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Jockey Club Gold Cup Winner Happy Saver Jumps To Fifth In NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

When he surged up the rail and hit the finish line first in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10, Happy Saver inserted himself into the discussion of top tier contenders in the sophomore male division. Indeed, when the votes were tallied in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, the son of Super Saver found himself among the elite.

Happy Saver bested a field that included such older foes as graded stakes winner Tacitus in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to give trainer Todd Pletcher his long-awaited first triumph in the storied race. That victory, which also marked the colt's first try against graded stakes company in four career starts, earned Happy Saver 174 points this week to move him into the fifth position. Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver prevailed going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the Sept. 7 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park, ahead of his Jockey Club Gold Cup outing.

“What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do,” Pletcher told the NYRA publicity team of Happy Saver. “He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often.”

Whether Happy Saver heads to the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 7 is still to be determined. Should he end up in that starting gate, his list of challengers will likely include Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, who continues to hold the top spot in the 3-Year-Old Poll.

Authentic, who was beaten a neck by the filly Swiss Skydiver in the October 3 Preakness Stakes, earned 17 first-place votes and 342 points to hold onto the top spot for yet another week. Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law remains second with eight first-place votes and 328 points with Swiss Skydiver (12 first-place votes, 326 points) in third.

Grade 2 winner Art Collector (203 points) holds down the fourth position ahead of Happy Saver while Grade 1 winner Honor A. P., who has been retired to stud, drops one spot to sixth with 129 points.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Gamine (103 points) is seventh with Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil and Max Player now tied for eighth with 80 points apiece. Grade 2 winner Mystic Guide, who was second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, rounds out the top 10 with 57 points.

With sophomore runners taking the top two spots in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the handicap division had no major shifts this week. Multiple Grade 1 winner Improbable remains out front in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with 32 first-place votes and 365 points as the son of City Zip has won three straight top-level contests.

Champion Maximum Security, runner-up to Improbable in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Sept. 26, is second with two first-place votes and 271 points. Tom's d'Etat (two first-place votes, 218 points) is third followed by Vekoma (one first-place vote, 202 points) and champion Monomoy Girl (191 points).

Multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards remains sixth with 147 points while Authentic (124 points) and Tiz the Law (117) rank seventh and eighth, respectively. Swiss Skydiver (104 points) and multiple Grade 1 winner Rushing Fall (71) complete the top ten.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in both the Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through the conclusion of the Breeders' Cup in November.

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Oct. 10 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

WELL-BRED TRIO DEBUT AT BELMONT

3rd-BEL, $63K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:26p.m.

Michael Tabor’s THE GIRL HERSELF (American Pharoah) is one of three blue-blooded fillies making their career bow in this test. Out of Grade I winner Circle of Life (Belong to Me), the bay is a half to Grade I-winning sire Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch) and MGSP The Roundhouse (Fusaichi Pegasus). Juddmonte homebred Nubian (Pioneerof the Nile) also looks to open her account here. The bay is a daughter of European champion Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy). This is also the family of GI Breeders’ Cup mile victor Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and MGISWs Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy). Klaravich Stables’ 325,000gns TATOCT purchase Counterparty Risk (Ire) (Australia {GB}) debuts here for Chad Brown. Her second dam is GSW Steel Princess (Ire) (Danehill), who produced GISW Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and GSW Sugar Boy (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

PLETCHER UNVEILS MILLION-DOLLAR BABY

6th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:03 p.m.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and the Coolmore contingent teamed up at Keeneland September to acquire a $1-million son of Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) named OVERTOOK (Curlin) and he debuts here for that Grade I-winning mare’s conditioner Todd Pletcher. The colt hails from the family of Grade I winners Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Super Saver (Maria’s Mon), Callback (Street Sense), Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) and Girolamo (A.P. Indy); as well as MGSW & GISP Daydreaming (A.P. Indy).

“He’s a well-made horse. He’s a good moving well-balanced kind of horse so he wasn’t hard to pick out,” Pletcher said. “He’s a colt that we’ve seen improve steadily all summer. Obviously, he’s bred to be a two-turn horse. Hopefully he finishes up well and builds off of this.”

Also making his first start here is Chiefswood Stables homebred Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile). The Jimmy Jerkens trainee boasts a string of speedy worked, capped by a best-of-49 half-mile in :47 1/5 at Belmont Oct. 3. A half-brother to GSW Yorkton (Speightstown), he hails from the family of champion Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}). TJCIS PPs

RISING STAR LOOKS TO REPEAT IN LEXINGTON

5th-KEE, $71K, Alw, 3yo/up, 6f, 3:18 p.m.

China Horse Club and WinStar may have another superstar on their hands in ‘TDN Rising Star’ NASHVILLE (Speightstown), who tries winners for the first time here. The $460,000 KEESEP purchase went wire-to-wire in his unveiling in the Saratoga slop, devastating the field by 11 1/2 lengths and earning a gaudy 91 Beyer Speed Figure. He enters off a pair of bullet drills, most recently covering three furlongs in :36 1/5 (1/4) at Keeneland Oct. 5. TJCIS PPs

MCGAUGHEY SADDLES EXPENSIVE TAPIT FIRSTER

7th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:40 p.m.

Shug McGaughey sends out first time starter COLLISION COURSE (Tapit) for Courtlandt Farms. The $675,000 KEESEP buy is out of SW & MGSP Blue Violet (Curlin). Juddmonte Farm homebred Connagh’s Quay (Flintshire {GB}) debuts off back-to-back bullet works, most recently breezing a half-mile in :48 4/5 (1/16) over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track Oct. 4. A half to stakes-place Boule (Exchange Rate) and Module (Harlan’s Holiday), the bay is out of an unraced daughter of MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy). This is also the family of MGISW Sightseek (Distant View), European champion Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). Mossarosa’s River Redemption (Pioneerof the Nile) also makes his initial trip to the post here. Out of SW Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the bay is from the family of G1SW Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and GSW & MG1SPGustav Klimt (Ire (Galileo {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

WELL-RELATED FILLY MAKES CAREER BOW AT KEENELAND

6th-KEE, $70K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 3:51 p.m.

Amerman homebred ZOOLOGY (Animal Kingdom) debuts for Brian Lynch in this test. The dark bay is a half-sister to Grade I-winning turfer Coffee Clique (Medaglia d’Oro), GSW Admission Office (Point of Entry) and MGSP Royal Fury (Langfuhr). Chad Brown saddles another intriguing firster in Red Light Racer (Medaglia d’Oro). The $525,000 KEESEP purchase is out of SW & MGISP Street Girl (Street Hero). TJCIS PPs

HALF TO DONNA VELOCE DEBUTS AT KEENELAND

7th-KEE, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 4:24 p.m.

Bret calhoun unveils a half-sister to Grade III winner and MGISP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) in PEACE BROKER (War Front). Their second dam is GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Cash Run (Seeking the Gold). Klaravich Stables went to $475,000 at KEESEP for Equal Pay (Quality Road) and she debuts here for Chad Brown. She is out of the unraced mare Street Rumor (Street Sense), who is a half to stakes-placed Valiancy (Tale of the Cat) and Havana Moon (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs

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Hall Of Famer John Velazquez Rides 2,000th Belmont Winner For Trainer Todd Pletcher

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez secured his 2,000th win at Belmont Park in Race 4 on Friday riding first-time starter Malathaat (No. 5, $3.70) to a 1 ¾-length victory for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Shadwell Stable in a seven-furlong maiden special weight for juvenile fillies on the fast main track.

By Curlin, Malathaat is out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia who was ridden by Velazquez and trained by Pletcher throughout her career to a record of 8-4-2-1 and purse earnings of $874,500.

The 48-year-old Velazquez, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012, has won 6,238 career races and boasts seven Belmont riding titles [four at the spring/summer meet and three at the fall meet] to his credit.

John Velazquez, winning jockey aboard Malathaat (No. 5, $3.70*) in Race 4 for his 2,000th career victory at Belmont Park: “New York has been home to me for 30 years and to put up a number like this is big. I'm so thankful for all the opportunities I've been given and this moment is very special.

“Todd [Pletcher] has been one of my number one supporters over the years and for him to still be giving me these opportunities now is really appreciated. I really love all the people I work with and all the owners and the whole team behind the scenes.”

On his continued success: “I take pride in what I do. I come to work and I want to make sure that I do my homework and do the best that I can not only for myself but for the people that I ride for.”

On choosing one special memory from this 2,000 wins at Belmont: “Rags to Riches winning the Belmont is up there. It was my first win in a Triple Crown race after many years of trying to win a Triple Crown race. Rags to Riches gave me that first one and took the pressure off my shoulders and it was probably my most memorable win here at Belmont Park.”

Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Malathaat (No. 5): “Johnny rode the mother [Dreaming of Julia] as well, so that's pretty cool. It's a tremendous accomplishment and it speaks volumes about the person he is and the longevity of his career. He's a great person and just a true professional.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Del Mar Ship & Win: Five Breeders’ Cup Berths On The Line At Belmont

This weekend's action is highlighted by five Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races taking place at Belmont Park, including the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Belmont Park Breeders' Cup races will be televised on “America's Day at the Races” on either FS1 or FS2.

TVG will be live at Keeneland for a loaded card this Saturday featuring two graded stakes races including the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. In addition to Keeneland, the award-winning network will also be trackside at Santa Anita and Monmouth Park.

In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Monmouth Park, TVG will also be showing racing from Gulfstream Park West, Charles Town, Golden Gate and more.

Friday, Oct. 9

5:30 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Gary Barber's multiple Grade 1 winner Got Stormy tops a field of 12 fillies and mares entered for the 24th running of the Franklin County going 5½ furlongs on the turf. Trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy comes into Friday's race off a 3¼-length romp in the Grade 3 Ladies Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12 going 6½ furlongs. The daughter of Get Stormy was an Eclipse Award finalist for champion turf female in 2019 after notching wins in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap over males and the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100920USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, Oct. 10

1:58 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior is a standout in the juvenile division with an unblemished record and will put his perfect resume on the line in the Champagne going a one-turn mile. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior arrives at the Champagne off a 2 ¼-length victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 7 at Saratoga. In his prior effort, the bay son of Maclean's Music won his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 7 at the Spa by three lengths after displaying stalking tactics in his debut at Churchill Downs, which he won by 2 ½ lengths.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101020USA4-EQB.html

2:30 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

Vequist proved she could dominate a Grade 1 field when she cruised to a 9 1/2-length score in her stakes debut in the Spinaway on Sept. 6 at Saratoga Race Course. She will look to show similar form on Saturday against a talented field of juvenile fillies in the Frizette contested at one mile on Belmont Park's main track. Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel purchased a 75 percent share from Swilcan Stable following Vequist's runner-up debut effort on July 29 at Parx when she ran a nose behind Niente. In her second start, the Butch Reid trainee was stretched out from 4 ½ furlongs to seven in the Spinaway.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101020USA5-EQB.html

3:53 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG

Shadwell Stable's Almanaar (GB) makes his first start since capturing last year's edition of the 1 1/8-miles Monmouth Stakes when he heads up a field of nine. Trained by Chad Brown, Almanaar displayed an affinity for the Monmouth course when he captured the Monmouth Stakes last May 25 but the son of Dubawi (IRE) has been on the shelf since.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH101020USA8-EQB.html

4:14 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

The top-four finishers in the Grade 2 Glens Falls last month at Saratoga Race Course will each vie for supremacy again in Saturday's rematch that highlights the Flower Bowl for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. Allen Stable's Civil Union, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, outkicked the Chad Brown trainee My Sister Nat by one length in the Glens Falls going 1 3/8 miles on Sept. 5. Civil Union, a 5-year-old War Front mare, has won three in a row, starting with a 1 ¼-mile allowance tilt on the Belmont turf on June 21 before winning the River Memories on the same track going 1 1/2 miles on July 12.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101020USA8-EQB.html

4:48 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on FS2

Juddmonte Farms' three-time graded stakes-winning multimillionaire Tacitus will look to secure his first career Grade 1 triumph in the 102nd running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup going the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, a three-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, Tacitus was third in last year's edition and was most recently second as the favorite in the Grade 1 Woodward on Sept. 5 at Saratoga, where he chased a slow pace tracking a half-length off Global Campaign but was unable to catch the pacesetter, who strolled home a 1 ¾-length winner.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101020USA9-EQB.html

4:57 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Parque Patricios Racing Stables' Mirinaque (ARG), a two-time Group 1 winner in Argentina, headlines a field of 10 runners for the 63rd running of the Fayette Stakes. Trained by Maria Munoz, Mirinaque finished fifth in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 at Del Mar in his U.S. debut. Coming back for another try in the Fayette is Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Mr Freeze. Second in the race last year that was run over a sloppy track, the Dale Romans trainee exits a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Alysheba on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE101020USA8-EQB.html

5:20 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of contenders led by multiple graded-stakes winner Selflessly and French-bred Tamahere as the four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner looks to secure his fourth win in Saturday's Sands Point, a one-mile Widener turf test. Selflessly stumbled at the start of her seasonal debut when fifth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again on June 20 at Belmont, but returned to form last out when a nose winner of the one-mile Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga on Aug. 28, when besting multiple graded-stakes winner Sweet Melania.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101020USA10-EQB.html

5:30 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Lael Stables' Magic Attitude (GB) headlines a field of nine for the 37th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup going 1 1/8-miles. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Magic Attitude comes to Keeneland off a 2¼-length victory over Antoinette in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in her U.S. debut. Antoinette, owned and bred by Godolphin, won the Saratoga Oaks in her start prior to the Belmont Oaks.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE101020USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, Oct. 11

4:12 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

Ironhorse Racing Stable and Secure Investments' Momos will look to build on a third-place effort last out in his graded stakes debut when he tries turf for the first time in the Futurity for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on Belmont Park's Widener course. Momos won his debut for trainer Christophe Clement with a 6 1/2-length maiden win going 5 ½ furlongs on July 18 over Saratoga Race Course's main track. Returning just three weeks later, the Distorted Humor colt ran third in the six-furlong Grade 2 Saratoga Special, finishing behind winner and eventual Grade 1 Hopeful victor Jackie's Warrior.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101120USA7-EQB.html

5:20 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

Three Chimneys Farm's Royal Approval will seek to parlay an impressive maiden victory into graded stakes company when taking on seven other juvenile fillies in the 111th running of the Matron going six furlongs over the Widener turf. Trained by Wesley Ward, who saddled Happy Like a Fool to victory in the 2017 Matron, Royal Approval arrives off her best performance yet when besting a maiden special weight field going 6 ½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs, where she drew off to a 6 ¼ length victory.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL101120USA9-EQB.html

5:42 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Armistice Day, owned by Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins, faces six rivals in the Durham Cup, a 1 1/16-mile main track test. Bred in Kentucky by Glenvale Stud, four-year-old Armistice Day, the son of Declaration of War-Harmony Lodge, will chase his second stakes score and first graded stakes title on Sunday. Campaigned by trainer Barbara Minshall, Armistice Day, who took last year's Toronto Cup, has compiled a 3-2-2 record from 15 starts.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO101120CAN9-EQB.html

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