October, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Outlines COVID-19 Health And Safety Protocols For Two-Day Championships At Keeneland

Breeders' Cup Limited on Saturday announced a detailed set of health and safety protocols put in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19 for the limited staff, participants and essential personnel who will be on site at the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course.

This plan was developed in consultation with Keeneland, local and state government officials, and public health experts, including Dr. Richard Greenberg – Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. The plan closely follows the guidance established by the Healthy at Work requirements for venues and event spaces, bars and restaurants established by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Last month, Breeders' Cup announced that the event will be run without spectators to protect the health and safety of employees, racing participants, those caring for the horses and the broader Lexington community. To this end, 2020 World Championships attendance will be limited to racing participants and essential personnel only.

“The health and safety of our participants, employees, athletes, associates and the broader Lexington community are our top priorities,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “We are proud to be in a position to conduct the 2020 World Championships in a safe manner and allow the top horses from around the world to come together and compete for $31 million in purses and awards over two days of best-in-class racing. It's a testament to the hard work put in by our entire team and many others, as well as the resiliency of the broader Thoroughbred industry.”

“The important health and safety measures and capacity restrictions that Breeders' Cup and Keeneland have put in place for this year's event, including testing, face coverings, physical distancing and medical screening requirements, will go a long way in protecting the wellbeing of the limited number of attendees,” said Dr. Greenberg.

Highlights of Breeders' Cup's health and safety protocols for the 2020 World Championships include:

Breeders' Cup will provide complimentary testing onsite at Keeneland for participants, media, vendors and staff. All those who will be on site are encouraged to take advantage of this testing.
All staff, trainers and personnel accessing the Rice Road stable area will be required to present a negative test prior to entering the stable area.
Daily health checks will be conducted at Keeneland entry points. These medical screenings include a medical questionnaire and a contactless temperature check. Only those who have successfully completed these medical screenings will be permitted to enter the grounds.
Everyone entering the facility will be required to wear a cloth face covering or protective mask and may only remove to actively eat or drink.
Hand sanitizer dispensers, touchless whenever possible, will be placed at key entrances and contact areas.
Building Services staff will clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces using EPA registered disinfectants on a regular basis. High touch point areas, including all seating, tabletops, other tabletop items, door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, phones, pens, and keypads will be cleaned on a constant rotation.
In-person events surrounding the World Championships have been greatly scaled back and cancelled in most cases.
The Keeneland Grandstand encompasses over 47,000 square feet of space, allowing for ample physically distancing for the limited number of people who will be on site. Participants will be required to practice proper distancing and stay six feet apart from other parties; this will be strictly enforced.
All seating will be assigned – all seats and tables will be predetermined and physically distanced.
Out-of-state or International jockeys must be in Lexington by Wednesday, Nov. 4 to receive COVID-19 test onsite by 7:00 p.m. ET. Jockeys have also been encouraged to get their influenza vaccinations prior to coming to Lexington.
All out-of-state or international jockeys must also have RT-PCR COVID-19 nasopharyngeal test conducted in the racing jurisdiction they are presently riding in taken within 72 hours before arrival in Kentucky and the test must show a negative result.
In-state jockeys will have a COVID-19 test completed on Wednesday, Nov. 4 and must have a negative result in order to ride during the Championships.
Breeders' Cup will maintain records to allow for contact tracing via a “Virtual Badge” app.
All those who are feeling sick are encouraged to stay home.
Access to the stable area, paddock, winner's circle and all indoor spaces will be restricted to authorized credentials.
Dining options will be limited to plated and individually wrapped food items and beverages.
Participants will be encouraged to wager through Breeders' Cup's official online wagering provider, TVG, or other online providers, rather than betting in person.
Signage and visual markers will be placed throughout the facility stressing mandatory masks/face coverings, hand washing and physical distancing.
These protocols will be stringently enforced on site.

Breeders' Cup and Keeneland remain flexible and are continuing to monitor the evolving situation in coordination with authorities to determine whether additional measures will be needed in order to hold the event in a safe and secure manner.

The 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships is set to take place Nov. 6 – 7 and will air live on NBC and NBCSN.

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Baffert Runners Head BC Works at Santa Anita

Trainer Bob Baffert’s arsenal was on full display Saturday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for their respective Breeders’ Cup engagements at Keeneland Nov. 6 and 7. Heading the charge was GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), who breezed seven furlongs in 1:24.40 (XBTV video) in advance of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. In his latest start, the colt finished a neck behind winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the Oct. 3 GI Preakness S.

Undefeated TDN Rising Star Princess Noor (Not This Time) breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.80 in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Victorious second time out in the GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 6, she returned to score in the Sept. 6 GII Chandelier S. Fellow Baffert trainee, Grade I-placed Spielberg (Union Rags), posted a five-furlong move in :59.80 in advance of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Gamine (Into Mischief), winner of the GI Acorn S. and GI Test S. this summer, completed five furlongs in a bullet :58.80 ahead of the GI Breeders’ Cup F & M Sprint. The filly is currently under investigation for a medication positive detected in a sample following a third in the Sept. 4. GI Kentucky Oaks.

Also at Santa Anita Saturday, trainer Richard Mandella sent out GII John Henry Turf Championship S. winner United (Giant’s Causeway) for a mile work in 1:37.80 under Flavien Prat in preparation for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race in which he finished second in 2019.

“He went very nice,” said Mandella. “I think we have a little better line on him now, more than we ever did, and hopefully, it will pay off at the Breeders’ Cup.”

Mandella also breezed Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) Saturday, indicating the latter “got a little tired” negotiating five furlongs in :59 flat and will bypass the Breeders’ Cup in favor of the Nov. 29 GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar.

Recent GI Rodeo Drive S. scorer Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man), expected to contest the GI Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf, worked five panels for trainer Tim Yakteen in 1:00.60 (XBTV Video), while Sharp Samurai (First Samurai) completed the same distance in a minute flat. The multiple graded stakes winner is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or Mile.

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Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver, Tom’s D’Etat Breeze At Churchill Downs

Saturday's work tab at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., was filled with star power with many of the nation's top contenders logging their penultimate workouts before the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland. Among the stars to work Saturday included champion Monomoy Girl (six furlongs, 1:12), Preakness (GI) winner Swiss Skydiver (four furlongs, :47.80) and Grade I winner Tom's d'Etat (six furlongs, 1:12.80).

On Saturday, trainer Brad Cox's barn worked five of their nine probable runners in this year's Breeders' Cup. Most notably taking to the track was superstar mare Monomoy Girl. The likely favorite in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) worked with her regular pilot Florent Geroux aboard and started about one length behind stablemate Owendale. Owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables, Monomoy Girl swiftly worked through eighth-mile splits of :12, :24.40, :36.20, :47.80 and 1:00. Monomoy Girl galloped out in front of Owendale through seven furlongs in 1:26.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Owendale completed his six-furlong move one second slower than Monomoy Girl in 1:13.

“Anyone you put with Monomoy, she seems to always out-work them,” Geroux said. “She's worked with a lot of really good horses in the past and Owendale is a really good horse. She just always gets the better of them.”

“There's not much really to say about her other than she's just really, really, really good right now,” Cox added. “We'll see what the future holds for her but as a 5-year-old she's showing how mature she's become.”

Cox's morning started at 5:30 a.m. when Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and Peter Coneway's $2.4 million earner Arklow worked outside of stablemate Plainsman through splits of :12.60, :24.80 and :47.80. Plainsman completed five furlongs in :59.80. Arklow, who was ridden by Geroux, continued to gallop out around the clubhouse turn in front with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:11.80. The $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (GI) will mark Arklow's 30th career start but only the second with the addition of blinkers.

“I wish I would've added the blinkers in start 19 instead of 29,” Cox joked. “He's really turned the corner since we put them on for the Kentucky Turf Cup Classic (G3) last out. This year has been interesting with this horse. He ran a good race in June (in the $100,000 Louisville) and we ran him back in the Elkhorn where he didn't run bad but I had the not-so-great idea of sticking him on a plane and running six days later at Monmouth (in the G1, $315,000 United Nations). After he finished fourth that day, I said we have to make a change and add blinkers. It really worked out in the Kentucky Turf Cup, which in and of itself turned out to be a really interesting race when there was a torrential downpour before the running of the race.”

Immediately following Arklow's move, Cox worked Korea Racing Authority's four-time winner Knicks Go, who recently cruised to a 10 1/4-length score at Keeneland in a conditioned allowance event. The gray son of Paynter worked solo through early fractions of :24.40 and :48 with a six-furlong gallop out of 1:12.80.

“This horse has really come around,” Cox said. “I hope we can get into the Dirt Mile because I think he will really like two-turns and have a pace advantage with his stamina.”

Also in the first set of Cox horses was Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing's recent $350,000 First Lady (GI) runner-up Beau Recall (IRE), who is likely to face the males in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (GI). She worked by herself through fractions of :13.20 and :25.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.80.

In Cox's next set he worked Gaining Ground Racing's 12-time winner Factor This, who easily breezed through splits of :13, :25.40 and :49.20. The recent winner of the $250,000 Dinner Party (GII) worked outside of stablemate Gold Standard.

The fastest recorded five-furlong move of the morning came from Allied Racing Stable's $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) contender By My Standards when he whipped through fractions of :12, :23.40 and :34.80 with jockey Gabriel Saez aboard. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:11 and completed seven furlongs in 1:24.80.

“Last week was the first work we did a little bit something serious with him (since he won the Alysheba),” Calhoun said. “He was full of energy and bounced around great after it. It's been a different year for sure losing a few races here or there. We were fortunate to have (the Alysheba) on the undercard of the rescheduled Derby. We probably could've shipped somewhere around the country but our goal was how to get him to the Breeders' Cup Classic. We decided to stay here run in the Alysheba and point to the Breeders' Cup from there.

“Some really good horses look like they're coming together (for the Classic) and horses that have beaten us. Tom's d'Etat beat us (at Churchill in the Stephen Foster). I have a ton of respect for him. Maximum Security hasn't done anything wrong in his career. It's a top group of horses that we'll have to turn the tables on them. … I think By My Standards has been very consistent this year and has gotten better as the months have gone on.”

The aforementioned Tom's d'Etat, who has been off since his troubled third-place effort in the $750,000 Whitney (GI) in early August, continued his serious preparation for the Classic with a solid six-furlong move under jockey Miguel Mena. The duo worked with stablemate Oak Hill. Tom's d'Etat, owned by G M B Racing, worked through splits of :12.20, :23.80, :47.20 and 1:00. Oak Hill completed five furlongs in 1:01.

“The schedule with the pandemic got a little awkward with everyone,” Stall said. “The races didn't quite work out in the calendar quite right for him. My gut feeling said to go into the Classic fresh anyway and when the last round of stakes races came out I didn't like the way they were placed so we stuck with the plan to train up to the race.”

Just before Tom's d'Etat worked, a trio of horses from the Kenny McPeek barn worked solo for the Breeders' Cup. Among them was recent $1 million Preakness Stakes (GI) heroine Swiss Skydiver. With Robby Albarado in the saddle, the classy 3-year-old filly breezed through fractions of :12.40 and :24.40.

“She was pulling today and feeling really good with the cool weather,” Albarado said. “No complaints, she feels amazing. … I'm going to gallop her the last five days before the race as I did at Pimlico. We're going to see how she's doing and make a decision (about the Classic or Distaff) from there.”

Robby Albarado on Swiss Skydiver: “She feels amazing.”

McPeek also worked $1 million Juvenile Fillies (GI) probables Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful. The one-two finishers, respectively, in the $350,000 Alcibiades (GI) had eerily similar workouts. Crazy Beautiful worked through fractions of :12.20 and :24.20, while Simply Ravishing went :12.20 and :24.40.

The Saturday morning action completed around 9:20 a.m. with CJ Thoroughbreds, Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing's $500,000 Derby City Distaff (GI) third-place runner Sally's Curlin who breezed through opening splits of :12.40, :24, :36.40 and :48.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.40.

Starting on Friday at Churchill Downs, there will be a special training period for Breeders' Cup contenders from 7:30-7:45 a.m. The special training session is scheduled to run through Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The full list of Breeders' Cup contenders that worked Saturday morning at Churchill Downs included the following horses:

Horse	Trainer	Distance, Time	Breeders' Cup Race
Arklow	Brad Cox	Five Furlongs, :59.60	Turf
Beau Recall	Brad Cox	Five Furlongs, :50.60	Mile
By My Standards	Bret Calhoun	Five Furlongs, :58.60	Classic
Crazy Beautiful	Kenny McPeek	Four Furlongs, :48	Juvenile Fillies
Factor This	Brad Cox	Five Furlongs, 1:02	Mile
Global Campaign	Stan Hough	Four Furlongs, :48	Classic
Knicks Go	Brad Cox	Five Furlongs, 1:00.20	Dirt Mile
Monomoy Girl	Brad Cox	Six Furlongs, 1:12	Distaff
Sally's Curlin	Dale Romans	Five Furlongs, 1:01.40	Filly & Mare Sprint
Simply Ravishing	Kenny McPeek	Four Furlongs, :48	Juvenile Fillies
Spanish Loveaffair	Mark Casse	Five Furlongs, 1:04.20	Juvenile Fillies Turf
Swiss Skydiver	Kenny McPeek	Four Furlongs, :47.80	Distaff/Classic
Tom's d'Etat	Al Stall Jr.	Six Furlongs, 1:12.80	Classic

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Maryland Million: Streaking Fiya Claims Turf Sprint; Epic Idea Stretch Out In Ladies

Robert Masiello's Fiya continued his hot streak this year, stepping up to stakes company for the first time and extending his win streak to four races with a popular 2 1/4-length triumph in Saturday's $75,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 5 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 3 and older going 1 1/8 miles, both contested over Laurel's world-class grass course, were among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 35th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Fiya ($2.20), bred in Maryland by Ann Merryman, completed the distance in 1:03.56 over a Bowl Game turf course layout rated good to give jockey Trevor McCarthy his third stakes win of the day following the $100,000 Ladies with Epic Idea and $100,000 Lassie with Miss Nondescript.

This year marked the return of the Turf Sprint to the Maryland Million program following a seven-year absence, won in each of its final three years by late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben's Cat (2010-12).

Sent off as the 1-9 favorite in a field of eight, Fiya settled behind intent pacesetter Grateful Bred through splits of 21.95 and 45.03 seconds, swept to the lead rounding the far turn, took command once straightened for home and steadily edged away to remain undefeated in four starts this year.

“It looked like he got over the track well. I saw the first fraction was pretty quick and then they didn't go super quick the second quarter,” winning trainer Tom Albertrani said from his base at Belmont Park. “I thought he ran like we were hoping to see. He was able to sit off the pace and he stalked well and had something left for the end.”

Fiya made his first four starts in Maryland, two of them on dirt last fall, before being gelding and switched to the turf this year. The Friesan Fire gelding sold at auction for $400,000 following an allowance triumph July 17, and debuted for his new connections with a 3 1/4-length score Sept. 20 at Belmont – registering the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (100) for a 3-year-old on turf this year.

“Actually, it worked out perfect just like I thought it would. If he broke in front I would have gone to the lead, but when the other horse went I could just stalk,” McCarthy said. “We had a great position. He had a nice break and really settled off the pace nice, and when I asked him to accelerate he surely did.”

McCarthy was aboard for Fiya's race debut last November for previous trainer Michael Merryman, the breeder's son, and was impressed by the horse's development over the past 11 months.

“Big time. Definitely today I was like, 'Wow.' He's so much stronger and so much bigger,” McCarthy said. “Ann and Tom have done a great job with him; I was just lucky to be aboard him today. He just outclassed these horses. He just showed his true talent and made us all look good.”

So Street came on late for second, a length ahead of 45-1 long shot Godlovesasinner. It was another half-length back to Grateful Bred in fourth.

Albertrani said the $835,000 Claiming Crown Dec. 5 at Gulfstream Park is the next likely landing spot for Fiya, who ran for a $25,000 tag in his debut.

“Right now, short-term we have two options. Our first option is to get him to Florida and run him in the Claiming Crown,” Albertrani said. “We may decide to stay in New York and run him in the Turf Sprint at the end of November at Aqueduct. I think we're more in favor of getting him down to Florida, but that's something we'll talk with Rob about.”

Epic Idea Stretches Out to Win $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies
Vivian E. Rall's homebred Epic Idea, a two-time winner sprinting on the turf but who had never beyond one mile, successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to earn her first career stakes win in the $100,000 Maryland Million Ladies.

The first of back-to-back wins for jockey Trevor McCarthy, who followed up in the $100,000 Lassie with Miss Nondescript, Epic Idea ($13.60) gave her sire, Great Notion, a Maryland Million winner for the 11th consecutive year. She is trained by Ann Merryman and assisted by her son, Michael.

“That's pretty cool. That is amazing,” McCarthy said. “Big credit to these guys, Ann and Michael. I always thought she was a great sprinter. Going into it I said, 'I guess we'll try and nurse her for as long as we can,' and when I slowed it up the second quarter, she turned off so nice. Even though she had a little bit of company next to her, she was going really smooth and she gave me a nice kick turning for home.”

The winning time was 1:55.06 over an Exceller turf course rated good.

Epic Idea settled through fractions of 24.85 and 51.73 seconds under McCarthy pressed by 2-1 favorite Something Magical, fourth in last year's Ladies after setting the pace. Gennie Highway was in the clear three wide to join the chase and launched her bid approaching the stretch, but after giving his filly a breather, McCarthy set down for the wire. Epic Idea held off Gennie Highway through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length despite drifting out, and survived a claim of foul from Gennie Highway's rider Jorge Ruiz.

Epic Idea winning the Maryland Million Ladies

“Every time I would lean on her she kind of kept drifting. I kept trying to straighten her up a little bit but she just wasn't getting the best hold of the ground. I think she was kind of spinning her wheels a little bit,” McCarthy said. “Luckily she didn't make any contact, so that was nice.”

Gennie Highway stayed up for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Mosalah.

Epic Idea now owns three wins from 10 starts, her others coming at 5 ½ furlongs in a maiden special weight last August, also under McCarthy, and an open allowance July 10, both at Laurel.

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