Aidan O'Brien | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Icing On The Cake’: Yibir Completes Appleby’s Del Mar Trifecta In Breeders’ Cup Turf

Trainer Charlie Appleby has experienced the entire rollercoaster of emotions that horse racing has to offer within the microcosm of a single weekend where the turf meets the surf. On Friday, one of his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf entrants was scratched at the gate, while the other was mistakenly scratched, then reinstated to run for purse money only before winning convincingly. Again on Saturday in the Mile, one entrant was scratched at the gate while the other, Space Blues, galloped to victory.

The trainer's trifecta was completed on Saturday evening with a strong victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf by the quirky sophomore gelding Yibir.

“A fantastic weekend, though I'll be taking a couple of them home fresh,” Appleby said. “I don't know quite how to describe it, really… Today, obviously standing there again to see potentially what was unfolding in front of us, it took a little bit of stepping back and having to take a breath again. But I just knew the right horse was left in the gate in Space Blues, so he was always going to be the main player. And then that in the last, that was the icing on the cake, really. We felt this horse had a lot of talent, he was galloping really good with all our 3-year-old middle distance horses and he's gone and finished it off today.”

The Goldolphin homebred by Dubawi had just one horse beat around the far turn, so jockey William Buick had to be patient before unleashing his rally down the center of the course. That well-timed ride saw 8-1 chance Yibir run down Broome (9-1) to win by a half-length, completing 1 1/2 miles over Del Mar's firm turf course in 2:25.90, a new course record.

“It's been unbelievable,” Buick said. “An amazing weekend. I've been coming to Breeders' Cup for many years and many times things have not gone my way. I understand how hard it is to have winners here so I appreciate every bit of success. The luck has gone my way this year. I couldn't pull him up after the line as he finished that strong. He's a very special horse.”

Yibir was not particularly quick into stride when all 14 entrants broke from the starting gate, and labored at the back of the field in the early going. He seemed to settle in after the first half-mile, and Buick said he started to get confident in his chances from that point.

Up front, Tribhuvan and Acclimate pulled away from the rest of the pack by five lengths to set all the early fractions: :24.04, :48.38, 1:12.41. Closest to the frontrunning pair was Channel Maker, with Bolshoi Ballet and Walton Street also near the front. Meanwhile, defending Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tarnawa traveled just ahead of Yibir at the back of the field.

The field took closer order after a mile in 1:36.76, and Ryan Moore set about moving Broome up from the rear of the field. Buick tracked that move, and followed Moore's path to build up Yibir's momentum with a wide move around the far turn.

In the stretch run, Broome got away from the field by about two lengths, but Yibir switched to his right lead and mowed her down with a powerful late rally. At the line, Yibir was a half-length ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained mare, while 3-year-old filly Teona ran a bang-up race to finish third. Japan checked in fourth, while Channel Maker hung around to finish fifth.

The remaining order of finish was: Bolshoi Ballet, Sisfahan, Rockemperor, Walton Street, Gufo, Tarnawa, Astronaut, Tribhuvan, and Acclimate.

“It was the one race this weekend that I didn't know how to assess it,” Buick said of the Turf. “There was a lot of pace in the race but I didn't know what my horse, how he would be able to react. He's a bit of a complex character and you saw him at Belmont last time where he dropped himself out and I had that scenario in my head that he might be a bit rank, and anyway, he broke well, and he pulled hard.

“To be honest with you, I thought he was doing too much. But then once we turned into the back he dropped and he was in a good mile and a half steady rhythm and I was just hoping that he stayed there for the finish because he's got an amazingly strong finish, and halfway around the home turn I could see Broome had gone, but I was always confident of picking him up. He has an amazing turn of foot and I couldn't pull him up after the line. Amazing horse, and I think he did something that not many horses can do, so all credit to him and great weekend. Well done to Charlie and everyone at Godolphin, all the team at home, everyone. It's fantastic.”

Bred in Great Britain by Godolphin, Yibir is out of the winning German-bred Monsun mare Rumh. That mare, a $502,236 yearling purchase at the 2009 Tattersalls sale, is also the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and 2018 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion.

Yibir has had an up-and-down career for Appleby, though his final two runs ahead of the Breeders' Cup were both convincing victories, including the $1 million Jockye Club Derby Invitational at Belmont Park. Overall, the gelding has compiled a record of six wins from 12 starts with earnings of $2,895,580.

“It's just a tribute to the job that Charlie does with his horses with the team he's got behind him, and certainly what William does on the afternoon,” said Godolphin's Jimmy Bell. “So it's been, I'm sure, a big team effort and a lot of credit goes to Charlie and his team for being able to present him on a day like today.”

Quotes from other connections:

Trainer Aiden O'Brien (Broome (IRE), second and Japan, fourth) – “They've all run well, but just not quite good enough today. The winner has done it well and is very smart.”

Trainer Roger Varian (Teona (IRE), third) – “As she angled for home I thought we had a big chance. Watching the race again I don't think it's an ideal track for her. Hopefully she's fine after the race. She'll be aimed at all the big races next year and it's very exciting. If having runners at Breeders' Cup doesn't get your blood up nothing will!”

Trainer Bill Mott (Channel Maker, fifth) – “He ran a super race. Luis (Saez) rode him great. There were two very fast horses in there, so we just laid in behind them. He ran hard. He ran is heart out. We were fifth, but if they give you a good effort you can't complain.”

Jockey Luis Saez (Channel Maker, fifth) – “He did everything right and I did everything they asked for. I just got beat. When I got to the quarter pole, he responded really well and I had some horse and thought I can win this race. I kept trying but the winner just kept coming.”

Jockey Colin Keane (defending winner Tarnawa, 11th) – “She ran flat. I think France last time on very soft ground took plenty out of her. She seemed fine after the race.”

The post ‘Icing On The Cake’: Yibir Completes Appleby’s Del Mar Trifecta In Breeders’ Cup Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Johannesburg: A Trailblazer Twenty Years On

Del Mar, CA–While the bridge between the European turf and the American dirt is one that is rarely crossed nowadays, it has historically been the path to some of the greatest payoffs-at both the parimutuels and in the realms of international ratings and stud value-at the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

In 1991, Sheikh Albadou forged the path when backing up a win in the G1 Nunthorpe S. and runner-up efforts in the G1 Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye into a first victory for a European-trained runners in a Breeders' Cup dirt race when he shocked older horses at 26-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. The victory for the Alex Scott-trained 3-year-old provided compensation for pundits of European racing who saw the continent's great sprinter Dayjur snatch defeat from the jaws of victory just a year prior when jumping a shadow inside the final furlong of the Sprint and conceding his lead to the champion filly Safely Kept.

Indeed, Sheikh Albadou holds the coveted title of first European-trained horse to win a Breeders' Cup dirt race by a mere few hours. Later that same day at Churchill Downs, the Francois Boutin-trained Arazi came along and posted the widest-margin victory on the card and one of the great performances in the history of the meeting when rolling past the American favourite Bertrando (Skywalker) to take the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a runaway five lengths.

While the Andre Fabre-trained Arcangues and John Gosden's Raven's Pass secured their places in history by downing America's very best in the meeting's marquee GI Breeders' Cup Classic in 1993 and 2008, respectively, it was the juvenile that once again produced a memorable result for the European contingent at Belmont Park in 2001, and 20 years on one can still look back on the performance of Johannesburg in the Juvenile-and the ambitious campaign that preceded it-with admiration.

Bred in Kentucky by Wayne G. Lyster and Jayeff 'B' Stables out of the winning Ogygian mare Myth, Johannesburg was selected by Demi O'Byrne out of the 2000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $200,000. Joining trainer Aidan O'Brien, Johannesburg was sent off favourite for his first trip to the post at Fairyhouse on May 30, 2001 and came home a cozy 3 1/2-length winner under Mick Kinane. Johannesburg would maintain favouritism for his next five outings and didn't once disappoint, sweeping Royal Ascot's G3 Norfolk S. and The Curragh's G3 Anglesey S. before picking off his first Group 1 when coming home a five-length winner of the G1 Phoenix S. Fourteen days' rest proved plenty for Johannesburg when he wheeled back to win the G1 Prix Morny, and he once again easily had the measure of the French-trained Zipping (Ire) (Zafonic) when taking the Dewhurst by three lengths, completing a rare European juvenile Group 1 treble.

By the autumn of 2001, the 32-year-old Aidan O'Brien was flying high. Just months removed from his first Derby win with Galileo (Ire), the young O'Brien loaded up his largest contingent yet for the Breeders' Cup (seven) at Belmont Park. O'Brien had sent out seven runners in the three Breeders' Cups prior, his first runner at the event being the 1998 Mile sixth-place finisher Second Empire (Ire) (Fairy King). Entering the 2001 Breeders' Cup, O'Brien had not yet had a winner at the meeting, though Giant's Causeway's thrilling throwdown when finishing second to Tiznow in the Classic at Churchill Downs in 2000 doubtless emboldened O'Brien to continue rolling the dice on the dirt with his European stars-let us not overlook, of course, that Giant's Causeway and Johannesburg were both American-breds from the Storm Cat sireline.

O'Brien's day at the Breeders' Cup on Oct. 27, 2001, started decently enough, with Bach (Ire) (Caerleon) finishing best of his first three runners to pick up third in the Mile. Johannesburg, however, would take things into an entirely different stratosphere in the Juvenile. Not favoured for the first time in his career, with punters coming in droves for the GI Champagne S. winner Officer and also the GI Hopeful S. scorer Came Home, Johannesburg was let go at more than 7-1 and was initially caught flat-footed when the gates opened. The European champion was soon slicing up the rail, however, under Kinane, and by the time they passed the second furlong Johannesburg was stalking the front-running duel of Officer and Came Home, who were locked neck-and-neck while setting honest but not breakneck fractions. Officer had his head in front at the top of the lane but it was soon apparent he was in deep, with Siphonic squeezing through on the fence to head him, while in behind Johannesburg took back briefly to find clear runway. Once he did, the race was sewn up in a matter of strides, with Johannesburg unleashing a powerful turn of foot to sweep past the front runners while holding at bay the fast-finishing longshot Repent. Officer-whose sire Bertrando was incidentally second to Arazi as the heavy favourite in the same race 10 years prior and runner-up to Arcangues in the Classic two years later-could manage just fifth.

Johannesburg's light on the racecourse would not linger much longer; he made just three starts at three and failed to find the winners' enclosure. His legacy has endured, however, at stud, largely through his highly influential son Scat Daddy, who provided a Breeders' Cup winner of his own in 2017 with the Coolmore-owned, O'Brien-trained Mendelssohn in the GI Juvenile Turf. While the Juvenile on the dirt continued to be a happy hunting ground for European raiders through the first decade of the century-with Wilko (Awesome Again) winning under Frankie Dettori at 20-1 at Lone Star Park in 2004 and Godolphin's Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) springing a 25-1 upset at Santa Anita in 2009-the more recent addition of the juvenile turf races to the Breeders' Cup programme has ushered in a new era for international participation at the meeting. And just as Johannesburg had announced his ambitious young trainer's arrival on the global stage in 2000, so too did Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the 2013 edition of the Juvenile Turf, when he provided his fledgling trainer Charlie Appleby with a first Breeders' Cup victory just four months into his training career. This weekend, fresh off a stellar European season in which he recorded his second Derby win in four years, among many other highlights, Appleby brings a team of six to Del Mar with now three Breeders' Cup winners to his name.

Could his Juvenile Turf contenders Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Albahr (GB) be the 2022 Derby winner? Del Mar to Epsom Downs may seem a large gap to bridge, but that is exactly the route taken by Appleby's 2018 Derby winner Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who parlayed a sixth-place finish behind Mendelssohn in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf into blue riband glory seven months later. Remarkably, the next year's edition of the Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs produced another also-ran Derby winner in Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with the GI Preakness S. scorer War Of Will also down the field.

So what is it about the Breeders' Cup that has made it such a successful springboard to Epsom? Perhaps the ability to navigate the tighter turns of American tracks transfers to a penchant to skip across the twists and turns and cambers of the Derby course that is the undoing of so many. Perhaps the horse with the constitution to cross the Atlantic and bear the stresses of Breeders' Cup week is equally suited to overcome the mental challenges of the blue riband. Perhaps it is simply the rarity of a trainer brave and ambitious enough to attempt both.

Last year's Juvenile Turf fifth Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) couldn't quite bridge the Classic gap this year, finishing second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but after an extended summer holiday the Cedric Rossi trainee signaled an indication of things to come with a respectable fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, followed by a 12-1 victory in the G1 Champion S. Sealiway is handled by another relative newcomer to the training ranks, Cedric Rossi, who inherited the horse from his uncle Frederic this autumn and who himself saddles his first Breeders' Cup runner this weekend in the G1 Prix de l'Opera scorer Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}).

Rossi is a member of a new era of young trainers in Europe hungry to make their name on the international stage, and it has been refreshing to hear the views of–and see in action this week–the likes of Dave Loughnane, Michael O'Callaghan, James Ferguson, George Boughey and Henk Grewe as they saddle their first Breeders' Cup runners. These young trainers can take heart from the accomplishments of both Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby, as well as Aidan's son Joseph, who earned his own first victory at the Breeders' Cup as a trainer at the age of 26 in 2019, beating his father to the mark by no fewer than six years.

O'Brien, for his part, has continued to be a treasured international ambassador for the Breeders' Cup 20 years after his first win at the meeting. He is the Breeders' Cup's second all-time leading trainer by money won, his $26.6-million second only to Bob Baffert. O'Brien has continued to heavily patronize the meeting's turf races and has also still periodically rolled the dice on the dirt, recent gambles including Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mendelssohn and Declaration Of War (War Front) in the Classic-the last of which came a quarter-length from being pulled off-and US Navy Flag (like Johannesburg, a European champion 2-year-old–in the Juvenile.

The likes of Johannesburg, Arazi, Arcangues and Sheikh Albadou–and the pioneering spirit of their respective connections–were pivotal in opening the door for widespread overseas participation at the Breeders' Cup, and it will be fascinating to see what chapters are added to this ongoing story at Del Mar this weekend.

The post Johannesburg: A Trailblazer Twenty Years On appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Classic Winner Santiago to Stand Under Coolmore NH Banner

Classic winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}–Wadyhatta {GB}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner at Castlehyde Stud in 2022. A fee for the G1 Irish Derby hero will be announced later.

“Santiago is a Derby winner with a pedigree full of Derby winners and leading sires,” said Coolmore's Cathal Murphy. “He's a big, quality individual with a fantastic action, and I'm sure National Hunt breeders will be very impressed when they see him.”

Purchased for €275,000 in utero at the Arqana July Sale in 2016, the Lynch Bages Ltd.-bred is a half-brother to two-time Group 1-placed filly La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). A winner in three starts at two for the Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien, the bay improved markedly at three, taking Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase in June of 2020 and the Irish Derby at The Curragh just eight days later. He also ran third in the G1 Goodwood Cup in July of that year and was runner-up in the 2021 G2 Yorkshire Cup S. He sports a record of 11-3-3-1 and earnings of $714,737.

Dual Group 1 winner and veteran sire Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef) is under his stakes-placed third dam, while GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf entrant and G3 Killavullan S. hero Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is out of a Nayef half-sister to his winning dam Wadyhatta. Other Group 1 winners in the family include Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Anabaa Blue (GB) (Anabaa). Santiago's fourth dam is a half-sister to breed-shaping bluehen and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victress Urban Sea (Miswaki).

The post Classic Winner Santiago to Stand Under Coolmore NH Banner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Notes: International Horses Check Out Turf, Brown Believes Longshot Tribhuvan ‘Very Dangerous’

INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENT

A busy morning at Del Mar racetrack saw all international runners exercising with the exception of four Japanese horses. Pingxiang (Dirt Mile), Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff), Loves Only You (JPN) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Jasper Great (Juvenile) all stayed in the quarantine barn after working Tuesday.

Vertiginous (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) was the first international horse on the main track this morning when accompanied by her trainer Brian Meehan on a pony.

Teona (IRE) (Turf) was next out on the main track before being followed by 14 international horses exercising on the turf track.

Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) was ridden by usual work rider Geoffrey De La Sayette who said, “I gave her a breeze this morning and I couldn't be happier with her at this stage. She feels every bit as good as she felt going into the Filly & Mare Turf last year at Keeneland so I'm delighted.”

George Boughey has his first Breeders' Cup runners Friday in only his second season as a trainer. Boughey who was trackside to watch Cachet (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Thunder Love (GB) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) said, “It's great to have runners at the Breeders' Cup. I never expected we would have them in our second year of training. They both shipped over really well. We've taken horses all around Europe this year, trying to take horses which are relaxed and take traveling well who don't fret too much.

“I've just watched both horses walk around in front of me then and they've both settled in really well and I'm pleased with them. I think Cachet has a great draw in gate three in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She breaks well and is a filly who likes to get into a rhythm and I've always thought American racing would suit her well. She hasn't done a huge amount of racing round a bend but she seems to have taken it well here. She breezed this morning just a couple of furlongs into the home bend, switched her leads well and looked strong so I'm very happy with her.

“Thunder Love is the first also-eligible for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, so at this stage looks like she'll run in the Senator Ken Maddy where she's drawn in gate six. She is fast away from the gate but will jump tomorrow morning just to sharpen her up and she's taken it well. I've always thought firm ground around a bend is what she needs. They're both fit, healthy and well and hopefully they now have an easy time into the race and they put up big performances.”

Charlie Appleby was trackside to oversee his six horses.

Appleby said, “All six horses have traveled and settled in very well. They breezed this morning which will put them spot on and I couldn't be happier at this stage. William Buick rode Modern Games (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) and was pleased with him and James Doyle rode Master of The Seas (IRE) (Mile) and he said all was good. I'm really looking forward to the races now, I feel we've got a nice team to run so hopefully we have some luck.”

Oisin Murphy rode the Hugo Palmer-trained Ocean Road (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Hierachy (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) on the turf and said, “Ocean Road moved super. She's got a great temperament and I think she can run a career best. Hierarchy did a routine canter and is in great condition and looks great in his coat. He's drawn nicely in gate four and I'm looking forward to riding him.”

As well as riding Master of The Seas, James Doyle rode Dubawi Legend (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) this morning and said, “Dubawi Legend is a very good horse who I'm looking forward to riding on Friday. He has a very bad draw out in 14 so we'll need everything to go right in the race. We'll need some luck in running but I think he can still go well.”

Arguably Europe's biggest hope of the meeting is Tarnawa (IRE) (Turf) who bids to repeat last year's success in the race. Her legendary trainer Dermot Weld was trackside to watch her canter on the turf track who said, “Tarnawa seems in great form. She had a very tough race in the Arc at ParisLongchamp and she was tired for a week afterward. Since then she has bounced back very well and traveled over great. The guys say she's been in great order since she arrived in Del Mar.

“She's very adaptable as we saw in Keeneland last year so obviously we're all very hopeful again. The draw in 13 however is not good. On the stats she's got a huge task and simply on stats they say she can't win. We'll just take our time in the race and see what happens. I love coming to the Breeders' Cup and having international runners. I love the challenge and the challenge is forever getting harder with the quality of races.”

John Velazquez rode Hello You (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and reported she was in “great form really happy with her. I gave her a breeze and she felt like a very nice horse.”

Irish trainer Ado McGuinness was trackside to watch A Case of You (IRE) (Turf Sprint) who was ridden this morning by race day jockey Ronan Whelan. McGuinness said, “A Case of You seems to be very happy with himself and reports from Ian Brennan who has been looking after him have been very positive. I'm looking forward to running him on Saturday and it's an honor to have a runner here at this great meeting.”

Aidan O'Brien's seven horses were once again led by Broome (IRE) (Turf) and followed up in the rear by Love (IRE) (Turf). They did their usual routine trot and then split up into two groups to gallop. O'Brien's possible four runners in the Turf, Bolshoi Ballet (IRE), Broome, Japan (GB) and Mogul (GB) worked together and behind them came Glounthaune (IRE) (Juvenile Turf), Love and Mother Earth (IRE) (Mile).

O'Brien said, “That was great, they've done a nice bit of work there. The lads seem very happy with them all and reports have been good with the way they traveled and how they've settled in. Obviously, we need a few horses to scratch to get a run with a few of them so we'll have to see what happens over the coming days.”

The Kevin Ryan duo of Glass Slippers (GB) (Turf Sprint) and Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Turf Sptrint) were ridden by race day jockeys Tom Eaves and Andrea Atzeni.

Ryan said, “Couldn't be happier at this stage. All good. Tom and Andrea were very happy with them this morning and said they felt great. We're drawn in gates one and two which was a good result so it's all systems go for Saturday now.”

TURF

Chad Brown (Domestic Spending, Rockemperor, Tribhuvan)—Chad Brown will start three capable contenders in Saturday's $4 million Longines Turf, topped by Klaravich Stables star pupil Domestic Spending (GB), who could contend for year-end honors with a favorable performance in the 12-furlong grass affair.

A winner of six of eight starts, the well-bred son of top European sire Kingman enters off a disappointing neck second in the Mr. D (G1) at Arlington Park, but was brilliant in each of his previous starts this year, the Turf Classic (G1) and Manhattan (G1). The earner of more than $1.4 million drew post three and was assigned 4/1 second-choice odds behind defending champ Tarnawa.

The run will be the British-bred bay 4-year-old gelding's first beyond 10 furlongs, but he has followed an identical path to 2019 Brown pupil, Bricks and Mortar, who used a perfect Turf-capped 4-for-4 record to earn Champion Turf Horse and Horse of the Year.

“He's posted good inside and hopefully he gets out of there and gets some decent position up there,” Brown said. “That's kind of where I want to see him. As he's gotten older, he has given me a lot of confidence on whether he'll get the mile and a half. He prefers, especially on the stretch-out, to be covered up and quietly following a good flow of traffic. I think he'll run as far as you want if that happens.

“He needs tempo in front of him and is not nearly as effective against the rider on a slow pace—we saw that at Arlington—he'll start to come on and off the bit that way,” Brown continued. “I rather get him on the stretch-out on firm ground, fresh, as opposed to trying him in back-to-back mile and a half races, which is what I would be faced with if I ran him in the (Grade 1 Joe) Hirsch (Turf Classic). I don't think he'd run as well the second time.”

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Michael Caruso's Rockemperor (IRE) enters the Turf off the best performance of his career when winning the aforementioned Joe Hirsch Turf Classic by two lengths under Javier Castellano. The son of Holy Roman Emperor had been highly regarded for two seasons and six Grade 1 disappointments, but finally broke through at odds of 15/1.

“That was a pleasant surprise,” Brown explained. “He was training well, but I'll be honest, I was surprised with the way he won the race. This is a big step up in class and this is a different group of horses than the Hirsch, but his number was very good. He's had fast numbers in the past and it's not impossible for him to get a piece of it. I like his post, as well. If Javier can get him out of the gate and get a quiet spot following Domestic Spending, that would be ideal.”

The most forward of the Brown brigade will be Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Caruso's Tribhuvan (FR), a son of star miler Toronado who won the United Nations (G1) over 11 furlongs and Fort Marcy (G2) over nine furlongs earlier this season and was last seen fading to fifth in the Sword Dancer (G1) over 12 furlongs. Three starts back, he was an excellent second to Domestic Spending in the Manhattan after setting the pace.

Brown: “He's good and very dangerous here. It may look on paper that he can't get the distance, but I don't think he quite knows when to stop if he gets loose. He nearly pulled it off in the Manhattan. I know that was a mile and a quarter, but he's training well and he's going to love the turf course here. He's a firm-ground horse.

MILE

Blowout, Raging Bull – Peter Brant's Chad Brown-trained Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) duo of Blowout (GB) and Raging Bull (FR) have impressed in their morning exercise this week, including each galloping about one mile of the Del Mar dirt course on Wednesday morning with their conditioner watching.

Blowout, a speedy type who won Keeneland's First Lady (G1) and Churchill Downs' Distaff Turf Mile (G2) in front-running style this season, is a blue-blooded daughter of Dansili—sire of multiple Breeders' Cup winners—and French classic winner Beauty Parlour. Last year, she was nose second over course and distance in Del Mar's Matriarch (G1).

“She's going to be very forward and she doesn't have to be on the lead,” Brown said. “If there's a horse that clearly wants that lead in the first turn, she's fine with having a target. We will give her her own opportunity to win the race—she's not in there to set a pace (for her stablemate) at all—but it's nice to have two horses in there with complementary style, depending on what the pace winds up being.”

Raging Bull will retire to stud after the Mile and returns to the course over which he won the Hollywood Derby (G1) in 2018. The 6yo son of Dark Angel exits a third in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and was victorious in Keeneland's Maker's Mark Mile (G1) in April.

“Raging Bull is going to love getting back to the firm ground and he loves Del Mar,” Brown continued. “That horse is sitting on a big race. He's a little dirtied up his last two starts. He didn't run badly, he just ran third and Dettori said he didn't handle the turf on the turn; was slipping out from under him. He will love being back here.”

Casa Creed – Grade 1-winning Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) contender Casa Creed galloped one mile on the Del Mar dirt track on Wednesday morning for trainer Bill Mott. Owned by LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable, the Jaipur Stakes (G1) winner was 12th in last year's edition, but accounted for himself well over the trip in Saratoga's Fourstardave (G1), when finishing third by two lengths astern Got Stormy.

“We like him in this race, but we didn't draw very good,” Mott said. “We just have to try to get inside, whether we go forward or backward to do that, because you can't be wide here.”

The 5yo son of Jimmy Creed has won five from 22 starts and has drawn post 13 of 14 with Junior Alvarado to ride.

Mo Forza – Bardy Farm homebred Mo Forza will make what could be his final career start in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) for trainer Peter Miller. Co-owned by OG Boss, the son of 5yo son of Uncle Mo has a record of 6-3-2-0 at Del Mar and has won three graded stakes over this surface, including two of the mile distance. Last year, while preparing for the race, he was withdrawn with an injury while expected to garner possible favoritism.

“It would be extremely gratifying to win it this year,” Miller said. “He's just such a talented horse and the best miler racing. Last year was a really a punch to the gut and it would mean the world to me and the owners if he could win it here at home. I'd love to send him off to stud a Breeders' Cup champion.

In 2017 at Del Mar, Miller landed two Breeders' Cup trophies, in the Turf Sprint (Stormy Liberal) and Sprint (Roy H).

[Story Continues Below]

FILLY & MARE TURF

War Like Goddess – On the verge of stardom would not be an overstatement for the attractively named War Like Goddess, who has been nothing short of dominant in her brief career for owner George Krikorian and trainer Bill Mott. The 4yo daughter of Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner English Channel is 6-for-7 and has won her last four races in impressive fashion, including a flying nose victory in the Orchid (G3) and three consecutive one-sided tallies in the Bewitch (G3), Glens Falls (G2) and Flower Bowl Invitational (G1). The 7/2 morning-line favorite for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) drew post seven and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

“She's great,” Mott said. “She's really, knock on wood, has been good ever since her last race in the Flower Bowl. Her lone loss was a comeback race and first time in a stakes and it was a little shorter than she likes and Gulfstream is a pretty speed-favoring kind of track. She's won drawing away and there was another race where she just got up, but we hope there's more there because this is a very good field against some good fillies. You have to be impressed with (Loves Only You)—I've seen her out there and she looks good.”

TURF SPRINT

Gear Jockey – Calumet Farm's Gear Jockey galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Lyndsay Delello for trainer Rusty Arnold, who has a paddock schooling session scheduled for Thursday morning at 10 o'clock.

Gear Jockey will be making his second Breeders' Cup appearance. He finished third as maiden at 67-1 odds in the Juvenile Turf going a mile in 2019 at Santa Anita. Two years later, he shows back up at the World Championships as a leading candidate for the $1 million Turf Sprint.

After an injury cost him most of his 3yo season in 2020, Gear Jockey returned to the races in January at Gulfstream and in his second start broke his maiden going a mile on the turf. Solid efforts followed that victory but Arnold felt something was lacking.

“He was just not finishing his races and I talked with (Calumet Farm general manager) Eddie Kane and said let's try sprinting him,” Arnold said.

What followed was a victory at Saratoga followed by a solid third-place finish in the Troy. Gear Jockey earned his Breeders' Cup ticket with a victory in the Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs.

“We were the first one on the also-eligible list and one of the horses had a travel issue and couldn't make the race, so we drew in,” Arnold said.

Jose Lezcano, who has been aboard Gear Jockey in his past three starts, has the call Saturday.

“Jose and I have been very lucky together,” Arnold said.

JUVENILE TURF

Slipstream – A pair of wins at Belmont Park this fall carried the Jump Sucker Stable colt trained by Christophe Clement to the Juvenile Turf.

Joel Rosario will ride the son of More Than Ready from Post 5 in the one-mile test.

“He is coming off a victory in the Futurity going six furlongs,” said Clement's longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul. “He's a very nicely made colt. He is progressing tremendously. I think he blossomed coming out of Saratoga. I don't think that he had that much of a hard race in the Futurity. I don't think the Joel hit him even once. He just came and did it the last eighth of a mile. It was as pretty impressive performance.

Slipstream won the Futurity on Oct, 10 by one length.

“Stretching him to a mile this time will be a little bit of a test. But why not?” Lorieul said. “If it's the place to do it, it's here. He's got tactical speed, which is always a plus.”

Tiz the Bomb – Phoenix Thoroughbred's Tiz the Bomb galloped 1 1/2m under exercise rider Danny Ramsey for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Undefeated in two turf starts, Tiz the Bomb arrived at Del Mar late Monday from Keeneland where he won the Bourbon in his most recent outing.

McPeek is scheduled to arrive here Wednesday night.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

California Angel – With her trainer George Leonard III leading her all the way, California Angel walked professionally to the track after being a little antsy in her stall and proceeded to gallop once around after visiting the paddock. According to her trainer, the filly has settled in well since arriving Monday as she prepares to make her fourth career start in the Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday.

For Leonard, a longtime veteran of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana circuit, the race will mark just the second time he has saddled a horse for a graded stakes. When he saddled California Angel to victory in the Jessamine Stakes (G2) Oct. 13 at Keeneland it was the first time.

“She's doing well, she's ready,” Leonard said. “She's getting happier and happier every day. This is quite exciting. It's been great so far.”

Helens Well (IRE) – Is Helens Well (IRE) a “horse for this course?” Trainer Phil D'Amato seems to think so. After getting the Irish-bred filly, she won handily in her U.S. debut despite a troubled trip, then repeated the trouble line while finishing fastest to just miss as the second-place finisher in her stakes debut.

“I think she likes this deeper course,” he said. “In her last race at Santa Anita, the turf was extremely fast, yet she was again finishing fastest. I think her style is more conducive to the surface here.”

On Wednesday, Helens Well joined her juvenile barn mate and fellow NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies entrant Desert Dawn for a 1 1/2m gallop just ahead of Friday's $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Pizza Bianca – Bobby Flay's homebred filly Pizza Bianca brings a strong international pedigree to her start in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The daughter of the highly successful stallion Fastnet Rock is out of unraced White Hot, a daughter of the great Galileo. Flay purchased White Hot, a half-sister to Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi and a full-sister to Group 1 stakes-placed Dawn Patrol, for $2.1 million in 2014, but she never made it to the races.

In her most recent start, Pizza Bianca had some traffic trouble while finishing second to Wild Beauty in the Natalma at Woodbine. When she turned in a solid work on Oct. 24, Flay told trainer Christophe Clement to skip the Chelsey Flower at Belmont and send her to the Breeders' Cup. With More Than Real, Flay won the Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2010.

Pizza Bianca drew the rail in the one-mile, $1 million race and was listed as the 5-1 morning line favorite.

“She's very lightly raced,” said Clement's longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul. “She broke her maiden at Saratoga and came back to be second in the Natalma. Logically, I think the filly that won the Natalma for Godolphin could have been the favorite in this race, but she is not running.

“The filly is doing well. The owner and the boss talked and they wanted to take a shot.”

JUVENILE TURF SPRINT

Derrynane – Waterville Lake Stables' New York homebred filly Derrynane will take on colts in the Juvenile Turf Sprint after victories at Saratoga Race Course and Woodbine.

The bay daughter of Quality Road trained by Christophe Clement has won two of three starts, all against fillies. On Sept. 19 she won the 5f Woodbine Cares Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths.

“She's got speed,” said Clement's assistant Christophe Lorieul. “I really like her race at Woodbine. It was on a similar kind of surface and racetrack with tight turns. There was plenty of speed in front of her and she came closing at the end. She ran a very good race that day. I don't know how much she beat, but she looked very good doing it.”

Derrynane and Joel Rosario will start from Post 11 in the 14-horse field.
“For a 2-year-old she is amazing,” Lorieul said. “Wherever you take her, she never leaves any feed and she always acts very mature. That's a plus.”

One Timer – Patricia Hope and Richard Ravin's One Timer has completed his preparations for Friday's Juvenile Turf Sprint for trainer Larry Rivelli.

“He jogged this morning, will walk Thursday and I don't take my horses to the track the morning of a race,” Rivelli said as the undefeated Trappe Shot gelding returned to the barn.

One Timer has won all three of his starts with the first two coming on all-weather surfaces at Arlington Park and Woodbine before shipping to Santa Anita to win the Speakeasy on Oct. 1 in his grass debut.

“I went back (to Chicago) but he stayed out here the whole time after the Speakeasy,” Rivelli said. “he has had two works since, both on the dirt, one at Santa Anita and one here.”

E.T. Baird, who has been aboard One Timer in all of his starts, has the mount Friday and will exit post nine, one spot to the outside of morning line favorite Averly Jane.

“I would like to see him break clean and get away from the gate sharply,” Rivelli said. “We are going (to the lead). We are outside of Averly Jane, so we will see who is fastest.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Notes: International Horses Check Out Turf, Brown Believes Longshot Tribhuvan ‘Very Dangerous’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post