November, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Security Team Assembles Once Again to Protect World’s Horses

Members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) are once again working diligently to provide the highest level of security for the world's best Thoroughbreds that have assembled for the 2022 Breeders' Cup.

With a handpicked team of some 30 investigators, the BC Equine Security Team (BCEST) hails from all corners of the United States, and also includes international representation from Canada and Ireland.

Working closely with a local company of security personnel, the BCEST will provide 24-hour round-the-clock care for the horses that will be running on Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

With a wealth of experience in law enforcement, members of the BCEST work for racetrack and state agencies back home. The opportunity to come to the Breeders' Cup is the chance to ensure that compliance is of the utmost importance.

Not only will members be working closely with the Breeders' Cup Veterinarian Team to collect samples, ensuring the chain of custody, but they will be onsite to showcase their knowledge and expertise by keeping everyone safe.

“Customer service and experience is so important to us,” said Don Ahrens (Sam Houston Race Park). “Everything we do is for the care of these equine athletes, and making sure everyone is compliant is our top priority.”

Ahrens, along with Mike Kilpack (NTRA), spearhead this operation, having done so for over a decade. “We are driven to provide the Breeders' Cup and its fans with all the security that we can muster, said Kilpack. “Each and every member of this team is the best of the best.” The BCEST assembled on Sunday Night for a 'Meet and Greet,' but the planning takes place months in advance.

Picking a group of investigators from across America is no easy task, but Ahrens and Kilpack have a vast set of experiences in their toolkit.

This year, there are several additions to their squad, including a 'dispatcher' that will manage the day and night shifts, utilizing camera technology that will monitor the stalls.

As the Breeders' Cup does every year, a quarantine area for international runners will also be located in the barn area, with restricted access to a select few.

The BCEST 2022 edition, also includes over 10 'rookie' members at Keeneland. For their first event, it is up to the senior leadership to get them up to speed as quickly as possible.

Ahrens said, “These folks know their business, and are used to the rigors of investigating in their own locales, so that is incredibly helpful when it comes to training them for an event of this magnitude.”

After an orientation on Monday at the Keeneland Sales Ring, BCEST will officially swing into action on Tuesday. Led by Juan Estrada (Arizona Department of Gaming), the 'Night Crew' will acclimatize themselves before their posting begins at 4 p.m. each afternoon.

Both shifts have Saturday after the Breeders' Cup Classic as their target. Until then, paying attention and monitoring their barns will be the focal point. In other words, the best of the best will protect their counterparts to the fullest extent.

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Breeders’ Cup Distaff Notes: Secret Oath ‘Sharp As A Tack’ After Aborted Plans For Final Breeze

Awake at Midnyte – Trainer Doug O'Neill reported “all good” for his Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) contender Awake At Midnyte after she galloped 1 1/8 miles under exercise rider Connor Murray Tuesday morning at Keeneland. She is a 3-year-old daughter of champion Nyquist who was also trained by O'Neill to Breeders' Cup success in the 2015 Sentient Jets Juvenile (G1).

“She's a good-sized filly,” O'Neill said. “She's got tons of heart like her father. She's really versatile like Nyquist too. She could sprint or route. She's got some speed, some stamina, class and heart. Those are all things that Nyquist had for sure.”

Awake At Midnyte is owned by Reddam Racing and will be breaking from post five on Saturday with Mario Gutierrez aboard and morning line odds of 30-1.

Awake at Midnyte gallops at Keeneland on Oct. 28

Blue Stripe – Pozo De Luna's Blue Stripe galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Efrain Lopez for trainer Marcelo Polanco. Blue Stripe drew post position two for Saturday's Distaff.

“(The post) makes no difference,” Polanco said. “She doesn't need to go to the lead. Just get a good position and go from there.”

Blue Stripe finished seventh in last year's Distaff in what was her U.S. debut for Polanco.

“I think this field is a little bit tougher than last year,” Polanco said. “But she is tougher too.”

October 30, 2022: Blue Stripe, trained by Marcelo Polanco and entered in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, exercises at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on October 30, 2022. John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup

Clairiere/Society – Stonestreet Stable's homebred Clairiere walked the shedrow after completing her final work Monday, while her stablemate, Peter Blum's Society, returned to the track to train following her breeze Sunday.

Clairiere, who beat Distaff second-choice Malathaat twice this year before having the tables turned in the Personal Ensign when a disappointing fifth is making her first start since that Aug. 27 race by design.

“I was extremely influenced by how she's run off of layoffs and how sharp she was both times,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I have a great amount of faith in the ability she has and the level she's capable of.”

Both fillies will return to the track to train Wednesday.

Clairiere gallops at Keeneland on Oct. 28

Malathaat/Nest – Todd Pletcher's squad of Breeders' Cup entrants all had routine exercise Tuesday with Future Stars Friday entrants also spending time in the starting gate. His Saturday hopefuls will add starting gate schooling to their gallops Wednesday.

Malathaat has the one post and Nest has the six in the field of eight for the Distaff.

“It is a contentious field,” Pletcher said after Monday's post-position draw. “There are some other really good fillies in there. It is certainly not a match race between the stablemates. They are both coming up to the race great. We have been here before with what we thought was a strong group and that does not always equate to wins.”

Nest works at Keeneland on Oct. 29, 2022

Search Results – Klaravich Stables' Search Results left Barn 64 at just past 8:30 a.m. and galloped about 1m around the Keeneland dirt track with trainer Chad Brown observing trackside. The six-time winner from 11 starts enters off a break, having finished second in the G1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 27 to champion Malathaat, who beat her in similar fashion in last year's G1 Kentucky Oaks.

“We gave her some space between starts by design. She ran a really tough race at Saratoga probably the fastest race of her life in defeat there,” Brown said. “I thought she would run a little better fresher and I couldn't be happier with how she's working. Our thinking is that Keeneland is a tighter track compared to how demanding Saratoga can be. There's nothing more I can do. The team has done its job and the filly tries hard every time. I think the key is just getting some sort of trip where she saves ground. She will be forward.

“It's frustrating that she has to be in the same crop as Malathaat, who is an outstanding filly,” Brown continued. “Malathaat is very versatile and in the Oaks she missed the break and still came down the lane and beat us. If she gets a clear shot in the lane, she will be very tough to beat and she will come get you. But our filly is doing very well and always gives her best.”

Search Results will break from post seven of eight on Saturday. Flavien Prat rides.

Secret Oath – Briland Farm's homebred Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath walked at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning before being shipped to Keeneland for her start Saturday in the Distaff.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 87, scrapped a planned half-mile breeze Monday because he did not like the track conditions. With her ninth race of the season approaching, Secret Oath had a very easy morning before getting in the truck to Lexington.

“We gave her a day off,” Lukas said. “That's pretty customary for me. I back down on them, especially those route horses, the way they run.”

Lukas said the daughter of Arrogate has handled the busy campaign well.

“She's very sound,” he said. “There's no dullness to her. She's as sharp as a tack.”

Secret Oath works at Churchill Downs on Oct. 24

The post Breeders’ Cup Distaff Notes: Secret Oath ‘Sharp As A Tack’ After Aborted Plans For Final Breeze appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Old Friends Opens Up Halter Auction to Absentee Bidding

Kentucky's Thoroughbred retirement farm Old Friends, which previously announced a Breeders' Cup celebration to be held Sunday, Nov. 6, has opened up absentee auction bidding for halters worn by Affirmed Success, Authentic, Groupie Doll, Gun Runner, Lava Man, Midnight Bisou, Paynter, War Front, and Yoshida (Jpn). Each item is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Interested buyers unable to attend on Sunday can bid by emailing name, address, phone number, and highest bid to: horses@oldfriendsequine.org. For more information on the event, click here. Bidding deadline is Saturday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. ET.

The post Old Friends Opens Up Halter Auction to Absentee Bidding appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Breeders’ Cup: Handpicked Equine Security Team Assembles At Keeneland

Ahrens, along with Mike Kilpack (NTRA), spearhead this operation, having done so for over a decade.

“We are driven to provide the Breeders' Cup and its fans with all the security that we can muster, said Kilpack. “Each and every member of this team is the best of the best.”

The BCEST assembled on Sunday Night for a 'Meet and Greet,' but the planning takes place months in advance.

Picking a group of investigators from across America is no easy task, but Ahrens and Kilpack have a vast set of experiences in their toolkit.

This year, there are several additions to their squad, including a 'dispatcher' that will manage the day and night shifts, utilizing camera technology that will monitor the stalls.

As the Breeders' Cup does every year, a quarantine area for international runners will also be located in the barn area, with restricted access to a select few.

The BCEST 2022 edition also includes over 10 'rookie' members at Keeneland. For their first event, it is up to the senior leadership to get them up to speed as quickly as possible.

The post Breeders’ Cup: Handpicked Equine Security Team Assembles At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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