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Tapit Today Gets Breakthrough Graded Stakes Victory In Athenia

William Lawrence and Bradley Thoroughbreds' Tapit Today broke through in a stakes after a trio of close efforts, running down pacesetter Mitchell Road from the outside in the final furlong and holding off her competitor for a one-length win in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Athenia for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Tapit mare was coming off a third-place effort in the G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on September 12, which followed a fourth-place effort in the G3 Matchmaker in July at Monmouth Park and another third in her 5-year-old debut in the G3 Suwannee River in February at Gulfstream Park.

In her first start at Belmont, Tapit Today broke sharp from the outside post under jockey Jose Ortiz and tracked in third position as Mitchell Road and Sweet Bye and Bye led the eight-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 24.89 seconds, the half in 50.37 and three-quarters in 1:13.11 over the firm inner turf.

Out of the final turn, jockey Luis Saez kept Mitchell Road near the rail, but Tapit Today challenged from her outside, went eye-to-eye and passed her rival in mid-stretch. The Chad Brown trainee maintained that urgency and completed the 1 1/16-mile course in a 1:42.56 final time.

“She had an outside post and I tried to ride her like she was the best and control the race a little bit if I had enough horse, and I did,” said Ortiz, who registered his Belmont fall meet-leading 35th win. “Past the half-mile, I had the favorite right inside of me and I controlled the race from the three-eighths pole to the wire.”

Tapit Today improved to 4-2-2 in 10 career starts and posted her best stakes performance since running second in the 2018 Riskaverse at Saratoga. Off at 5-1, she returned $13.60 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $212,230.

“She had a great trip today. Jose and I spoke about it in the paddock and looking at all her races, it seems like she's a clear-running horse,” Brown said. “She runs a bit better out in the clear. She can be a little temperamental.”

Tapit Today gave Brown his fourth victory in the Athenia in the previous five runnings and marked the conditioner's fifth overall win in the contest. It was also Brown's meet-leading 20th win of the fall meet, which concludes on November 1.

“Normally, a race like this with the funny turns at a mile and a sixteenth here you wouldn't want an outside post,” Brown said. “We talked about the post position in the paddock about how it might benefit her to be in the clear today. She sort of resents being covered up.”

Mitchell Road, who bested Tapit Today when second last out in the Ladies Turf, finished one length ahead of the Brown-trained She's Got You for second.

“She was travelling pretty good, but she's better on firmer turf,” Saez said. “When she came to the stretch she couldn't get a hold of it [the turf] and it cost me a little bit because the winner got on top of me. She tried to fight back but it was a little late.”

She's Got You, making just her third career North American start and graded stakes debut, was a neck better than fellow English-bred Feel Glorious to earn blacktype for Brown.

Call Me Love, Altea, Sweet Bye and Bye and Story Time completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race card. First post is 1:15 p.m. Eastern.

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Strength In Numbers And Quality: Brown Expected To Pre-Enter 13 Horses In Seven Races

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown worked a number of his baker's dozen of Breeders' Cup contenders over the weekend on both dirt and turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Brown said he will pre-enter in seven Breeders' Cup events: the Filly & Mare Turf [Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall, My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay]; Mile [Raging Bull, Uni, Digital Age]; Distaff [Dunbar Road]; Dirt Mile [Complexity], Juvenile [Reinvestment Risk]; Juvenile Fillies Turf [Editor At Large]; Juvenile Turf [Public Sector]; and Turf Sprint [Front Run the Fed].

“I think our group is representative of the diversity of our team, being able to work with any kind of horse,” said Brown, who has won 15 Breeders' Cup events. “This is the time to showcase not only your horses but your team's ability to get to the championship day for various owners out there to see.”

Klaravich Stables' Complexity, last out winner of the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont, worked a half-mile solo in 48.81 Sunday on Big Sandy after missing a work last week.

“He worked this morning and worked great,” said Brown of the 2018 Grade 1 Champagne-winner. “He will be pre-entered tomorrow as long as he comes out of it well.”

A number of notables breezed on the Belmont inner turf Sunday led by Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie, who worked five-eighths in 1:01.85.

Rushing Fall, a five-time Grade 1-winner, captured the Grade 1 Diana last out on August 23 at Saratoga. Sistercharlie, a seven-time Grade 1-winner, was fourth last out in the Flower Bowl in just her second start of the season. Both mares will be retired following the Breeders' Cup.

“They're both training great. Rushing Fall has been a model of consistency all year in works and racing,” said Brown. “Sistercharlie got started a little later than we wanted and was clearly a little rusty and out of form in her first start. In her second start, much improved and we decided to skip the Flower Bowl and go fresh.

“So far, that decision, based on her morning works, is clearly the right one,” added Brown regarding Sistercharlie. “Her last two workouts have been her best two workouts of the year, I thought. She continues to train up to the race the right way.”

My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay worked in company in 50.66 as they look to step up against their well-regarded stablemates.

Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables' reigning Champion Turf Female Uni worked five-eighths in company with Domestic Spending in 1:02.58.

“She worked well. I had her in 1:01 and change,” noted Brown, who advised that Domestic Spending is targeting the nine-furlong Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Digital Age [1:02.02] worked in company with Analyze It [1:02.05] through five panels.

Klaravich Stables' maiden winner Public Sector, second last out in the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont, and Peter Brant's maiden winner Editor At Large, third last out in the Miss Grillo at Belmont, worked in company in 1:02.69.

Brown said Public Sector would benefit from an expected stronger pace in the Juvenile Turf.

“He's an improving horse. His maiden win was super impressive at Saratoga,” said Brown. “In the Pilgrim, he got caught in a pace less race. He was really out of sorts that way. He needs some pace to run at. He would be better in a larger field and I like the cutback for him to a mile on a tighter track with even more going on in front of him.

“I'll pre-enter Editor At Large in the Juvenile Fillies Turf,” added Brown. “She worked exceptional today and I want to try and get her in the race if we can.”

On Saturday, Reinvestment Risk, runner-up to Jackie's Warrior in both the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful and Grade 1 Champagne, worked a half-mile in 48.20 inside of maiden Miles D on the Belmont main.

“I wanted to make share he kept his attention to business and it worked out really well,” said Brown regarding the rail-skimming work. “He went with a promising maiden – Miles D – and they went well together. He's doing well and we're going to go on to that race [Juvenile].”

Brown said Reinvestment Risk will appreciate the Keeneland main track after a disappoint effort in the Champagne last out at Belmont when 5 ½-length in arrears to a runaway Jackie's Warrior.

“I just don't think he cared for the track particularly at Belmont that day,” said Brown. “That said, the winner was super impressive and it's hard to imagine anyone beating him even if he loved the track that day.

“He's come back and worked well and I think he'll appreciate a different surface at Keeneland,” added Brown. “I have a feeling that track will play a little more like Saratoga.”

Peter Brant's Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road, third last out in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont, worked five-eighths Saturday in 1:01.85 on the main track towards her second attempt at the Distaff following a fifth last year.

“Dunbar Road went solo yesterday and she worked well and came out of it well. She's on target for the Distaff,” said Brown.

Klaravich Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Newspaperofrecord worked a half-mile in 48.40 Sunday on the Belmont main in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Matriarch, a one-mile turf event on November 29 at Del Mar.

“She did a beautiful half mile on the dirt. She looked great,” said Brown.

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Oct. 25 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

BROWN & KLARAVICH UNVEIL LATEST EUROPEAN IMPORT

5th-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6fT, 2:49p.m.
Klaravich Stables’ 400,000gns TATOCT purchase MILESTONE PAYMENT (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) makes her career bow in New York for trainer Chad Brown Saturday. Out of SW & MGSP Boastful (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), the gray is a half-sister to stakes winner Stage Play (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Their dam is a half to Irish Highweight Lesson in Humility (Ire) (Mujadil), who is the dam of GSW & GISP Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Jack Swain went to $250,000 to acquire Actually (Speightstown), a filly from a deep Alexander-Groves family, who debuts in this test. A half-sister to MGSW Campaign (Curlin), the chestnut hails from the family of two-time champion Covfefe (Into Mischief); Grade I winners Arch (Kris S.) and Acoma (Empire Maker); as well as graded winners Festival of Light (A.P. Indy) and Albiano (Harlan’s Holiday). TJCIS PPs

PAIR OF RISING STARS FACE OFF IN CHURCHILL ALLOWANCE

5th-CD, $87K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 2yo, 1 1/16m, 3:03 p.m.
A pair of ‘TDN Rising Stars’ STAYIN’ OUT LATE (Tapit) and Superman Shaq (Shackleford) face off while trying winners for the first time at Churchill. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Stayin’ Out Late went wire-to-wire to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths in his sprint debut at this venue Sept. 18. Out of GSW Graeme Six (Graeme Hall), the chestnut is a full to GSW Delightful Joy; and a half to SW Seymourdini (Bernardini) and GSW Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}). A $230,000 FTKOCT yearling purchase, Superman Shaq summoned $550,000 at OBS April after breezing in :20 3/5. Off the board in his career bow at Del Mar Aug. 8, the chestnut graduated decisively in a 5 1/2-panel event there Sept. 6. Superman Shaq’s biggest claim to fame, however, is that he is a half-brother to champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). He is also a half to GSW and fellow ‘Rising Star’ Mr. Monomoy (Palice Malace). TJCIS PPs

FIRST FOAL OUT OF CAVORTING DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL

6th-CD, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 3:36 p.m.
CLAIRIERE (Curlin), the first foal out of three-time Grade I winner, multi-millionaire and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cavorting (Bernardini), debuts in this test for trainer Steve Asmussen. A daughter of GSW Promenade Girl (Carson City), Cavorting is a half-sister to GSW Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and MGSP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty). TJCIS PPs

STONESTREET BLUE-BLOOD MAKES CAREER BOW BENEATH TWIN SPIRES

7th-CD, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:06 p.m.
Stonestreet Stables homebred LA BURNETT (Bernardini) makes her first trip to the post in this event for Mark Casse. Barbara Banke’s operation purchased the filly’s dam Comedy (Theatrical {Ire}) for $1.5-million in foal to Tapit at the 2015 KEENOV sale. She has already produced the likes of the late Grade I winner Taris (Flatter), MSW & GSP Theatre Star (War Front) and SW Stoweshoe (Flatter). TJCIS PPs

MCPEEK SADDLES ‘ROYALLY’-BRED FIRSTER

11th-CD, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 6:06 p.m.
Recent GI Preakness S.-winning trainer Ken McPeek saddles a well-bred first timer in ROYAL TRYST (Medaglia d’Oro). The $500,000 KEESEP buy is out of Belle Watling (Pulpit), who was purchased by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Farm for $1.05-million with this colt in utero at the 2017 KEENOV sale. Her previous produce includes MGSW War Story (Northern Afleet) and GSW & MGISP Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road). This is also the family of champion Epitome (Summing) and MGSW Essence of Dubai (Pulpit). TJCIS PPs

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Pletcher: Halladay Puts In ‘Good Solid Work’ For Mile, Happy Saver Out Of Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has 4,993 career wins heading into Friday's racing action, breezed a quintet of Breeders' Cup contenders over the past two mornings at Belmont Park.

Harrell Ventures' Halladay, winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave last out on Aug. 22 at Saratoga Race Course, worked five-eighths in company Friday in 1:00.60 on the fast dirt training track while being pressed from the outside by maiden winner Jerry the Nipper, a 3-year-old New York-bred.

It was the second breeze back for the Breeders' Cup Mile contender after scratching out of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on October 3 at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.

“I thought it was a good work. We normally don't work him in company, but seeing as we're a little rushed for time between races, I wanted to get a good solid work into him today in company,” said Pletcher. “He's a very willing work horse on his own but the fact that we missed the prep race we wanted to get a good solid company work into him and we got what we were hoping for.

“He responded quickly to antibiotics and everything has gone according to plan so far,” added Pletcher.

The 4-year-old War Front gray, who captured the Tropical Park Derby in December at Gulfstream Park, took a big step forward in his 4-year-old campaign, reeling off a trio of triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures over his last four starts from wins in an optional-claimer [102] on the Gulfstream turf in April; a 1 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch [103] at the Spa in July; and a 105 Beyer for his frontrunning Fourstardave coup.

“He's always been an impressive horse to watch train,” said Pletcher. “The key to him getting better has been that he's learned to settle and relax a bit in the early part of his races. He was on the bridle in the early part of his breeze today with his company but he wasn't throwing his head and getting silly about it.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz and CHC Inc.'s Valiance made the grade last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland. The Tapit gray clocked a half-mile in 48.04 on the dirt training track Friday while working outside of 3-year-old allowance-winning filly Thankful.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be in really good form at the moment. I was really happy with the work and gallop out.”

A six-time winner from eight starts, Pletcher said the $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase continues to improve with each start ahead of facing deeper waters in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This is another step up but she seems to be in the best form of her career,” said Pletcher. “As she's gotten older and more mature and stronger, she's trained better on the dirt. She's won her last two starts on the dirt and has a win over the track which never hurts.”

Valiance, who won the off-the-turf Eatontown at Monmouth Park in August ahead of her Spinster score, is out of the Grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Last Full Measure.

Breeders' Cup hopefuls Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf], Likeable [Juvenile] and Union Gables [Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Turf Sprint] worked on Thursday at Belmont.

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, who was third in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful in September ahead of a last-out win in the Grade 2 Bourbon on October 4 at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in 49.75 through the fog on the dirt training track.

“We were under quite a bit of fog at the time, but what we could see looked very good. He seemed to be moving great and came back well,” said Pletcher.

By Into Mischief and out of the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, Mutasaabeq was a $425,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables' Likeable worked five-eighths in 1:02.11 on Big Sandy under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

The Frosted bay finished second in his August 22 debut at Saratoga under Irad Ortiz, Jr. ahead of his impressive 8 ¼-length maiden score under Luis Saez in a one-turn mile on September 19 at Belmont.

“I wanted him [Velazquez] to get a feel for the horse and to learn something about him,” said Pletcher. “We've always liked this horse a lot. His two races have been good and he's trained like we would have hoped since then.”

Pletcher said Likeable is training forwardly enough that he opted for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile rather than the Grade 3 Nashua on November 8 at the Big A.

“The choices are do you take a conservative route like the Nashua or do you take a shot at the long ball when the horse is doing really well,” said Pletcher. “We figured there's a lot of upside if we're fortunate and not a lot of downside if were not.”

GMP Stables and F. Bellavia's Union Gables, a 2-year-old Speightstown filly, breezed a half-mile in 50.25 on the dirt training track. She finished third in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson on September 3 at Saratoga ahead of a last-out second in the Grade 3 Matron at six furlongs on the Belmont turf on October 11.

“I think we'll pre-enter Union Gables in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and second choice in the Juvenile Turf Sprint after her second in the Matron. We'll see where she lands and how popular those races are,” said Pletcher.

Union Gables was a private purchase following her first-out graduation on the Saratoga main track on August 4 for former trainer Gary Gullo.

Pletcher said Wertheimer and Frere's undefeated Happy Saver, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10 at Belmont, will not enter the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Super Saver sophomore graduated on June 20 at Belmont ahead of a nine-furlong allowance win against older horses in July at the Spa. He entered the Jockey Club Gold Cup from a prominent win in the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park on September 7.

“We're going to pass on the Breeders' Cup with him and make a decision in the next week on whether we'll give him some time off or focus on a Plan B towards the Pegasus [at Gulfstream]. I think the Classic is coming up a little too soon,” said Pletcher. “He's a horse we plan to race next year and I felt like for the long term skipping this race and focusing on 2021 is the right move for him. He has a lot of talent and we want to make sure we keep him fresh for next year.”

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