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Mr. Big News ‘Really Strong’ In Final Work For Preakness Stakes

Allied Racing Stable's Kentucky Derby (Grade I) third-place finisher Mr. Big News finalized his major preparation for the $1 million Preakness Stakes (GI) on Saturday, Oct. 3 with a half-mile move in :50.40 Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Mr. Big News, a last minute entry in the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, worked with regular exercise rider Tony Camacho in the saddle through splits of :13.20 and :25.40 with a five-furlong gallop out of 1:03.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“He left the pole really strong, which is how he was working before the Derby,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “We only wanted an easy work and I told Tony to go in :49 or :50 and gallop out well. He's been fit after just running in the Derby and it's been very promising how strong he's acting in his works after the race.”

Mr. Big News, a bay colt by Giant's Causeway, earned an automatic spot into the Preakness by winning Oaklawn's $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes on April 11. The two-time winner is scheduled to ship to Pimlico on Tuesday.

Chester Thomas' Allied Racing Stable will attempt to get one of their other stable stars, Mr. Money, back on track Saturday in the $100,000 Ack Ack (GIII). Mr. Money, who is co-owned by Spendthrift Farm, is a four-time Grade III winner but has not won since July 2019.

“The good news is we know how much he likes this track at Churchill,” Calhoun said. “He had some things not go his way so far this year. I don't think he liked the surface at Oaklawn (in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile) and race at Keeneland (a 6 ½-furlong allowance on July 12) didn't really suit him either.”

The complete field for the Ack Ack in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line oddsd): Warrior's Charge (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 9-5); Bourbon Calling (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 12-1); Proverb (Adam Beschizza, Richard Baltas, 30-1); American Anthem (James Graham, Mike Maker, 5-1); Mr. Money (Gabriel Saez, Calhoun, 6-1); Pioneer Spirit (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro, 12-1); Alkhaatam (Declan Cannon, Danny Peitz, 20-1); Ebben (Corey Lanerie, Steve Margolis, 5-1); Bankit (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 10-1); Thirstforlife (Chris Landeros, Wes Hawley, 30-1); Dinar (Rafael Bejarano, Cherie DeVaux, 30-1); Home Base (Joe Rocco Jr., Mike Tomlinson, 30-1); and Everfast (Julien Leparoux, Jack Sisterson 10-1).

Saturday's Ack Ack is carded as Race 9 with a post time of 4:53 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 10-race program has a first post of 12:45 p.m. The Ack Ack could serve as a prep for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (GI), which will be run six weeks later on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

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‘Arcs Are Never Easy To Win’: Frankie Dettori Talks Enable’s Chances In Fourth Arc De Triomphe

Champion racemare Enable will run in her fourth edition of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next Sunday, trying to become the first horse in history to win the race three times. The 6-year-old daughter of Nathaniel won the Arc in 2017 and 2018, but finished second to Waldgeist over testing ground in 2019.

Her jockey, Frankie Dettori, talked to the Racing Post on Friday about the mare's chances to make history.

“I'm sure Enable will run her very best as she always has in the Arc but that might not be good enough with the likes of Love getting 7 lbs,” Dettori said. “The 3-year-old fillies when they are that good like Zarkava, Treve, Danedream and Enable have proved a tough nut to crack in the past.

“Arcs are never easy to win as everyone will be there as they all want to win one including the Derby winner, Love, and Stradivarius.”

Trained by John Gosden, Enable won the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Group 3 September Stakes this year. Her current record stands at 12 wins from 15 starts, including the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Though the Arc is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is expected to be Enable's final race before her retirement to the breeding shed.

USA Preview – Santa Anita Tips

The John Henry Turf Classic is the race of the week this week. This is a grade 2 event on the Santa Anita down the hill turf course going 1 and ¼ mile for a purse of $200,000. Santa Anita has a very big opening weekend, and there are 7 total stakes on the card […]

The post USA Preview – Santa Anita Tips appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN.

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Long-Time Delaware Steward Fritz Burkhardt Passes Away At 85

Long-time Delaware Park steward Fritz Burkhardt passed away in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday, Sept. 22. He was 85.

With exception of a brief stint serving as a racing official for the Emirates Racing Authority in Abu Dhabi in the mid-1990s, the native of Baltimore, Maryland had served has a steward at Delaware Park for the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission from 1987 until 2019.

Burkhardt also worked in varied and numerous positions within in the industry including managing Abacus Ranch in Snowmass, Colorado for Broadway producer Mary K. Frank, he was an assistant to trainer Roger Cornell, steward at Rillito Downs, a trainer, an agent and as a young man worked as a houndsman at the Howard County Hunt Club.

“He really was an amazing man and he lived a fascinating life,” said John Mooney, the Executive Director of Racing at Delaware Park. “He was very devoted to animals, particularly horses. He had a very thorough understanding of the race horse and appreciated all the individuals who worked with race horses. He was a great friend, companion and mentor to so many people in the sport. The Delaware Park family and the racing industry has lost one of our champions. He will be missed.”

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