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Saint-Cloud: Juvenile Features Dominate Sunday Action

Saint-Cloud stage the key fayre on Sunday, with the G1 Criterium International and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud offering the juvenile crop a late opportunity to flaunt Classic pretensions. In the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Ballydoyle look for their first winner since 2010 with the impressive Curragh maiden winner Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while the Joseph O'Brien-trained compatriot Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will provide clues as to the merit of his G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. conqueror Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Godolphin's unbeaten Andre Fabre-trained TDN Rising Star Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) is also in the mix along with Bernardine and Sean Mulryan's Haynes, Hanson & Clark S. winner Bracken's Laugh (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). His trainer Richard Hughes said, “It's a big ask going into such a race on just your second start, but that's why I ran him in a winner's race at Newbury. He needed to run in a proper race to prove himself and I feel he did that on the day, he made up a two or three lengths on a couple of winners and won well at the line and he proved he goes on the heavy ground.”

“When you spend 200,000gns on a horse you hope you are buying a superstar and I stuck my neck on the line for this fella,” Hughes added. “He's a huge horse and he did a very good breeze back in May when he shouldn't have been able. He's got an abundance of pace and he's bred to stay a minimum of a mile and a half. I feel I have ticked all the boxes other than having only run once.”

In the Criterium International, another TDN Rising Star from the Fabre stable is Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who beat the re-opposing Saganti (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over this mile trip and track last month. Guy Pariente, Thomas Lines and Qatar Racing's G2 Champagne S. runner-up Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) is a key opponent and trainer David Menuisier believes he has a measure of the merit of Alcantor. “It's the form line of the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud, when we finished fourth with Devil's Point and Andre Fabre's horse looks really good,” he said. “We respect the opposition but the horse is really well and I'm counting on him for a big run.”

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DWC Winner Ushba Tesoro Among Japan-Based BC Hopefuls Set For Santa Anita Arrival

A group of nine horses from Japan bound for the Breeders' Cup are scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Tuesday, according to Santa Anita Stall Superintendent Jeff Metz.

Among Japan's expected contingent are Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Ushba Tesoro and former classic starter Derma Sotogake, who came to the U.S. earlier this year for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and finished sixth.

Two years ago at Del Mar, horses from Japan collected their first-ever wins in a Breeders' Cup. Marche Lorraine lit up the tote board in the Distaff (G1) when prevailing by a nose at 48-1 and Loves Only You won the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at 4-1.

According to Metz, an additional 42 horses from Europe are scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita on Sunday, Oct. 29. The 40th Breeders' Cup will be run Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita.

The post DWC Winner Ushba Tesoro Among Japan-Based BC Hopefuls Set For Santa Anita Arrival appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Exercise Rider Luevano Dies During Training Hours At Los Alamitos

Alfredo Luevano, 53, died early Friday morning in a training incident at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California, the track said in a press release late Friday evening.

Luevano was exercising a filly on the backstretch when the incident occurred. He was on the ground when assistance first arrived, while the filly ran off under her power. As of now, there have been no eyewitness accounts with any precise details on the incident. Luevano was rushed to Long Beach Memorial, where he was pronounced deceased.

The horse, a 2-year-old filly Quarter Horse named Fly From The Fire (Fly Thru the Fire), was not injured. She made five starts this year for trainer Mike Casselman and was entered in the seventh race at Los Alamitos on Saturday night. Track management has since confirmed that the filly will be scratched as a precaution.

“On behalf of the Los Alamitos Race Course family, we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Luevano's family members and friends,” said Los Alamitos Race Course spokesperson Orlando Gutierrez.

Born in the city of Luis Moya in Zacatecas, Mexico, the jockey had a total of 33 mounts during his professional riding career with most of his rides taking place in Mexico and Colorado. He was issued an exercise rider license by the California Horse Racing Board earlier this year.

Alfredo Luevano is survived by his wife, Marisela Martinez, their children, Lisbet, Alfredo Jr., Alex, Aldo, and Camila, six grandchildren and his father, Augustine. A moment of silence will be held in his memory before Sunday's Quarter Horse card at Los Alamitos.

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Practical Move Among Breeders’ Cup Hopefuls To Drill At Santa Anita

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup hopeful Practical Move returned to the Santa Anita work tab Saturday following a sharp comeback victory going a flat mile against against allowance foes Oct. 6 at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

At about 6:45 a.m. (PT), Practical Move hit the main track and went four furlongs in company in :48.80. He is targeting the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 4, trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed.

“He got some outside company and it all went well,” Yakteen said. “I was just looking to see that his energy level was good, make sure all systems are a go. That's what we saw.”

Yakteen added he is “planning on the (Dirt) Mile” for Practical Move.

In his comeback effort, which followed a nearly six-month layoff, Practical Move and jockey Ramon Vazquez settled just off the early pace before surging past rivals at the top of the stretch and cruising to an easy four-length victory. The effort earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

By Practical Joke, Practical Move has won five of eight starts and never missed the board. Following his win in the Santa Anita Derby April 8, he was shipped to Churchill Downs to contest the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. He never got the chance. The week of the Derby, Practical Move developed an elevated temperature and had to be scratched.

Practical Move was among several Breeders' Cup contenders to work Saturday.

Also returning to the tab for Bob Baffert were Muth and Wine Me Up, the one-two finishers in the American Pharoah (G1) Oct. 7. Muth went five furlongs in :59.40 and Wine Me Up was timed in :59.20 for the same distance. Both are pointed to the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 3.

Working towards expected starts in the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 4 were Anarchist (5f, 59.40) on the main track and The Chosen Vron (5f, 1:01.60) on the training track. Also working on the main track for trainer Steve Asmussen was Gunite (5f, 1:00.20), who is possible for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Anarchist worked with Vazquez in the irons. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt trained by Doug O'Neill most recently won the Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 26.

“He went really good. This is a happy horse,” Vazquez said.

Added Leandro Mora, O'Neill's assistant: “He's stepping things up. He looks more focused and fresher, which was the idea giving him more time between races.”

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs were both Kirstenbosch for trainer John Sadler and Society for Asmussen. Kirstenbosch, winner of the Chillingworth (G3) Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, went five furlongs in 1:00.40. Society went the same distance in :59.80.

Clearly Unhinged, second in the Chillingworth for trainer Michael McCarthy, also worked towards a potential start in the Filly & Mare Sprint with a four-furlong move in :48.20.

Drilling a half mile on the training track for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Mile were Du Jour and Exaulted, the one-two finishers in the Del Mar Mile (G2) most recently on Sept. 2. Du Jour worked in :48.60 while Exaulted, winner of the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in the spring, went in :47.40.

Astronomer, also a candidate for the Mile following a second-place finish in the City of Hope Mile (G2) Sept. 30 worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.00 for trainer Simon Callaghan.

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 4 was Motorious for trainer Phil D'Amato. Winner of the Green Flash (G3) at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Motorious worked four furlongs on the training track in :46.80.

D'Amato also worked Desert Dawn six furlongs in 1:13.40. The Arizona-bred daughter of Cupid is possible for either the $2-million Breeders' Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles or the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Pre-entries for the 40th Breeders' Cup will be announced Friday at 9 a.m.

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