Asian Notebook: Almond Eye Confirmed For Japan Cup

Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is likely to have the final start of her illustrious career in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse, her trainer Sakae Kunieda announced through the Twitter account of the Silk Horse Club syndicate that campaigns her.

The 5-year-old daughter of Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) swept the Japanese Filly Triple Crown in 2018 and capped a Horse of the Year campaign with a smooth 1 3/4-length defeat of front-running Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the Japan Cup. She added the G1 Dubai Turf and G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last season and most recently became the first horse in the history of the Japanese turf to win eight Group 1 races when successfully defending her Tenno Sho title Nov. 1.

Also confirmed for the Japan Cup are the twin Triple Crown winners of 2020, the colt Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), neither of whom has tasted defeat in their careers.

Almond Eye’s connections opted for the Japan Cup over a trip to Hong Kong for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 13, a race for which she was entered last term, but did not ultimately make the journey. Sha Tin is the destination for another Asian-based runner, as connections confirmed that three-time defending champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton has accepted the call aboard Inferno (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Trained by Cliff Brown for owner Glenn Whittenbury’s Barree Stable, the 4-year-old is eight-for-nine lifetime and exits a flashy success in the Oct. 25 Lion City Cup at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore.

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Outwork Filly Runs to the Money in Sharp Debut Score at Churchill

8th-Churchill Downs, $87,037, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.53, ft, 6 lengths.
ABROGATE (f, 2, Outwork–Hot Coffee, by Burning Roma) took all the money for her debut Thursday at Churchill, broke on top and never looked back in a sharp victory, becoming the 13th winner for her streaking freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). Showing an upbeat worktab highlighted by a local five-furlong gate breeze in 1:00 2/5 (6/46) Nov. 1, the $270,000 Keeneland September grad was bet hard throughout and kicked smoothly from the stalls as a 3-2 chalk. Quickly taking command, the dark bay clicked off a :22.23 quarter before being set upon by Zoom Up (Upstart) nearing the straightaway. Cutting the corner into the lane, Abrogate quickly scooted clear again past the three-sixteenths pole and slammed the door in the final furlong, cruising past the wire in hand six lengths to the good of Zoom Up. The winner’s second dam is a half to 2010’s champion sprinter Big Drama (Montbrook) and MGISW Sheer Drama (Burning Roma). Her dam, a $30,000 Keeneland November purchase in 2015, has a yearling Daredevil filly who sold to Mike Rutherford for $130,000 at Fasig-Tipton October and is now named Thedevilyousay. She produced a colt by Good Samaritan this season before visiting Hard Spun. Sales History: $75,000 Wlg ’18 KEENOV; $270,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,092. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong; B-Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Equibase Analysis: Positive Danger A Live Longshot In Mrs. Revere

The Grade 2, $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes features a group of seven fillies, all 3-year-olds, on Saturday at Churchill Downs. In the similar Grade 3 Valley View Stakes last month, Stunning Sky defeated Princess Grace by a half-length, with How Ironic another half-length back in third and with Witez two and one-half lengths further back in fourth. There's no telling if some of those positions may be reversed in the Mrs. Revere, as well as if one of the new faces may prevail.

One of those is Hendy Woods, entering the race off a sixth place finish in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes and prior to that second in the Grade 3 Edgewood Stakes over the Churchill Downs turf course. Pass the Plate won about one month ago, but on dirt in a race scheduled for turf initially. Her best finish at this level was a runner-up effort in the Bourbonette Oaks in March. Positive Danger is a lightly raced filly trying stakes company for the first time and having won the only two times she's run over a mile on turf in her career.

Hendy Woods started her career winning two in a row, both turf routes, in January and March before a seventh place finish in the Regret Stakes in June on the Churchill Downs sod. Rebounding with a win in the Indiana Grand Stakes with a career-best 100 Equibase Speed Figure, Hendy Woods then closed for second in the similar Edgewood Stakes on this turf course, improving just a bit to a 101 figure. Trying some of the best three year old turf fillies in the country in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes last month, an invitation only race, Hendy Woods finished sixth of seven but nevertheless was beaten just three and one-quarter lengths at the end. That effort resulted in a new career-best 107 figure which is tied for the best in the field with the figure Stunning Sky earned winning the Valley View Stakes six days later. Getting the ground saving rail and with red hot Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle for the first time, as well as noting Queen Elizabeth winner Harvey's Lil Goil ran very well when third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last weekend, Hendy Woods could be tough to beat in this year's Mrs. Revere Stakes.

Positive Danger is a live longshot in my opinion because she's going to be in front from the start, perhaps with no challengers. A perfect two-for-two in turf routes, Positive Danger earned a career-best 87 figure for her most recent win, in a first level allowance race last month. However, as a 3-year-old taking a step from allowance to run well in stakes is not unheard of. For example, Princess Grace won at the first allowance level two races back in September, then improved to nearly post the upset in the Valley View when coming up a half-length short of Stunning Sky. With an inside post to help ease her way to the front from the opening bell, Positive Danger has the potential to get a very easy lead, get brave, and perhaps hang on for the upset win.

Stunning Sky and Princess Grace finished first and second, respectively, in the similar Valley View Stakes last month at Keeneland, both earning 107 figures. Stunning Sky has now run 11 times, winning three, while Princess Grace has only run three times, winning twice and finishing second in the other. Stunning Sky closed from ninth in the Valley View but that was a function of the very fast pace which saw her further back early than in her previous starts when she was no more than fifth at any stage. Princess Grace rallied from fifth in the Valley View to make the lead with an eighth of a mile to go, before the more seasoned Stunning Sky ran her down in the final yards. Both fillies have a will to win and the ability to back that up and it would be no surprise if both are in the thick of the action at the end of this race.

The rest of the field, with their best  Equibase Speed Figures, is How Ironic (106), Pass the Plate (103) and Witez (102).

Win Contenders, in preference order:
Hendy Woods
Positive Danger
Stunning Sky
Princess Grace

Mrs. Revere Stakes – Grade 2
Race 10 at Churchill Downs
Saturday, November 14 – Post Time 5:36 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Sixteenth on Turf
Fillies, 3-Year-Olds
Purse: $200,000

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Friday The 13th Luck On The Line In Special Stronach 5

Bettors will have an opportunity to get lucky on a special Friday the 13th edition of the Stronach 5 with races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park West and Golden Gate Fields.

Beginning at approximately 3:24 p.m. EST, the Stronach 5 will once again feature an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

Laurel will kick off the Stronach 5 with three consecutive racing starting in Race 7, a waiver maiden claimer for 2-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs that attracted a field of 12 juveniles led by 9-5 program favorite Hello Hot Rod from the red-hot barn of trainer Brittany Russell.

The sequence continues in Race 8, a starter optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs where Nomo Ron, a last out winner at the track and distance, is the 5-2 top choice in a field of nine, and Laurel's Race 9 finale, a maiden claiming event for 3-year-olds and up at about 1 1/16 miles.

Action moves to Gulfstream Park West's Race 9 finale for Leg D, a one-mile claiming event for fillies and mares 3 and up scheduled for the grass featuring 2-1 turf favorite Hoponthebusgus, a seven-time career winner of nearly $260,000 in purses, and Free to Fly, the top choice should the race be moved to the main track.

Wrapping up the Stronach 5 is Race 3 from Golden Gate, a maiden claimer for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs over the all-weather surface. Barbara DeLima homebred Irenie, second in her previous start, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Friday's races and sequence

 

· Leg One – Laurel Park 7th Race: (12 entries, 7 furlongs) 3:24 ET, 12:24 PT

· Leg Two –Laurel Park 8th Race: (9 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:54 ET, 12:54 PT

· Leg Three –Laurel Park 9th Race: (12 entries, abt. 1 1/16 miles) 4:24 ET, 1:24 PT

· Leg Four –Gulfstream West 9th Race: (14 entries, 1 mile turf) 4:42 ET, 1:42 PT

· Leg Five –Golden Gate Fields 3rd Race: (8 entries, 5 furlongs) 4:44 ET, 1:44 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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