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Steeplechase: Major Hurdle, Timber Stakes Highlight Saturday’s Eight-Race Great Meadow Card

For the third time this fall, the jumpers return to Virginia on Saturday, where they'll compete for $325,000 in purses at the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, the second richest program on the National Steeplechase Association autumn calendar.

The card consists of eight races – over timber, hurdles, and a mixed bag of obstacles – as well as events for runners at all levels of competition from maiden claiming to stakes. In all, 57 horses have been entered.

Six of Saturday's races will be run over hurdles, all at 2 ⅛ miles, the headliner being the Grade 2 $75,000 David L.“Zeke” Ferguson Stakes. The $30,000 maiden hurdle, the first race of the day, drew enough entries to be split into two divisions. Besides the stake and maiden special weights contests, other hurdle events include a $35,000 allowance event for non-winners of two; a $30,000 handicap for horses rated at 115 or less; and a $20,000 maiden claimer.

The eponymous International Gold Cup timber stakes, contested at 3 ½ miles for a purse of $75,000, has drawn a field of four, two of whom are stakes winners: The Hundred Acre Field's Cracker Factory captured the Brown Advisory at Shawan Downs in September and was a close second to Dolly Fisher's Schoodic in the National Sporting Library and Museum Cup at Virginia Fall two weeks ago. Schoodic, 13, is a past winner of both the International Gold Cup and its spring counterpart the Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow, and hasn't been off the board in eight starts since May 2021. An allowance winner over timber, Boudinot Farm's Elusive Exclusive finished a gutsy second to Cracker Factory in the Brown Advisory where he was caught at the wire. Irv Naylor's Stooshie, an allowance winner at the Old Dominion Hounds meet in the spring, was a distant third in the National Sporting Library & Museum Cup.

Six were entered in the $30,000 Steeplethon stakes over hurdles, natural brush, and water, including Sheila Fisher and Northwoods Stable's Storm Team, a multiple stakes winner over timber and hurdles, who triumphed by 14 lengths in the steeplethon at Great Meadow in May. Fat Chance Farm's Salamanca School is riding a two-race winning streak. After breaking his maiden at Shawan Downs by nine lengths, he came back two weeks later to score a 22-length allowance blowout at Genesee Valley in upstate New York. The field also includes two other entrants who finished behind Salamanca School at Genesee: Armata Stable's Our Friend was second while Ballybristol Farm's Mercoeur was fourth. Mercoeur, 12, has plenty of experience at Great Meadow having made six previous starts, and won a steeplethon over the course in 2020. Rounding out the field are Armata Stable's Fashion Line, who scored his third victory of the season at Virginia Fall, taking the steeplethon at Virginia Fall where he defeated Storm Team. Elizabeth Korrell's Don't Shout was second to Salamanca School at Shawan Downs, beaten nine lengths, in his first start in 14 months.

In the Ferguson, six horses will face starter Stirling Young, led by Bruton Street-US' mighty Snap Decision, who was pulled up after failing to mount a threat over the soft going in the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills last Saturday. The three-time Grade 1 winner, whose lone 2023 victory came in the G2 Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg Spring, will again be giving away a lot of weight under the race's handicap conditions, from 12 to 20 pounds. His stiffest challenge could come from fellow G1 winner Riverdee Stable's Awakened (150 pounds), who captured the Jonathan Sheppard stakes over the summer in Saratoga. Sonny Via's Welshman (146 pounds) has three wins in his last five outings, including the G2 David Semmes Memorial at the same distance over the same course in May. Upland Flats Racing and John Lewis' West Newton (142 pounds), a two-time winner this year, won the Daniel Van Clief Memorial at Foxfield in the spring, defeating Irv Naylor's Scorpion's Revenge, a stakes winner himself, who finished fourth in last week's Grand National. In his first NSA start after a career in Europe, Sharon Sheppard and Gill Johnston's Caramelised (140 pounds) was an impressive come-from-behind winner over Welshman in the Carolina Cup novice stakes. And after finishing third in the Queen's Cup, also a novice stake, he wasn't a factor in either the Jonathan Kiser or Jonathan Sheppard (G1) stakes.

For the complete entries, click here

Post time for the races is 12:00 noon., and you can watch via live stream from the NSA website. The live stream is sponsored by Brown Advisory.

The post Steeplechase: Major Hurdle, Timber Stakes Highlight Saturday’s Eight-Race Great Meadow Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘We’re Thrilled’: White Abarrio Completes Final Work For Breeders’ Cup Classic

White Abarrio, a leading contender for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Friday at Santa Anita. According to private clocker Gary Young, the 4-year-old Race Day colt went the final quarter mile in 22.80 seconds.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was originally slated to work Monday but that drill was postponed.

In response to an inquiry from the Paulick Report, California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten said the workout request was denied by Santa Anita “in consultation with the CHRB's equine medical director and chief official veterinarian.”

It's not the first time veterinarians have stopped the horse from breezing at Santa Anita; White Abarrio shipped to Southern California in mid-September and put in a work Sept. 20, going five furlongs in 1:00.80. The Form reported the following week that Dutrow's request to work him was denied by track veterinarians. He later breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Oct. 2, five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Oct. 9, and five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Oct. 16.

Connections attributed the most recent delay to an issue with White Abarrio's shoes. Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay flew in Monday and re-shod White Abarrio. He galloped Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday's drill.

Dutrow was in from New York to observe the work, which came under jockey Emily Ellingwood. Dutrow left Santa Anita shortly after the move and was not available for comment. Assistant Chip Dutrow, Rick Dutrow's brother, said they were pleased with the drill.

“He worked great. He cooled out great. We're thrilled,” Chip Dutrow said.

White Abarrio has made two starts for Dutrow after being transferred from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He was third in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap going a mile at Belmont Park June 10, then won the G1 Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga. The Whitney is the same 1 ¼-mile distance as the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Dutrow previously won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2005 with Saint Liam.

The post ‘We’re Thrilled’: White Abarrio Completes Final Work For Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Sky Racing World: Final Fall Days At Keeneland, Stars Of Tomorrow I At Churchill

The final weekend before Breeders' Cup is held at Santa Anita Park will feature plenty of eyes on the last-gasp preparations for this year's World Championships, but it also offers plenty of stakes action on the Eastern side of the continental U.S.

The Fayette serves as the closing-day feature of the 17-day Fall Meet at Keeneland: it features a Group 1 winner in Chile, a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita, and five Grade 3 winners among 14, including two also-eligibles, entered for the 1 1/8-mile contest.

The Grade 2 Forty Niner (previously the Kelso), is one of three stakes on Saturday's lucrative 11-race program at Aqueduct, including the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose, and the listed $135,000 Awad.

For the third time this fall, the jumpers return to Virginia on Saturday, where they'll compete for $325,000 in purses at the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, the second richest program on the National Steeplechase Association autumn calendar. The card consists of eight races – over timber, hurdles, and a mixed bag of obstacles – as well as events for runners at all levels of competition from maiden claiming to stakes. In all, 57 horses have been entered.

On Sunday, the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense Stakes is the featured event on opening day of the 21-day Fall Meet at Churchill Downs, and offers the winner 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for 2024. The 11-race program will feature all 2-year-old racing. Two races prior to the Street Sense is the $200,000 Rags to Riches Stakes (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies.

A total of 100 New York-breds are entered for a special 10-race card on Closing Day Sunday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth $1.6 million, led by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff.

Saturday

3: 48 p.m. – Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Aqueduct

Xigera will look to make the grade in Saturday's $250,000 Mother Goose, a nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies. Trained by Philip Bauer, the Nyquist dark bay has flashed talent on turf and dirt, taking the Tepin over the Ellis Park green in July and the Seneca Overnight last out on September 23 over the Churchill Downs main track.

Defining Purpose [post 7, Junior Alvarado] earned Grade 1 glory in April at Keeneland with a 20-1 upset score in the Ashland when posting a prominent half-length score over Punchbowl, who was a neck better than returning rival Julia Shining. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the Cross Traffic grey followed with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks but redeemed herself off a two-month break by winning the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. She was last seen finishing a distant fifth in the Grade 1 Cotillion contested at 1 1/16-miles over a sloppy and sealed main track on September 23 at Parx.

Chad Brown trainee Occult [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] exits a third-place finish in the Cotillion, rallying from last-of-9 to finish 1 3/4-lengths back of Ceiling Crusher, who successfully shipped in from the West Coast. Brown will also saddle a pair of sophomore contenders for Klaravich Stables in dual graded stakes-placed Undervalued Asset [post 4, Manny Franco] and maiden winner Peak Popularity [post 2, Dylan Davis].

Foggy Night [post 1, Jose Lezcano], winner of the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks in July for trainer Butch Reid, Jr., will look to make amends from a distant sixth-place finish last out in the Grade 1 Cotillion.

The regally-bred Julia Shining [post 3, Javier Castellano] made the grade at second asking here for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, overcoming a bobbled start to post a neck score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Demoiselle over sloppy and sealed footing. Julia Shining followed with third-place efforts in the Suncoast in February at Tampa Bay Downs and the aforementioned Ashland in April at Keeneland. Last out, she was eased when ninth in the Grade 1 Alabama in August at the Spa where she has continued to work regularly over Oklahoma training track.

Mother Goose Entries

4:53 p.m. – Grade 2 Forty Niner Stakes at Aqueduct

Stakes-winner Everso Mischievous will make his first start in graded company in Saturday's $300,000 Forty Niner, a one-mile test for 3-year-olds and up that was previously run as the Kelso, at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the sophomore son of Into Mischief was last seen winning the seven-furlong Harrods Creek on September 23 at Churchill Downs where he raced one length off the pace in second under Cristian Torres before taking command at the stretch call and drawing off to a 3 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:22.15.

Graded stakes-winning Maryland-bred Double Crown [post 1, Jose Gomez] looks to defend his title in this event on the heels of a closing third-place effort in the Maryland Million Classic on October 14 at Laurel Park. Trained by Ray Ginter, Jr., the son of Bourbon Courage won the Polynesian against open company two starts back at Pimlico Race Course with a driving finish up the rail.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out a strong pair in dual graded stakes-placed Accretive [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and multiple stakes-winning New York-bred Dr Ardito [post 5, Manny Franco].

Film Star [post 4, Jose Lezcano] arrives at the Forty Niner in impressive form as he makes his ninth outing for trainer Linda Rice after being haltered for $75,000 out of a win in April at Keeneland. The Flatter bay was most recently second to Zandon in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Woodward.

Completing the field are the pair of multiple graded stakes-placed Synthesis [post 8, Isaac Castillo] and five-time winner Business Model [post 7, Dylan Davis] for owner/trainer David Jacobson; Swiftsure [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], who enters off a pair of wins for trainer Horacio De Paz.

Forty Niner Entries

5:16 p.m. – Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland

A Group 1 winner in Chile, a Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita, and five Grade 3 winners are among 14, including two also-eligibles, entered for the 66th running of the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on Saturday.

O'Connor (CHI) has the 2022 Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at the top of his 10-win resume. Now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., O'Connor is winless in five starts this year but is graded stakes-placed in three of those races. He most recently was fifth in the Woodward (G2) Oct. 1 at Belmont at the Big A. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 9.

Also coming in from New York is Law Professor. Trained by Rob Atras, Law Professor is a four-time stakes winner with his biggest victory coming in the Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2) in 2021. He was most recently was third in the Woodward. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 8.

The Grade 3 winners in the field are Happy American, King Fury, Giant Game, Il Miracolo, and Best Actor.

Fayette Entries

Sunday

5:35 p.m. – Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill

Generous Tipper, the recent third-place finisher in the Breeders' Futurity (Grade 1), tops a field of eight 2-year-olds for the $200,000 Street Sense Stakes (G3) on “Stars of Tomorrow I” at Churchill Downs. Generous Tipper, trained by Kenny McPeek, was a 7 ½-length maiden special weight winner on closing day of the Ellis Park meet in late August. The son of this race's namesake, Street Sense, finished third to Locked and The Wine Steward three weeks ago in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will retain the mount from the rail.

The Street Sense field also includes eye-catching debut winner Parchment Party. Owned by Pin Oak Stud and trained by Bill Mott, Parchment Party rallied from 11 lengths off the early pace to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs. The son of Constitution will once again be ridden by James Graham from post No. 5.

Other Street Sense entrants include Iroquois (G3) third-place finisher Liberal Arts; Belmont at Aqueduct eight-length maiden winner Moonlight; and gutsy Churchill Downs maiden special weight winner Informed Patriot.

The Street Sense is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season where the top five finishers will be awarded points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards qualifying for the 150th Kentucky Derby.

Street Sense Entries

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Pletcher Group Leads Keeneland Workers; White Abarrio Back On Track

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a total of 12 horses, all of whom are pre-entered in next weekend's Breeders' Cup races, for half-mile works at Keeneland Friday morning in advance of their Saturday departure to Santa Anita.

GII Pilgrim S. winner Agate Road (Quality Road) (Juvenile Turf) worked in company with Haul (Army Mule) in :49 flat (32/63). GI Darley Alcibiades winner Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) (NetJets Juvenile Filles) went in company with GII Chandelier runner-up Scalable (Speightstown) (Juvenile Fillies) in :49.20 (37/63).

About Candied, Pletcher said, “She worked very well. She worked on the inside of Scalable. Finished up nicely, galloped out good. She was a little late on her lead change, which has kind of been a thing with her. But she did get it the second time when Luis (Saez) asked for it. And once she did, she leveled off nicely, finished up strong and galloped out great.”

As for Pletcher's older horses, GII Suburban S. winner Charge It (Tapit) (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile) worked in :48.60 (17/63) while GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future (Curlin) (Classic or Dirt Mile) worked in company with Dreamlike (Gun Runner) (Dirt Mile or Classic) in :48.40 (9/63).

'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) (FanDuel Juvenile) went in company with Noted (Cairo Prince) (Juvenile) in :48.60 (17/63).

 

Life Talk (Gun Runner) (Juvenile Fillies) was in company with GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Locked (Gun Runner) (Juvenile) in :48 flat (6/63).

“Locked just does everything so easily and effortlessly,” Pletcher said. “He's a colt that we had high expectations for when he came in. He's a very quiet, laid-back colt. Unassuming, until we got serious with him, and then it was like, wow, this is a really nice colt. I thought his debut was sneaky impressive. I thought his mile maiden win at Saratoga was the most impressive 2-year-old performance of the meet. Then to come here and win (the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity) from an outside draw and a wide trip the entire way, I thought that was a very determined effort on his part. He's done everything well since then. We've been blessed with some very good 2-year-olds, and I think that he's right there with them.”

Life's an Audible (Audible) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) ran in company with Appellate (Constitution) in :48.80 (25/63).

GI Coolmore Turf Mile winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) (Turf or Mile) breezed in company with Be You (Curlin) in :48.80 (25/63).

“Up to the Mark has had two good breezes now since his win in the (Coolmore) Turf Mile,” said Pletcher. “I thought we got what we wanted in terms of some good conditioning. Strong gallop out, seems to be doing well. We're going to continue to lean towards going in the Turf.”

At Santa Anita Friday, White Abarrio (Race Day) worked five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39). According to private clocker Gary Young, the 4-year-old went the final quarter mile in :22.80.

 

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., White Abarrio was originally slated to work this past Monday but that drill was postponed. Connections attributed the delay to an issue with White Abarrio's shoes. Noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay flew in Monday and re-shod White Abarrio. He galloped Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prior to Friday's drill.

“He worked great. He cooled out great. We're thrilled,” Chip Dutrow said.

Working for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was Chatalas (Gun Runner) for trainer Mark Glatt. Winner of the GII Chandelier S. Oct. 7, the filly worked five furlongs 1:01.00 (15/39).

Trainer Peter Eurton worked a trio of 2-year-old Breeders' Cup contenders: Flattery (Flatter), Stay Hot (Summer Front) and Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flattery worked four furlongs on the training track in :48 flat (2/12). Stay Hot worked four furlongs on the training track in a bullet :47.40 (1/12). Dark Vintage worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.40 seconds (2/37).

Trainer John Sadler worked the Speakeasy winner, Slider (Jimmy Creed), who went five furlongs in :59.80 (3/39).

Working towards the Juvenile Turf was Endlessly (Oscar Performance) for trainer Michael McCarthy. He drilled four furlongs in :47.80 (8/37).

Rounding out Friday's Breeders' Cup workers were Elm Drive (Mohaymen) and Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy), who is on the also-eligible list for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Elm Drive, pre-entered in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, worked five furlongs on the training track in 1:03.20 (5/6) for trainer Phil D'Amato.

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