40th Breeders' Cup World Championships | Horse Racing Free Tips

Catching Up with 2007-08 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winner Midnight Lute

Midnight Lute gave a masterclass in devastating closing speed in his back-to-back Breeders' Cup Sprint wins, with his 4 3/4-length score in 2007 an eye-popping performance visually and his 1:07.08 time in 2008 still holding the Sprint record. Veteran yearling-to-juvenile reseller Eddie Woods broke the champion, who was a $290,000 RNA at OBS March in 2005 as a 2-year-old.

“He was a wonderfully big, good-looking black horse,” said Woods. “Tom McGreevy bought him to pinhook him to OBS. It's shameful to say for a champion sprinter, but he didn't work quick enough. If you look at his style of running, he sashayed out of the gate. He had no early speed at all.

“He was always good-looking and he turned into a big, handsome horse with crazy finishing speed. His Breeders' Cup at Monmouth in the slop was one of the best races I've seen.”

Midnight Lute (2003 dark bay or brown horse, Real Quiet–Candytuft, by Dehere)

Lifetime record: Ch. sprinter, MGISW, 13-6-3-1, $2,690,600

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Tom Evans, Macon Wilmil Eq, & Marjac Fm (KY); O-Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Weitman Performances, LLC; T-Bob Baffert; J-Garrett Gomez.

Current location: Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, Paris, Ky.

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Catching Up with 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Essential Quality

As the wide-reaching Godolphin operation has used the names of different arms throughout the years–for example, 2001 Juvenile Fillies winner Tempera (A.P. Indy) was bred by Darley Stud Management, LLC but raced for Godolphin, LLC–it may be a surprise to learn Essential Quality was the first official Godolphin homebred to win the Breeders' Cup. Remarkably, in the two renewals since his win, another seven Godolphin homebreds have added to that number.

Undefeated at two, Essential Quality was a Belmont and Travers winner at three. His first foals were born this year.

“Essential Quality was one of our best yearlings in his crop and he later proved to be the best of his whole crop,” said Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock at Godolphin, USA, “winning the Eclipse Award for being Champion 2-year-old and 3-year-old. He also holds a special place in the Godolphin honor roll as a homebred Classic winner. What really distinguished Essential Quality from other horses is that when he left our yearling farm to go into training, he never had a day off until after his last race. He never raced on any medication, was fast, tough, sound and durable. Hopefully, he will pass on those traits to his offspring which will propel him into having a great second career as a stallion.”

Essential Quality (2018 gray or roan horse, Tapit–Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality)

Lifetime record: Ch. 2yo colt, Ch. 3yo colt, MGISW, 10-8-0-1, $4,755,144

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Godolphin (KY); O-Godolphin, LLC; T-Brad Cox; J-Luis Saez.

Current location: Jonabell Farm, Lexington, Ky.

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Catching Up with 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Classic Empire

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was coming off his first two Breeders' Cup wins just the year before when he entered Classic Empire in the Juvenile. Second choice on the board, Classic Empire made back-to-back Grade Is look easy following a powerful victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Casse indicated looks can be deceiving.

“Any hair I had left, he made sure it was gone,” said Casse recently with a laugh. “He was a pistol. A lot of people didn't know this, but six days before the Breeders' Cup–right before we were going to ship–he came up with a foot abscess and couldn't walk. We weren't even sure we were going to get him on the plane.

“We put a three-quarter shoe on him and he won. I have that shoe in my office with the win photo.

“That just showed how truly good he was, a testament to him and his ability. It was wonderful to win it for the Oxleys. They have always been big supporters of ours and they were there, so it was special to win.”

Classic Empire (2014 bay horse, Pioneerof the Nile–Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief)

Lifetime record: Ch. 2yo colt, MGISW, 9-5-1-1, $2,520,220

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Steven Nicholson & Brandi Nicholson (KY); O-John C. Oxley; T-Mark Casse; J-Julien Leparoux.

Location photographed: Coolmore America/Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

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Catching Up with 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Round Pond

John Ferguson acquired Round Pond on behalf of Darley for $5.75 million at Fasig-Tipton's fall sale in 2007. The elegant bay produced two stakes winners for the Darley/Godolphin banner–MSW & GISP Long River (A.P. Indy) and SW & GSP Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire})–while an unraced daughter produced 2022 GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner. The latter, a Godolphin homebred by home stallion Street Sense, stood his first season in the Darley stud barn alongside his sire this year.

“Round Pond is a sweet girl,” said Darley's Gainsborough division farm manager Danny Mulvihill, “but is pretty low on the totem pole. She will come for food but likes to play hard to catch! I am sure I have heard her 'laughing' as she runs away from you. She tends to be happy with her own company and doesn't need a whole lot of attention. She is another fan favorite when the tours come through.”

Round Pond (2002 bay mare, Awesome Again–Gift of Dance, by Trempolino)

Lifetime record: MGISW, 13-7-2-3, $1,998,700

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan (KY); O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc.; T-Michael Matz; J-Edgar Prado.

Current location: Darley America, Lexington, Ky.

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