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Crichton Says Keeneland Will Not Accept Entry for Spinster

Trainer Rohan Crichton said he has given up on his attempts to run Bajan Girl (Speightstown) in Sunday's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland after being told he would not be allowed to enter.

Crichton is one of five trainers recently suspended by Gulfstream officials after it was found that they were violating house rules regarding clenbuterol. He is in the midst of serving a 30-day suspension and cannot run at any of the tracks owned by The Stronach Group. However, a suspension issued by a racetrack is not reciprocal and, unlike a suspension coming from a regulatory agency, does not have to be honored elsewhere.

The TDN was unable to reach anyone from Keeneland Wednesday night to conform that Bajan Girl cannot run in the race.

“We are not running at Keeneland,” Crichton said. “I'll just sit back now and let the whole process play itself out. One day, we'll be able to look back.”

Crichton said he understood why Keeneland took the position that it did.

“I think the bad publicity around this whole thing caused them to do what they did,” Crichton said. “I understand. It's not their fight and they didn't cause this. It is what it is.”

Earlier in the week, Crichton listed Sunday's GII Beldame S. at Belmont as another possibility for his filly, but he said he would not attempt to enter that race either. When asked to clarify NYRA's position on Bajan Girl, NYRA said that it will discourage any trainer under suspension at Gulfstream from entering races at Belmont.

“NYRA is reviewing the action taken by 1/ST to suspend a group of trainers for violating house rules at Gulfstream Park,” said NYRA spokesman Patrick McKenna. “As that process continues, NYRA is requesting that these trainers immediately refrain from running horses at NYRA tracks for the duration of the suspension imposed by 1/ST. Should those trainers not honor this request, then NYRA will consider a number of options to determine if additional sanctions are warranted.”

Bajan Girl would have been a double-digit longshot in either the Beldame or Spinster. She's never won a stakes race and is coming off a a fourth-place finish in the Love Sign S. at Colonial Downs.

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‘Rockstar’ Firenze Fire Headlines ‘Win And You’re In’ Vosburgh

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire returns to his preferred oval of Big Sandy as he looks to defend his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh going six furlongs over the main track for 3-year-olds and upward, at Belmont Park.

The Vosburgh is a “Win And You're In” qualifier and offers the winner an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. The prestigious sprint race honors Walter S. Vosburgh, the official handicapper for the Jockey Club and New York racetracks from 1894-1934.

Trained by Kelly Breen, Firenze Fire, who captured last year's Vosburgh by 2 ¾ lengths, will try to join Joe Schenck [1940-41], Dr. Fager [1967-68], Sewickley [1989-90], Private Zone [2013-14] and Imperial Hint [2018-19] as horses to notch back-to-back Vosburgh triumphs.

A 14-time winner over seven different racetracks, Firenze Fire has claimed most of his success at Belmont which accounts for seven total victories.

While Firenze Fire has developed a reputation for his affinity for Belmont Park, he garnered a new image last out in the Grade 1 Forego on August 28 at Saratoga where he attempted to savage Yaupon in a memorable stretch duel, ultimately coming up a head shy of victory.

“It's amazing. I must have watched it a hundred times,” said owner Ron Lombardi. “It's amazing how he stayed with Yaupon while trying to bite him through at least four strides. Another two strides he would have won it, not that he would have stayed up. It's made him a rockstar. It may have cost me a few dollars, but he's definitely getting a lot of attention.”

A 6-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior, Firenze Fire has won a graded stakes race at Belmont Park in four of the last five years, including a win in the 2017 Champagne which is his only Grade 1 victory to date.

“He's won at seven tracks, but he's won the most at Belmont, and loves that surface,” Lombardi said. “He's just such a solid horse and he showed his athleticism last time out in the Forego.

Firenze Fire scored back-to-back runnings of the Grade 2 True North in the past two summers. He was a close second to two-time Vosburgh winner Imperial Hint in the 2019 Vosburgh.

“It could've been three times, but that's part of the game,” said Lombardi.

Should Firenze Fire move forward to the Breeders' Cup Sprint off the Vosburgh, it would mark a fifth straight Breeders' Cup appearance previously finishing: seventh [2017 Juvenile], fourth [2018 Dirt Mile], fifth [2019 Sprint] and third [2020 Sprint].

Lombardi has not ruled out a 7-year-old campaign for Firenze Fire.

“He's still at the top of his game. I've had offers, but I may run him next year,” Lombardi said. “I would love to do that. I think it would be so cool. The fans love him. He's a fan favorite and he elevated that with his antics last time. It would be great to have him run back, so we'll see.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has engineered winning trips in eight of Firenze Fire's 14 victories, will return to the irons from post 4.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will target his fourth Vosburgh coup with Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea. The 3-year-old son of Runhappy has never finished off the board in five starts, which include a pair of Grade 1 placings. After being elevated to second via disqualification in the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational in July at Monmouth Park, he finished a distant third to Jackie's Warrior and stable mate Life Is Good in the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens in August at Saratoga.

Following Sea earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure when defeating winners going 6 ½ furlongs on June 3 at Belmont.

“He's talented and I thought he ran pretty well in the Allen Jerkens. He reacted to the dirt in his face for a while, but he finished up decently,” Pletcher said. “The Haskell may have been a little too far a little too soon, but he's held good company and had a good win over the track here over the summer.”

Pletcher said the distance should be right up his alley.

“He broke his maiden going six and won the allowance here going six-and-a-half, so hopefully it suits him,” Pletcher said.

Joel Rosario will ride from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle Baby Yoda, who last out was victorious against older winners going 6 ½ furlongs on September 4 at Saratoga. The third lifetime victory for the 3-year-old son of Prospective produced a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the co-highest figure to be recorded by a horse this year.

Previously trained in Maryland by Charles Frock, Baby Yoda won at first asking for a $10,000 tag on May 30 two starts ahead of winning his first outing for Mott in a July 17 starter allowance at Saratoga.

Baby Yoda is owned by Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Jerold Zaro and will leave from post 3 under Luis Saez.

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Rabbah Bloodstock's Good Effort will add blinkers for his first start in North America, entering off an allowance win over the all-weather surface at Deauville.

Trained by Ismail Mohammed, the 6-year-old son of Shamardal was a three-time sprint stakes winner over the synthetic surface at Longfield Park in England last year. His best effort on dirt took place in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal in March at Meydan Race Course when second beaten a neck.

Good Effort will be ridden by Wayne Lordan from post 2.

Completing the field is Rockingham Ranch and David Bersen's Jalen Journey, a winner via disqualification last out in the Grade 3 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Jalen Journey, a 6-year-old ridgling son of With Distinction, boasts a consistent 16-8-2-1 record with just over a half-million dollars in lifetime earnings.

Breaking from post 1, Jalen Journey will be piloted by Jose Lezcano.

The Vosburgh, slated as Race 5, is part of a lucrative 11-race card that also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic [Race 7] at 12 furlongs on turf for 3-year-ols and up; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron [Race 6] at six furlongs on turf for juvenile fillies. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Gufo, Japan Meet Again In Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

During the latter half of his 4-year-old season, Otter Bend Stables' Gufo has displayed an affinity for 1 1/2-mile turf tests. On Saturday, Gufo will meet a cast of familiar rivals when striving for more 12-furlong success in the 44th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

The Hirsch, slated as Race 7, is part of a lucrative 11-race card that also features the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh [Race 5], a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron [Race 6] at six furlongs on turf for juvenile fillies. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Gufo, a last-out winner of the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course, has never finished off the board in a dozen starts sporting a ledger of 7-2-3 and lifetime earnings of $1,138,510.

The consistent Declaration of War chestnut will face a quality field which includes returning rival Japan, as well as previous Joe Hirsch Turf Classic victors Channel Maker [2018, 2020] and Arklow [2019].

Trained by Christophe Clement, Gufo earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure when fending off Japan by a neck in the Sword Dancer. The talented turf stayer raced along the rail through the early stages of the Sword Dancer, picking up ground past the second turn and into the backstretch. He was in command past the three-sixteenths and held off Japan's menacing outside rally.

Prior to the Sword Dancer, Gufo was a one-length winner of the 12-furlong Grand Couturier on July 5 at Belmont.

During his sophomore campaign last year, Gufo secured graded stakes triumphs in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Kent at Delaware Park and captured the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational two starts later.

While stretching out to 1 ½ miles has paid dividends for Gufo, Clement said adding blinkers for the Grand Couturier score has been equally as beneficial.

“The blinkers made him a bit more manageable,” Clement said. “It's nice to have a horse that is so consistent at that level. We'll need some racing luck like always. He's run well in every Grade 1 in New York on turf this year and that's what it's all about. It's a Grade 1 so it will be a tough race by definition, but we'll be there.”

Joel Rosario, the pilot aboard Gufo in six of his 12 starts, will have the call from post 3.

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Japan seeks to turn the tables on Gufo for trainer Aidan O'Brien who shipped Cape Blanco to the United States to take the 2011 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Owned by Coolmore triumvirate Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith in partnership with Masaaki Matsushima, Japan gradually improved position throughout the Sword Dancer and attempted to collar Gufo in the final furlong coming up a nose short.

The 5-year-old son of Galileo was a two-time Group 1 winner in 2019, defeating three other Group 1 winners in the Juddmonte International in August 2019 at York. He captured the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris in May 2019 at Longchamp.

Winless in five starts in 2020, Japan recaptured his winning form this season with a pair of Group 3 triumphs. In his seasonal bow, he won the Ormonde on May 6 at Chester, three starts ahead of a victory in the Meld on July 15 at Leopardstown.

“The turns at Saratoga didn't inconvenience him,” said O'Brien's travelling assistant T.J. Comerford. “He went around Chester in England which has pretty tight turns. He just probably didn't get the run of the race when he wanted. He came out of it well. He's going the right way. He's training well and Aidan is very happy with him. All he has to do is run like he did the last time and that gives him a good shot.”

Wayne Lordan ships in to ride from post 7.

A five-time graded stakes winning 7-year-old, Channel Maker captured both the Joe Hirsch and Sword Dancer last year ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf, which earned him Champion Turf Horse honors.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Channel Maker won both of his respective Joe Hirsch Turf Classics in wire-to-wire fashion garnering career best 108 Beyers.

After defeating a field of four Grade 1-winners by 4 ½ lengths in 2018, Channel Maker earned his second Joe Hirsch Turf Classic victory two years later, winning by 2 ¼ lengths under Manny Franco. He joined his sire English Channel amongst a compact group of horses to have won multiple runnings of the Joe Hirsch. A triumph this year would make Channel Maker the only horse to win three.

Channel Maker, one of five millionaires in the field, boasts the largest bankroll with earnings of $3,266,551. He is also the most seasoned amongst his competitors with a record of 41-7-6-5.

Franco will ride from post 6.

Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Coneway's Arklow, the 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner, will vie to join Channel Maker and Val's Prince [1997, 99] as horses to win non-consecutive Joe Hirsch Turf Classics.

Trained by Brad Cox, the durable 7-year-old son of Arch secured his only Grade 1 victory when defeating Channel Maker by a half-length two years ago.

Sporting a ledger of 35-9-8-2, Arklow has won at least one graded stakes race every year since 2017. After rounding out his 6-year-old season with a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in November at Del Mar, Arklow made his seasonal bow when coming from 10 lengths off the pace to win the Grade 3 Louisville on May 15 at Churchill Downs.

Arklow arrives off a late closing second in the Grade 3 Calumet Turf Cup on September 11 at Kentucky Downs, a race he had won in 2018 and 2020.

“He had a tough trip last out at Kentucky Downs but he ran a really good race,” Cox said. “He came out of the race in good shape and had two nice works on the turf at Belmont. He's made almost $3 million in his career and it would be exciting to win this race for the second time.”

Jose Lezcano picks up the mount from post 2.

In pursuit of his third Joe Hirsch victory, trainer Chad Brown will saddle Serve the King [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Rockemperor [post 4, Javier Castellano].

Peter Brant's Serve the King earned his first stakes victory last out in the restricted John's Call on August 25 at Saratoga, which he won a half-length. The lightly-raced 5-year-old son of Kingman sports a consistent record of 9-4-1-1.

Rockemperor, owned by Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stable, Michael E. Kisber and Michael J. Caruso, was fourth in the Sword Dancer last out. The seven-time graded stakes-placed son of Holy Roman Emperor last found the winner's circle in a 10-furlong allowance optional claiming tilt on June 26 at Belmont. He will race with blinkers off on Saturday.

Completing the field is Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border who enters off a third in the Sword Dancer for trainer Mike Maker. Unplaced in the last two Joe Hirsch Turf Classics, the New York-bred 7-year-old secured graded stakes victories with back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga [2020-21].

Cross Border was bred in New York by Berkshire Stud and B.D. Gibbs. Luis Saez will ride from post 5.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational is named in honor of the late journalist, the founding president of the National Turf Writers Association, and recipient of the Eclipse Award of Merit [1992]. The press box at Saratoga Race Course is named in honor of Hirsch.

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Dufresne Out To Make Amends In Saturday’s Matron

Commonwealth New Era Racing's Dufresne will look to make amends following a lackluster effort in her stakes debut when stepping into graded company in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Matron, a six-furlong inner turf sprint for juvenile fillies at Belmont Park.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, the Uncaptured bay traveled wide throughout in the Woodbine Cares and appeared to hang coming out of the turn before gaining momentum in the final sixteenth, closing to finish third in the five furlong inner-turf test last out on Sept. 19.

“We don't really know what to make of that last effort, hopefully we see a good performance up there on Saturday,” Trombetta said. “She likes to be close, but I don't think she needs to be on the lead. The distance should help her.”

Bred in New York by Newtownanner Stud Farm, Dufresne is out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Rapids, who is a half-sister to 2011 Grade 2 Remsen-winner O'Prado Again.

A $62,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Dufresne graduated at second asking sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs against fellow state-breds over firm footing on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trombetta, who has 1,993 career wins heading into Wednesday's racing action, said Dufresne has the frame of a stakes sprinter.

“She's real solidly built. She's not real big, but she's solid,” Trombetta said. “She's done everything we've asked of her. This will be another test to see if she's good enough to run at that track with these horses.”

Eric Cancel has the call from post 5.

Trainer Wesley Ward has entered the formidable duo of Chi Town Lady and Poppy Flower, who breezed five furlongs in company Saturday on the Belmont inner turf.

Ward said Chi Town Lady is also under consideration for a start against the boys in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong turf test for juveniles offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 2, $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 5 at Del Mar.

“I'm looking at that race and the Futurity as well,” Ward said. “She had a big work in company with Poppy Flower. The owner of Poppy Flower was on hand and said that Chi Town Lady looked much better in the work.”

Chi Town Lady graduated by three lengths at first asking sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs on the Keeneland main track. The Verrazano chestnut stumbled at the start last out on August 18 in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing over a yielding Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course, but was able to regroup under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez to best stablemate Poppy Flower by 1 3/4-lengths.

Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate and Gavin Tierney, Chi Town Lady is out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Toni's Hollyday.

“She's really starting to blossom as time has gone on,” Ward said. “She was always a nice filly, but she's one of these 2-year-olds that with time is getting better.”

Ward said if Chi Town Lady continues to thrive, he would consider entering her in the one-mile Grade 1, $ 1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“This particular filly I think will go a mile, especially at Del Mar, so I'm thinking about the mile race on the grass for her,” Ward said.

Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Poppy Flower graduated at third asking in a six-furlong turf sprint at Belmont on June 20 ahead of her Bolton Landing second. The Lea chestnut enters from a third-place finish in the Ainsworth at 6 1/2-furlongs on September 12 at Kentucky Downs

Joel Rosario will pilot Chi Town Lady from post 8, while Poppy Flower will emerge from the inside post under David Flores.

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Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Makin My Move romped to a 12 1/2-length debut win sprinting six furlongs against fellow New York-breds August 20 on the Spa main track.

Trained by John Kimmel, the Carpe Diem bay has since posted four consecutive bullet works on the Oklahoma training turf, including a rapid half-mile in 46.04 on September 3 in her first grass work.

Out of the multiple stakes winning More Than Ready mare Hard to Stay Notgo, Makin My Move is a half-sister to the Kimmel-trained stakes-placed turf specialist Gotta Go Mo.

“Gotta Go Mo can do nothing but run on the grass so I thought maybe grass might be her deal,” Kimmel said. “She [Makin My Move] was pretty amazing in her first work on the grass. Every work she's had on the grass has been solid. She continues to go out there and handle it really well.”

Kimmel said a strong gate work August 4 on the Oklahoma dirt training track convinced him to start Makin My Move on the main track. After breaking outward on debut, Makin My Move made the lead and continued to widen her margin at every point of call.

“She worked so good on the dirt out of the gate that day and she did win well, but I think she's better on the grass,” Kimmel said. “She wasn't on the front end right away last time, but she got there. She has tactical speed but she doesn't have to be on the front end.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pilot Makin My Move from post 6.

MeB Racing Stables and Vincent D. Esopi's Mystic Eyes, a $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated in her August 5 debut by 4 1/2-lengths sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm footing at the Spa.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Mystic Eyes followed with a runner-up effort in the Ainsworth.

“She looked good breaking her maiden on the grass at Saratoga, so this looked like a good opportunity. She's a nice filly,” Pletcher said.

By Maclean's Music, Mystic Eyes is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Cloudburst – a half-sister to 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor.

Manny Franco has the call from post 3.

Scott Dilworth, Evan Dilworth, Randy Andrews and Susan Andrews' Lady Danae bested Matron-rival Bubble Rock by two lengths in her August 13 debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm Mellon turf at the Spa.

The Joe Sharp-trained daughter of Klimt followed with an even fifth last out in the Ainsworth.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden and Craig Brogden, Lady Danae was purchased for $210,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Luis Saez retains the mount from post 4.

Shortleaf Stable homebred Bubble Rock, by More Than Ready, exited her runner-up effort to Lady Danae with a convincing 3 1/4-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the firm Mellon turf on September 3 at Saratoga.

Trained by Brad Cox, Bubble Rock is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Reef Point, who is a half-sister to millionaire Blue Chipper – winner of the 2019 Group 1 Keeneland Korea Sprint in Seoul and third-place finisher in that year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call aboard Bubble Rock from post 7.

Swilcan Stable and LC Racing's Mainstay, a half-sister to 2-year-old Champion Filly Vequist, will exit post 11 under Kendrick Carmouche in her turf debut. Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Mainstay is by Astern and out of the Mineshaft mare Vero Amore.

She won her June 4 debut by 7 3/4-lengths sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs on a sloppy Monmouth Park main track and followed with a runner-up effort to Pretty Birdie in the six-furlong Grade 3 Schuylerville in July at Saratoga.

Mainstay enters from a fading fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Adirondack on August 8 at the Spa.

Rounding out the field is The Club [post 2, Jose Lezcano], Gal in a Rush [post 12, Dylan Davis], Benbang [post 10, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], and High Arabian [post 9, Benjamin Hernandez].

The Matron, slated as Race 6, is part of a lucrative 11-race card that also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic [Race 7], a 12-furlong Widener turf test for 3-year-olds and up; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh [Race 5], a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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