Tag: Bob Baffert

Breeders’ Cup 40 is Here!

ARCADIA, CA – Forty looks good on you, Breeders' Cup.

With defending winners Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (Turf Sprint), Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile), Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) and Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint) all back to defend their titles, the two-day Championships–consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million–gets underway for a record 11th time at Santa Anita Friday.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s–welcome back to Southern California!–will be on the menu as the weekend kicks off with a 10-race, 'Future Stars Friday' program.

“This is what it's all about,” Santa Anita track announcer Frank Mirahmadi said. “The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, there is nothing that's bigger than that in our game.”

All eyes will be on Spendthrift Farm's unbeaten 'Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) as she looks to emulate her larger-than-life-dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. A terrific field has been assembled for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, led by last-out GISWs and 'Rising Stars' Locked (Gun Runner), Timberlake (Into Mischief), and the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Muth (Good Magic) and Prince of Monaco (Speightstown).

Some of the headliners for the trio of wide-open 2-year-old turf races include: Royal Ascot G2 Coventry S. winner River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Juvenile Turf); GI Natalma S. heroine She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) (Juvenile Fillies Turf); and returning G2 Queen Mary S. winner Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) (Juvenile Turf Sprint).

Baffert will very likely be favored to secure a fifth win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with 'Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) following the late defection and subsequent retirement of GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate). The $6-million feature also includes G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and GI Whitney S. winner White Abarrio (Race Day).

The GI Breeders' Cup Turf could arguably be the best race of the weekend. European heavyweights Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and King of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will take on the best from these shores, led by Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the 1 1/2-mile event.

Other high-profile runners in action this weekend include: Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (F/M Turf); Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) (Mile); and Idiomatic (Curlin) and Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (Distaff).

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be televised live by NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

For wall-to-wall coverage of all 14 Championship races, click here for Friday's preview edition and click here for Saturday's preview edition.

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Arabian Knight Favored at 3-1 from Post 12 for Breeders’ Cup Classic

After firing a five-furlong warning shot at Santa Anita Monday morning, Zedan Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite while drawing post 12 at the Rood & Riddle Post-Position Draw for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Bob Baffert-trained GI Pacific Classic hero and $2.3-million OBS April breezer will face 12 rivals in the $6-million centerpiece, including fellow sophomore and the rail-drawn GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. hero Arcangelo (Arrogate), GI Whitney S. winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).

All four of Baffert's Classic winners–Bayern (2014), American Pharaoh (2015), Arrogate (2016) and Authentic (2020)–accomplished the feat during their 3-year-old seasons.

“I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his 'A' game, I don't really care who's running against us,” Baffert said.

Despite missing the last two days of training with a foot issue, trainer Jena Antonucci remains confident that Arcangelo is in good form for the Classic.

“He's rather annoyed with us right now, so yes,” she said at the draw.

“He had a warm hind foot and we pulled his shoe off. We'll be patient, always put the horse first and make sure he's 100 percent.”

From the rail out, the complete field for the Classic: Arcangelo (Arrogate), Zandon (Upstart), White Abarrio (Race Day), Missed the Cut (Quality Road), Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits), Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), Clapton (Brethren), Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), Dreamlike (Gun Runner), Bright Future (Curlin), Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) and Proxy (Tapit).

Breeders' Cup 40, to be held for the 11th time at Santa Anita, will celebrate the return of four winners–Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (Turf Sprint), Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile), Elite Power (Curlin) (Sprint) and Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint)–from the 2022 Championships at Keeneland. Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), winner of the 2021 GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, was entered in the Turf Sprint.

Morning-line favorites for Saturday's nine Breeders' Cup events, in race order, as follows:

Cody's Wish (Curlin) (post three) (9/5) (Dirt Mile); G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (post 6) (5-2) (Filly & Mare Turf); Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (post 1) (6/5) (Filly & Mare Sprint); Japanese-based G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) (post 10) (5-2) (Mile); streaking GI Juddmonte Spinster S. heroine Idiomatic (Curlin) (post four) (5-2) (Distaff); G1 Juddmonte International S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (post nine) (5-2) (Turf); 'Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) (post 12) (3-1) (Classic); G1 Nunthorpe S. winner Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) (post five) (9-2) (Turf Sprint); and Elite Power (Curlin) (post eight) (9/5) (Sprint).

Morning-line favorites for the 'Future Stars' Friday card, in race order, as follows:

G2 Flying Childers S. winner Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) (post four) (3-1) (Juvenile Turf Sprint); the legendary Beholder's unbeaten GI Del Mar Debutante S. heroine and 'Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) (post seven) (4/5) (Juvenile Fillies); unbeaten GI Natalma S. heroine She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) (post 11) (4-1) (Juvenile Fillies Turf); GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner and 'Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) (post 6) (7-2) (Juvenile); and the Aidan O'Brien-trained G2 Coventry S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third-place finisher River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (post two) (3-1) (Juvenile Turf).

Hosted by Britney Eurton and Nick Luck, the draw was held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

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Breeders’ Cup Monday Bulletin: Locals, International Challengers On Track

GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was first onto the main track Monday morning when he worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat, will walk at the barn Tuesday, and then is planned to return to the track Wednesday.

“He's healthy, he's working well. There have been no hiccups,” Baffert said. “He's ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his 'A' game, I don't really care who's running against us. That's my focus with him.”

The colt made an auspicious debut at Keeneland during the 2022 Breeders' Cup under card. The seven-length romp and a subsequent resounding victory at Oaklawn Park put him squarely in the Kentucky Derby discussions until he was sidelined for half a year. He returned to the races in the GI Haskell S., finishing third in an effort Baffert says showed Arabian Knight had some growing up to do:

“The race was a disaster,” Baffert said of his runner's effort in which he relinquished the lead late. “He was too fresh and wouldn't rate on the lead. I think it showed his immaturity. But despite the outcome, we did learn from it.”

Two months later, he won the GI Pacific Classic over the extended 10-furlong distance and prevailed in a hard-fought contest:

“That was a good race,” he recalled. “I thought Arabian Knight might get beat from the quarter-pole home, but he really dug it. Now he's finally getting into form where we're going to see the best of him.”

Baffert added: “We always thought of him as a top-class horse. You could see that as a yearling, which is why he cost us a pretty penny [$250,000 at KEESEP; $2.3 million 2-year-old at OBSAPR in 2022].”

GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) walked the shedrow for the second day in a row Monday after having a shoe removed Saturday afternoon.

“He just walked today,” said trainer Jena Antonucci. “I wasn't able to get the shoe back on yet. He walked for about 45 minutes. There's no reason not to have an extra walk day on him. He's pretty fresh back there, so I probably won't be able to get many more walks on him. I'm happy with the direction it's going. Everything is going the right way.”

Japanese Runners Fine Tune

Japan's Classic contender Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) had a routine warm-up and canter around the Santa Anita dirt track, but things were less than routine when he was schooling at the gate Monday morning. The G1 Dubai World Cup winner kicked out multiple times and was irritable with the gate crew.

“The gate is set lower than in Japan and he's such a big horse that the doors brushed against his hocks in an awkward manner, causing him to kick out,” explained the Breeders' Cup Japan representative Kate Hunter. “The vet checked him over and there are no issues. We will school him again on Wednesday after his breeze. For horses with similar issues, Santa Anita provides green mats that tie to the inside of the starting gate that we will use with him. They hug the hind-end and make it easier. We will now use that with all of our runners.”

Fellow Japanese hopeful Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) (Mile) cantered two laps of the turf with the final half easing up.

Juveniles & Sophomore Sprinters Make Moves

In his final prep for the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) worked four furlongs in :47 4/5 and will walk at the barn Tuesday. Back from a long freshening to only begin his 3-year-old year in September, the colt made a strong impression in that seasonal bow, battling for the lead throughout the six furlong contest before ultimately just missing by a head on the wire.

“I really liked his comeback race,” Baffert said. “Since that effort, he's trained really well. I've got the screws tightened on him now.”

Bill Mott, no stranger to a big day at the Breeders' Cup, sent out GI Frizette victress Just F Y I (Justify) to work four furlongs in :48 3/5 with assistant trainer Neil Pozansky in the irons. The Krikorian homebred will try to get her owner his first 'Cup victory in 11 starts via the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies  alongside War Like Goddess' second tilt in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf against the boys.

Of Just F Y I's work, Mott was very happy: “She went well. She had galloped really strong for two days in a row and I didn't want to work her off that. Neil was really happy with her and she looked great to me. He said she felt good and was responsive to whatever he wanted when she started the work.”

Unleash the Europeans

On the international front, the Saturday arrivals were released from quarantine Monday night and will be on track to train Tuesday morning. Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), in prep for the Turf Sprint, had a strong canter on the grass over five furlongs. He continued to travel with great enthusiasm in the hands of regular work rider Shoshana Cooksley since arriving. His owners Steve and Jolene De'Lemos were trackside to watch their sprinter exercise.

Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), also part of the Mile contingent, had a canter around the main track, gate schooled, and then walked in the gates before backing out in controlled fashion. The Godolphin team swapped riders to do the gate schooling with regular work rider Michael Greig hopping off for Matthew Lawson, who stood her in the gates.

“Mawj exercised very well this morning,” Greig said. “I'm really happy with her. She knows what she needs to do so I just leave it up to her.”

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Breeders’ Cup Sunday Bulletin: Baffert, Mott Runners On Track

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tuned up for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with a four-furlong drill in :48.20 (22/69) Sunday at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old comes into the Distaff with a string of four straight stakes victories, including a 5 1/4-length score in the Oct. 1 GII Zenyatta S., but will have to step up her game to win Saturday, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

“She'll be running against a different type of filly on Saturday,” Baffert said. “She's a big, fast filly and she has a great mind. But this will be a class test. Her last race was great, but this is a step up. To win this race, you need to have a really good horse and have real good luck. Winning these races is not easy.”

Also working for Baffert Sunday, GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) went four furlongs in :47.40 (11/69) in preparation for the GI Dirt Mile.

“He looked good out there,” Baffert said. “I had him galloping out five furlongs in :59 and change. That last race seemed to wake him back up.”

National Treasure is coming off a fourth-place effort in the Sept. 30 GI Awesome Again S.


Baffert's GI F/M Sprint contender Eda (Munnings) went four furlongs from the gate in :47.40 (11/69) Sunday morning, while GI Juvenile contender Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) went five furlongs in 1:00.20 (5/61).

Also working for the F/M Sprint, trainer Steve Asmussen sent Society (Gun Runner) out to drill three furlongs in :37.40 (11/15) Sunday.

Godolphin's Mile contender Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) went out for a routine canter Sunday, but ended up working four furlongs in an unofficially timed :49 2/5.

“Unfortunately that wasn't the plan,” said trainer Charlie Appleby's assistant Chris Connett. “All we wanted to do with him was go out for a steady canter, but he didn't have his hood on and unfortunately he took off with his rider. It was not quite what we hoped for or what was planned. We will now have to adjust his schedule accordingly with a quiet day tomorrow and he will definitely have the hood on him next time he's out on Tuesday morning.”

GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Dr. Schivel (Violence), coming off a win in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 (19/61) Sunday for trainer Mark Glatt.

Mott Runners Tune Up

Trainer Bill Mott sent out four Breeders' Cup hopefuls to work at Santa Anita Sunday.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel), prepping for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, worked four furlongs in :49.80 (57/69).

“It was beautiful,” Mott said of the work. “Poetry in motion. She works on the dirt and she works in :49 or :50; that's all we want. You could see the rider was just letting her do it. She gets a lot out of working on the dirt, conditioning wise. She is fit enough.”

Also Sunday, Mott sent Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Elite Power (Curlin) out to work four furlongs in company. Casa Creed, headed for the GI Mile, went in :46.40 (3/69), while Elite Power was credited with bullet :46.20 (1/69).

Of Casa Creed, Mott said, “We think he is a pretty good horse. In these turf races, it's all about the trip and the pace and position. You have to have the golden trip and you've got to get lucky. Everyone in there is a nice horse; probably half the horses in it could win it.”

Of Elite Power's attempt to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint next Saturday, Mott said, “I don't have any lack of confidence in him. Look, it's a horse race and he has to go over there and do it and have a good trip. I have no reason to believe he is not as good as he was last year.”

Elite Power had an eight-race win streak snapped when second behind Gunite (Gun Runner) in the Aug. 26 GI Forego S. last time out.

The Mott-trained Cody's Wish (Curlin), aiming for the GI Dirt Mile, went four furlongs in :47.20 (10/69) with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky in the saddle.

“He looked smooth as glass,” Mott said. “I was happy that he didn't go faster. Neil had him just right. Cody's Wish did it on the bridle. Passing the eighth pole, [Poznansky] released his hold and took his hand off the bridle a little bit and he finished up good and galloped out good.”

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