼m.
Pletcher has a 2-1-4 record with 20 starters in the Distaff. His winners were Ashado (2004) and Stopchargingmaria (2015). Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount. Velazquez has a 2-0-3 record in 18 starts in the Distaff. His winners were Ashado (2004) and Forever Unbridled (2017).
Marche Lorraine (JPN) – U. Carrot Farm’s Marche Lorraine (JPN) visited the starting gate and paddock Thursday morning and galloped on the main track.
Shedaresthedevil – Flurry Racing Stable, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farm’s Shedaresthedevil had an easy gallop under Edvin Vargas and visited the starting gate Thursday morning in her second to last day of training before the Distaff.
The connections of the Daredevil filly have had the Distaff circled on their calendar since last October when they made the decision to bypass the 2020 edition following a third in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.
“We made a plan and it has worked out to T,” co-owner Staton Flurry said. “We mapped out our strategy and we stuck to it, including sending her here for the Clement Hirsch. It’s exactly what we did last year as well leading into the Oaks. Once we knew the rescheduled date, we just worked backward. It’s a testament to (trainer) Brad’s (Cox) and his team with how well it’s worked out.”
Shedaresthedevil is scheduled to be sold the Tuesday following the Breeders’ Cup at the Fasig- Tipton sale and the Distaff could be her last race.
“In this business, you have to lead with your head and not your heart,” Staton said. “There’s a lot of money on the table, so I think we’re doing the right thing. But, it will be bittersweet.”
DIRT MILE
Eight Rings – Eight Rings, one of only two Grade 1 winners in Saturday’s $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, galloped a mile over the Del Mar main track this morning. Conditioned by Bob Baffert, the son of Empire Maker has been “training as well as he’s ever trained,” stated his trainer.
“The mile distance might be the best distance for him. We thought about the (Breeders’ Cup) Sprint, but it’s too short for him,” added Baffert. The 4yo colt has won at both 5-1/2f and 1-1/16m, while just missing as runner-up in the summer’s 6f Bing Crosby Handicap at this track. His last race was a facile front-running victory around two turns. He will have Juan Hernandez in the saddle on Saturday for the first time.
Life Is Good – China Horse Club and WinStar Farm’s once-beaten Life Is Good returns to two-turn racing for the first time in eight months Saturday as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the Dirt Mile.
The colt by leading sire Into Mischief was on course toward the Kentucky Derby he was found to have a chip in his left rear ankle on March 20. The chip was removed by surgery and during his recovery he was transferred from trainer Bob Baffert in California to Todd Pletcher in New York.
In his time with Baffert, the $525,000 yearling purchase emerged as a major Triple Crown prospect with wins at Santa Anita in the one-mile Sham and 1 1/16-mile San Felipe. Pletcher brought him back to the races in the 7f Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga on Aug. 28, where he was second. In the 1M four-horse Kelso around one turn at Belmont Park on Sept. 25, Life Is Good won for fun at odds of 1-20.
Pletcher said the fast colt has experience with two turns in the bank and is ready for eight furlongs in the $1 million Dirt Mile.
“He’s proven that before and he got a mile, no problem in the Kelso,” Pletcher said. ‘It’s just a two-turn mile versus a one-turn mile. That shouldn’t be an issue for him.”
Life Is Good resumed his breeze schedule in July, about a month before the Jerkens, which is part of the Travers program.
“He did some training at Keeneland before he came to us,” Pletcher said. “The goal was to go to the Jerkens and everything went according to plan. He hasn’t missed a beat since he came in. After the Jerkens, we kind of weighed our options and decided that the Kelso was the best segue to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. That’s been the plan all along.”
In the Jerkens, Life Is Good and regular rider Mike Smith, moved to the lead, as usual and at one point had a two-length advantage. But Jackie’s Warrior, the favorite in the Sprint, came on in the stretch to win by a neck in 1:21.39.
“I think the horse ran a fantastic race,” Pletcher said, “went really fast early on and he just couldn’t quite get his head in front of the finish line against a very talented horse. I thought, considering the layoff, it was it was a big effort from him.”
Life Is Good galloped 1 ¼ miles Thursday morning.
Pletcher has started five horses in the Dirt Mile and has a record of 1-1-1. His winner was Liam’s Map in 2015.
Irad Ortiz Jr., who won the 2019 Dirt Mile on Spun to Run, will ride.
SPRINT
Aloha West – Trainer Wayne Catalano has an impressive Breeders’ Cup record, having earned a check in six of 14 runs, including three victories. He won the 2011 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Stephanie’s Kitten, 2006 Juvenile Fillies with Dreaming of Anna and 2009 Juvenile Fillies with She Be Wild, making him one of the few trainers to win Breeders’ Cup races on three surfaces: dirt, all-weather/synthetic and turf.
This year, the decorated Midwest conditioner returns seeking his first Breeders’ Cup trophy with a non-2yo in the Qatar Racing Sprint (G1) with Eclipse Throughbred Partners’ Phoenix Stakes (G2) runner-up Aloha West.
A winner of half his eight starts—all in 2021—the $160,000 Keeneland September 2018 purchase has ascended from an Oaklawn Park maiden debut victory in April to G2-placed, while also seeing his Beyer Speed Figures rise from 75 to 102 in the process. The maternal grandson of 2004 Sprint winner Speightstown drew post five of nine runners, is 8/1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
“Today he went for a little gallop,” Catalano said. “He backed up to the wire and went about a mile and a quarter and just had a normal gallop. His last work was unbelievable, going (4f) in 47 1/5 and galloped out in a minute flat and it made me very happy. He should have won the Phoenix. They squeezed him back pretty good at the start and our jock misjudged the corner a little. We were very happy with the race, other than not winning, and he was probably the best horse in that day—but the best horse doesn’t always win. It’s great to be back.
“The post is great for him, which puts him right in the middle and there’s good speed inside of him,” he continued. “It should set up perfect. We should be able to break and stay in contention and then when we’re ready to kick, we’ll get ‘em.
“I’m blessed and thankful that Mr. Aron (Wellman) and Eclipse Thoroughbreds put me back in the game here.”
Last year, Catalano-trained Manny Wah was a troubled fifth in the Sprint, which still stings for the winner of 2,930 races as a trainer and 1,545 as a jockey: “We probably should have won that one. I’m almost certain we could have won it if he hadn’t given up his spot to the winner. Nothing against the winner, Whitmore is a really nice horse, but I know my horse was good enough to win.”
Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse, is just as pumped for Saturday as Catalano.
“It’s a Breeders’ Cup race, so of course it’s going to be salty, but our horse is just getting better and better by the day,” he said. “He’ll be tested on Saturday to find out if he’s good enough for the best sprinters in the world and at three-quarters, which might be a little bit sharp for him as far as his best distance, but he’s coming in like a beast. This is the way he’s going to need to be in order to compete with these and Catalano has him perfect.
“Cat is a Hall of Famer in my book,” Wellman continued. “I don’t know if there’s many guys out there who’ve won almost 3,000 races as a trainer and as many as he has as a jockey. When he shows up to the big dance, he knows how to find the prize. It’s just fun to be here with him. He’s had to reinvent himself so many times, but you just can’t keep the man down. He proves time and again, if given the right animal, he knows exactly what to do with them and get to the top of the mountain. We’ve supported him over the last 10 years since Eclipse has been in existence and he’s maximized every horse we’ve given him. It’s just a lot of fun to be here with Cat. We’re flying in under the radar, but we’re bringing a loaded gun.”
C Z Rocket—Peter Miller will seek a third victory in the past five editions of the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup (G1) when he sends forth 2020 runner-up C Z Rocket in the 6f, $2 million test. Originally cross-entered into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but Miller chose a Sprint return for the 7yo gelding. Owned by Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stable, Tom Kagele and Gary Barber, he seeks his 12th career victory and second of the season, having won Oaklawn’s Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) and Hot Springs Stakes over Sprint champ Whitmore in the spring.
“I’m really happy with him,” Miller said. “I think drawing the three-hole should be fine, especially with Following Sea and Jackie’s Warrior inside of him with so much speed. There’s plenty of pace on and hopefully they come back to us. We’ll come running and try to do one better than last year.”
Firenze Fire – Before he heads off to stud in Japan, Firenze Fire will make his record-tying fifth consecutive starts in the Breeders’ Cup Saturday when he goes to the post for the 6f Sprint.
The 6yo bred and raced by Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable, has yet to win in the Breeders’ Cup, with his best finish a third in last year’s Sprint. Making his debut in June 2017 at Monmouth, he has made 37 starts and compiled a record of 14-7-3 while earning just more than $2.7 million. His most recent win was in the True North in June at Belmont Park. On Aug. 28 at Saratoga he gained international notoriety as he savaged Yaupon in the stretch of the Forego. That prolonged misdeed appeared to interrupt his momentum a bit and likely led to him finishing second by a head.
Veteran trainer Kelly Breen has handled Firenze Fire since the middle of 2020 and saddled him for four victories in 13 starts.
“When it comes to the ends of careers it’s bittersweet, because he’s still sound,” Breen said. “But deals come and go and I guess for this deal to sell him to Japan the timing was right. For me, it’s very bittersweet. He’s going to be a very tough horse to replace and there will be a lot of comparing horses to him. He’s an old warrior. He likes what he does. He struts. He’s an Alpha male. You don’t come across them all too often.”
Breen described him as a being something of a family member.
“It’s like seeing your kids,” he said. “You’ve got nothing to do but smile because he’s a character. Going back being an Alpha male, he’s the man. He’s the man of the barn and he lets everybody know it.”
Firenze Fire drew post six in the field of nine and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for the first time.
Jackie’s Warrior – Breeders’ Cup Sprint favorite Jackie’s Warrior has proven to be one of the fastest horses on the track this year, but ironically, he has only made two of 11 career starts at the 6f distance, winning both of those starts.
“That’s the fun thing about Jackie’s Warrior,” Asmussen said. “When you look at all his accomplishments and his three grade one wins. He’s just an absolutely fantastic horse to be around and to get the pleasure to run.
“The funny thing to me was the Gallant Bob was only the second time he’s ever been able to run three quarters of a mile. Everybody knows how fast he is and the fractions that he’s laid down in a multitude of races and then for him to finally get the opportunity to do what he was meant to do was awfully fun.
I mean, he’s obviously found his niche with the one turn races. His Pat Day Mile Derby week was just brilliant, was beautiful. His race in the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good of a horse race as I’ve ever been involved with and for him to just handle it the way that he does was just very rewarding.”
Jackie’s Warrior is the first Grade 1 winner for his Texas-based owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison, long-time clients of Asmussen.
“He is a brilliant horse owned by Kirk and Judy Robison, just longtime supporters and wonderful racing enthusiasts. They’ve continuously supported the game and had some very nice horses, but very few people ever have the pleasure of owning horses as talented as Jackie’s Warrior.”
FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Bella Sofia – Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said he will have simple instructions for jockey Luis Saez before he and Bella Sofia take on defending champion Gamine Saturday in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Gamine, the 3-5 favorite, will start from post five, just to the inside of the 3yo Bella Sofia in the 7f race that has six runners. Bella Sofia has won four of five starts since making her debut on May 6 with a 11 ¼-length victory at Belmont Park.
“I’m going to tell Luis to just go for it because if you let Gamine get comfortable we’re going not going to catch her,” Rodriguez said, “I think I’m the only one who has got more speed in the race than the other fillies. Hopefully, we have more speed than Gamine to clear her and let her chase me.”
Gamine is unbeaten in four starts this year and has won nine of 10 career starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
While much was expected of Gamine, who sold as a yearling for $1,800,000, Bella Sofia brought just $20,000 as a 2yo at auction last year. She arrived from the farm with a reputation as a quirky young horse that needed special attention.
“They said to be careful with her. She is suspicious, so you have to be careful,” Rodriguez said.
“And in the beginning she was, she was hard to handle. She wanted to do a lot more stuff than you wanted. We have a team in the barn and we tried to settle her down. She was taking everything in and we worked her we knew she had some talent.”
Since she wasn’t nominated to the Breeders’ Cup as a foal, Bella Sofia’s big ownership group decided to spent $100,000 to supplement her to the Filly and Mare Sprint after she won the Gallant Bloom on Sept. 26 at Belmont Park. Rodriquez shipped her from New York two weeks ahead of the race to give her time to acclimate at Del Mar and said she is up to the challenge.
“We believe in her and that she can compete with those horses,” he said. “It’s a tough test, not only Gamine, but Ce Ce and the rest of the group. They are very, very solid fillies. It’s not only Gamine.”
Ce Ce – “She’s won at distances from 6-1/2f to 1-1/16m, but seven-eighths could suit her the best,” said conditioner Michael McCarthy, speaking of his entrant Ce Ce ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Since she’s been running one-turn races, Ce Ce has found her greatest success, winning three of four, including two stakes events, with her only defeat against Gamine, pre-race favorite in Saturday’s dash.
“Our best chance will be if Gamine doesn’t get left alone in front,” McCarthy added. The 5yo mare has earned more than $1.2million while winning 7 of her 15 lifetime starts. This morning, Ce Ce, who is named for the mother of famous magician Harry Houdini, a play on her dam, Miss Houdini, galloped a mile with Issaac Munoz aboard.
Proud Emma – Bayakoa Stakes winner Proud Emma enters the Filly & Mare Sprint with an outside 20-1 morning line chance, but trainer Peter Miller is hopeful that the Gem Inc and Tom Kagele-owned charge will give a good account of herself Saturday against a world-class field. In a six-horse field, the 5yo six-time winner has drawn the rail.
“I guess all things being equal, I would have preferred an outside draw, but she’s going to be back and there’s a lot of speed in there,” Miller said. “Hopefully she comes running. I think she fits enough to do well in this race and hit the board in the right circumstances. The race has to set up for her and she has to bring her A-game.”
JUVENILE
Commandperformance – While he has yet to win a race, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher feels that Commandperformance is a good fit for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The gray son of Union Rags has been the runner-up in both of his outings for co-owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, but Pletcher said that the colt should appreciate the 1 1/16 miles and two turns of the Juvenile. Commandperformance debuted at 6f in the mud on the closing day of the Saratoga season, Sept. 6, and finished 2 ¾ lengths behind Jack Cristopher in the Champagne on Oct. 2.
“His first two starts were very good, even though he finished second,” Pletcher said. “In his debut, he drew the rail and he got bumped pretty hard leaving there, got a really good education out of it and closed well. We thought it was a winning-type race. We decided to treat it as though he won and if he had won, we would have went to the Champagne. That’s what we ended up doing.”
Pletcher said he liked what he saw in the one-mile Champagne, which is contested around one turn at Belmont Park.
“I thought he closed really well in there and was gaining on the winner at the wire and galloped out in front,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s a horse that is looking for two turns and more distance. He has had some very good breezes since then. I think we’re on a forward trend and see if he can continue improving.”
At 12-1, Commandperformance went off at the longest odds of Pletcher’s three horses in the Champagne and turned in the best finish.
“We were not surprised that he was able to do well in there,” Pletcher said. “We were expecting a good effort from him.”
Repole and St. Elias purchased Commandperformance, who is out of the graded-stakes placed Smitten, by Tapit, at the Keeneland 2020 September yearling sale for $220,000.
Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Commandperformance in the Breeders’ Cup.
Double Thunder – Phoenix Thoroughbred LTD’s well-traveled Double Thunder, purchased as a yearling for a modest $60,000 has already proven to be good investment with three wins in five starts and $348,850 in earnings.
The gray son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was precocious and won the Bashford Manor on June 26 at Churchill Downs. He rebounded from a fourth in the Saratoga Special on Aug. 14 to capture the Sapling at Monmouth Park on Sept. 5. Double Thunder comes to the Juvenile from a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity at on Oct. 9 at Keeneland that has prompted trainer Todd Pletcher to make an equipment change.
“He’s been a solid horse, so far. He’s got a lot of experience,” Pletcher said. “We felt like he was a little unfocused in the Breeders’ Futurity. We’ve worked him back in blinkers since then and plan to add blinkers on for this start. I think we’ll see some improvement there.”
Double Thunder, bred by WinStar Farm, is out of the Tapit mare Rattataptap.
In his first year of eligibility, Pletcher, 54, was elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame this year. He has started 21 horses in the Juvenile and has an in-the-money record of 2-3-1. His winners were Uncle Mo in 2010 and Shanghai Bobby in 2012.
Flavien Prat will ride Double Thunder for the first time in the Juvenile.
Jack Christopher – As he has all week, Chad Brown-trained Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) morning-line favorite Jack Christopher went out early this morning before the sun rose. The Champagne (G1) winner had an easy jog one day prior to contesting the 1 1/16-miles, $2 million affair. Owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, the son of Munnings has been a key part of an exceptional autumn for Brown and team, with a record of 43-11-12-6 in graded stakes since Sept. 1.
“It’s been a good fall,” Brown said. “Part of strategy is we play the long game all year and try to work backwards from these fall races. Not only the Breeders’ Cup, but all the big stakes in the fall. The races generally build up as you go through the year and I try to point for those races and it’s nice when it works out. We’ve had several horses my team has been preparing all year to peak around this time and it has worked out really well this year.”
JUVENILE FILLIES
Hidden Connection – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection galloped on the main track Thursday morning under Janine Smith to wrap up here training for Friday’s NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bret Calhoun, Hidden Connection will be contesting 1 1/16m for the second time in her career and going around two turns.
“I’d like to see her get away from the gate clean and not get squeezed back,” Calhoun said. “Let her run her race. I think Echo Zulu will clear and we will set second or third. She has a high cruising speed.”
Jockey Reylu Gutierrez, who has been aboard for both victories, will be making his Breeders’ Cup debut on the filly Friday.
“He is a very talented rider,” Calhoun said. “He doesn’t seem to get flustered or nervous and gives the horse a chance to run its race and see if they are good enough or not. That’s all you can ask for.”
Sequist – West Point Thoroughbreds, Gervais Racing, Charles Pigg, Stewart Racing Stable, Tom Andres and Karen Kraft’s Sequist completed her preparations Thursday morning for Friday’s NetJets Juvenile Fillies.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Sequist has chased Juju’s Map and Echo Zulu, two of the favorites for the Juvenile Fillies, in her past two starts but has closed ground late in both of those tests.
“There are some fast horses in there and I would like to see a speed duel early, something like a :46 half-mile,” Stewart said. “It’s a small field and she will probably be last early and the hope is she doesn’t drop too far out of it.”
After the Alcibiades, in which Sequist was third to Juju’s Map, Stewart indicated a Breeders’ Cup run was in play.
“It’s a $2 million race and it is something to dream about,” Stewart said. “After the Alcibiades, she was doing well, eating well and training well. She was doing all the things a horse trainer wants to see.”
Tarabi – LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock and David Ingordo’s Tarabi galloped under exercise rider Juan Leyva Thursday morning to complete her preparation for Friday’s Juvenile Fillies.
Tarabi will be making her first start since finishing second to Echo Zulu in the Spinaway at Saratoga on Sept. 5.
“I’d like to see her get a clean break,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “There is plenty of speed on paper and I’d like to see her stalk comfortably.”
Overseas Horse Report
Excitement is really building in the international quarantine barns ahead of the opening day of Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday.
UK trainer George Boughey was once again trackside as Cachet (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) was one of the first horses to leave the quarantine barn accompanied by stablemate Thunder Love (GB) (Juvenile Turf Sprint). Both horses went through the starting gate before doing a light canter.
Boughey said, “The stage is now set, they both continue to be in great form so it’s all systems go for tomorrow.”
Teona (IRE) (Turf) looked in fantastic shape this morning watched by her trainer Roger Varian and race day jockey, David Egan. She worked a circuit of the turf track, which she did with ease.
Varian said, “That looked to go well. She’s picked up nicely so I’m very happy with that. She seems to be in great shape. She’ll have an easy time of it now before race day and I’m really looking forward to running her.”
Egan, who is having his first Breeders’ Cup ride Saturday said, “I’m very excited to be at my first Breeders’ Cup here in Del Mar. It’s my first time on the West Coast of America. It’s a great meeting to be part of. Teona looks really well. Today was the first morning she’s been on the turf, she looks a picture. She’s comfortable being led in hand with the pony and her workout went smoothly. I’m really looking to get on board her on Saturday in what is a great opportunity for me.”
Charlie Appleby’s six horses once again looked in fantastic shape on the track. They worked a circuit with William Buick riding Modern Games (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) who was slightly on his toes going onto the track, and James Doyle riding Master of The Seas (IRE) (MIle). Space Blues (IRE) (Mile) and Yibir (GB) (Turf) looked to work extremely well.
James Ferguson, another UK based trainer having his first Breeders’ Cup runner was on track to watch Mise En Scene (GB) (Juvenile Fillies Turf), who did a light canter in preparation for her run tomorrow, said, “It feels great to have a runner at the Breeders’ Cup. Everyone in the UK grows up watching this great event. It’s the final major flat meeting of the year and to have a runner here is just fantastic. It makes it even more special to have it for Sheikh Fahad and his Qatar Racing team who are big supporters of mine and big supporters of racing worldwide.
“Mise En Scene just had a nice light canter on the turf this morning before she runs tomorrow. She’s fresh and well and has handled the trip over nicely. She’s good to go. The race as you expect is very competitive but I think we’re bringing into the race some good form from back home, I think she’s got every chance.
“In terms of her draw out in 13, you play with the cards you have been dealt and there’s nothing which can be done so we’re all going to enjoy the week and hope she can overcome it. Oisin Murphy is a world class jockey so hopefully he can work his magic.”
Hugo Palmer’s three Breeders’ Cup runners Ocean Road (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf), Dubawi Legend (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) and Hierarchy (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) had a canter around the turf. Oisin Murphy rode Hierarchy with James Doyle on board Dubawi Legend.
Murphy said, “Hierarchy is in great form, I’m expecting a big run tomorrow.”
German Derby winner Sisfahan (FR) (Turf) did a nice piece of work. His trainer Henk Grewe has not traveled to Del Mar but his wife Natasha has been overseeing his preparations and said, “I’m very happy with Sisfahan. He’s done nothing wrong since he landed in Del Mar and we’re all looking forward to Saturday.”
Acanella (GB) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Pearls Galore (FR) (Mile) exercised together which has been the case throughout the week. Paddy Twomey, trainer of Pearl Galore said, “She’s great, couldn’t be happier at this stage. She’s done nothing but please since she got here.”
Japanese horses Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff), Matera Sky (Sprint) andJasper Great (Juvenile) went through the starting gate before exercising and connections are happy with their training.
The Kevin Ryan duo, Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Turf Sprint) and Glass Slippers (GB) (Turf Sprint) both worked this morning up the stretch. Race day riders Andrea Atzeni and Tom Eaves both took the mounts.
Atzeni said, “It’s the first time I’ve ridden Emaraaty Ana since he’s been in Del Mar. He feels great and did a nice bit of work up the stretch which will put him ready for Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to the ride. He’s a very good horse who I think has a big chance. I’m drawn in gate two next to Glass Slippers so hopefully we get some luck in running and are in the mix at the finish. Del Mar is a superb racetrack and I feel very lucky to be part of this great event.”
Aidan O’Brien’s seven horses did their usual regime of a trot to warm up then had a canter down the backstretch before working up the homestretch. As has been the case all week, Broome (IRE) (Turf) led the string. Love (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf) was the standout of the Ballydoyle team this morning looking to be in great shape going into Saturday.
O’Brien said, “That’s great, they all had a little blow up the stretch there and that’ll put them spot on.”
Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf), Tarnawa (IRE) (Turf) and Great Max (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) were the final international horses to go out this morning. Audarya continues to impress in her training and physical appearance. Tom Fanshawe, assistant trainer to his father James said, “Unfortunately, my father hasn’t been able to make it over but I’m thrilled to be here representing the team. Geoffrey De La Sayette who looks after Audarya and is her work rider is thrilled with her and we’re very hopeful of a big run on Saturday.”
Tarnawa was extremely relaxed again this morning, really enjoying her exercise with ears pricked throughout.
Jasper Prince (Sprint) and Armor (GB) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) both stayed in the quarantine barns but connections reported all is well.
TURF
Acclimate – California-bred turf specialist Acclimate, whose front-running style proved successful in the 2019 Del Mar Handicap, will employ his “catch me if you can” tactics again Saturday in his attempt to capture the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Trainer Phil D’Amato shared, “We learned something about him the last time we ran in this race (also in 2019) … don’t try to get too cute with him. We tried to rate him and it didn’t work. He’s got one fast gear, so we’re just going to let him run and go as fast and as far as he’ll take us.” D’Amato added, “If anyone gets too close to us early, they’ll be going too fast.”
Acclimate demonstrated his staying power by capturing the 1 3/4m grass marathon San Juan Capistrano Handicap this year.
Thursday morning, the 7yo gelding galloped 1 1/2m under regular exercise jockey Roman Teshier.
Astronaut – Astronaut, never worse than second in six starts for trainer John Shirreffs, galloped 2m around the Del Mar main track this morning under Amy Vasco. The 4yo Quality Road earned a berth in Saturday’s $4 Breeders’ Cup Turf with an upset victory in the Del Mar Handicap in his last outing.
Shirreffs was pleased with the colt’s post position (four) and indicated he’s coming up to the race very well. “He seems to like this turf course and we know he can handle the distance,” Shirreffs said. “He’s a very handy horse and has a good turn of foot. That’s an advantage in such a large field.”
Domestic Spending (GB) – Klaravich Stables’ Turf 4-1 morning line second choice Domestic Spending (GB) has been withdrawn from the race by trainer Chad Brown.
“When I came in this morning, he unfortunately had some new and acute inflammation in his left fore,” Brown explained. “He’s sound, but I’m not comfortable with it and I want to do more diagnostics on this horse and it’s just unfortunate timing. We want to get him back to Kentucky and do some evaluation on this limb and see what’s causing it and how much time we need. The more I looked at it, the more I didn’t like where the inflammation is.”
Brown reported that his remaining Turf runners, 15-1 Rockemperor (IRE) and 6-1 Tribhuvan (FR), are on schedule for the $4 million race.
The scratch of Domestic Spending moves Belmont Derby Invitational-winning also-eligible Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) into the race.
Gofu – With a winning record of 53.8 percent, an in-the-money record of 100 percent and $1.2 million in earnings through 13 starts, Otter Bend Stables’ Gufo would be most owners’ horse of a lifetime. Remarkably, he is co-breeder and Otter Bend owner Stephen Cianelli’s first horse.
Cianelli bred the colt, who is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Hogy, with his friend John Little. He purchased Little’s share of the now 4yo colt and races him under the Otter Bend banner.
Trainer Christophe Clement developed Gufo into the winner of five stakes, two of them Grade 1. He earned his berth in the Turf with a victory in the Sword Dancer on Aug. 28 at Saratoga.
Clement’s longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul has handled Gofu at Del Mar this week. Thursday morning Lorieul sent Gofu out to gallop 1 ¼m.
“He looked good out there, powerful and strong,” Lorieul said. “He stood well at the wire. We schooled him (Wednesday) and he was very good.”
Gofu record shows that the son of Declaration of War is a game and dependable runner.
“He’s a picture of consistency,” Lorieul said. “He tries and that’s all you can ask. He tries every time.”
Even with his explosive, off-the-pace running style, Gofu sometimes presented problems for his jockeys, Joel Rosario is the regular rider now, figuring out positioning and timing.
“He’s got a great turn of foot to finish, but this year maybe not so much,” Lorieul said.
“We added blinkers, which helps Joel get him a little bit closer in races. Does it take his finish a little bit away? I don’t know. But he’s very consistent and tries every time.”
Gofu faces the biggest challenge of his career in the $4 million Turf, a race often dominated by European runners.
“It’s a tough task, obviously,” Lorieul said. “It’s the best of the best at the end of the year. It was a logical spot. He’s one of the top three turf horses in the U.S. Why not?”
United – LNJ Foxwoods United, a two-time participant in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the narrowly beaten runner-up in the 2019 running, was declared out of this Saturday’s race because of swelling on a suspensory.
Trainer Richard Mandella reported, “He’d shown a little swelling over the past four or five days, so we scanned the leg as a precaution and the result was negative. Today, we gave him a good, strong gallop and the swelling returned. We scanned him again and it was clean. We’re not going to take any chances with him.”
Mandella continued, “He’s been going pretty steadily for the past two and a half years. The good news is that we’ll just give him a rest and bring him back next year.”
The multiple stakes-winning 6yo gelding has earned more than $1.8 million.
MILE
Got Stormy – The ultra-consistent Got Stormy has made a great impression galloping all week s she prepares to make her third straight appearance in the Breeders’ Cup. She was second in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile and fifth last year in the Turf Sprint. She drew post 11 for her second start in the Mile.
“We would've liked a little better post, but you know, not bad,” Casse said. “She's doing great. She’s settled in well since arriving Monday.”
Last year, following the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy was sold for $2,750,000 to Spendthrift Farm and kept in training in 2021 with MyRacehorse coming on as a partner. She is expected to be retired after Saturday’s race.
When asked if he thought the race would be bittersweet, Casse said “I don't think so. I'm just happy that we got another chance and she's been an awfully consistent mare for us. We knew at some point that she was going to go and do other things, we’re happy for that.”
In Love/Ivar – It took trainer Paulo Lobo almost two decades to get back to the Breeders’ Cup. Now, just a year after Ivar was a close fourth in the Mile, Lobo, 52, has returned to the race with Ivar and his stablemate, the fellow Brazilian-bred In Love.
Lobo debuted in the Breeders’ Cup in the 2002 Distaff with the brilliant filly Farda Amiga, who ended up second, five lengths behind Azeri, subsequently voted the older female champion and Horse of the Year. Farda Amiga won the 3yo filly title.
A fourth-generation trainer, Lobo ran his stable in the U.S. until 2010. He returned home to Brazil for a four-year stint, and returned to California in 2014. He has a 50-horse stable at Keeneland.
In Love and Ivar are 5yos owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI. They both started their careers in Argentina in 2019 and were imported to the U.S. for the 2020 season. Ivar won the 2020 Shadwell Turf Mile at 14-1, a victory that carried him to the Mile. In Love won the same race in October, renamed the Keeneland Turf Mile, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Mile.
“After Ivar ran in the Breeders’ Cup we gave him some time off,” Lobo said. “He came back at Churchill Downs in May and after the race he had a little problem with him and we had to stop on him. He came back in the Keeneland Mile. He was a very good fourth. He had some trouble turning for home.”
Lobo said that though Ivar has finished off the board in both starts this year he is good form for the Mile.
“I think he’s going to improve,” Lobo said. “He should have finished second.”
Regular rider Joe Talamo will be up on Ivar. They will start from Post 7.
In Love ran well in his two starts in Kentucky last fall and was given the winter off from competition. Lobo said a try on the dirt in April was a failure. After a poor performance in the Wise Dan on June 26 they sent the gelded son of Agnes Gold to Arlington Park for what he felt was an easier spot.
“He won. He was running so well, but when he passed the horse on the inside and kind of waited on the horse,” Lobo said. “The second horse almost came back. We decided to put blinkers on him and this horse has won his next two races very easily.”
In Love picked up his first stakes win the TVG at Kentucky Downs in September and followed with the victory at Keeneland at 12-1.
Jockey Alex Achard, who has been up for In Love’s three straight wins, will make his Breeders’ Cup debut. Achard faces the challenge of starting from the outside in the field of 14.
Mo Forza – All systems are go for Mo Forza to finally make it to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), per trainer Peter Miller. The son of Uncle Mo seeks his fourth graded stakes victory over the Del Mar grass surface and takes on some of Europe’s best on said home course. Owned by breeder Bardy Farm and OG Boss, he had an easy day on Thursday, two days out from the $2 million test.
“He’s doing great. He just had an easy gallop today.”
Mo Forza is the 5-1 second choice on the morning line and drew well in post six, which Miller called “ideal.”
Smooth Like Strait – Smooth Like Strait, either first or second in eight of his past nine starts —all Grade 1 or 2 stakes, galloped a strong 1 3/8m for trainer Michael McCarthy this morning ahead of Saturday’s $2 million Mile. Admittedly, the 4yo will be facing a new level of competition in his first Breeders’ Cup start, yet his conditioner points to the colt’s consistency and ability to run over different turf courses with efficiency.
“He certainly doesn’t need to take his track with him,” McCarthy said. “That’s probably the best thing about him. I thought his efforts in the Eddie Read Handicap (Del Mar), Turf Classic (Churchill Downs) and Shoemaker Mile (Santa Anita) were probably his best races, even though only one resulted in a victory.”
In analyzing Saturday’s race, McCarthy said, “If we found ourselves on the lead, that would be ideal, but races of this caliber are a little different, and it’s difficult to forecast how the race will shape up.” Should Smooth Like Strait prevail, it would be McCarthy’s first Breeders’ Cup Championship win.
FILLY & MARE TURF
Chad Brown (My Sister Nat (FR), Pocket Square (GB)) – Trainer Chad Brown will seek a record-extending fifth winner of the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf when he sends forth Peter Brant’s My Sister Nat and Juddmonte Farms’ Pocket Square in the 11-furlong, $2 million test.
My Sister Nat, a half to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (FR) and 2018 Filly & Mare Turf champion Sistercharlie (IRE), will make her 21st and final start Saturday. She exits a good-looking victory over the same distance Oct. 3 in the Waya Stakes at Belmont. The daughter of Acclamation would become a millionaire with a top-three finish.
“She’s flirted with Grade 1 caliber horses in the past and this is going to be a good test for her,” Brown said. “I will say that she’s training extremely well and at age 6 she has come right back to her top form in her works and her last race was one of her best. I love the way she really finished off her race, finally. I think she’s sitting on a really good race for her finale and whether it’s good enough or not remains to be seen.”
Pocket Square came over from England and previous trainer Roger Charlton with a positive reputation and has made four stateside starts for Brown and team, winning on U.S. debut at Keeneland in April and then failing as the 5-2 favorite in the Just a Game on the Belmont Stakes undercard in June. The homebred daughter of up-and-coming stallion Night of Thunder (IRE) then disappointed again in the G1 Diana (both races won by Godolphin’s Althiqa-GB) before dropping in class and winning a Saratoga allowance and the Athenia Stakes at Belmont — both at 9f. The latter gave Brown the confidence to step up the five-time winner in trip and class.
“It’s a big test for her to step up to 11 furlongs,” Brown explained. “I actually didn’t think this about her when I first got her. I thought she would be a mile to a mile and an eighth type of filly, but now that we’re back on track with her after she lost her form in the summer when I jumped her up in class too quickly, which was my mistake, she’s showing what we thought of her.
“She’s a really top-quality horse over here in America, I think. It is an unknown and a bit of an experiment, but the way she finished her last two races, in particular, and the way she’s galloped out and the feedback I got from the jockey, it gives me confidence that she can stretch out a little bit. I think on the stretch-out, she’s going to be very forward and the race might work out for her, pace-wise.”
Going to Vegas – The connections of the aptly-named Going to Vegas are key participants of a get-rich-quick story that has turned a $50,000 claim into more than $600,000. Now, in only three days, the daughter of Goldencents will be “rolling the dice,” seeking to add more to her career earnings by competing in the Filly and Mare Turf against 11 other distaff opponents. “This was certainly one of my better claims,” trainer Richard Baltas said.
Going to Vegas is riding the crest of a three-race winning streak. “She’s feeling fabulous, just bucking and playing. Her work on the turf her Sunday was excellent,” Baltas said. “She’s never run against these type of horses, but that’s our only question. I’m not worried about the distance.”
Going to Vegas likely will be making her final start for Baltas as she is scheduled to be on a Kentucky-bound plane Sunday, win or lose, for the Fasig-Tipton sales ring.
Dogtag – Dogtag, conditioned by seven-time Breeders’ Cup winner Richard Mandella, galloped 1 1/2m over the main track today in anticipation of her berth in the Filly and Mare Turf on Saturday. The daughter of the prominent turf sire War Front completed her serious preparations Sunday with quick 5f workout timed in 58 1/5 on Sunday.
“It was meant to be quick, just to jazz her up a little bit,” Mandella said. “The distance (1 3/8m won’t be a problem.”
She will be handled by perennial Southern California riding champ Flavian Prat, whose only previous engagement on Dogtag resulted in victory.
TURF SPRINT
Extravagant Kid – Globetrotting Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Extravagant Kid will seek his second top-level win on the global stage when the Brendan Walsh-conditioned star breaks from the outside post for the second consecutive year in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The Florida-bred son of Kiss the Kid exits a good second in the Woodford, just as he did last year before closing resolutely to finish fourth in the Turf Sprint, traveling six-wide and losing by just a length.
Getting familiar with the local course, the earner of $1,674,733 worked 4f in 49.40 with Goldikova (G2)-bound stablemate Zofelle (IRE). He seeks a victory for the first time since taking March’s Al Quoz in Dubai, but was an excellent third in the prestigious King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was then a disappointing 14th of 19 in the July Cup (G1) at Newmarket, three months prior to his Woodford run.
“We had a good easy gallop early (Thursday) morning and he had a great work the other day,” Walsh said of the DARRS Inc-owned charge. “I didn’t realize they went in the time they did because they looked like they were going an easy half. It’s always nice when they look like they’re going that easy and the time comes back even better.
“It has been a long year as far as traveling, but we gave him a good little break there when he came back from Newmarket,” he continued. “He just walked and jogged or a good month. He came back and ran a great race at Keeneland, which was nice to see since his run in the July Cup was below par and I don’t think he particularly liked the ground. Sometimes that happens. When you travel horses they sometimes run really well off the plane, like he did at Ascot, but at Newmarket, we never got any cover early and he over-raced a bit and that cost him at the end. Maybe he didn’t quite get home and may not have handled the track — who knows — but we had a good trip at Royal Ascot and he ran a huge race in the King’s Stand.
“He’s run plenty of five-furlong races and they’re going to go very fast, which will help him. He drew (post) 14 and was only beaten a length last year. I can’t see him being too far away. You can never underestimate him. He always seems to show up.”
With the Del Mar configuration, the outside post will be 12 in this year’s Turf Sprint.
Gear Jockey – Calumet Farm’s Gear Jockey galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Lyndsay Delello as he continued his preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Turf Sprint in which he is the 5-1 co-second choice on the morning line.
Gear Jockey has won two of three starts sprinting on the grass and will have Jose Lezcano aboard again Saturday.
“On paper, it looks like (trainer) Wesley (Ward) will go the front (with Golden Pal),” trainer Rusty Arnold said. “I’d like to be fourth or fifth early. Five-eighths is not his best distance, but we have got him as sharp as we can.”
Gear Jockey will train again Friday morning but likely not go to the track Saturday morning.
“If the race was later in the day, maybe I’d take him out,” Arnold said. “Usually his race is something like 5 in the afternoon but his race Saturday is shortly after noon (12:40).”
Wesley Ward (Arrest Me Red, Golden Pal, Kimari) – Trainer Wesley Ward has become synonymous with turf sprinters throughout the world, but will seek his first victory in his home country’s top race of said type when he starts Arrest Me Red, Golden Pal and Kimari in the 5f dash.
Lightly raced Pioneerof the Nile sophomore colt Arrest Me Red makes just his seventh start, but has won four times already, including a smart gate-to-wire victory in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational on Oct. 2. An unproven type, the Lael Stables banner-bearer likely will have company up on the lead from his own stablemate, Golden Pal. He drew post five and is 12-1 on the morning line under John Velazquez.
“He ran well at Belmont and has an extra week of spacing because he went there instead of opening week at Keeneland,” Ward said of the Roy and Gretchen Jackson homebred. “He’s a big guy and has had some really nice works on a soft course there at Keeneland and he earned a 100 Beyer, which stamps him in numbers-wise in a race like this. I’m looking forward to him. He’s quick, but he’s not as fast as Golden Pal.”
Coolmore’s regally bred Golden Pal has long been considered one of the top sprinters anywhere in the world, especially after his eye-catching victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. This year, from three starts, he was a dominant victor of the Quick Call at Saratoga before disappointing with a seventh in York Racecourse’s Nunthorpe Stakes — his first try on a straight course and against older horses. He returned six weeks later to win the Woodford over Extravagant Kid at Keeneland on Oct. 9.
“The first step — he’s just gone,” Ward emphasized. “I don’t think anyone will be in front of him, but you never know in a race like this. He’s just so quick on his feet.
“He had me scratching my head in the Nunthorpe,” he continued. “He had run such a big race at Saratoga on his comeback and he got there with no issues getting to York. We drew a nice post and for me it was his race to lose. Frankie (Dettori) said he was there until he wasn’t. We scoped him and he scoped perfectly. I just don’t think it was his day, for whatever reason. Frankie said it was maybe the straight course that affected him, but I don’t see any excuse.
“The key with him is just that first step and getting out there. That’s where his advantage is. I would have preferred a little farther out than post three, but at least I’m not the one or the two. I don’t think there’s speed on the inside or outside of him, so that’s good.”
Barn favorite Kimari completes the trio and will carry the Ten Broeck Farm colors in a Breeders’ Cup race two years after finishing a flying fourth in the Juvenile Turf Sprint as the 5-2 second choice. A winner of the Madison Stakes last out in April over 7f on dirt, she returns to the grass for the first time since finishing third in the Music City Stakes at Kentucky Downs in September 2020. As a sophomore, three months prior, she was an excellent second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and is expected to make one closing run in complementary fashion to her stablemates.
“I would have preferred to be in the Filly & Mare Sprint, but we would have needed a prep and there just wasn’t enough time. She won a Group 1 in her last start in the spring at Keeneland and we tried to get her ready for Saratoga in the summer and she was just a shade off in behind, so we just kind of erred on the side of caution and kept her jogging and got her back right again.
“We got her ready for this race and she’s plenty fit to go five-eighths of a mile on the grass,” Ward continued. “There wasn’t enough time to get her ready for seven-eighths on the dirt. The (post nine) draw is perfect. She will be able to just get away from there. She always comes away a little slow and (Joel) Rosario will be able to bide his time and come rolling home the last three-eighths is our plan.
“A lot of her future will depend on the owner. She’s never been as sound as she is now. She’s never run a bad race in her life and she was only once off the board when fourth in the Breeders’ Cup two years ago — and she probably should have won that with a better trip.”
JUVENILE TURF
Portfolio Company – Chad Brown-trained Portfolio Company looks to become the conditioner’s second Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner when the son of Longines Turf (G1) runner-up Kitten’s Joy and full-brother to millionaire Charming Kitten breaks from post 10 of 14 at 6-1 morning line odds. To be ridden by Flavien Prat, the bay colt was a $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Sale 2020 purchase and comes in off two seconds in stakes company — the With Anticipation on Sept. 1 and Pilgrim on Oct. 3.
“He’s very good and he’s training very well,” Brown said. “He reminds me of Public Sector, who’s on his way to being a very good Grade 1 horse. He’s a little keen and drew well for that kind of horse. He’s out in the clear there and I think he’s going to get a good forward trip.”
Brown’s lone previous winner from 13 starters in the 8f grass test was Structor in 2019.
Mackinnon – Carrying the best California form into the Juvenile Turf is Doug O’Neill-trained Mackinnon, who races for ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables and Dave Kenney. The $285,000 Fasig-Tipton March 2021 purchase enters off victories in the two local preps, the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Zuma Beach — both over the same mile distance.
“He’s training well,” O’Neill said. “The six-hole seems like a good-enough position. Everyone’s really happy with that. When you’re talking about a race like this one where the Euros are obviously extremely tough, but his run the other day was European-ish in how he found another gear and showed an amazing turn of foot. We’re optimistic with him. He is still learning and has some maturing to do. It’s great having the continuity of Juan Hernandez, who is a tremendous rider, and as he gets to know him even more, I am hoping that we can keep continuing these good results.”
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Chad Brown (Consumer Spending, Haughty) – Chad Brown’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) duo of Consumer Spending and Haughty have impressed their conditioner as they prepare for their toughest test thus far in their short careers. Each had an easy jog Thursday morning, with Consumer Spending in company with Juvenile favorite Jack Christopher and Haughty later on in the morning.
Klaravich Stables’ Consumer Spending has started three times and enters off a one-sided victory in Laurel Park’s Selima Stakes on Oct. 2. Prior to that, she won in Saratoga maiden company by 4¼ lengths, making up for a runner-up effort on debut over the same turf course four weeks prior at short odds.
“She drew well (post seven of 14) and she’s performed well with three runs and three good performances, but my question is if she is fast enough to win this kind of race,” Brown said. “I haven’t seen a figure fast enough yet, but she is training really well and has done nothing wrong. I need to see her make a jump in figures.”
Brown seemed a bit more optimistic about the less-accomplished Haughty, who races for Bradley Thoroughbreds and partners. The daughter of Empire Maker flew home over good ground at Keeneland in maiden company last time, winning by 4 lengths. She had finished first one month prior in September, but was disqualified after veering in and was demoted to third by the judges.
“She is fast enough and has two wins, technically, but she doesn’t have the stakes experience,” Brown said. “Her figures are definitely in the ballpark of what it takes to win a race like this. Obviously, we’ve had success in this race and know what it takes and she’s already there with her numbers.”
JUVENILE TURF SPRINT
Wesley Ward (Averly Jane, Kaufymaker, Twilight Gleaming-IRE) – Wesley Ward is coming in hot as he attempts to win his third consecutive $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Not only does he send forth 5-2 morning line favorite Averly Jane, but he has two Royal Ascot alums with ample class to mix things up in 12-1 Kaufymaker and 4-1 co-second choice Twilight Gleaming (IRE).
Hat Creek Racing’s Averly Jane has been perfect and dominant in four starts, including three stakes victories. Even more impressive, the $35,000 Fasig-Tipton October bargain daughter of Midshipman has won over sloppy dirt, fast dirt and good turf. Her 86 Beyer Speed Figures from her past two runs—a 3-length win in the Indian Summer Stakes and 7¼-length win in the Skidmore Stakes — is a full five points higher than any runner in the field.
“Since her last race, we’ve just tried to keep her happy,” Ward said. “She’s had a couple nice works at Keeneland and we’re here and hopefully she runs as well as she did in her first four and we’ll be tough. It’s imperative that we get lucky and get out of the gate on a track like this.”
Gregory Kaufman’s Kaufymaker went to Royal Ascot’s open-company Coventry Stakes touted as Ward’s best chance to win any race of the Royal Meeting, but faltered to finish eighth, beaten 4 lengths in the straight 6f race. She returned to finish third over 6.5f in the Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs — again taking on the boys —and then was second to Averly Jane in the Indian Summer, closing well from sixth. She cuts down in trip for the first time since winning her debut over 4.5f at Keeneland in April.
“I think she’s going to be much better at five furlongs than five and a half or six and I think that was a little bit of an issue at Ascot at that time of year,” Ward explained. “I thought she’d go the six at Ascot, but six at Ascot is more like seven-eighths or a mile here. She was right there on the lead and she folded. I thought going into that day that she would be my best chance to win a race. She got back here at Kentucky Downs and was third, but that was at six and a half.”
Stonestreet Stables’ Twilight Gleaming is unraced since winning August’s Prix de la Vallee d’Auge at Deauville and was a good second in Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary on June 16 prior to that. The daughter of National Defense has done little wrong with a record of 4-2-2-0 and is inspiring confidence in her conditioner.
“She’s going to run big,” he said. “She’s a runner and she’s got big spacing from France to here. She’s been clicking off in her works and has been working with Kimari. She’s ready.”