Month: November 2023

Thursday’s Breeders’ Cup Report: Locked and Loaded for the Weekend

ARCADIA, CA – The imposing Bill Mott-trained duo of Just F Y I (Justify) (Juvenile Fillies) and champion Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) immediately caught the eye as the curtain was lifted at Santa Anita with a spectacular sunrise beneath the San Gabriel mountains on Breeders' Cup eve.

Japanese superstar Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Mile, began her marathon training session, while the horse to catch in the Dirt equivalent 'Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) left the pony raring to go.

John Gosden, represented by potential race favorites for the Filly & Mare Turf and Turf with the brilliant duo of Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), made his way through the less congested apron as the lively 'Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup' crowd packed into the legendary Clockers' Corner viewing area at the top of the stretch.

Aidan O'Brien, also in town from the other side of the pond, will be loaded for the Championships as well. Standouts from his arsenal include: River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the Juvenile Turf; Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the F/M Turf; and, of course, the G1 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Turf.

Royal Ascot last out G2 Queen Mary S. heroine Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), one of three entered for former Wayne Lukas assistant George Weaver in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, made a nice impression while sporting a white bridle as she gets ready to face off versus the boys from her rail draw.

Speaking of white bridles and former Lukas assistants, the Todd Pletcher-trained 'Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) has also stood out in the mornings during training hours this week. The blaze-faced chestnut is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for a fantastic renewal of Friday's Juvenile. Co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners will also be well-represented by unbeaten Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Juvenile Fillies.

Locked | Sherackatthetrack

After assembling a highlight reel of morning breezes since his game win in this summer's GI Pacific Classic–do yourself a favor and head to XBTV's fantastic website if you haven't already done so yet–Classic horse to beat 'Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was feeling mighty good during a light gallop while giving his exercise rider a workout of his own just two days out from the $6-million main event.

Stacked with nine Breeders' Cup runners, including Classic duo Dreamlike (Gun Runner) and Bright Future (Curlin) and Turf standout Up to the Mark (Not This Time), owner Mike Repole was in good form as always while making the rounds with jockey, err, daughter Gioia, who was sporting a pair of the family's blue-and-orange silks.

Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), a rallying second at 55-1 in last year's Mile, couldn't be looking any better in the flesh at the age of six as he seeks to go one better. Could he be sitting on another big effort at a price?

Shirl's Speight | Sherackatthetrack

'Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) made her way through the purpled-out paddock as training hours began to wind down. The daughter of Beholder's many admirers in attendance included her trainer Richard Mandella as well as a big Spendthrift Farm crew, led by owners Eric and Tamara Hughes Gustavson, and Ned Toffey and Mark Toothaker.

 

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Breeders’ Cup Distaff Contender Desert Dawn Gives Arizona Owner/Breeder A Thrill

Holly Crim is the epitome of a hands-on owner. It was a little more than four years ago that Holly was on “foal duty” at the family ranch in Arizona when Desert Dawn was birthed, and Holly actually “pulled” the foal from her mother's womb. The filly was ultimately named for the spectacular Arizona sunrise that followed. Little did she know, she would be so close to history in the making, as Desert Dawn has gone on to become the top-earning Arizona-bred in Thoroughbred racing.

On Saturday, Desert Dawn will attempt to become the first Arizona-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race when she takes on 10 rivals in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), a 1 1/8-mile championship event for fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park. With a first- or second-place finish, she also will become Arizona's first equine millionaire.

Holly is a lawyer by training, but her primary business shifted to horse breeding in 2019 when she joined her mother, Elena, as partner in H & E Ranch following the death of her father. On average, the ranch, which began raising only cattle, typically breeds about 30 broodmares annually. Some, like Desert Dawn, are retained to race and the remainder sold at auction. It's a relatively small operation, but, as Holly puts it, it combines our business with our passion. They currently race between 8-10 horses each year.

Despite winning only two races lifetime, Desert Dawn has been a steady purse earner against the top completion in her division. During her 3-year-old campaign, she won the prestigious Santa Anita Oaks (G2) over Distaff rival Adare Manor, then followed up that effort with a strong third-place finish in the prestigious Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. She finished out the year with earnings just shy of a half-million dollars.

“While we've sadly missed seeing both of her victories in person, we're always so excited and proud just to see her run,” Holly said. “Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, requires some advance planning to watch her run in person. But we certainly go as often as possible.”

The decision to run in this year's Distaff was made by trainer Phil D'Amato, who has steered the fortunes of Desert Dawn since her debut during the summer of 2021. That same year, she finished unplaced in her first Breeders' Cup try against fellow juvenile fillies.

“She'd just placed in a stakes race at Santa Anita and I thought we should take a shot, especially with such a small field (six starters). It didn't work out,” D'Amato said.

“Phil feels positive about her and how well she's doing, so, of course, we're hoping for a better outcome,” Holly said.

The trainer added, “Her best two races were the win in the Santa Anita Oaks and that placing in the Kentucky Oaks. This race feels like a Kentucky Oaks-type of race, with a big field and lots of speed. That's when she runs her best.”

Desert Dawn faces long odds against a field of very accomplished rivals, but it's doubtful any of her fellow owners have been as close to their horses as the Crim family. Just as Holly was there from the start, she'll be at Santa Anita on Saturday, “pulling” for Desert Dawn to make history.

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Aqueduct Friday: Pick 6 Carryover Of $37,682; Late Pick 5 Carryover Of $147,582

Friday's card at Aqueduct Racetrack will be bolstered by a Pick 6 carryover of $37,682 after the multi-race wager went unsolved on Thursday's nine-race card.

The $1 Pick 6 returned $12,560.50 to bettors who selected 5-of-6 winners correctly. Additionally, there will be a Pick 5 carryover of $147,582 into Friday's late Pick 5.

The sequence kicked off in Race 4 – a $40,000 claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds– when the Luis Rivera, Jr.-piloted Kupp [No. 1, $3.90*] rallied to victory trainer Michelle Nevin.

Trainer David Donk saddled Artemis Girl [No. 3, $103.50] to victory in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies on the turf [Race 5] under jockey Jose Gomez.

In Race 6 – a 6 1/2-furlong $20,000 maiden claimer – Dylan Davis piloted Frisky Jim [No. 8, $3.60*] to victory for trainer Wesley Ward.

Addicted To You [No. 5, $13.40] captured Race 7, a one-turn mile $30,000 claiming event. Kendrick Carmouche piloted the Horacio De Paz trainee.

Race 8 – a one-turn mile allowance optional claimer for 3-years-old and upward – saw the Jairo Rendon-piloted Castle Chaos [No. 7, $23.00] win for trainer Rob Falcone, Jr.

With a carryover already guaranteed in Race 9 – a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden special weight for juvenile fillies – Bertrille [No. 11, $202.50] won for trainer Bruce Brown with Luis Rivera, Jr. aboard.

Friday's Pick 6 will kick off in Race 5 at 2:16 p.m. Eastern. First post for the 10 race card is 12:15 p.m.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Steward Luis Jauregui, Brother Of Dreamfyre’s Trainer, Will Recuse Himself From Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Santa Anita Park steward Luis Jauregui will recuse himself for this year's edition of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, reports bloodhorse.com, because his brother, O.J. Jauregui, will saddle Dreamfyre in Friday's contest in Arcadia, Calif.

For that race, Luis Jauregui will be replaced in the officials' both by David Nuesch, safety steward.

“Luis is going to recuse himself from that particular race, given the magnitude of the Breeders' Cup,” California Horse Racing Board executive director Scott Chaney told bloodhorse.com. “But I want to be clear—it is not a practice that will continue on a Thursday afternoon if his brother has horses running.

“It's why we have three stewards. They do an excellent job. And I think the implication that he could somehow (influence) the other two and affect the outcome in favor of his brother is unfair to Luis.”

Dreamfyre won the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes by a neck at Santa Anita on Oct. 8, staying up despite a claim of foul. Luis Jauregui did not recuse himself in that instance, drawing “some negative feedback from the wagering public,” Chaney said.

Read more at bloodhorse.com.

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