Bear Now (Tr: Reade Baker; ex. rider: Cassie Garcea ) Cassie Garcea, the exercise rider for trainer Reade Baker, said that Bear Now has been training well and is at her best coming up to the $2 million Breeders Cup Ladies Classic.
We couldnt ask her to be any better, said Garcea, who is the daughter of Woodbine-based trainer Eric Garcea and has been galloping two years for Baker, also based at the Ontario track.
The fact that Woodbine has a Polytrack surface should work to the 4yo fillys advantage at Santa Anita.
She can run on anything, said Garcea, who jogged her on Monday morning after her 5f work in 1:03 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Bear Now is proven on a variety of surfaces and has won eight of 12 races, including her last in the Kentucky Cup Distaff at Turfway Park on Sept. 27. She has earned $602, 822 on synthetic racing surfaces.
Eurico Da Silva will ride Bear Now on Friday.
Carriage Trail (Tr: Shug McGaughey) The Shug McGaughey-trained mare Carriage Trail walked the shedrow Monday morning after arriving at Santa Anita from her New York base on Sunday.
Carriage Trail has blossomed this season, capturing the Spinster Stakes over Keenelands Polytrack surface by nearly eight lengths under Kent Desormeaux in her most recent start.
Desormeaux, who has been victorious in two starts aboard Carriage Trail, will get the return mount for Fridays Ladies Classic.
Shes a synthetic/turf specialist, you might say, McGaugheys longtime assistant Buzz Tenney said at Santa Anita Monday morning.
The daughter of Giants Causeway, who has won a minor stakes and is graded-stakes placed on turf, has won three of four starts on Keenelands Polytrack surface, including her career-best performance in the Spinster.
They say (Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic surface) and Polytrack are different types of synthetics. I hope she gets over this track like she does at Keeneland, because her last race was a phenomenal race.
Cocoa Beach/ Music Note (Tr: Saeed bin Suroor) Godolphins 3yo Music Note and 4yo Cocoa Beach had their final workouts on Saturday at Santa Anita, and both will gallop into the Ladies Classic, according to Rick Mettee, U.S. assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Music Notes (workout) was steady as always, Mettee said. It seems that shes the same whether shes on dirt at Belmont, Polytrack, or here. Shes had a good time of it since the Gazelle. We gave her a little freshening after that, shipped here, and Saeed wanted to breeze once over the track.
Cocoa Beach is a much quicker work filly and sure enough it translated here. I dont think it was as fast as they got her (57 4/5). I got her in about 46 2/5, out in about 59.
Javier Castellano will ride Music Note. Ramon Dominguez is named on Cocoa Beach.
Ginger Punch (Tr: Robert Frankel) The defending champ is doing great, according to trainer, Robert Frankel. The 5yo Frank Stronach homebred worked Saturday at Santa Anita in 1:00 3/5 and has limited her activities to walking since.
The Hall of Fame conditioner knows he is in tough in this years edition, primarily because of the presence of the undefeated Zenyatta, who is expected to be favored in the 9f race.
Johns horse (trainer John Shirreffs trains Zenyatta) is obviously the one to beat, Frankel said. Shell be the shortest price of the day. But youve got to give her a try. My horse is doing great and shell run well.
I start seven horses over the two days and I like my fillies best (Frankel also runs Precious Kitten against colts in the Mile and Ventura in the Filly Mare Sprint). To be honest, these races are so tough Id be happy if I can win one of them.
Rafael Bejarano, who has ridden Ginger Punch in 16 of her 21 starts including her tally in the Distaff at Monmouth Park last October, will once again have the call on Friday.
Hystericalady (Tr: Jerry Hollendorfer) Hystericalady, stabled in trainer Jerry Hollendorfers barn at Golden Gate, was due to arrive at Santa Anita on Monday afternoon.
She wont do too much here before the race except walk, jog, and go to the paddock and to the gate, assistant trainer Denny Ward said. The competition in the race is really tough, but were expecting her to run a good race. She never runs poorly.
Garrett Gomez will ride.
Santa Teresita (Tr: Eric Guillot) Fresh off her third-place run in the Ladys Secret, the 4yo daughter of Lemon Drop Kid is set to take another crack at top Ladies Classic contenders Zenyatta and Hystericalady on Friday.
Shes a freak, Santa Teresitas trainer Eric Guillot said of the undefeated Zenyatta. Im surprised theyre not going to take on Curlin. I think she can beat them (the boys). That (run in the Classic) is what I would do.
Purchased privately in June by Southern Equine Stable LLC following her second-place run behind Zenyatta in the Milady, Santa Teresita threw a bad race in her first run for the new connections, finishing a distant seventh behind Hystericalady in the Delaware Handicap.
I had only seen her for four days, Guillot explained. It was against our better judgment (to run there), but it was a million-dollar race. She got a horrible trip and ran badly. It knocked her out for a month. I took my time to get to know her and got her back right. Now shes perfect.
Michael Baze is slated to ride on Friday.
Zenyatta (Tr: John Shirreffs; ex. rider: Steve Willard) Trainer John Shirreffs was shooting photos of the unbeaten 4yo filly Zenyatta for an album outside the stable before an exercise routine Monday at Hollywood Park when he noticed her purple Breeders Cup saddle cloth was placed inside out.
That minor mistake was quickly rectified, and the filly went to the training track with groom Mario Espinoza and regular exercise rider Steve Willard at 9:45.
She jogged one and galloped three, said Shirreffs, pleased with the fillys four laps around the half-mile dirt oval.
I train most of my horses 60-40: 60 percent on the training track and 40 percent on the main track (Cushion Track), Shirreffs said. I love dirt.
Willard was impressed with the filly, seeking a ninth straight victory.
Shes really coming into this race the way you want one to come into a race, Willard said.
Regular rider Mike Smith, a three-time winner of the Distaff, will retain the mount.
Shirreffs plans to ship Zenyatta and stablemate Tiago (Classic), both owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, to Santa Anita Wednesday.
Better Talk Now (Tr: Graham Motion; ex. rider: Fenella OFlynn) The Graham Motion-trained 9yo gelding Better Talk Now worked 6f Monday morning over the Tapeta racing surface at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
Timed in 1:14 3/5 under exercise rider Fenella OFlynn in preparation for Saturdays Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Turf, Better Talk Now is scheduled to be shipped to Southern California on Tuesday.
He worked in company with Jades Revenge, said Motion, whose workers had identical clockings. I was really pleased with the work for both horses.
Better Talk Now, who captured the Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004, will be making his fifth straight appearance in the 1 1/2m event. The Bushwood Stables star finished fourth last year at Monmouth, a close second behind Red Rocks at Churchill Downs in 2006 and seventh at Belmont in 2005.
Were really not just going there so that he can run in his fifth Breeders Cup Turf, Motion said. We feel that he belongs in the race and feel that he has a good chance to win.
Ramon Dominguez will make his fifth straight Turf appearance aboard Better Talk Now.
Conduit (Tr: Sir Michael Stoute) The St. Leger winner arrived at Santa Anita early Monday morning (12:15 a.m.) after a flight from England, and spent today in quarantine.
Michael Stoute trains the 3yo by Dalakhani, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, the jockey who guided the colt to victories at Goodwood and Epsom this year.
Dancing Forever (Tr: Shug McGaughey) Dancing Forever walked the shedrow at Santa Anita Monday morning after working 1:00 1/5 over the turf course Sunday.
The Shug McGaughey-trained 5yo has come into his own this year, including a victory in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
A year ago at Saratoga he was running in a two-other-than (allowance condition). I guess the light came on, said Buzz Tenney, McGaugheys longtime assistant.
He had a good year this year, as long as the grass is firm and fast. When you get a softness or a cut in the ground, he doesnt really care for it. His last two starts were both on soft ground, so I think thats the reason for the lackluster races.
Tenney was encouraged by Dancing Forevers workout over Santa Anitas firm course.
Judging from what I saw (Sunday) in the work, he absolutely loved it out there, Tenney said. He couldnt have worked better. The dogs were way out and he went a minute and a fifth.
Rene Douglas has the return mount aboard Dancing Forever.
Eagle Mountain (Tr: Mike de Kock) Eagle Mountain, a 4yo son of Rock of Gibraltar arrived early Monday from England and was in quarantine today.
Eagle Mountain won the Joel Stakes at Newmarket in his first start for trainer Mike de Kock. The colt was trained previously by Aidan OBrien. Kevin Shea, who was aboard in the Newmarket win, retains the mount.
Grand Couturier (Tr: Robert Ribaudo) A routine 1 ½ m gallop on Belmont Parks fast main track under exercise rider Enrique Garcia was the order of business on Monday morning for Marc Kellers 5yo Grand Lodge horse.
Trainer Bobby Ribaudo said that Grand Couturier will leave Belmont Park at approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday and will catch a 7 a.m. Tex Sutton flight from Republic Airport [East Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y.] That flight will take a number of horses from New York to Santa Anita, with a stop at Kentucky to pick up others competing in the Breeders Cup races on Friday and Saturday.
We got permission from the racing office here to breeze him on the turf last Wednesday, and that is all were going to do with him as far as works go, said Ribaudo of Grand Couturiers half-mile of 51, breezing on the firm course.
Grand Couturier beat only two horses in the 2007 Turf at Monmouth Park, but comes into Saturdays race on a two-race winning streak, including a 10 ½-length victory in Belmont Parks Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 27.
During the last 20 years, the term `bounce came into our language and it is the talk and the fear of owners, trainers and handicappers, Ribaudo said. So, everyone is worried about their horse bouncing after a big effort. Its like a pitcher throws a no-hitter, and you say, `He cant do that again next time.
It is certainly tough to keep a horse at peak level, and I wish he had saved that effort in the Turf Classic for Saturday. But I have been around this horse every day for two years. He came out of the Turf Classic, and it didnt take him an extra day or two to come back. He was back on his game and back on his feed right away. I know he is dead-fit and, visually, he looks terrific.
Jockey Alan Garcia has the mount on Grand Couturier for the Turf.
This horse has shown he can handle almost anything, Ribaudo said. Last year, that course at Monmouth was just a bog after all the rain. But he won the Sword Dancer in 2007 at Saratoga on a rock-hard course, won the Sword Dancer again this year on a good course, and won the Turf Classic on a yielding course. I dont think this race will be determined by the course, but rather by the pace and the trip.
Out of Control (Tr: Robert Frankel; ex. rider: Goncalino Almeida) The Brazilian horse, bred and owned by Stud TNT, walked the shedrow Monday morning at Santa Anita after turning in a 5f work Sunday in 1:01 at Santa Anita. The move, accomplished under jockey Goncalino Almeida, was the 5yos final prep for the Breeders Cup Turf.
I experimented with him on the main track, but hes a turf horse, trainer Robert Frankel noted Monday. Hes doing good right now and hes coming up to this race the right way. His last race was good (second to Red Giant in the Clement L. Hirsch Sept. 27 at Santa Anita in world-record time of 1:57 for the mile and a quarter on grass). Im expecting him to run well Saturday.
Garrett Gomez will be aboard Out of Control in the Turf, the fifth time he has ridden the son of the Machiavellian sire Vettori.
Red Giant (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Declared from Turf on Sunday.
Red Rock Canyon (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) The 4yo Red Rock Canyon who set much of the pace in the Arc de Triomphe only to finish last of 16, was scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon with the Aidan OBrien-trained Coolmore horses.
Red Rock Canyon, still a maiden after 17 starts, will be ridden again by Colm ODonoghue.
Red Rocks (Tr: Mark Hennig) J.P. Reddams Red Rocks, the 2006 Turf winner at Churchill Downs, walked the shedrow Monday morning at trainer Mark Hennigs barn at Belmont Park. He will leave for Santa Anita on Tuesday morning.
The 5yo Irish-bred son of Galileo, who was third in the Turf at Monmouth Park last year, breezed seven furlongs on Belmont Parks turf course on Sunday in 1:27 2/5 and Hennig says he wont be doing much more going into Saturdays race.
Red Rocks has not raced since his two-length victory over defending Horse of the Year Curlin in the Man oWar at Belmont Park on July 12. From there, he was pointed to the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course, but developed an infection in his hock. The decision was made to train him into the Breeders Cup.
You never can be really sure how something like that happens, said Hennig, who took over Red Rocks training from Brian Meehan. We think it might have been while training up to the Sword Dancer on the really soft turf up in Saratoga. We really didnt have much choice. The hock is a bad place for an infection because you dont get quite the circulation to the hind extremities that you get in the front.
We really didnt get him back into training until the middle of September. We started with long, slow gallops and then we worked him a half-mile, five furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile. Sunday, he worked seven furlongs, but he had a strong gallop going into that work and we galloped him out strong, too. He seems fit and hes doing really well, and I think weve done a good job getting him to this race considering that the timing was just awful.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who has ridden Red Rocks in his last two (Breeders Cup) Turf races, has the mount once again.
Soldier of Fortune (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) Trainer Aidan OBriens main hope in the Turf, Soldier of Fortune was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon with the Coolmore flight from Ireland.
The 4yo colt by Galileo finished third in the Arc de Triomphe last out, 2 ½ lengths behind Zarkava. Johnny Murtagh, who rode Soldier of Fortune to victory in the Coronation Cup earlier this year, has the mount.
Spring House (Tr: Julio Canani) Though trainer Julio Canani said this morning that a decision on whether the 6yo son of Chester House will run in the Turf or the Marathon will be made later today, his plans call for a 4f work Tuesday on the Santa Anita turf.
Jockey John Velazquez has the call on the gelding. Canani was searching today for a rider for the workout.
Winchester (Tr: Dermot Weld) The 3yo son of Theatrical, winner of the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in his last start, arrived early Monday after a flight from England and spent the day in quarantine.
Trainer Dermot Weld has given the ride in the Turf to Pat Smullen, who was aboard in the colts maiden score this spring.
Communique (Tr: George Arnold II) G.W. Watts Humphrey Jr.s 4yo homebred filly Communique was declared Monday morning from Fridays running of the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf after developing an abscess in her right front foot.
She worked good Saturday morning, said trainer G.R. (Rusty) Arnold from Keeneland, but she had a pulse in the foot this morning. We had the blacksmith pull the shoe and revealed the abscess. Its not serious, but the timing is obviously bad. The plan is to race her next year.
A daughter of Smart Strike, Communique won the Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland and Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park this year before finishing a strong second in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington. Last out, she finished third in the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.
Dynaforce (Tr: Bill Mott) Dr. John A. Chandlers Dynaforce breezed 4f in 49 2/5 on the fast main track at Belmont Park on Sunday. Formerly trained in France by Andre Fabre, the 5yo Dynaformer mare has made four starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in America, and became a Grade 1 winner on Sept. 27 when she won the Flower Bowl at Belmont Park by four lengths.
Shes doing really well, and she will ship out on Tuesday morning, Mott said. That plane will take a bunch of horses from New York, pick up some in Kentucky, and then head to California.
Alan Garcia has the mount on Dynaforce, who will gallop into Fridays race.
Folk Opera (Tr: Saeed bin Suroor) Folk Opera, winner of the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine last out, was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon on a flight bringing the Godolphin horses to the Breeders Cup.
Saeed bin Suroor trains the 4yo daughter of Singspiel, who will again be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Forever Together (Tr: Jonathan Sheppard ex. rider: Barry Wiseman) Trainer Jonathan Sheppard sent Forever Together to the main track at Keeneland Monday morning for a 1 1/2m gallop under Barry Wiseman in preparation for a start in the Filly & Mare Turf.
The 4yo daughter of Belong to Me is scheduled to breeze 3f on Tuesday morning before shipping to Santa Anita.
Forever Together began her career with three straight main-track triumphs, but attempts to stretch her out were unsuccessful.
She had a couple of bad races and got sour on us, Sheppard said. She started not wanting to train. After we took her to Keeneland in the spring, she really blossomed. She liked training on Polytrack. I figured if she didnt like dirt that Id try her on turf.
Forever Togethers attitude changed and so did her level of performance, starting with a stakes triumph at Arlington Park in her first turf start in May. She subsequently became a strong candidate for the Filly & Mare Turf with victories in the Diana at Saratoga and the recent First Lady at Keeneland.
Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for those two major stakes scores, has the return mount.
Goldikova (Tr: Freddy Head) see Mile
Halfway To Heaven (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) Halfway to Heaven, winner of three Group I stakes this year was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon with the Aidan OBrien-trained contingent.
Johnny Murtagh rides the 3yo daughter of Pivotal who has taken the Sun Chariot Stakes, Nassau Stakes, and Irish 1000 Guineas this season.
Mauralakana (Tr: Christophe Clement; ex. rider: Tobias Coles) Mauralakana, victorious in five of seven starts and the earner of more than $1 million since being transferred to trainer Christophe Clement this year, arrived from New York on Sunday and jogged Monday morning under exercise rider Tobias Coles.
She is coming to the race in terrific shape, according to assistant trainer Nicholas Balachard, who has worked for Clement for 15 years.
The Beverly D. was a powerful race for her, said Balachard. There should be more pace in this race and thats good. Shed rather it be firm going, but shes proved she can run on anything.
Precious Kitten (Tr: Robert Frankel) see Mile
Pure Clan (Tr: Bob Holthus) The 3yo filly arrived Sunday from Kentucky and walked the shedrow of Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnallys barn on Monday. She will have her first trip over the Santa Anita track on Tuesday.
Pure Clan, who has never been worse than third in 10 career starts, has spent the majority of her career in the Midwest, but made one prior trip to California in July when she won the American Oaks. Her connections are hoping for the same kind of luck in the Filly & Mare Turf.
She shipped in real good, said trainer Bob Holthus. If we can get a repeat of her last California race, well be good.
Sealy Hill (Tr: Mark Casse) Sealy Hill, Canadas 2007 Horse of the Year, galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Julia Brimo and visited the paddock on Monday.
I know this sounds like a cliché, but shes in great shape and doing better than shes ever done, assistant trainer Norman Casse said.
After Sealy Hills successful campaign in 2007, she has only won once in six starts this year, winning an allowance race at Woodbine in July.
She was kind of a disappointment earlier this year, but shes got things figured out now, Casse explained. Her last race, the E.P. Taylor, was a good race. She got in a lot of trouble and then came on strong to get third. Ive been around her for her whole career and shes training better than she ever has.
Sealy Hill breezed 5f in 59 3/5 and galloped out in 1:12 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
It was a very impressive work, Casse said. A lot of people were asking Whos that bay filly?.
Patrick Husbands, who has ridden Sealy Hill in every one of her 17 lifetime starts, gets the call.
Vacare (Tr: Christophe Clement; ex. rider: Paul Turner) Vacare, one of two Christophe Clement trainees entered in the Filly & Mare Turf, galloped on Monday with exercise rider Paul Turner in the irons.
She has a great turn of foot, assistant trainer Nicholas Balachard said. She ran very well last time out in the Yellow Ribbon here at Santa Anita, and was closing fast to get second to Wait a While.
Some have questioned whether the 1 1/4 m distance will be too much for Vacare, but Balachard is not among them.
The mile-and-a-quarter wont bother her, Balachard said. There will be 12 of them in it, and everyone deserves a chance.
Jose Valdivia Jr. will be aboard Vacare in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Visit (Tr: Sir Michael Stoute) Visit arrived early Monday morning after a flight from England and spent Monday in quarantine.
Michael Stoute trains the 3yo daughter of Oasis Dream, who won the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood in England this year. Ryan Moore has the mount.
After her Breeders Cup race, Visit will remain in the U.S. to race with Robert Frankel as her trainer.
Wait a While (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Wait a While had her final work on Saturday, which was a very good move according to trainer Todd Pletcher, and will jog and gallop into the race.
Her last two races are as good as shes ever been, and she obviously loves this turf course, Pletcher said of the 5yo mare who has twice won the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita, where she is undefeated in three starts.
Bold Chieftain (Tr: Bill Morey Jr.) Trainer Bill Morey Jr. reported from his Bay Area headquarters that all was looking good for Bold Chieftain, but that hed know for sure if they were headed south after he worked his 5yo 4f Tuesday morning at Golden Gate Fields.
Thatll tell the story, Morey said Monday morning. Russell Baze will be up and well see how he goes. If everything goes well and he comes out of it OK, weve got a 4 a.m. ship on Wednesday.
Bold Chieftain, a California-bred son of the Seattle Slew stallion Chief Seattle, has won 11 of 22 starts with four seconds and two thirds racing exclusively in his home state, primarily at its northern tracks. He has yet to win a graded stakes and the Breeders Cup Mile is certainly the biggest challenge of his career.
Oh, this is a big step up, Morey said. We understand that. But the owners want to give it a try and Im not in the business of spoiling their dreams. This horse brings his game every time. Youve got to like him for that. And if he runs to the race he put in at Del Mar (Del Mar Mile Aug. 24 in which he was second by three-quarters of a length to Whatsthescript), youll hear from him. Im not saying were going to win it, but well be heard from.
Russell Baze has ridden Bold Chieftain in 16 of his 22 outings. Hell be back on board if the horse runs Saturday.
Daytona (Tr: Dan Hendricks) The locally based 4yo galloped one mile over Santa Anitas main track on Monday and will have his final workout on Tuesday for the Mile.
Hes doing real good, said trainer Dan Hendricks. Hes fresh and ready to go. Hes had seven weeks and that seems to be the right spacing for him.
Jockey Francisco Alvarado will ride Daytona for the first time on Saturday.
Goldikova (Tr: Freddie Head) Trainer Freddie Heads standout filly arrived at Santa Anita Park Sunday afternoon after a flight from France. Regular jockey Olivier Peslier will ride the 3yo daughter of Anabaa in Mile as she faces males for the second time.
Goldikova enters the race with a three-race winning streak, and in her most recent start, won the Prix de Moulin at Longchamp on Sept. 7, defeating, among others, Darjina and Henrythenavigator.
Kip Deville (Tr: Rick Dutrow Jr.) Defending Mile champ Kip Deville breezed 5f over Aqueducts firm turf course Monday morning. The move, a solo work for Kip Deville, was timed in 1:05 2/5.
It was a basic five, gallop out six (furlongs) move, said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. He went good.
Kip Deville, a 5yo Oklahoma-bred, will be attempting to join Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992-1993) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998) as a two-time Breeders Cup Mile champion.
Kip Deville, to be ridden by jockey Cornelio Velasquez, is scheduled to fly to California from New York Tuesday morning.
Hes leaving Aqueduct at 5:45 (a.m.), Dutrow said. Hes ready to go.
Lord Admiral (Tr: Charles O'Brien) The 7yo son of El Prado was shipped from Keeneland last week to trainer Paddy Gallaghers barn at Santa Anita. Gallagher said Monday that he will work the horse for trainer Charles OBrien Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
Lord Admiral, who will be making his 47th career start this week, was also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile. Gallagher said that he expects OBrien to select a rider after he decides in which race the Lord Admiral will run.
Precious Kitten (Tr: Robert Frankel) Shes my sleeper, trainer Robert Frankel said Monday morning. I run seven (in Breeders Cup races) and I like my three fillies (Precious Kitten, Ventura, Ginger Punch) the most. And Precious Kitten could be the one.
She got sent to the lead last time (First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 3) and he (rider Rafael Bejarano) should have taken a hold. Weve got to keep her off the lead; she runs her best races from off it. Shes been getting great numbers. And shes fast; very fast. She can run with those colts, no problem. Like I said, shes my sleeper.
Precious Kitten, a 5yo mare by Catienus, has been first or second in 17 of her 23 starts and has earned more than $1.7 million. Bejarano, who has won six graded stakes on her, will be aboard again on Saturday.
Raven's Pass (Tr: John Gosden; ex. rider: ) see Classic
Shakis (Tr: Kiaran McLaughlin) The 8yo son of Machiavellian walked the shedrow at Keeneland Monday morning and will be on a flight to California Tuesday. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who has only one runner in the Cup, will not arrive at Santa Anita from New York until Friday.
He worked 47 4/5 (4f) a couple days ago in Lexington and hes doing very well, said McLaughlin, who will have the services of Alan Garcia for the Mile. He just walked the shedrow today. Well train out there Thursday and Friday.
This will be the 35th career start for Shakis, his most recent start a fast-closing second in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland behind front-running Thorn Song. Shakis has logged seven victories and finished in the money 17 times for Shadwell Stable.
Thorn Song (Tr: Dale Romans) Shadwell Mile winner by Thorn Song arrived on Sunday from his Kentucky base and was bedded down in Barn 38. He walked the shedrow and will gallop up to the race the rest of the week.
Trainer Dale Romans, who arrived from California on Monday morning, said he would not work the 5yo Unbridleds Song horse prior to the Mile.
Jockey Robby Albarado, aboard for the Shadwell win, has the mount.
U S Ranger (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) The 4yo son of Danzig was on the Coolmore flight from England and Ireland was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Monday afternoon.
Jockey John Murtagh is the regular rider of the Kentucky-bred co-owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and breeder Joseph Allen and will ride the colt in the Mile.
Ventura (Tr: Robert Frankel) see Filly & Mare Sprint
War Monger (Tr: Bill Mott) Hoping to end a five-race losing streak on Saturday, Peter Vegsos 4yo War Chant colt walked the shedrow at Keeneland on Monday morning. He worked 5f in 1:01 4/5, breezing on Sunday.
War Monger went solo, but he worked well and he came back fine, said trainer Bill Mott. He looks like hes doing pretty good.
Mott said that Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux will again ride War Monger, who will ship Tuesday to Santa Anita.
Whatsthescript (tr: John Sadler; ex. rider: David Pineda) Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Whatsthescript jogged 1m on the main track at Santa Anita under exercise rider David Pineda on Monday morning.
Winner of the Del Mar Mile in his most recent start on Aug. 24, Whatsthescript has been housed at trainer John Sadlers Santa Anita barn since the end of the Del Mar meet in early September.
Garrett Gomez, who rode Whatsthescript for the first time in the Del Mar victory, has the riding assignment on Saturday.
Oct. 20, SPRINT
Black Seventeen (Tr: Brian Koriner; ex. rider: Colleen Hartford) Black Seventeen worked 4f Monday morning at about 8:45 in a drill that will be his final major exercise for Saturdays Sentient Flight Group Breeders Cup Sprint.
With trainer Brian Koriner watching from aboard his pony, and assistant trainer Colleen Hartford aboard, the 4yo son of the 1988 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Is It True went in 47 4/5 and drew praise for it afterward.
Thats a nice work for him, the former quarter-horse trainer Koriner said back at Barn 17. Hes a big, heavy horse who is a bit lazy in the mornings and youve got to get him to work hard to get things done. Colleen has been telling me he really likes this track. Hes done well on it and were hoping for the best Saturday.
"That race (Sprint) is such a tough event. There are so many good horses in there; so many fast horses. I know my horse is fast, but I know hes in tough. But hes doing good and well be in there trying. He might be good enough.
Black Seventeen, who was the longshot winner of the Vosburgh in New York on Sept. 27 on a sloppy track, will be kept with his regular rider, Clinton Potts, for the six-furlong Sprint.
Cost of Freedom (Tr: John Sadler; ex. rider: Dana Barnes) Gary and Cecil Barbers Cost of Freedom jogged 1m on the main track Monday at Santa Anita with exercise rider Dana Barnes up for trainer John Sadler.
Tyler Baze, who has ridden the 5yo gelding to three consecutive victories, will have the mount in Saturdays Sprint. Baze has not won a Breeders Cup race.
Cost of Freedom, who has been stabled at Santa Anita since the end of the Del Mar meeting in early September, had his final work for the Sprint last Saturday, a 5f move in 59 2/5.
Fabulous Strike (Tr: Todd Beattie) Following a romping win in last years Vosburgh, Fabulous Strike appeared prime for a big run in the Breeders Cup Sprint, but just a week before the race he came down with a severe lung infection.
It popped up clear out of the blue, said trainer Todd Beattie, who lost out on a chance at running his first Breeders Cup horse. We were stuck in traffic for six to seven hours on the way back from Belmont (after the Vosburgh) and the extra stress may have contributed to it. It was a huge disappointment.
With an eye on this years Sprint, the 5yo gelded son of Smart Strike returned to battle in an ungraded stake at Delaware Park on June 21, defeating just two overmatched rivals as the 1-9 favorite.
We wanted to run him against softer competition in that first race, Beattie said. Our plan was to run back in the Vanderbilt, but he ripped off a piece of his foot in the frog area and he missed 60 days.
Fabulous Strike returned in the Vosburgh, and after battling a fast pace over a sloppy track, he settled for second behind the longshot Black Seventeen.
We were very pleased with the effort, Beattie said. He was a half a head away from winning. He fended off quite a few challenges in the race, tried hard, and actually galloped out in front.
Regular rider Ramon Dominguez is named for Saturdays Sprint.
Fatal Bullet (Tr: Reade Baker) Fatal Bullet walked on Monday after working 5f in 1:01 2/5 at Santa Anita on Sunday under jockey Erico Da Silva, who will ride him in the Sprint.
Hes settled in and is doing really good here, said Casse Garcea, assistant to Reade Baker. At home he can be a little bit of a hard head, but the change of scene has been good for him. We shipped in early (from Canada) to get him and (stablemate) Bear Now (Ladies Classic) acclimated and they have.
First Defence (Tr: Robert Frankel; ex. rider: Goncalino Almeida) Juddmonte Farms homebred 4yo was a walker Monday morning after firing a bullet 5f of 57 4/5 with jockey Goncalino Almeida aboard.
I didnt want him to go that fast, said the colts trainer, Bobby Frankel, standing trackside at Santa Anita Monday morning. I told him to work him in a minute. But what are you going to do? Ill tell you, though, Ive been watching these sprints for a long time and it seems to me the horses that work fast win them. I remember when I ran Squirtle Squirt in New York and won. He worked 45 coming up to that race (45 4/5).
First Defence won the Forego at Saratoga in August, then finished last in the Vosburgh at Belmont in September in the mud.
Ive got to think the sloppy track did him in in that last one, Frankel said. That wont be an issue here.
The colt will be reunited with Javier Castellano for the Sprint. The New York-based rider has handled him in 11 of his 13 starts.
In Summation (Tr: Christophe Clement) After having to miss competing in the Sprint at Monmouth Park last year, In Summation is healthy and primed for this years edition.
Hes been here since July and hes doing very well, said Nicholas Balachard, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement. He excels on synthetic tracks.
Clement decided not to run In Summation, who had a history of trouble with his feet, after his final workout for the 2007 Breeders Cup, which was run over a dirt track. But there are no problems this year and John Velazquez has accepted the mount.
Indian Blessing (Tr: Bob Baffert) see Filly & Mare Sprint
J Be K (Tr: Steve Asmussen) Trainer Steve Asmussen reported that Zayat Stables 3yo J Be K will not contest the Sprint.
He will not run, Asmussen said. He has not come back to himself since running (fifth) in the Vosburgh (Sept. 27). Its disappointing. We felt very good about him this summer. We were going to work him this morning, but instead were going to give him some time. His last race kind of shook him up a bit.
Lewis Michael (Tr: Wayne Catalano) see Dirt Mile
Midnight Lute (Tr: Bob Baffert; ex. rider: Janell Gruss) Defending Breeders Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute worked 4f in 47 under exercise rider Janell Gruss on Monday morning at Santa Anita.
He went very smooth, very nice, trainer Bob Baffert said. I got him galloping out the five-eighths in 59 3/5.
Owned by Mike Pegram and Watson & Weitman Performance LLC, Midnight Lute will be paired with Garrett Gomez in the Sprint. Gomez rode Midnight Lute to a 4 ¾-length victory in the slop in last years Sprint at Monmouth Park.
Midnight Lute has run only once in 2008, a 10th-place finish in the Pat OBrien at Del Mar on Aug. 24. He grabbed a quarter in the race and has been wearing a protective plate since.
The plate will come off before Saturday, said Baffert of Midnight Lute, who has put together a string of bullet works at Santa Anita since returning from Del Mar.
That surface down there was just too hard for him, Baffert said. He was just sour down there and he really picked up once he got on this surface. He has thrived on it.
Sing Baby Sing (Tr: Jack Bruner) Phoenix winner Sing Baby Sing galloped 1m at his Remington Park base on Monday and will ship to California on Wednesday. In his final workout, the Unbridleds Song horse breezed 4f in 48 3/5 on Saturday.
Im very pleased with how hes been doing, said trainer Jack Brunner, who will be saddling his first Breeders Cup starter. He came out of the Phoenix just fine and everythings a go.
Justin Sheppard, who has ridden Sing Baby Sing in every start since June 2006, will have the mount again on Saturday.
Street Boss (Tr: Bruce Headley) The runner-up in Oak Trees Ancient Title galloped 1 ¼ m Monday and will do the same on Tuesday in preparation for a 3f workout Wednesday for trainer Bruce Headley as the 4yo Street Cry colt heads toward the Sprint.
Headley said he is quite happy with the colts preparation, mentioning that his runner seemed to be just one jump way from winning the 6f Ancient Title.
Azul Leon (Tr: Doug O'Neill) The son of Lion Heart jogged 1 1/2m Monday at Santa Anita under Beto Gomez for the Bessemer Trust Breeders Cup Juvenile Saturday.
Hes a real mature classy colt, and you can see why he won his first three races, said trainer Doug ONeill. Hes training well, and distance should be no problem. His dam, Quick Blue, won around two turns on both dirt and turf.
Azul Leon finished sixth in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita Sept. 28 after winning the Hollywood Juvenile Championship and Best Pal Stakes in his previous two starts.
He was pretty far behind a slow pace in the Norfolk, explained ONeill. He worked (6f) in 1:14 and change Saturday and galloped out good.
Joel Rosario will ride the Joseph Lacombe Stable homebred for the first time.
Believe in Hope (Tr: Ron Ellis) Trainer Ron Ellis unhappily announced that his chestnut charger Believe in Hope was out of the Breeders Cup Juvenile.
He spiked a fever of 104 yesterday, the trainer reported. The blood came back and thats not quite right, either. Weve started to treat him with penicillin and hes out of the race. Itll be six weeks or so before I can think about having him right.
I think this is something thats been coming on. Its hard when things like this happen, but that last work of his (1:15 3/5 for 6f Oct. 14 at Santa Anita) was one I wasnt too happy with and I think he was starting to tell us something.
It wouldnt have worked out if wed run him. So youve just got to step back and hope for the best in the future. Things like this are hard, but youve got to take care of your horses.
Believe in Hope, a Thunder Gulch colt who was a fast-closing third in the recent Norfolk at Santa Anita, is owned and was bred by the Jay Em Ess Stable of Mace and Samantha Siegel.
Bushranger (Tr: David Wachman) The Irish-bred colt, who will be making his synthetic track debut on Saturday, arrived early Monday morning on a flight from England and spent the day in quarantine.
David Wachman trains the son of Danetime, who has won the Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny in his last two starts. Johnny Murtagh who was aboard in both those wins, has the mount again.
Coronet of a Baron (Tr: Eoin Harty; ex. rider: C. T. Lang) Coronet of a Baron, who has also been pre-entered in the Juvenile Turf, worked over Santa Anitas turf course on Monday in 1:02 4/5 under exercise rider C. T. Lang, but trainer Eoin Harty had still not made his decision on which way to go by midday.
That will come later, Harty said. I have to confer with the powers that be and they are overseas.
The son of Pure Prize, who has never yet raced on the grass in three lifetime starts, is owned by Sheik Mohammeds Darley Stable. No matter in which race the colt competes, he will be ridden by Alan Garcia.
Elusive Bluff (Tr: Eric Guillot) Speaking from Hollywood Park, trainer Eric Guillot indicated that he has elected to run his 2yo son of Elusive Quality in the Breeders Cup Juvenile instead of the Juvenile Turf.
There are a lot of reasons, Guillot said of his decision. It (Juvenile) is more prestigious, its graded, its further and our colt is by a dirt sire (Elusive Quality). Weve got a come from behind horse. The mile is a tougher trip. The distance was the key. If the grass race was nine furlongs, then wed run there.
With Michael Baze aboard, Elusive Bluff breezed 5f Monday morning over the Hollywood Cushion Track in 1:02 1/5. Baze will ride the colt on Saturday.
I asked him (Baze) to go 1:02, so it was perfect, Guillot said. We like the way he goes on it (synthetic track).
Forty Thieves (Tr: Steve Klesaris) Trainer Steve Klesaris indicated on Monday morning that Forty Thieves would more than likely remain at his Maryland base instead of flying into California for a potential run in Saturdays Breeders Cup Juvenile.
Were second on the also eligible list, Klesaris said. If we somehow did draw in, then were forced to leave from a bad outside post. Plus I dont think the synthetic track would favor him.
Gallant Son (Tr: Frank Lucarelli) The son of Malabar Gold, who was cross-entered in two juvenile races, but not in the main body of either, joined the field for the Juvenile with the defection of Believe in Hope.
I just was called and informed there was a scratch in there (Believe in Hope), so well get in for sure, said trainer Frank Lucarelli, who had his colt walk the shedrow Monday after a bullet 6f work of 1:12 Sunday on the Pro-Ride surface. Thats where we were hoping to go.
Gallant Son was first on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile, but would have needed three scratches to make the field for the Juvenile Turf. All five of his career starts have come on dirt at Emerald Downs, the last four victories. Jockey Leslie Mawing will be in for the ride.
Midshipman (Tr: Bob Baffert) Darley Stables Midshipman walked the shedrow at trainer Bob Bafferts barn a day after working 6f in 1:12 1/5 at Santa Anita.
He is fine this morning; came out of the work good, Baffert said. We are all locked and loaded and ready to go.
Garrett Gomez, who has won four Breeders Cup races in his career, will be aboard Midshipman for the first time in the Juvenile.
Midshipman has been stabled at Santa Anita since the close of the Del Mar meet in early September. Midshipman won his first two starts at Del Mar, including the Del Mar Futurity.
Mine That Bird (Tr: Richard Mandella) Though a decision is still to be made on whether the son of Birdstone will run in the Juvenile or the Juvenile Turf, trainer Richard Mandella said this morning, Hes intended for the main track, but Ill study things this afternoon and make my decision.
The 2yo gelding worked 5f in 59 4/5 this morning and got a good grade from the trainer. He went real nice, Mandella said.
Chantal Sutherland has the call on the gelding regardless of the race.
Munnings/Silent Valor (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Todd Pletchers tandem, Munnings and Silent Valor, both completed their preparation with works on Saturday for the Juvenile and will gallop into the race.
Both handled the track very well and Silent Valor has a race over the track and ran respectably in the Norfolk. He got a bit tired at the end but the experience and having a two-turn race under his belt, I hope, will move him forward.
John Velazquez will ride Munnings while Garrett Gomez has the call on Silent Valor.
Pioneerof the Nile (Tr: Bill Mott) Zayat Stables 2yo son of Empire Maker worked in company at Keeneland on Sunday with 4yo filly Indescribable and went 5f in 1:00 2/5, breezing. He walked Monday morning and will be on the connecting flight from New York to Santa Anita on Tuesday.
He galloped out strong, which is what we were looking for, said trainer Bill Mott, who will go with jockey Robby Albarado on Saturday. We wont do too much more with him until the race.
Pioneerof the Nile began his career on turf and ran third in Keenelands Breeders Futurity on Polytrack on Oct. 4.
Square Eddie (Tr: Doug O'Neill; ex. rider: Beto Gomez) The Lanes End Breeders Futurity winner jogged 1 ½ m Monday under exercise rider Beto Gomez.
I got him after the Keeneland race, said ONeill of the English import who made an auspicious United States debut in Kentucky for owner J. Paul Reddam.
Hes an extremely classy individual and a very smart colt, added ONeill. He has shown a liking for synthetic surfaces. Thats what Paul liked after he ran well at Kempton.
He worked (6f) in 1:15 and change cruising Saturday and looked really good, continued ONeill. Like Azul Leon, hes very mature and very confident. I feel like Im blessed. I think both horses have huge chances.
Rafael Bejarano will ride the colt back.
Street Hero (Tr: Myung Kwon Cho) The Norfolk Stakes winner walked Monday following a 5f workout Sunday in 1:02 3/5 over the Santa Anita main track. Assistant trainer Maria Ayala said it was a good work with regular rider Alex Solis aboard.
Mr. Cho [breeder, owner and trainer Myung Kwan Cho] said to go easy, and thats what Alex did, Ayala said.
The son of Street Cry will jog and gallop up to the race, she said.
Terrain (Tr: Al Stall Jr.) The Sky Mesa colt galloped 1m at Keeneland on Monday and will join stablemate My Pal Charlie on a Wednesday flight to California. On Saturday, the colt, most recently second to Square Eddie in Keenelands Breeders Futurity, breezed 4f in 48 2/5.
Hes sitting on go, said trainer Al Stall Jr.
Jockey Jamie Theriot, aboard for all of Terrains four career starts, will be back aboard on Saturday.
West Side Bernie (Tr: Kelly Breen) The Bernstein colt, unbeaten in two lifetime starts, galloped once around the Santa Anita oval Monday morning.
Trainer Kelly Breen said the nearly black colt was coming up to the race in fine fettle.
He couldnt be doing much better, Breen said. He had two really good breezes over the track here, and hell gallop up to the race.
West Side Bernie won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park on Sept. 27 and arrived at Santa Anita two weeks ago. He breezed 5f in 58 4/5 on Oct. 11, and followed that last Saturday with a 4f in 47 3/5.
California breeds keep cashing in
By Kevin Modesti, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/19/2008 11:46:17 PM PDT
First in a series of helpful hints for betting on the Breeders' Cup Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
Is there money to be made in blindly root-root-rooting for the home team?
The tantalizing answer for Californians is yes. So says 24 years of Breeders' Cup history.
Horses from California generally have exceeded bettors' expectations, while the huge army of horses from the East Coast have underachieved in Breeders' Cup races. This is especially true in the event's marquee race, the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, and more so when the event is held in California, as it will be Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
The numbers:
Horses who ran their most recent races in the New York area (including New Jersey and Pennsylvania) have won 10 of the 24 Classics, and horses who prepped in California have won seven.
But "New York horses" also have accounted for an incredible 16 beaten favorites in the Classic, while "California horses" have accounted for only one.
That suggests that between the West and East Coast factions, the Californians have been more profitable to bet on, and this is true big-time.
If you'd bet $2 to win on every California-prepped horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic over the years, you'd have risked $102 and gotten back $199.10 - a profit of 95 percent.
Doing the same with New York-area-prepped horses, you'd have risked $262 and gotten back $166 - a loss of 63 percent.
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In the five previous Breeders' Cups held at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, the difference is even sharper, California horses more than tripling their backers' money while New York horses created a nearly 90 percent loss.
Ain't hindsight grand?
The western tilt has been similar in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where California products have won seven times (with only two beaten favorites) while New York products have won six (with 11 beaten choices).
In Saturday's Classic, if you can't decide whether to take the short odds on 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin (whose latest race was a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in New York), you might take a longer look at Go Between and Student Council (who last raced at Del Mar); Casino Drive, Mast Track or Tiago (Santa Anita), or Awesome Gem (Golden Gate Fields).
Of course, good trend-spotting is no substitute for good fundamental handicapping.
Still, history says when in doubt, go west, young handicapper.
Spring House (Turf) – The 6yo son of Chester House worked a sharp 4f Tuesday to complete his serious preparation for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer Julio Canani.
Exercise rider Iggy Puglisi was in the irons for the work in 47 4/5 at Santa Anita.
Canani made the decision overnight to run in the Turf, rather than in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, to which Spring House was cross-entered.
Forever Together (Filly & Mare Turf) – Forever Together tuned up for a start in the Filly & Mare Turf over the main track at Keeneland Tuesday morning, working 4f in 47. The clocking was the best of 29 workouts recorded at the distance. Danielle Hodsdon was aboard the 4yo daughter of Belong to Me.
“I was really pleased with the work,” said trainer Jonathan Sheppard, whose gray filly captured the First Lady at Keeneland in her most recent start. “She gave us what we were looking for.”
Forever Together, who has won three stakes since being shifted to the turf five starts ago, is scheduled to arrive in California on Wednesday.
Kip Deville (Mile) – Defending Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Kip Deville boarded a van that left Aqueduct Racetrack around 6 a.m. Tuesday. His flight to California departed at approximately 9 a.m.
“No problems whatsoever,” said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who already owns three Breeders’ Cup victories. “The hardest part of my job with Kip at this point is figuring how much money I’m going to bet on him to win. I’m counting my money right now.”
Kip Deville, a 5yo Oklahoma-bred, will be attempting to join Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992-1993) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998) as a two-time Mile champion.
He enters the Mile off a less-than-stellar performance, however, having finished a well-beaten fifth – by his lofty standards – in last month’s Woodbine Mile as heavy favorite. Dutrow says the Woodbine Mile will not have any bearing on Kip Deville’s performance this Saturday.
“We went over him a bunch of times after the Woodbine race and couldn’t find anything wrong with him,” Dutrow said. “The only thing I can say is I guess he didn’t like the turf course. Even if he had won that race, I don’t think we would have trained him any differently going into the Breeders’ Cup.”
Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez has the mount.
Dutrow had originally planned to fly to California later in the week, but “after seeing Kip and (Turf Sprint entrant) Salute the Count leave (Aqueduct) this morning, I gotta be with my horses. They both look unbelievable. I belong with them, babe.”
Bold Chieftain (Mile) – “Russell told me he felt like a million bucks. We’re a go,” said trainer Bill Morey Jr. of rider Russell Baze and his horse Bold Chieftain, who had just clipped off 4f in 48 1/5 on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields Tuesday morning.
The 5yo California-bred horse, a winner of 11 races and currently the best horse in Northern California, went trackside following the morning renovation break at 8:30 and went about his business.
“I couldn’t have been happier with it,” reported Morey by phone. “We’re going to come and give them a try.”
The conditioner said he’d lined up a van ride for his horse leaving the Bay Area track at 4 a.m. Wednesday. He said he and his wife would drive down separately starting at around 6 a.m.
“My van guy gets down there pretty good,” he noted. “They stop for water along the way, but he’ll be there in seven or eight hours. When we ship down we always go in with (trainer) Jeff Metz (Barn 116). He holds a couple of stalls for us and it has always worked out fine.”
Bold Chieftain once again will be handled by Russell Baze in the Mile. North America’s winningest rider has been aboard the son of Chief Seattle in 16 of his 22 starts, including nine of his wins.
Daytona (Mile) – The Shoemaker Mile winner tuned up for Saturday’s race with a 4f workout in 47 4/5 over the main track on Tuesday. Exercise rider Francisco Alvarado was aboard for the work.
“It was just what we wanted,” said trainer Dan Hendricks. “We were looking for somewhere around 48. It was just a nice easy move to stretch his legs. We just have to keep our fingers crossed now.
“He’s just like he’s been all year. He’s fresh and ready. He doesn’t look like a horse that has been racing for a year-and-a-half.”
Mast Track (Dirt Mile) – Despite dealing with a small quarter crack, Robert Frankel reported Tuesday morning that his charge Mast Track, who it appeared would run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and likely be the pacesetter in the 1 1/4m race, instead will be entered in the TVG Dirt Mile this morning at Santa Anita.
“The quarter crack is in his right front, on the outside,” the Hall of Fame conditioner noted. “It’s a small one; you could even say it is tiny. My blacksmith wanted to put a patch on it, but I told him I didn’t think it was that bad. I think it’s going to bust out through his coronet band. By the time we get to the race, I think we’ll have it all cleaned up.”
Tuesday morning Mast Track went to the track and galloped 1 1/4m, coming off the track at 6:45 dancing and feeling full of himself.
“He doesn’t know he’s got a quarter crack,” stated Frankel, nodding toward the horse that he owns, trains and bred. “If you push on it, he knows, but otherwise he could care less. I’m going to train him like he doesn’t have one and bring him up to the race right.”
Simply, a quarter crack is a break in the continuity of the horn wall at the quarter of the hoof. They can be superficial, or cracks that go through the full thickness of the horn wall. Horses can train and run with small quarter cracks, but more extensive ones need to be closed, or patched, if training is to continue.
“It’s a better spot for him; he fits better there,” Frankel said of the change to the Dirt Mile from the Classic. “And the (entry) money is a whole lot less. The money is a factor, absolutely.”
As owner, Frankel will be saving himself $100,000 in fees by switching races. Pre-entry and entry fees for eligible horses for the Classic come to $125,000. Those fees amount to $25,000 for the Dirt Mile.
Tyler Baze has the call on Mast Track. The pair combined to win the Hollywood Gold Cup in June.
Awesome Gem (Dirt Mile) – With no major defections expected from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, trainer Craig Dollase chose to enter the 5yo gelded son of 1998 Classic winner in the Dirt Mile on Saturday.
“I think he’ll do very well there,” the trainer said of 2007 third-place finisher in the Classic. He acknowledged that he had been hopeful that some of the major runners such as defending champion Curlin might choose not to run over the Santa Anita main course in the 1 ¼ m Classic.
As for post position, Dollase said, with a big smile, “Right in the middle.”
Awesome Gem galloped a mile Tuesday at his Hollywood Park home.
Surf Cat (Dirt Mile) – In a change of plans, trainer Bruce Headley sent the Sir Cat 6yo 4f in a sharp 45 4/5 at Santa Anita with exercise rider Jack Stack up.
Headley’s original plan was to work the same distance on Wednesday as final serious work for Saturday’s Dirt Mile. “It was just a gut feeling,” said the “old school” conditioner.
As is his wont, the trainer sent his worker out before dawn.
Pyro (Dirt Mile) – Trainer Steve Asmussen said that after “further deliberation,” it has been decided to run Ron Winchell’s Pyro in the Dirt Mile rather than the Classic. It was reported on Monday that he would run in the Classic, giving Asmussen three starters in the race.
“I am still concerned with how fast the racetrack has been playing,” said Asmussen Tuesday morning. “Will he have time to catch anybody going a mile? That’s the concern. But things change day to day and we’ll see how the track itself comes up in front of him.”
Magnificience (Filly & Mare Sprint) – The 4yo daughter of Stormy Atlantic blew out 3f Tuesday before dawn as she completed her serious work heading into Friday’s $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at 7f on the main track.
Exercise rider Mel Batnykolov handled he reins in the 35 1/5 work.
“She went real good. She’s ready,” said trainer Bruce Headly.
Salute the Count (Turf Sprint) – Salute the Count, hampered by a brief hind leg filling Monday, left Aqueduct Tuesday morning on a van with stablemate, 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Kip Deville. Salute the Count is running in Saturday’s inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. On Monday, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. flirted with the idea of withdrawing the 8yo.
“We’re going in,” Dutrow said. “The filling is gone. We walked him for an hour yesterday morning, hosed him down and then walked him for another hour and hosed him down again in the afternoon. Everything looked perfect this morning and we put him on the van.”
Salute the Count was to have worked Monday morning at Aqueduct, but Dutrow scrapped those plans because of the filling. Now, Dutrow says Salute the Count will breeze “a basic three-eighths” Thursday at Santa Anita.
Idiot Proof (Turf Sprint) – Trainer Clifford Sise Jr. was a bit anxious as the speedy 4yo son of Benchmark started his 4f work on Santa Anita’s Hillside Turf Course, but wound saying, “Perfect” as the colt rolled by toward the finish line in his final preparation for Saturday’s Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
“He really wanted to go today,” he said. “The last time he worked on the turf, he was looking all around and not doing much. But today he wanted to run and he looked good doing it.” It was the first time Idiot Proof had been on the Hillside course.
The colt was clocked in 49 seconds flat. Sise was looking for an easy work and he was happy with the outcome.
“He came over the dirt perfect,” the trainer said of the portion of the course that sometimes causes problems for horses crossing it for the first time.
Mine That Bird (Juvenile) – Trainer Richard Mandella has decided to enter the 4-for-5 son of Birdstone in the Juvenile as he indicated Monday.
The colt, on a four-race win streak at Woodbine Racecourse prior to coming to the Mandella barn, had been cross-entered in the Juvenile Turf.
Mine That Bird walked Tuesday morning.
City Style (Juvenile Turf) – Stonerside Stable’s 2yo gelding City Style breezed 4f in 49 2/5 at Retama Park in northeast San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday morning for trainer Cheryl Asmussen. The gelding is due to be picked up in Oklahoma on Wednesday for a flight into Southern California.
Coronet of A Baron (Juvenile Turf) – Trainer Eoin Harty, who cross-entered the 2yo colt owned by Darley Stable in the Juvenile and the Juvenile Turf, has opted to run him on the grass even though Coronet of A Baron has yet to run on anything but synthetic surfaces in three lifetime starts.
On Monday, Coronet of a Baron worked 5f in 1:02 4/5 on the Santa Anita turf course under exercise rider C. T. Lang.
Harty said he made his decision after the colt worked well and on the strength of the competition entered for each of the races.
Jockey Alan Garcia gets the call on Coronet of a Baron.
Skipadate (Juvenile Turf) – The 2yo son of Skip Away will wear blinkers for the first time when he makes his fourth career start in Saturday Juvenile Turf.
Skipadate, who missed winning the Summer Stakes at Woodbine by a head last out, galloped 1 ½ m on Tuesday morning and then schooled at the gate, where he was granted approval to add the equipment for the race.
“We thought all along that he needed blinkers and now he’ll run in them,” said Norman Casse, the assistant trainer to his father Mark Casse. “If you look at his last two races, he missed by this much (about two inches). You’ve always got to keep him honest. He can get a little lazy, so we think this will help him.”
Skipadate also lost the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga by just a head in August after winning a maiden special weight race there on his first time out.
Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the irons on race day.
Doremifasollatido (Juvenile Fillies) – New York-bred Doremifasollatido schooled in the starting gate and galloped over Santa Anita’s main track today.
“Her gallop was in two parts because she galloped to the gate and galloped after she schooled,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, a two-time winner in the Breeders’ Cup. “She was very well behaved. She seems to like the track.”
Doremifasollatido, winner of last month’s Matron at Belmont Park, has yet to race beyond 7f and around two turns. She has, however, competed like a seasoned pro, running inside of horses, outside of horses, on the lead and from off the pace. Overall she is 2-2-0 from four starts.
“She’s gritty that’s for sure,” Jerkens said. “You don’t get too many young horses like her that run from anywhere, even when things are really crowded.”
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Bear Now (Tr: Reade Baker; ex. rider: Cassie Garcea ) Cassie Garcea, the exercise rider for trainer Reade Baker, said that Bear Now has been training well and is at her best coming up to the $2 million Breeders Cup Ladies Classic.
We couldnt ask her to be any better, said Garcea, who is the daughter of Woodbine-based trainer Eric Garcea and has been galloping two years for Baker, also based at the Ontario track.
The fact that Woodbine has a Polytrack surface should work to the 4yo fillys advantage at Santa Anita.
She can run on anything, said Garcea, who jogged her on Monday morning after her 5f work in 1:03 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Bear Now is proven on a variety of surfaces and has won eight of 12 races, including her last in the Kentucky Cup Distaff at Turfway Park on Sept. 27. She has earned $602, 822 on synthetic racing surfaces.
Eurico Da Silva will ride Bear Now on Friday.
Carriage Trail (Tr: Shug McGaughey) The Shug McGaughey-trained mare Carriage Trail walked the shedrow Monday morning after arriving at Santa Anita from her New York base on Sunday.
Carriage Trail has blossomed this season, capturing the Spinster Stakes over Keenelands Polytrack surface by nearly eight lengths under Kent Desormeaux in her most recent start.
Desormeaux, who has been victorious in two starts aboard Carriage Trail, will get the return mount for Fridays Ladies Classic.
Shes a synthetic/turf specialist, you might say, McGaugheys longtime assistant Buzz Tenney said at Santa Anita Monday morning.
The daughter of Giants Causeway, who has won a minor stakes and is graded-stakes placed on turf, has won three of four starts on Keenelands Polytrack surface, including her career-best performance in the Spinster.
They say (Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic surface) and Polytrack are different types of synthetics. I hope she gets over this track like she does at Keeneland, because her last race was a phenomenal race.
Cocoa Beach/ Music Note (Tr: Saeed bin Suroor) Godolphins 3yo Music Note and 4yo Cocoa Beach had their final workouts on Saturday at Santa Anita, and both will gallop into the Ladies Classic, according to Rick Mettee, U.S. assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Music Notes (workout) was steady as always, Mettee said. It seems that shes the same whether shes on dirt at Belmont, Polytrack, or here. Shes had a good time of it since the Gazelle. We gave her a little freshening after that, shipped here, and Saeed wanted to breeze once over the track.
Cocoa Beach is a much quicker work filly and sure enough it translated here. I dont think it was as fast as they got her (57 4/5). I got her in about 46 2/5, out in about 59.
Javier Castellano will ride Music Note. Ramon Dominguez is named on Cocoa Beach.
Ginger Punch (Tr: Robert Frankel) The defending champ is doing great, according to trainer, Robert Frankel. The 5yo Frank Stronach homebred worked Saturday at Santa Anita in 1:00 3/5 and has limited her activities to walking since.
The Hall of Fame conditioner knows he is in tough in this years edition, primarily because of the presence of the undefeated Zenyatta, who is expected to be favored in the 9f race.
Johns horse (trainer John Shirreffs trains Zenyatta) is obviously the one to beat, Frankel said. Shell be the shortest price of the day. But youve got to give her a try. My horse is doing great and shell run well.
I start seven horses over the two days and I like my fillies best (Frankel also runs Precious Kitten against colts in the Mile and Ventura in the Filly Mare Sprint). To be honest, these races are so tough Id be happy if I can win one of them.
Rafael Bejarano, who has ridden Ginger Punch in 16 of her 21 starts including her tally in the Distaff at Monmouth Park last October, will once again have the call on Friday.
Hystericalady (Tr: Jerry Hollendorfer) Hystericalady, stabled in trainer Jerry Hollendorfers barn at Golden Gate, was due to arrive at Santa Anita on Monday afternoon.
She wont do too much here before the race except walk, jog, and go to the paddock and to the gate, assistant trainer Denny Ward said. The competition in the race is really tough, but were expecting her to run a good race. She never runs poorly.
Garrett Gomez will ride.
Santa Teresita (Tr: Eric Guillot) Fresh off her third-place run in the Ladys Secret, the 4yo daughter of Lemon Drop Kid is set to take another crack at top Ladies Classic contenders Zenyatta and Hystericalady on Friday.
Shes a freak, Santa Teresitas trainer Eric Guillot said of the undefeated Zenyatta. Im surprised theyre not going to take on Curlin. I think she can beat them (the boys). That (run in the Classic) is what I would do.
Purchased privately in June by Southern Equine Stable LLC following her second-place run behind Zenyatta in the Milady, Santa Teresita threw a bad race in her first run for the new connections, finishing a distant seventh behind Hystericalady in the Delaware Handicap.
I had only seen her for four days, Guillot explained. It was against our better judgment (to run there), but it was a million-dollar race. She got a horrible trip and ran badly. It knocked her out for a month. I took my time to get to know her and got her back right. Now shes perfect.
Michael Baze is slated to ride on Friday.
Zenyatta (Tr: John Shirreffs; ex. rider: Steve Willard) Trainer John Shirreffs was shooting photos of the unbeaten 4yo filly Zenyatta for an album outside the stable before an exercise routine Monday at Hollywood Park when he noticed her purple Breeders Cup saddle cloth was placed inside out.
That minor mistake was quickly rectified, and the filly went to the training track with groom Mario Espinoza and regular exercise rider Steve Willard at 9:45.
She jogged one and galloped three, said Shirreffs, pleased with the fillys four laps around the half-mile dirt oval.
I train most of my horses 60-40: 60 percent on the training track and 40 percent on the main track (Cushion Track), Shirreffs said. I love dirt.
Willard was impressed with the filly, seeking a ninth straight victory.
Shes really coming into this race the way you want one to come into a race, Willard said.
Regular rider Mike Smith, a three-time winner of the Distaff, will retain the mount.
Shirreffs plans to ship Zenyatta and stablemate Tiago (Classic), both owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, to Santa Anita Wednesday.
Better Talk Now (Tr: Graham Motion; ex. rider: Fenella OFlynn) The Graham Motion-trained 9yo gelding Better Talk Now worked 6f Monday morning over the Tapeta racing surface at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
Timed in 1:14 3/5 under exercise rider Fenella OFlynn in preparation for Saturdays Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Turf, Better Talk Now is scheduled to be shipped to Southern California on Tuesday.
He worked in company with Jades Revenge, said Motion, whose workers had identical clockings. I was really pleased with the work for both horses.
Better Talk Now, who captured the Turf at Lone Star Park in 2004, will be making his fifth straight appearance in the 1 1/2m event. The Bushwood Stables star finished fourth last year at Monmouth, a close second behind Red Rocks at Churchill Downs in 2006 and seventh at Belmont in 2005.
Were really not just going there so that he can run in his fifth Breeders Cup Turf, Motion said. We feel that he belongs in the race and feel that he has a good chance to win.
Ramon Dominguez will make his fifth straight Turf appearance aboard Better Talk Now.
Conduit (Tr: Sir Michael Stoute) The St. Leger winner arrived at Santa Anita early Monday morning (12:15 a.m.) after a flight from England, and spent today in quarantine.
Michael Stoute trains the 3yo by Dalakhani, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, the jockey who guided the colt to victories at Goodwood and Epsom this year.
Dancing Forever (Tr: Shug McGaughey) Dancing Forever walked the shedrow at Santa Anita Monday morning after working 1:00 1/5 over the turf course Sunday.
The Shug McGaughey-trained 5yo has come into his own this year, including a victory in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
A year ago at Saratoga he was running in a two-other-than (allowance condition). I guess the light came on, said Buzz Tenney, McGaugheys longtime assistant.
He had a good year this year, as long as the grass is firm and fast. When you get a softness or a cut in the ground, he doesnt really care for it. His last two starts were both on soft ground, so I think thats the reason for the lackluster races.
Tenney was encouraged by Dancing Forevers workout over Santa Anitas firm course.
Judging from what I saw (Sunday) in the work, he absolutely loved it out there, Tenney said. He couldnt have worked better. The dogs were way out and he went a minute and a fifth.
Rene Douglas has the return mount aboard Dancing Forever.
Eagle Mountain (Tr: Mike de Kock) Eagle Mountain, a 4yo son of Rock of Gibraltar arrived early Monday from England and was in quarantine today.
Eagle Mountain won the Joel Stakes at Newmarket in his first start for trainer Mike de Kock. The colt was trained previously by Aidan OBrien. Kevin Shea, who was aboard in the Newmarket win, retains the mount.
Grand Couturier (Tr: Robert Ribaudo) A routine 1 ½ m gallop on Belmont Parks fast main track under exercise rider Enrique Garcia was the order of business on Monday morning for Marc Kellers 5yo Grand Lodge horse.
Trainer Bobby Ribaudo said that Grand Couturier will leave Belmont Park at approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday and will catch a 7 a.m. Tex Sutton flight from Republic Airport [East Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y.] That flight will take a number of horses from New York to Santa Anita, with a stop at Kentucky to pick up others competing in the Breeders Cup races on Friday and Saturday.
We got permission from the racing office here to breeze him on the turf last Wednesday, and that is all were going to do with him as far as works go, said Ribaudo of Grand Couturiers half-mile of 51, breezing on the firm course.
Grand Couturier beat only two horses in the 2007 Turf at Monmouth Park, but comes into Saturdays race on a two-race winning streak, including a 10 ½-length victory in Belmont Parks Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 27.
During the last 20 years, the term `bounce came into our language and it is the talk and the fear of owners, trainers and handicappers, Ribaudo said. So, everyone is worried about their horse bouncing after a big effort. Its like a pitcher throws a no-hitter, and you say, `He cant do that again next time.
It is certainly tough to keep a horse at peak level, and I wish he had saved that effort in the Turf Classic for Saturday. But I have been around this horse every day for two years. He came out of the Turf Classic, and it didnt take him an extra day or two to come back. He was back on his game and back on his feed right away. I know he is dead-fit and, visually, he looks terrific.
Jockey Alan Garcia has the mount on Grand Couturier for the Turf.
This horse has shown he can handle almost anything, Ribaudo said. Last year, that course at Monmouth was just a bog after all the rain. But he won the Sword Dancer in 2007 at Saratoga on a rock-hard course, won the Sword Dancer again this year on a good course, and won the Turf Classic on a yielding course. I dont think this race will be determined by the course, but rather by the pace and the trip.
Out of Control (Tr: Robert Frankel; ex. rider: Goncalino Almeida) The Brazilian horse, bred and owned by Stud TNT, walked the shedrow Monday morning at Santa Anita after turning in a 5f work Sunday in 1:01 at Santa Anita. The move, accomplished under jockey Goncalino Almeida, was the 5yos final prep for the Breeders Cup Turf.
I experimented with him on the main track, but hes a turf horse, trainer Robert Frankel noted Monday. Hes doing good right now and hes coming up to this race the right way. His last race was good (second to Red Giant in the Clement L. Hirsch Sept. 27 at Santa Anita in world-record time of 1:57 for the mile and a quarter on grass). Im expecting him to run well Saturday.
Garrett Gomez will be aboard Out of Control in the Turf, the fifth time he has ridden the son of the Machiavellian sire Vettori.
Red Giant (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Declared from Turf on Sunday.
Red Rock Canyon (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) The 4yo Red Rock Canyon who set much of the pace in the Arc de Triomphe only to finish last of 16, was scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon with the Aidan OBrien-trained Coolmore horses.
Red Rock Canyon, still a maiden after 17 starts, will be ridden again by Colm ODonoghue.
Red Rocks (Tr: Mark Hennig) J.P. Reddams Red Rocks, the 2006 Turf winner at Churchill Downs, walked the shedrow Monday morning at trainer Mark Hennigs barn at Belmont Park. He will leave for Santa Anita on Tuesday morning.
The 5yo Irish-bred son of Galileo, who was third in the Turf at Monmouth Park last year, breezed seven furlongs on Belmont Parks turf course on Sunday in 1:27 2/5 and Hennig says he wont be doing much more going into Saturdays race.
Red Rocks has not raced since his two-length victory over defending Horse of the Year Curlin in the Man oWar at Belmont Park on July 12. From there, he was pointed to the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Race Course, but developed an infection in his hock. The decision was made to train him into the Breeders Cup.
You never can be really sure how something like that happens, said Hennig, who took over Red Rocks training from Brian Meehan. We think it might have been while training up to the Sword Dancer on the really soft turf up in Saratoga. We really didnt have much choice. The hock is a bad place for an infection because you dont get quite the circulation to the hind extremities that you get in the front.
We really didnt get him back into training until the middle of September. We started with long, slow gallops and then we worked him a half-mile, five furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile. Sunday, he worked seven furlongs, but he had a strong gallop going into that work and we galloped him out strong, too. He seems fit and hes doing really well, and I think weve done a good job getting him to this race considering that the timing was just awful.
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who has ridden Red Rocks in his last two (Breeders Cup) Turf races, has the mount once again.
Soldier of Fortune (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) Trainer Aidan OBriens main hope in the Turf, Soldier of Fortune was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon with the Coolmore flight from Ireland.
The 4yo colt by Galileo finished third in the Arc de Triomphe last out, 2 ½ lengths behind Zarkava. Johnny Murtagh, who rode Soldier of Fortune to victory in the Coronation Cup earlier this year, has the mount.
Spring House (Tr: Julio Canani) Though trainer Julio Canani said this morning that a decision on whether the 6yo son of Chester House will run in the Turf or the Marathon will be made later today, his plans call for a 4f work Tuesday on the Santa Anita turf.
Jockey John Velazquez has the call on the gelding. Canani was searching today for a rider for the workout.
Winchester (Tr: Dermot Weld) The 3yo son of Theatrical, winner of the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in his last start, arrived early Monday after a flight from England and spent the day in quarantine.
Trainer Dermot Weld has given the ride in the Turf to Pat Smullen, who was aboard in the colts maiden score this spring.
Communique (Tr: George Arnold II) G.W. Watts Humphrey Jr.s 4yo homebred filly Communique was declared Monday morning from Fridays running of the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf after developing an abscess in her right front foot.
She worked good Saturday morning, said trainer G.R. (Rusty) Arnold from Keeneland, but she had a pulse in the foot this morning. We had the blacksmith pull the shoe and revealed the abscess. Its not serious, but the timing is obviously bad. The plan is to race her next year.
A daughter of Smart Strike, Communique won the Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland and Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park this year before finishing a strong second in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington. Last out, she finished third in the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.
Dynaforce (Tr: Bill Mott) Dr. John A. Chandlers Dynaforce breezed 4f in 49 2/5 on the fast main track at Belmont Park on Sunday. Formerly trained in France by Andre Fabre, the 5yo Dynaformer mare has made four starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in America, and became a Grade 1 winner on Sept. 27 when she won the Flower Bowl at Belmont Park by four lengths.
Shes doing really well, and she will ship out on Tuesday morning, Mott said. That plane will take a bunch of horses from New York, pick up some in Kentucky, and then head to California.
Alan Garcia has the mount on Dynaforce, who will gallop into Fridays race.
Folk Opera (Tr: Saeed bin Suroor) Folk Opera, winner of the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine last out, was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon on a flight bringing the Godolphin horses to the Breeders Cup.
Saeed bin Suroor trains the 4yo daughter of Singspiel, who will again be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Forever Together (Tr: Jonathan Sheppard ex. rider: Barry Wiseman) Trainer Jonathan Sheppard sent Forever Together to the main track at Keeneland Monday morning for a 1 1/2m gallop under Barry Wiseman in preparation for a start in the Filly & Mare Turf.
The 4yo daughter of Belong to Me is scheduled to breeze 3f on Tuesday morning before shipping to Santa Anita.
Forever Together began her career with three straight main-track triumphs, but attempts to stretch her out were unsuccessful.
She had a couple of bad races and got sour on us, Sheppard said. She started not wanting to train. After we took her to Keeneland in the spring, she really blossomed. She liked training on Polytrack. I figured if she didnt like dirt that Id try her on turf.
Forever Togethers attitude changed and so did her level of performance, starting with a stakes triumph at Arlington Park in her first turf start in May. She subsequently became a strong candidate for the Filly & Mare Turf with victories in the Diana at Saratoga and the recent First Lady at Keeneland.
Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for those two major stakes scores, has the return mount.
Goldikova (Tr: Freddy Head) see Mile
Halfway To Heaven (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) Halfway to Heaven, winner of three Group I stakes this year was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Monday afternoon with the Aidan OBrien-trained contingent.
Johnny Murtagh rides the 3yo daughter of Pivotal who has taken the Sun Chariot Stakes, Nassau Stakes, and Irish 1000 Guineas this season.
Mauralakana (Tr: Christophe Clement; ex. rider: Tobias Coles) Mauralakana, victorious in five of seven starts and the earner of more than $1 million since being transferred to trainer Christophe Clement this year, arrived from New York on Sunday and jogged Monday morning under exercise rider Tobias Coles.
She is coming to the race in terrific shape, according to assistant trainer Nicholas Balachard, who has worked for Clement for 15 years.
The Beverly D. was a powerful race for her, said Balachard. There should be more pace in this race and thats good. Shed rather it be firm going, but shes proved she can run on anything.
Precious Kitten (Tr: Robert Frankel) see Mile
Pure Clan (Tr: Bob Holthus) The 3yo filly arrived Sunday from Kentucky and walked the shedrow of Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnallys barn on Monday. She will have her first trip over the Santa Anita track on Tuesday.
Pure Clan, who has never been worse than third in 10 career starts, has spent the majority of her career in the Midwest, but made one prior trip to California in July when she won the American Oaks. Her connections are hoping for the same kind of luck in the Filly & Mare Turf.
She shipped in real good, said trainer Bob Holthus. If we can get a repeat of her last California race, well be good.
Sealy Hill (Tr: Mark Casse) Sealy Hill, Canadas 2007 Horse of the Year, galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Julia Brimo and visited the paddock on Monday.
I know this sounds like a cliché, but shes in great shape and doing better than shes ever done, assistant trainer Norman Casse said.
After Sealy Hills successful campaign in 2007, she has only won once in six starts this year, winning an allowance race at Woodbine in July.
She was kind of a disappointment earlier this year, but shes got things figured out now, Casse explained. Her last race, the E.P. Taylor, was a good race. She got in a lot of trouble and then came on strong to get third. Ive been around her for her whole career and shes training better than she ever has.
Sealy Hill breezed 5f in 59 3/5 and galloped out in 1:12 at Santa Anita on Saturday.
It was a very impressive work, Casse said. A lot of people were asking Whos that bay filly?.
Patrick Husbands, who has ridden Sealy Hill in every one of her 17 lifetime starts, gets the call.
Vacare (Tr: Christophe Clement; ex. rider: Paul Turner) Vacare, one of two Christophe Clement trainees entered in the Filly & Mare Turf, galloped on Monday with exercise rider Paul Turner in the irons.
She has a great turn of foot, assistant trainer Nicholas Balachard said. She ran very well last time out in the Yellow Ribbon here at Santa Anita, and was closing fast to get second to Wait a While.
Some have questioned whether the 1 1/4 m distance will be too much for Vacare, but Balachard is not among them.
The mile-and-a-quarter wont bother her, Balachard said. There will be 12 of them in it, and everyone deserves a chance.
Jose Valdivia Jr. will be aboard Vacare in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Visit (Tr: Sir Michael Stoute) Visit arrived early Monday morning after a flight from England and spent Monday in quarantine.
Michael Stoute trains the 3yo daughter of Oasis Dream, who won the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood in England this year. Ryan Moore has the mount.
After her Breeders Cup race, Visit will remain in the U.S. to race with Robert Frankel as her trainer.
Wait a While (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Wait a While had her final work on Saturday, which was a very good move according to trainer Todd Pletcher, and will jog and gallop into the race.
Her last two races are as good as shes ever been, and she obviously loves this turf course, Pletcher said of the 5yo mare who has twice won the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita, where she is undefeated in three starts.
John Velazquez has the mount.
Awesome Gem (Tr: Craig Dollase) see Classic
Bold Chieftain (Tr: Bill Morey Jr.) Trainer Bill Morey Jr. reported from his Bay Area headquarters that all was looking good for Bold Chieftain, but that hed know for sure if they were headed south after he worked his 5yo 4f Tuesday morning at Golden Gate Fields.
Thatll tell the story, Morey said Monday morning. Russell Baze will be up and well see how he goes. If everything goes well and he comes out of it OK, weve got a 4 a.m. ship on Wednesday.
Bold Chieftain, a California-bred son of the Seattle Slew stallion Chief Seattle, has won 11 of 22 starts with four seconds and two thirds racing exclusively in his home state, primarily at its northern tracks. He has yet to win a graded stakes and the Breeders Cup Mile is certainly the biggest challenge of his career.
Oh, this is a big step up, Morey said. We understand that. But the owners want to give it a try and Im not in the business of spoiling their dreams. This horse brings his game every time. Youve got to like him for that. And if he runs to the race he put in at Del Mar (Del Mar Mile Aug. 24 in which he was second by three-quarters of a length to Whatsthescript), youll hear from him. Im not saying were going to win it, but well be heard from.
Russell Baze has ridden Bold Chieftain in 16 of his 22 outings. Hell be back on board if the horse runs Saturday.
Daytona (Tr: Dan Hendricks) The locally based 4yo galloped one mile over Santa Anitas main track on Monday and will have his final workout on Tuesday for the Mile.
Hes doing real good, said trainer Dan Hendricks. Hes fresh and ready to go. Hes had seven weeks and that seems to be the right spacing for him.
Jockey Francisco Alvarado will ride Daytona for the first time on Saturday.
Goldikova (Tr: Freddie Head) Trainer Freddie Heads standout filly arrived at Santa Anita Park Sunday afternoon after a flight from France. Regular jockey Olivier Peslier will ride the 3yo daughter of Anabaa in Mile as she faces males for the second time.
Goldikova enters the race with a three-race winning streak, and in her most recent start, won the Prix de Moulin at Longchamp on Sept. 7, defeating, among others, Darjina and Henrythenavigator.
Kip Deville (Tr: Rick Dutrow Jr.) Defending Mile champ Kip Deville breezed 5f over Aqueducts firm turf course Monday morning. The move, a solo work for Kip Deville, was timed in 1:05 2/5.
It was a basic five, gallop out six (furlongs) move, said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. He went good.
Kip Deville, a 5yo Oklahoma-bred, will be attempting to join Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992-1993) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998) as a two-time Breeders Cup Mile champion.
Kip Deville, to be ridden by jockey Cornelio Velasquez, is scheduled to fly to California from New York Tuesday morning.
Hes leaving Aqueduct at 5:45 (a.m.), Dutrow said. Hes ready to go.
Lord Admiral (Tr: Charles O'Brien) The 7yo son of El Prado was shipped from Keeneland last week to trainer Paddy Gallaghers barn at Santa Anita. Gallagher said Monday that he will work the horse for trainer Charles OBrien Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
Lord Admiral, who will be making his 47th career start this week, was also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile. Gallagher said that he expects OBrien to select a rider after he decides in which race the Lord Admiral will run.
Precious Kitten (Tr: Robert Frankel) Shes my sleeper, trainer Robert Frankel said Monday morning. I run seven (in Breeders Cup races) and I like my three fillies (Precious Kitten, Ventura, Ginger Punch) the most. And Precious Kitten could be the one.
She got sent to the lead last time (First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 3) and he (rider Rafael Bejarano) should have taken a hold. Weve got to keep her off the lead; she runs her best races from off it. Shes been getting great numbers. And shes fast; very fast. She can run with those colts, no problem. Like I said, shes my sleeper.
Precious Kitten, a 5yo mare by Catienus, has been first or second in 17 of her 23 starts and has earned more than $1.7 million. Bejarano, who has won six graded stakes on her, will be aboard again on Saturday.
Raven's Pass (Tr: John Gosden; ex. rider: ) see Classic
Shakis (Tr: Kiaran McLaughlin) The 8yo son of Machiavellian walked the shedrow at Keeneland Monday morning and will be on a flight to California Tuesday. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who has only one runner in the Cup, will not arrive at Santa Anita from New York until Friday.
He worked 47 4/5 (4f) a couple days ago in Lexington and hes doing very well, said McLaughlin, who will have the services of Alan Garcia for the Mile. He just walked the shedrow today. Well train out there Thursday and Friday.
This will be the 35th career start for Shakis, his most recent start a fast-closing second in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland behind front-running Thorn Song. Shakis has logged seven victories and finished in the money 17 times for Shadwell Stable.
Thorn Song (Tr: Dale Romans) Shadwell Mile winner by Thorn Song arrived on Sunday from his Kentucky base and was bedded down in Barn 38. He walked the shedrow and will gallop up to the race the rest of the week.
Trainer Dale Romans, who arrived from California on Monday morning, said he would not work the 5yo Unbridleds Song horse prior to the Mile.
Jockey Robby Albarado, aboard for the Shadwell win, has the mount.
U S Ranger (Tr: Aidan O'Brien) The 4yo son of Danzig was on the Coolmore flight from England and Ireland was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Monday afternoon.
Jockey John Murtagh is the regular rider of the Kentucky-bred co-owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and breeder Joseph Allen and will ride the colt in the Mile.
Ventura (Tr: Robert Frankel) see Filly & Mare Sprint
War Monger (Tr: Bill Mott) Hoping to end a five-race losing streak on Saturday, Peter Vegsos 4yo War Chant colt walked the shedrow at Keeneland on Monday morning. He worked 5f in 1:01 4/5, breezing on Sunday.
War Monger went solo, but he worked well and he came back fine, said trainer Bill Mott. He looks like hes doing pretty good.
Mott said that Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux will again ride War Monger, who will ship Tuesday to Santa Anita.
Whatsthescript (tr: John Sadler; ex. rider: David Pineda) Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Whatsthescript jogged 1m on the main track at Santa Anita under exercise rider David Pineda on Monday morning.
Winner of the Del Mar Mile in his most recent start on Aug. 24, Whatsthescript has been housed at trainer John Sadlers Santa Anita barn since the end of the Del Mar meet in early September.
Garrett Gomez, who rode Whatsthescript for the first time in the Del Mar victory, has the riding assignment on Saturday.
Oct. 20, SPRINT
Black Seventeen (Tr: Brian Koriner; ex. rider: Colleen Hartford) Black Seventeen worked 4f Monday morning at about 8:45 in a drill that will be his final major exercise for Saturdays Sentient Flight Group Breeders Cup Sprint.
With trainer Brian Koriner watching from aboard his pony, and assistant trainer Colleen Hartford aboard, the 4yo son of the 1988 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Is It True went in 47 4/5 and drew praise for it afterward.
Thats a nice work for him, the former quarter-horse trainer Koriner said back at Barn 17. Hes a big, heavy horse who is a bit lazy in the mornings and youve got to get him to work hard to get things done. Colleen has been telling me he really likes this track. Hes done well on it and were hoping for the best Saturday.
"That race (Sprint) is such a tough event. There are so many good horses in there; so many fast horses. I know my horse is fast, but I know hes in tough. But hes doing good and well be in there trying. He might be good enough.
Black Seventeen, who was the longshot winner of the Vosburgh in New York on Sept. 27 on a sloppy track, will be kept with his regular rider, Clinton Potts, for the six-furlong Sprint.
Cost of Freedom (Tr: John Sadler; ex. rider: Dana Barnes) Gary and Cecil Barbers Cost of Freedom jogged 1m on the main track Monday at Santa Anita with exercise rider Dana Barnes up for trainer John Sadler.
Tyler Baze, who has ridden the 5yo gelding to three consecutive victories, will have the mount in Saturdays Sprint. Baze has not won a Breeders Cup race.
Cost of Freedom, who has been stabled at Santa Anita since the end of the Del Mar meeting in early September, had his final work for the Sprint last Saturday, a 5f move in 59 2/5.
Fabulous Strike (Tr: Todd Beattie) Following a romping win in last years Vosburgh, Fabulous Strike appeared prime for a big run in the Breeders Cup Sprint, but just a week before the race he came down with a severe lung infection.
It popped up clear out of the blue, said trainer Todd Beattie, who lost out on a chance at running his first Breeders Cup horse. We were stuck in traffic for six to seven hours on the way back from Belmont (after the Vosburgh) and the extra stress may have contributed to it. It was a huge disappointment.
With an eye on this years Sprint, the 5yo gelded son of Smart Strike returned to battle in an ungraded stake at Delaware Park on June 21, defeating just two overmatched rivals as the 1-9 favorite.
We wanted to run him against softer competition in that first race, Beattie said. Our plan was to run back in the Vanderbilt, but he ripped off a piece of his foot in the frog area and he missed 60 days.
Fabulous Strike returned in the Vosburgh, and after battling a fast pace over a sloppy track, he settled for second behind the longshot Black Seventeen.
We were very pleased with the effort, Beattie said. He was a half a head away from winning. He fended off quite a few challenges in the race, tried hard, and actually galloped out in front.
Regular rider Ramon Dominguez is named for Saturdays Sprint.
Fatal Bullet (Tr: Reade Baker) Fatal Bullet walked on Monday after working 5f in 1:01 2/5 at Santa Anita on Sunday under jockey Erico Da Silva, who will ride him in the Sprint.
Hes settled in and is doing really good here, said Casse Garcea, assistant to Reade Baker. At home he can be a little bit of a hard head, but the change of scene has been good for him. We shipped in early (from Canada) to get him and (stablemate) Bear Now (Ladies Classic) acclimated and they have.
First Defence (Tr: Robert Frankel; ex. rider: Goncalino Almeida) Juddmonte Farms homebred 4yo was a walker Monday morning after firing a bullet 5f of 57 4/5 with jockey Goncalino Almeida aboard.
I didnt want him to go that fast, said the colts trainer, Bobby Frankel, standing trackside at Santa Anita Monday morning. I told him to work him in a minute. But what are you going to do? Ill tell you, though, Ive been watching these sprints for a long time and it seems to me the horses that work fast win them. I remember when I ran Squirtle Squirt in New York and won. He worked 45 coming up to that race (45 4/5).
First Defence won the Forego at Saratoga in August, then finished last in the Vosburgh at Belmont in September in the mud.
Ive got to think the sloppy track did him in in that last one, Frankel said. That wont be an issue here.
The colt will be reunited with Javier Castellano for the Sprint. The New York-based rider has handled him in 11 of his 13 starts.
In Summation (Tr: Christophe Clement) After having to miss competing in the Sprint at Monmouth Park last year, In Summation is healthy and primed for this years edition.
Hes been here since July and hes doing very well, said Nicholas Balachard, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement. He excels on synthetic tracks.
Clement decided not to run In Summation, who had a history of trouble with his feet, after his final workout for the 2007 Breeders Cup, which was run over a dirt track. But there are no problems this year and John Velazquez has accepted the mount.
Indian Blessing (Tr: Bob Baffert) see Filly & Mare Sprint
J Be K (Tr: Steve Asmussen) Trainer Steve Asmussen reported that Zayat Stables 3yo J Be K will not contest the Sprint.
He will not run, Asmussen said. He has not come back to himself since running (fifth) in the Vosburgh (Sept. 27). Its disappointing. We felt very good about him this summer. We were going to work him this morning, but instead were going to give him some time. His last race kind of shook him up a bit.
Lewis Michael (Tr: Wayne Catalano) see Dirt Mile
Midnight Lute (Tr: Bob Baffert; ex. rider: Janell Gruss) Defending Breeders Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute worked 4f in 47 under exercise rider Janell Gruss on Monday morning at Santa Anita.
He went very smooth, very nice, trainer Bob Baffert said. I got him galloping out the five-eighths in 59 3/5.
Owned by Mike Pegram and Watson & Weitman Performance LLC, Midnight Lute will be paired with Garrett Gomez in the Sprint. Gomez rode Midnight Lute to a 4 ¾-length victory in the slop in last years Sprint at Monmouth Park.
Midnight Lute has run only once in 2008, a 10th-place finish in the Pat OBrien at Del Mar on Aug. 24. He grabbed a quarter in the race and has been wearing a protective plate since.
The plate will come off before Saturday, said Baffert of Midnight Lute, who has put together a string of bullet works at Santa Anita since returning from Del Mar.
That surface down there was just too hard for him, Baffert said. He was just sour down there and he really picked up once he got on this surface. He has thrived on it.
Sing Baby Sing (Tr: Jack Bruner) Phoenix winner Sing Baby Sing galloped 1m at his Remington Park base on Monday and will ship to California on Wednesday. In his final workout, the Unbridleds Song horse breezed 4f in 48 3/5 on Saturday.
Im very pleased with how hes been doing, said trainer Jack Brunner, who will be saddling his first Breeders Cup starter. He came out of the Phoenix just fine and everythings a go.
Justin Sheppard, who has ridden Sing Baby Sing in every start since June 2006, will have the mount again on Saturday.
Street Boss (Tr: Bruce Headley) The runner-up in Oak Trees Ancient Title galloped 1 ¼ m Monday and will do the same on Tuesday in preparation for a 3f workout Wednesday for trainer Bruce Headley as the 4yo Street Cry colt heads toward the Sprint.
Headley said he is quite happy with the colts preparation, mentioning that his runner seemed to be just one jump way from winning the 6f Ancient Title.
Tropic Storm (Tr: Craig Dollase) Out.
Azul Leon (Tr: Doug O'Neill) The son of Lion Heart jogged 1 1/2m Monday at Santa Anita under Beto Gomez for the Bessemer Trust Breeders Cup Juvenile Saturday.
Hes a real mature classy colt, and you can see why he won his first three races, said trainer Doug ONeill. Hes training well, and distance should be no problem. His dam, Quick Blue, won around two turns on both dirt and turf.
Azul Leon finished sixth in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita Sept. 28 after winning the Hollywood Juvenile Championship and Best Pal Stakes in his previous two starts.
He was pretty far behind a slow pace in the Norfolk, explained ONeill. He worked (6f) in 1:14 and change Saturday and galloped out good.
Joel Rosario will ride the Joseph Lacombe Stable homebred for the first time.
Believe in Hope (Tr: Ron Ellis) Trainer Ron Ellis unhappily announced that his chestnut charger Believe in Hope was out of the Breeders Cup Juvenile.
He spiked a fever of 104 yesterday, the trainer reported. The blood came back and thats not quite right, either. Weve started to treat him with penicillin and hes out of the race. Itll be six weeks or so before I can think about having him right.
I think this is something thats been coming on. Its hard when things like this happen, but that last work of his (1:15 3/5 for 6f Oct. 14 at Santa Anita) was one I wasnt too happy with and I think he was starting to tell us something.
It wouldnt have worked out if wed run him. So youve just got to step back and hope for the best in the future. Things like this are hard, but youve got to take care of your horses.
Believe in Hope, a Thunder Gulch colt who was a fast-closing third in the recent Norfolk at Santa Anita, is owned and was bred by the Jay Em Ess Stable of Mace and Samantha Siegel.
Bushranger (Tr: David Wachman) The Irish-bred colt, who will be making his synthetic track debut on Saturday, arrived early Monday morning on a flight from England and spent the day in quarantine.
David Wachman trains the son of Danetime, who has won the Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny in his last two starts. Johnny Murtagh who was aboard in both those wins, has the mount again.
Coronet of a Baron (Tr: Eoin Harty; ex. rider: C. T. Lang) Coronet of a Baron, who has also been pre-entered in the Juvenile Turf, worked over Santa Anitas turf course on Monday in 1:02 4/5 under exercise rider C. T. Lang, but trainer Eoin Harty had still not made his decision on which way to go by midday.
That will come later, Harty said. I have to confer with the powers that be and they are overseas.
The son of Pure Prize, who has never yet raced on the grass in three lifetime starts, is owned by Sheik Mohammeds Darley Stable. No matter in which race the colt competes, he will be ridden by Alan Garcia.
Elusive Bluff (Tr: Eric Guillot) Speaking from Hollywood Park, trainer Eric Guillot indicated that he has elected to run his 2yo son of Elusive Quality in the Breeders Cup Juvenile instead of the Juvenile Turf.
There are a lot of reasons, Guillot said of his decision. It (Juvenile) is more prestigious, its graded, its further and our colt is by a dirt sire (Elusive Quality). Weve got a come from behind horse. The mile is a tougher trip. The distance was the key. If the grass race was nine furlongs, then wed run there.
With Michael Baze aboard, Elusive Bluff breezed 5f Monday morning over the Hollywood Cushion Track in 1:02 1/5. Baze will ride the colt on Saturday.
I asked him (Baze) to go 1:02, so it was perfect, Guillot said. We like the way he goes on it (synthetic track).
Forty Thieves (Tr: Steve Klesaris) Trainer Steve Klesaris indicated on Monday morning that Forty Thieves would more than likely remain at his Maryland base instead of flying into California for a potential run in Saturdays Breeders Cup Juvenile.
Were second on the also eligible list, Klesaris said. If we somehow did draw in, then were forced to leave from a bad outside post. Plus I dont think the synthetic track would favor him.
Gallant Son (Tr: Frank Lucarelli) The son of Malabar Gold, who was cross-entered in two juvenile races, but not in the main body of either, joined the field for the Juvenile with the defection of Believe in Hope.
I just was called and informed there was a scratch in there (Believe in Hope), so well get in for sure, said trainer Frank Lucarelli, who had his colt walk the shedrow Monday after a bullet 6f work of 1:12 Sunday on the Pro-Ride surface. Thats where we were hoping to go.
Gallant Son was first on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile, but would have needed three scratches to make the field for the Juvenile Turf. All five of his career starts have come on dirt at Emerald Downs, the last four victories. Jockey Leslie Mawing will be in for the ride.
Midshipman (Tr: Bob Baffert) Darley Stables Midshipman walked the shedrow at trainer Bob Bafferts barn a day after working 6f in 1:12 1/5 at Santa Anita.
He is fine this morning; came out of the work good, Baffert said. We are all locked and loaded and ready to go.
Garrett Gomez, who has won four Breeders Cup races in his career, will be aboard Midshipman for the first time in the Juvenile.
Midshipman has been stabled at Santa Anita since the close of the Del Mar meet in early September. Midshipman won his first two starts at Del Mar, including the Del Mar Futurity.
Mine That Bird (Tr: Richard Mandella) Though a decision is still to be made on whether the son of Birdstone will run in the Juvenile or the Juvenile Turf, trainer Richard Mandella said this morning, Hes intended for the main track, but Ill study things this afternoon and make my decision.
The 2yo gelding worked 5f in 59 4/5 this morning and got a good grade from the trainer. He went real nice, Mandella said.
Chantal Sutherland has the call on the gelding regardless of the race.
Munnings/Silent Valor (Tr: Todd Pletcher) Todd Pletchers tandem, Munnings and Silent Valor, both completed their preparation with works on Saturday for the Juvenile and will gallop into the race.
Both handled the track very well and Silent Valor has a race over the track and ran respectably in the Norfolk. He got a bit tired at the end but the experience and having a two-turn race under his belt, I hope, will move him forward.
John Velazquez will ride Munnings while Garrett Gomez has the call on Silent Valor.
Pioneerof the Nile (Tr: Bill Mott) Zayat Stables 2yo son of Empire Maker worked in company at Keeneland on Sunday with 4yo filly Indescribable and went 5f in 1:00 2/5, breezing. He walked Monday morning and will be on the connecting flight from New York to Santa Anita on Tuesday.
He galloped out strong, which is what we were looking for, said trainer Bill Mott, who will go with jockey Robby Albarado on Saturday. We wont do too much more with him until the race.
Pioneerof the Nile began his career on turf and ran third in Keenelands Breeders Futurity on Polytrack on Oct. 4.
Square Eddie (Tr: Doug O'Neill; ex. rider: Beto Gomez) The Lanes End Breeders Futurity winner jogged 1 ½ m Monday under exercise rider Beto Gomez.
I got him after the Keeneland race, said ONeill of the English import who made an auspicious United States debut in Kentucky for owner J. Paul Reddam.
Hes an extremely classy individual and a very smart colt, added ONeill. He has shown a liking for synthetic surfaces. Thats what Paul liked after he ran well at Kempton.
He worked (6f) in 1:15 and change cruising Saturday and looked really good, continued ONeill. Like Azul Leon, hes very mature and very confident. I feel like Im blessed. I think both horses have huge chances.
Rafael Bejarano will ride the colt back.
Street Hero (Tr: Myung Kwon Cho) The Norfolk Stakes winner walked Monday following a 5f workout Sunday in 1:02 3/5 over the Santa Anita main track. Assistant trainer Maria Ayala said it was a good work with regular rider Alex Solis aboard.
Mr. Cho [breeder, owner and trainer Myung Kwan Cho] said to go easy, and thats what Alex did, Ayala said.
The son of Street Cry will jog and gallop up to the race, she said.
Terrain (Tr: Al Stall Jr.) The Sky Mesa colt galloped 1m at Keeneland on Monday and will join stablemate My Pal Charlie on a Wednesday flight to California. On Saturday, the colt, most recently second to Square Eddie in Keenelands Breeders Futurity, breezed 4f in 48 2/5.
Hes sitting on go, said trainer Al Stall Jr.
Jockey Jamie Theriot, aboard for all of Terrains four career starts, will be back aboard on Saturday.
West Side Bernie (Tr: Kelly Breen) The Bernstein colt, unbeaten in two lifetime starts, galloped once around the Santa Anita oval Monday morning.
Trainer Kelly Breen said the nearly black colt was coming up to the race in fine fettle.
He couldnt be doing much better, Breen said. He had two really good breezes over the track here, and hell gallop up to the race.
West Side Bernie won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park on Sept. 27 and arrived at Santa Anita two weeks ago. He breezed 5f in 58 4/5 on Oct. 11, and followed that last Saturday with a 4f in 47 3/5.
By Kevin Modesti, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/19/2008 11:46:17 PM PDT
First in a series of helpful hints for betting on the Breeders' Cup Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
Is there money to be made in blindly root-root-rooting for the home team?
The tantalizing answer for Californians is yes. So says 24 years of Breeders' Cup history.
Horses from California generally have exceeded bettors' expectations, while the huge army of horses from the East Coast have underachieved in Breeders' Cup races. This is especially true in the event's marquee race, the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, and more so when the event is held in California, as it will be Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
The numbers:
Horses who ran their most recent races in the New York area (including New Jersey and Pennsylvania) have won 10 of the 24 Classics, and horses who prepped in California have won seven.
But "New York horses" also have accounted for an incredible 16 beaten favorites in the Classic, while "California horses" have accounted for only one.
That suggests that between the West and East Coast factions, the Californians have been more profitable to bet on, and this is true big-time.
If you'd bet $2 to win on every California-prepped horse in the Breeders' Cup Classic over the years, you'd have risked $102 and gotten back $199.10 - a profit of 95 percent.
Doing the same with New York-area-prepped horses, you'd have risked $262 and gotten back $166 - a loss of 63 percent.
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In the five previous Breeders' Cups held at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, the difference is even sharper, California horses more than tripling their backers' money while New York horses created a nearly 90 percent loss.
Ain't hindsight grand?
The western tilt has been similar in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where California products have won seven times (with only two beaten favorites) while New York products have won six (with 11 beaten choices).
In Saturday's Classic, if you can't decide whether to take the short odds on 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin (whose latest race was a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in New York), you might take a longer look at Go Between and Student Council (who last raced at Del Mar); Casino Drive, Mast Track or Tiago (Santa Anita), or Awesome Gem (Golden Gate Fields).
Of course, good trend-spotting is no substitute for good fundamental handicapping.
Still, history says when in doubt, go west, young handicapper.
TURF
On Oct. 22, SPRING HOUSE worked four in :47.80 (11/36) at OSA.
FILLY & MARE TURF
On Oct. 22, FOREVER TOGETHER worked four in :47.00 (1/29) at KEE.
MILE
On Oct. 22, BOLD CHIEFTAIN worked four in :48.40 (2/23) at GG.
On Oct. 22, DAYTONA worked four in :47.80 (11/36) at OSA.
DIRT MILE
On Oct. 22, SURF CAT worked four in :45.80 (1/36) at OSA.
MARATHON
On Oct. 22, CEDAR MOUNTAIN worked four in :49.00 (18/39) at HOL.
On Oct. 22, SPRING HOUSE worked four in :47.80 (11/36) at OSA.
FILLY & MARE SPRINT
On Oct. 22, MAGNIFICIENCE worked three in :35.20 (2/26) at OSA.
On Oct. 22, TIZ ELEMENTAL worked three in :36.80 (13/26) at OSA.
TURF SPRINT
On Oct. 22, IDIOT PROOF breezed four on the downhill turf course in :49.00 (1/1) at OSA.
Exercise rider Iggy Puglisi was in the irons for the work in 47 4/5 at Santa Anita.
Canani made the decision overnight to run in the Turf, rather than in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, to which Spring House was cross-entered.
Forever Together (Filly & Mare Turf) – Forever Together tuned up for a start in the Filly & Mare Turf over the main track at Keeneland Tuesday morning, working 4f in 47. The clocking was the best of 29 workouts recorded at the distance. Danielle Hodsdon was aboard the 4yo daughter of Belong to Me.
“I was really pleased with the work,” said trainer Jonathan Sheppard, whose gray filly captured the First Lady at Keeneland in her most recent start. “She gave us what we were looking for.”
Forever Together, who has won three stakes since being shifted to the turf five starts ago, is scheduled to arrive in California on Wednesday.
Kip Deville (Mile) – Defending Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Kip Deville boarded a van that left Aqueduct Racetrack around 6 a.m. Tuesday. His flight to California departed at approximately 9 a.m.
“No problems whatsoever,” said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who already owns three Breeders’ Cup victories. “The hardest part of my job with Kip at this point is figuring how much money I’m going to bet on him to win. I’m counting my money right now.”
Kip Deville, a 5yo Oklahoma-bred, will be attempting to join Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992-1993) and Da Hoss (1996, 1998) as a two-time Mile champion.
He enters the Mile off a less-than-stellar performance, however, having finished a well-beaten fifth – by his lofty standards – in last month’s Woodbine Mile as heavy favorite. Dutrow says the Woodbine Mile will not have any bearing on Kip Deville’s performance this Saturday.
“We went over him a bunch of times after the Woodbine race and couldn’t find anything wrong with him,” Dutrow said. “The only thing I can say is I guess he didn’t like the turf course. Even if he had won that race, I don’t think we would have trained him any differently going into the Breeders’ Cup.”
Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez has the mount.
Dutrow had originally planned to fly to California later in the week, but “after seeing Kip and (Turf Sprint entrant) Salute the Count leave (Aqueduct) this morning, I gotta be with my horses. They both look unbelievable. I belong with them, babe.”
Bold Chieftain (Mile) – “Russell told me he felt like a million bucks. We’re a go,” said trainer Bill Morey Jr. of rider Russell Baze and his horse Bold Chieftain, who had just clipped off 4f in 48 1/5 on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields Tuesday morning.
The 5yo California-bred horse, a winner of 11 races and currently the best horse in Northern California, went trackside following the morning renovation break at 8:30 and went about his business.
“I couldn’t have been happier with it,” reported Morey by phone. “We’re going to come and give them a try.”
The conditioner said he’d lined up a van ride for his horse leaving the Bay Area track at 4 a.m. Wednesday. He said he and his wife would drive down separately starting at around 6 a.m.
“My van guy gets down there pretty good,” he noted. “They stop for water along the way, but he’ll be there in seven or eight hours. When we ship down we always go in with (trainer) Jeff Metz (Barn 116). He holds a couple of stalls for us and it has always worked out fine.”
Bold Chieftain once again will be handled by Russell Baze in the Mile. North America’s winningest rider has been aboard the son of Chief Seattle in 16 of his 22 starts, including nine of his wins.
Daytona (Mile) – The Shoemaker Mile winner tuned up for Saturday’s race with a 4f workout in 47 4/5 over the main track on Tuesday. Exercise rider Francisco Alvarado was aboard for the work.
“It was just what we wanted,” said trainer Dan Hendricks. “We were looking for somewhere around 48. It was just a nice easy move to stretch his legs. We just have to keep our fingers crossed now.
“He’s just like he’s been all year. He’s fresh and ready. He doesn’t look like a horse that has been racing for a year-and-a-half.”
Mast Track (Dirt Mile) – Despite dealing with a small quarter crack, Robert Frankel reported Tuesday morning that his charge Mast Track, who it appeared would run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and likely be the pacesetter in the 1 1/4m race, instead will be entered in the TVG Dirt Mile this morning at Santa Anita.
“The quarter crack is in his right front, on the outside,” the Hall of Fame conditioner noted. “It’s a small one; you could even say it is tiny. My blacksmith wanted to put a patch on it, but I told him I didn’t think it was that bad. I think it’s going to bust out through his coronet band. By the time we get to the race, I think we’ll have it all cleaned up.”
Tuesday morning Mast Track went to the track and galloped 1 1/4m, coming off the track at 6:45 dancing and feeling full of himself.
“He doesn’t know he’s got a quarter crack,” stated Frankel, nodding toward the horse that he owns, trains and bred. “If you push on it, he knows, but otherwise he could care less. I’m going to train him like he doesn’t have one and bring him up to the race right.”
Simply, a quarter crack is a break in the continuity of the horn wall at the quarter of the hoof. They can be superficial, or cracks that go through the full thickness of the horn wall. Horses can train and run with small quarter cracks, but more extensive ones need to be closed, or patched, if training is to continue.
“It’s a better spot for him; he fits better there,” Frankel said of the change to the Dirt Mile from the Classic. “And the (entry) money is a whole lot less. The money is a factor, absolutely.”
As owner, Frankel will be saving himself $100,000 in fees by switching races. Pre-entry and entry fees for eligible horses for the Classic come to $125,000. Those fees amount to $25,000 for the Dirt Mile.
Tyler Baze has the call on Mast Track. The pair combined to win the Hollywood Gold Cup in June.
Awesome Gem (Dirt Mile) – With no major defections expected from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, trainer Craig Dollase chose to enter the 5yo gelded son of 1998 Classic winner in the Dirt Mile on Saturday.
“I think he’ll do very well there,” the trainer said of 2007 third-place finisher in the Classic. He acknowledged that he had been hopeful that some of the major runners such as defending champion Curlin might choose not to run over the Santa Anita main course in the 1 ¼ m Classic.
As for post position, Dollase said, with a big smile, “Right in the middle.”
Awesome Gem galloped a mile Tuesday at his Hollywood Park home.
Surf Cat (Dirt Mile) – In a change of plans, trainer Bruce Headley sent the Sir Cat 6yo 4f in a sharp 45 4/5 at Santa Anita with exercise rider Jack Stack up.
Headley’s original plan was to work the same distance on Wednesday as final serious work for Saturday’s Dirt Mile. “It was just a gut feeling,” said the “old school” conditioner.
As is his wont, the trainer sent his worker out before dawn.
Pyro (Dirt Mile) – Trainer Steve Asmussen said that after “further deliberation,” it has been decided to run Ron Winchell’s Pyro in the Dirt Mile rather than the Classic. It was reported on Monday that he would run in the Classic, giving Asmussen three starters in the race.
“I am still concerned with how fast the racetrack has been playing,” said Asmussen Tuesday morning. “Will he have time to catch anybody going a mile? That’s the concern. But things change day to day and we’ll see how the track itself comes up in front of him.”
Magnificience (Filly & Mare Sprint) – The 4yo daughter of Stormy Atlantic blew out 3f Tuesday before dawn as she completed her serious work heading into Friday’s $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at 7f on the main track.
Exercise rider Mel Batnykolov handled he reins in the 35 1/5 work.
“She went real good. She’s ready,” said trainer Bruce Headly.
Salute the Count (Turf Sprint) – Salute the Count, hampered by a brief hind leg filling Monday, left Aqueduct Tuesday morning on a van with stablemate, 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Kip Deville. Salute the Count is running in Saturday’s inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. On Monday, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. flirted with the idea of withdrawing the 8yo.
“We’re going in,” Dutrow said. “The filling is gone. We walked him for an hour yesterday morning, hosed him down and then walked him for another hour and hosed him down again in the afternoon. Everything looked perfect this morning and we put him on the van.”
Salute the Count was to have worked Monday morning at Aqueduct, but Dutrow scrapped those plans because of the filling. Now, Dutrow says Salute the Count will breeze “a basic three-eighths” Thursday at Santa Anita.
Idiot Proof (Turf Sprint) – Trainer Clifford Sise Jr. was a bit anxious as the speedy 4yo son of Benchmark started his 4f work on Santa Anita’s Hillside Turf Course, but wound saying, “Perfect” as the colt rolled by toward the finish line in his final preparation for Saturday’s Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
“He really wanted to go today,” he said. “The last time he worked on the turf, he was looking all around and not doing much. But today he wanted to run and he looked good doing it.” It was the first time Idiot Proof had been on the Hillside course.
The colt was clocked in 49 seconds flat. Sise was looking for an easy work and he was happy with the outcome.
“He came over the dirt perfect,” the trainer said of the portion of the course that sometimes causes problems for horses crossing it for the first time.
Mine That Bird (Juvenile) – Trainer Richard Mandella has decided to enter the 4-for-5 son of Birdstone in the Juvenile as he indicated Monday.
The colt, on a four-race win streak at Woodbine Racecourse prior to coming to the Mandella barn, had been cross-entered in the Juvenile Turf.
Mine That Bird walked Tuesday morning.
City Style (Juvenile Turf) – Stonerside Stable’s 2yo gelding City Style breezed 4f in 49 2/5 at Retama Park in northeast San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday morning for trainer Cheryl Asmussen. The gelding is due to be picked up in Oklahoma on Wednesday for a flight into Southern California.
Coronet of A Baron (Juvenile Turf) – Trainer Eoin Harty, who cross-entered the 2yo colt owned by Darley Stable in the Juvenile and the Juvenile Turf, has opted to run him on the grass even though Coronet of A Baron has yet to run on anything but synthetic surfaces in three lifetime starts.
On Monday, Coronet of a Baron worked 5f in 1:02 4/5 on the Santa Anita turf course under exercise rider C. T. Lang.
Harty said he made his decision after the colt worked well and on the strength of the competition entered for each of the races.
Jockey Alan Garcia gets the call on Coronet of a Baron.
Skipadate (Juvenile Turf) – The 2yo son of Skip Away will wear blinkers for the first time when he makes his fourth career start in Saturday Juvenile Turf.
Skipadate, who missed winning the Summer Stakes at Woodbine by a head last out, galloped 1 ½ m on Tuesday morning and then schooled at the gate, where he was granted approval to add the equipment for the race.
“We thought all along that he needed blinkers and now he’ll run in them,” said Norman Casse, the assistant trainer to his father Mark Casse. “If you look at his last two races, he missed by this much (about two inches). You’ve always got to keep him honest. He can get a little lazy, so we think this will help him.”
Skipadate also lost the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga by just a head in August after winning a maiden special weight race there on his first time out.
Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the irons on race day.
Doremifasollatido (Juvenile Fillies) – New York-bred Doremifasollatido schooled in the starting gate and galloped over Santa Anita’s main track today.
“Her gallop was in two parts because she galloped to the gate and galloped after she schooled,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, a two-time winner in the Breeders’ Cup. “She was very well behaved. She seems to like the track.”
Doremifasollatido, winner of last month’s Matron at Belmont Park, has yet to race beyond 7f and around two turns. She has, however, competed like a seasoned pro, running inside of horses, outside of horses, on the lead and from off the pace. Overall she is 2-2-0 from four starts.
“She’s gritty that’s for sure,” Jerkens said. “You don’t get too many young horses like her that run from anywhere, even when things are really crowded.”