Knicks Go, Essential Quality Draw Center Posts In Breeders’ Cup Classic

A total of nine horses were entered Monday for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic, led by the Brad Cox-trained duo of Knicks Go and Essential Quality. The two talented grays had their final breezes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Sunday, and were scheduled to fly to Del Mar for the World Championships on Monday.

Each has won two Grade 1 races this year, and both enter the Classic off victories: 5-year-old Knicks Go put on a dominant show in the G3 Lukas Classic at Churchill on Oct. 2, and the 3-year-old Essential Quality won the G1 Travers by a neck on Aug. 28 at Saratoga. Joel Rosario will ride 5-2 favorite Knicks Go from post 5, while Luis Saez will be aboard Essential Quality at 3-1 in gate 4.

Embattled trainer Bob Baffert will send out this year's Kentucky Derby first-place finisher and recent G1 Awesome Again Stakes winner Medina Spirit from post 8 (4-1), with John Velazquez in the irons.

Doug O'Neill will saddle his G1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, with regular rider Flavien Prat to ride the 3-year-old from post 3 (4-1). Rounding out the group of sophomores taking on their elders is longshot Stilleto Boy for trainer Ed Moger, Jr.; the Awesome Again runner-up will break from post 7 under Kent Desormeaux.

Other Grade 1 winners in this year's edition include Whitney winner Art Collector (Bill Mott, Mike Smith, post 6, 8-1), Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Max Player (Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr., post 9, 8-1), and Pacific Classic winner Tripoli (John Sadler, Irad Ortiz, Jr., post 1, 15-1).  Rounding out the Classic field is G2 San Diego winner Express Train (John Shirreffs, Victor Espinoza, post 2, 20-1).

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Breeders' Cup Turf 

  1. (15-1) Rockemperor – Javier Castellano – Chad Brown
  2. (20-1) United – John Velazquez – Richard Mandella
  3. (4-1) Domestic Spending – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  4. (20-1) Astronaut – Victor Espinoza – John Shirreffs
  5. (20-1) Tribhuvan – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  6. (20-1) Acclimate – Ricardo Gonzalez – Phil D'Amato
  7. (8-1) Walton Street – James Doyle – Charlie Appleby
  8. (20-1) Broome – Frankie Dettori – Aidan O'Brien
  9. (12-1) Sisfahan – Cristian Demuro – Henk Grewe
  10. (12-1) Yibir – William Buick – Charlie Appelby
  11. (8-1) Gufo – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  12. (6-1) Teona – David Egan – Roger Varian
  13. (9-5) Tarnawa – Colin Keane – Dermot Weld
  14. (20-1) Japan – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien

Breeders' Cup Distaff

  1. (8-1) Private Mission – Flavien Prat – Bob Baffert
  2. (8-1) Royal Flag – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown
  3. (4-1) Malathaat – John Velazquez – Todd Pletcher
  4. (30-1) Blue Stripe – Frankie Dettori – Marcelo Polanco
  5. (12-1) Clairiere – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – Steve Asmussen
  6. (8-5) Letruska – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Fausto Gutierrez
  7. (30-1) Horologist – Junior Alvarado – Bill Mott
  8. (4-1) Shedaresthedevil – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  9. (15-1) As Time Goes By – Luis Saez – Bob Baffert
  10. (30-1) Marche Lorraine – Oisin Murphy – Yoshito Yahagi
  11. (15-1) Dubar Road – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown

Breeders' Cup Mile

  1. (12-1) Master Of The Seas – James Doyle – Charlie Appleby
  2. (10-1) Smooth Like Strait – Umberto Rispoli – Michael McCarthy
  3. (3-1) SPace Blues – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
  4. (15-1) Raging Bull – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Chad Brown
  5. (20-1) Vin De Garde – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideaki Fujiwara
  6. (5-1) Mo Forza – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  7. (8-1) In Love – Alex Achard – Paulo Lobo
  8. (15-1) Hit The Road – John Velazquez – Dan Blacker
  9. (8-1) Mother Earth – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  10. (8-1) Blowout – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown
  11. (10-1) Got Stormy – Tyler Gaffalione – Mark Casse
  12. (12-1) Pearls Galore – Billy Lee – Paddy Twomey
  13. (15-1) Casa Creed – Junior Alvarado – Bill Mott
  14. (12-1) Ivar – Joe Talamo – Paulo Lobo

Breeders' Cup Sprint

  1. (6-1) Following Sea – John Velazquez – Todd Pletcher
  2. (6-5) Jackie's Warrior – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen
  3. (12-1) C Z Rocket – Florent Geroux – Peter Miller
  4. (20-1) Matera Sky – Yuga Kawada – Hideyuki Mori
  5. (8-1) Aloha West – Jose Ortiz – Wayne Catalano
  6. (10-1) Firenze Fire – Tyler Gaffalione – Kelly Breen
  7. (20-1) Lexitonian – Jose Lezcano – Jack Sisterson
  8. (6-1) Special Reserve – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Mike Maker
  9. (4-1) Dr. Schivel – Flavien Prat – Mark Glatt

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

  1. (12-1) Going To Vegas – Umberto Rispoli – Richard Baltas
  2. (15-1) Pocket Square – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Chad Brown
  3. (12-1) Acanella – Colin Keane – Ger Lyons
  4. (6-1) Rougir – Maxime Guyon – Cedric Rossi
  5. (20-1) Queen Supreme – James Doyle – Andrew Balding
  6. (4-1) Love – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  7. (7-2) War Like Goddess – Julien Leparoux – Bill Mott
  8. (4-1) Loves Only You – Yuga Kawada – Yoshito Yahagi
  9. (15-1) My Sister Nat – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  10. (20-1) Ocean Road – Oisin Murphy – Hugo Palmer
  11. (30-1) Dogtag – Flavien Prat – Richard Mandella
  12. (5-1) Audarya – William Buick – James Fanshawe

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

  1. (7-2) Silver State – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – Steve Asmussen
  2. (12-1) Pingxiang – Yuga Kawada – Hideyuki Mori
  3. (4-1) Ginobili – Drayden Van Dyke – Richard Baltas
  4. (30-1) Jasper Prince – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideyuki Mori
  5. (4-5) Life Is Good – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Todd Pletcher
  6. (20-1) Restrainedvengence – Edwin Maldonado – Val Brinkerhoff
  7. (12-1) Snapper Sinclair – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen
  8. (10-1) Eight Rings – Juan Hernandez – Bob Baffert

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

  1. (6-1) Glass Slippers – Tom Eaves – Kevin Ryan
  2. (5-1) Emaraaty Ana – Andrea Atzeni – Kevin Ryan
  3. (7-2) Golden Pal – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Wesley Ward
  4. (6-1) Lieutenant Dan – Geovanni Franco – Steve Miyadi
  5. (12-1) Arrest Me Red – John Velazquez – Wesley Ward
  6. (8-1) A Case Of You – Ronan Whelan – Adrian McGuiness
  7. (30-1) Charmaine's Mia – Flavien Prat – Phil D'Amato
  8. (20-1) Caravel – Jose Ortiz – Graham Motion
  9. (6-1) Kimari – Joel Rosario – Wesley Ward
  10. (5-1) Gear Jockey – Jose Lezcano – Rusty Arnold
  11. (12-1) Fast Boat – Tyler Gaffalione – Joe Sharp
  12. (12-1) Extravagant Kid – Ryan Moore – Brendan Walsh

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

  1. (20-1) Proud Emma – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  2. (12-1) Estilo Talentoso – Jose Ortiz – Juan Arriagada
  3. (12-1) Edgeway – Joel Rosario – John Sadler
  4. (4-1) Ce Ce – Victor Espinoza – Michael McCarthy
  5. (3-5) Gamine – John Velazquez – Bob Baffert
  6. (5-2) Bella Sofia – Luis Saez – Rudy Rodriguez

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

  1. (5-1) Modern Games – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
  2. (6-1) Albahr – Frankie Dettori – Charlie Appleby
  3. (8-1) Dakota Gold – Luis Saez – Danny Gargan
  4. (8-1) Tiz the Bomb – Brian Hernandez, Jr. – Ken McPeek
  5. (12-1) Slipstream – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  6. (8-1) Mackinnon – Juan Hernandez – Doug O'Neill
  7. (20-1) Great Max – John Velazquez – Michael Bell
  8. (12-1) Glounthaune – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  9. (20-1) Stolen Base – Umberto Rispoli
  10. (6-1) Portfolio Company – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  11. (15-1) Grafton Street – Tyler Gaffalione – Mark Casse
  12. (30-1) Credibility – Mike Smith – Mark Casse
  13. (15-1) Coinage – Florent Geroux – Mark Casse
  14. (4-1) Dubawi Legend – James Doyle – Hugo Palmer

Breeders' Cup Juvenile

  1. (9-5) Jack Christopher – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  2. (15-1) Jasper Great – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideyuki Mori
  3. (20-1) Oviatt Class – Kent Desormeaux – Keith Desormeaux
  4. (15-1) Pappacap – Joe Bravo – Mark Casse
  5. (20-1) Double Thunder – Flavien Prat – Todd Pletcher
  6. (30-1) American Sanctuary – Florent Geroux – Chris Davis
  7. (30-1) Giant Game – Joe Talamo – Dale Romans
  8. (10-1) Barossa – Juan Hernandez – Bob Baffert
  9. (8-1) Pinehurst – John Velazquez – Bob Baffert
  10. (5-1) Commandperformance – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Todd Pletcher
  11. (30-1) Tough To Tame – Sophie Doyle – Chris Davis
  12. (5-2) Corniche – Mike Smith – Bob Baffert

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

  1. (5-1) Pizza Bianca – Jose Ortiz – Christophe Clement
  2. (12-1) Cairo Memories – Kent Desormeaux – Bob Hess
  3. (12-1) Cachet – Luis Saez – George Boughey
  4. (12-1) Turnerloose – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  5. (8-1) Bubble Rock – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Brad Cox
  6. (10-1) Hello You – John Velazquez – David Loughnane
  7. (8-1) Consumer Spending – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  8. (20-1) Sail By – Junior Alvarado – Leah Gyarmati
  9. (6-1) Koala Princess – Joel Rosario – Arnaud Delacour
  10. (30-1) Helens Well – Umberto Rispoli – Phil D'Amato
  11. (10-1) Haughty – Tyler Gaffalione – Chad Brown
  12. (8-1) Malavath – Ryan Moore – Francis-Henri Graffard
  13. (6-1) Mise En Scene – Oisin Murphy – James Ferguson
  14. (8-1) California Angel – Rafael Bejarano – George Leonard, III

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

  1. (20-1) Desert Dawn – Ricardo Gonzalez – Phil D'Amato
  2. (5-2) Hidden Connection – Reylu Gutierrez – Bret Calhoun
  3. (15-1) Sequist – Junior Alvarado – Dallas Stewart
  4. (12-1) Tarabi – Javier Castellano – Cherie Devaux
  5. (5-2) Juju's Map – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  6. (4-5) Echo Zulu – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

  1. (15-1) Twilight Jet – Leigh Roche – Michael O'Callaghan
  2. (12-1) Kaufymaker – Jose Ortiz – Wesley Ward
  3. (15-1) Go Bears Go – John Velazquez – David Loughnane
  4. (20-1) Vertiginous – Javier Castellano – Brian Meehan
  5. (12-1) Hierarchy – Oisin Murphy – Hugo Palmer
  6. (4-1) Twilight Gleaming – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Wesley Ward
  7. (6-1) Armor – Ryan Moore – Richard Hannon
  8. (5-2) Averly Jane – Tyler Gaffalione – Wesley Ward
  9. (4-1) One Timer – E. Baird – Larry Rivelli
  10. (15-1) Time To Party – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  11. (12-1) Derrynane – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  12. (20-1) Run Curtis Run – Luis Saez – Michael Maker

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Art Collector Headlines Full Slate Of BC Contenders Working At Del Mar

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, who figures to be one of the leading candidates for Saturday's $6 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, worked a half-mile in :48.40 Sunday morning to highlight a work tab that featured 20 pre-entrants to the World Championships slated for Friday and Saturday at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Art Collector was one of three horses to work for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Neil Poznansky was aboard the trio that included Casa Creed (Mile) going 4f in :47.60 and War Like Goddess (Filly & Mare Turf) going a half-mile in :48.20.

“They were all useful works, nothing blazing fast,” said Mott, who has won 10 Breeders' Cup races. “I never have a problem working good grass horses on dirt and this track looks safe and very forgiving.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was aboard Bella Sofia as she covered a half-mile in :48.40 in preparation for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“She's a happy girl and she loves to just go about her business,” Rodriguez said of Bella Sofia who has won four of five career starts and features daylight victories in the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom in her past two outings. “She handled the track well and was very comfortable on it.”

In all, 14 pre-entrants worked on the fast main track and six more were on the firm Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen worked four of his six pre-entrants headlined by probable Qatar Racing Sprint favorite Jackie's Warrior who covered 3f in :36.80. Also working half-miles for Asmussen were Clairiere (Longines Distaff) in :49.20, Echo Zulu (NetJets Juvenile Fillies) in :50.40 and Silver State (Dirt Mile) in :48.60.

Other dirt workers included C Z Rocket (Qatar Racing Sprint) going 3f in :35.80, Commander (Turf Sprint also-eligible) a half-mile in :48.80, Giant Game (TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance) a half-mile in :48.60, and the Richard Mandella-trained duo of Dogtag (Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf) and Bombard (Turf Sprint also-eligible) working 5f in :58.20 and :58.40, respectively, in company.

Idol worked 5f in company in 1:02.40 but after the work trainer Richard Baltas notified Breeders' Cup officials that he did not feel Idol was 100 percent and withdrew him from the Classic.

Two other horses were withdrawn from Breeders' Cup consideration by their connections Sunday morning: Flagstaff from the Qatar Racing Sprint and Reina de Mollendo (ARG) from the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf.

Highlighting the six pack of grass workers were two California standouts in Mo Forza and Going to Vegas.

Mo Forza, a two-time winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, worked a half-mile in :49.40 for the FanDuel Mile presented by PDJF for trainer Peter Miller. Shortly after Mo Forza finished his work, Going to Vegas worked a half-mile in :49.20 for Baltas in preparation for the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf.

Also working on the turf were Time to Party (Juvenile Turf Sprint) going 3f in :38.20, Charmaine's Mia (Turf Sprint) going a half-mile in :50.20, Extravagant Kid (Turf Sprint) a half-mile in :49.40 in company with Zofelle (IRE), and Cairo Memories (Juvenile Fillies Turf) going 5f in 1:04.40.

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No Shortage Of Pace In BC Classic If Knicks Go, Medina Spirit Start

If everything holds together and all things being equal, one thing seems certain: the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic won't be lacking for pace.

With committed front runners Medina Spirit, Knicks Go, and Art Collector all pointing to the mile and one-quarter Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Nov. 6, Vegas books might ponder offering a prop bet on which one takes the lead, if they haven't already.

Private clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young, with an opinion usually at the ready on any racing question, was tactfully terse when asked for an analysis of the Classic now less than two weeks hence.

“There's speed in the race, but I don't know if there's Knicks Go-type of speed,” said Young, his vested interest aside since it was he who recommended owner Amr Zedan purchase Medina Spirit for the bargain price of $35,000 at last year's Ocala Two-Year-Old In Training Sale.

“Obviously, Medina's a fast horse, and Hot Rod Charlie's not a slow horse, but Knicks Go is a very fast horse. You couldn't ask for Medina Spirit to be in better hands than Johnny V's (regular rider John Velazquez).

“Medina Spirit ran well in the Sham against Life Is Good (second all the way, beaten three-quarters of a length in the one-mile race on Jan. 2), so I don't think he needs the lead to run well.

“There are some who point out he's four for four when he makes the lead, and gotten beat every time he doesn't make the lead (in three races; he did lead after bobbling in the Preakness, eventually finishing third by 5 ½ lengths).

“But I find it hard to believe a horse with his desire to win has to have the lead to do it. Usually, he's fast enough to be in front.”

Asked if speed would benefit a proven stretch runner like Essential Quality, Young said, “It all depends on how the pace plays out. I suppose the pace could be fast, but let's not forget this:

“The only other time they ran the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar (in 2017), Gun Runner, Collected and West Coast pretty much ran around there one, two, three (in the Classic). Medina Spirit seems to be doing very well, but we'll see what happens.”

Addressing Horse of the Year, despite his affinity for Medina Spirit, Young feels that all but a vacuous effort by the brown or dark bay colt would warrant the prestigious award.

“If he wins the Breeders' Cup Classic and they don't give him Horse of the Year, they might as well throw the trophy away,” Young said. “That said, he could win the Breeders' Cup Classic by five lengths and there are still going to be some haters who will not vote for him.

“But if he wins the race, I don't know how you cannot vote him Horse of the Year, I really don't.”

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Pletcher, Mott Breeders’ Cup Brigades Put In ‘Big Breezes’ At Belmont

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw multiple Breeders' Cup aspirants breezing over the Belmont training track Friday morning.

“When you're preparing for the Breeders Cup, they're all important, but these were big breezes this morning,” Pletcher said. “We'll come back next weekend and do a little bit less with them.”

Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea, a winner of the Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 9 last out, went to the track at 6:30 a.m. and worked a half-mile in 49.73 over the fast track.

“I liked it,” Pletcher said of the breeze. “It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren't looking to do a whole lot with him this morning. I was very happy.”

Although Following Sea earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in capturing the Vosburgh, a “Win And You're In” event, Pletcher said plans for the son of Runhappy remain in flux.

“We wanted to see today's work and then we'll talk to the Spendthrift guys about it,” Pletcher said. “We're under no pressure to make a decision right away. We'll give him the rest of the week and continue to monitor how he's doing.”

Graded stakes winners Life Is Good and Mind Control logged solo works at roughly 7:45 a.m. over the training track. An in-hand winner of the Grade 2 Kelso on September 25, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good went a sharp half-mile in 47.83 seconds – the second fastest of 41 recorded works at the distance.

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control, winner of the Parx Dirt Mile last out on September 25, went five furlongs in 1:01.27. Both horses are on target for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“Typical works for them,” Pletcher said. “Life Is Good is a very impressive horse to watch breeze. It looks like he's doing everything very effortlessly and then you look down at the clock and go, 'Wow'. He was rolling right along. He did it in hand throughout.”

The Parx Dirt Mile was the first two-turn start for Mind Control, a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty, since finishing off the board in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He captured the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 4 at Belmont Park in his first start for Pletcher two starts earlier.

“He's coming off a good win,” Pletcher said. “He's trained with good energy like he always does. He had an impressive breeze today and I like where he's at.”

Shadwell Stable's three-time Grade 1-winner Malathaat, a blue-blooded sophomore daughter of Curlin, worked at 9:30 a.m. following the renovation break covering five furlongs in 1:01.63 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“I thought she worked great today. She's just very impressive,” Pletcher said. “She keeps going and going and gallops out super. I think the time in between races has done her well. She's put on some weight and she seems very fit and happy.”

Malathaat has captured a trio of Grade 1 events this year, including the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and Alabama at Saratoga.

On Thursday morning, Pletcher worked his 2-year-old Breeders' Cup hopefuls, which include Annapolis [Juvenile Turf], Commandperformance [Juvenile], and Double Thunder [Juvenile].

Bass Stables homebred Annapolis, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim, and Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Commandperformance each went five furlongs in 1:02.02 and 1:01.02, respectively.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Double Thunder, runner up in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, went a half-mile with blinkers on in 49.98 seconds.

“Everyone looked great this morning and came out of their works in good shape,” Pletcher said.

In non-Breeders' Cup related news from the Pletcher barn, the veteran conditioner said Donegal Racing's Mo Donegal, who broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Thursday at Belmont, will likely target the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 4 at Aqueduct.

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Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is training a number of his contenders for the upcoming Breeders' Cup, slated for November 5-6 at Del Mar, over the Oklahoma dirt and turf training tracks at Saratoga Race Course.

Mott, a 10-time Breeders' Cup winner, could look to add to his totals with Art Collector [Classic], War Like Goddess [Filly and Mare Turf] Horologist [Distaff], Channel Maker [Turf] and Casa Creed [Mile/Turf Sprint].

“We have a few [Breeders' Cup horses] that will be one of the first four choices in their races and then a few who are on the outside looking in types of longshots, but all of them are doing well and that's all you can ask for,” said Mott's son and assistant trainer Riley Mott.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector worked five furlongs in 1:01.85 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt is in the midst of a three-race win streak, including scores in the Alydar on August 6 at the Spa, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 27 and the Grade 1 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont.

“He looks good and he's a willing horse,” Riley Mott said. “He came out of his last race extremely well; he'll have to if he's going to run against the big boys in the Classic.”

There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Horologist finished ninth in last year's Distaff at Keeneland. She breezed a half-mile in 47.84 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Mott said the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist's runner-up effort last out in the Grade 2 Beldame could be a good omen as three of his father's five Distaff winners completed the exacta in the prestigious race ahead of Breeders' Cup glory, including Royal Delta [2011], Unrivalled Belle [2010] and Ajina [1997].

“She ran second last time and is in with an outside chance,” Mott said. “I was talking to my dad the other day and we have won three Distaffs after having finished second in the Beldame. So that's a good omen.”

Mott also saddled Escena to victory in the 1998 Distaff off a sixth-place finish in the Personal Ensign, while Royal Delta's 2012 Distaff score followed a win in that year's Personal Ensign.

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker finished third in last year's Turf – his best effort in three appearances in the turf marathon after finishing off-the-board in 2018-19.
The reigning Champion Turf Male, a four-time Grade 1-winner, finished fourth last out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 at Belmont. He worked a half-mile in 48.75 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“He's doing well. He's one of the ones that will have to regain his form from last year to be competitive. [The Breeders' Cup] is still the plan,” Mott said.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, has flourished this year, winning 6-of-7 starts including her last four in graded company taking the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland ahead of scores in the Grade 2 Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl this summer at Saratoga.

She breezed five-eighths in 1:02.55 Friday over the Oklahoma training turf.

“She's doing great and we are very excited about her,” Mott said. “She'll be a top three horse in her race, and deservedly so. She's had a great year.”

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed earned a berth to the five-furlong Turf Sprint with a win in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur in June at Belmont, but is targeting a return engagement in the Mile – a race the 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay finished 12th in last year. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.55 Friday on the Oklahoma training turf.

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