Having been named a 'TDN Rising Star' when breaking his maiden at Leopardstown at two, Bolshoi Ballet, bred by Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, then emulated his sire, as well as Yeats (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire), when winning both the G3 Ballysax S. and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial the next season. Following a seventh-place finish in the Derby at Epsom, he bounced back to win the GI Belmont Derby, earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any turf horse in North America last year. He closed out his career with another Grade I success at Saratoga, recording an easy win in the Sword Dancer S. this August. 

“Bolshoi Ballet is an exceptional looker and walker, extremely genuine and clean-winded,” said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He had the class to win a Grade I over a mile and a quarter and also stayed a mile and a half well.”

Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud added, “I was very taken with Bolshoi Ballet when we went to see him at Ballydoyle earlier in the year. He's a super-looking horse with real presence about him, a great colour, plenty of size and a very good walk. I have no doubt that breeders will be impressed when they come to see him.”

Bolshoi Ballet's fee will be announced in the coming days.

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Yet, by just about any measure, it was not a good meet. Saratoga came into 2023 with the wind at its back. Every year the racing seemed to get bigger, the handle would grow and more and more fans would pile into the historic racecourse. Taking out the covid year, handle had risen at Saratoga for five straight years.

Would Saratoga ever lose its momentum or would it keep growing exponentially?

It turned this year. The 12 fatalities, including two particularly gruesome ones that occurred in full view of packed grandstand and before a national TV audience, were as bad as it gets. How many racing fans were turned into ex-racing fans on those days? NYRA has always taken the safety of the horses and jockeys very seriously and will no doubt continue to put in place measures to keep both safe.

They have some control over horse safety, but none over the weather, which was a huge problem at the meet. During the 2022 meet, only 15 races came off the grass. Through Sunday of the 2023 meet, 65 races had come off the grass. There had been 189 grass races run in 2022 versus 129 this year. That always leads to the same problems. When races come off the turf there are always a number of scratches, typically creating off-the-turf races with four or five-horse fields. On Aug. 10, an off-the-turf race actually turned into a match race. This is stuff no one wants to bet on.

NYRA is ready to do what it can to address that problem. NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke has said that there is serious interest in installing a synthetic track at Saratoga by the 2025 meet. It wouldn't replace either the dirt main track or the two turf courses but would give NYRA a third option when it comes to racing surfaces and the synthetic track would largely be put to use when the rains washed races off of the turf.

The weather has been a problem, but if you dig a bit further you can find some signs that Saratoga handle was affected by more than the rain. On GI Travers Day 2023, when two races came off the turf, the handle was $50,183,71. In 2022, the handle was $55,559,315 when one race came off the grass. This past Saturday, on GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Day, they bet $27,400,509 on a day not impacted by weather. The year before the handle was $32,505,600.

“I think what happened is with all the earlier rain we lost some momentum and when that happened it's hard to get it back,” O'Rourke said.

Field size fell by 2.5 percent, from 7.75 to 7.56. A more telling number was the average handle per betting interest. It was $255,773 this year and $272,599 last year, for a drop of 6.2%.

What's done is done and there's nothing to do now but turn the page and hope Saratoga 2024 is one of the safest meets in history and the weather is gorgeous from opening day to closing day. The place is still magical and popular, but everything peaks at some point. Maybe that's happened to Saratoga.

European Dominance On The Turf

This is getting a bit ridiculous. U.S. racing is used to second-flight European horses coming over and winning some of our biggest grass race, but the year European shippers are having this year shows that our grass horses are vastly inferior. Take Saturday's GIII $2 million Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. There was only one European shipper in the field, Ancient Rome (War Front), who is trained by Charlie Hills and was ridden by Jamie Spencer. Facing the likes of GI winner Annapolis (War Front), he came into it off a win in a handicap race. Before that you had to go all the way back to 2021 for his last graded win, a victory in the GIII Prix des Chenes in France. He won that by a half-length. He won the Mint Millions by a half-length.

A week earlier, it was Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He came into the GI Sword Dancer after losing by 21 1/2 lengths in the GI King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I Stakes, where he went off at 125-1. Yet, that was good enough to win the Sword Dancer by 4 1/2 lengths. The win broke a nine-race losing streak, going back to the 2021 GI Belmont Derby where he also took advantage of a weak group of U.S. turf horses.

Then there's Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify). She was sent off at 50-1 in the GI Irish 1,000 Guineas and finished last beaten 14 1/2 lengths. But that was good enough for her to take home first prize of $500,000 in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational in her next outing.

Good luck to our horses in the Breeders' Cup turf races.

Surprise, Surprise, Still No News Out Of Saudi Arabia

Back in 2020, Maximum Security (New Year's Day) crossed the line in front in the 2020 $20 million Saudi Cup. Just a few days later, his trainer, Jason Servis, was arrested and charged with using performance-enhancing drugs on most of the horses in his barn. When that news broke, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said it was withholding the purses until it could investigate the situation

It's been 29 months since Servis was indicted, he has pled guilty and in November will begin a four-year prison sentence. The case is over, but the Saudis still haven't paid out the purse. Presumably, the winner's share of $10 million will eventually go to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). But no one has been paid as the Saudis, who should have all the evidence they'll ever need, do nothing and don't seem to be in any hurry to write a check. We tried to get an update on the situation this week, but the answer we got didn't really answer anything.

“Due to the extended nature of the judicial process in the USA, the JCSA has been unable to fully conduct its own investigation into the awarding of the winner's prize for The Saudi Cup 2020,” wrote the JCSA's Sarah Tregoning in response to an email sent by the TDN. “Now that the legal process in the USA has finished, the JCSA expects to swiftly conclude its own investigation and make an announcement in the coming weeks.”

I wouldn't hold your breath.

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Ninth to Japan's Loves Only Your (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the last of an eight-race campaign that saw him compete on three continents, the bay was given a chance to make a return trip to Hong Kong in the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield Nov. 12, but he failed to shine, finishing fourth and beaten better than six lengths.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien will still be double-handed in the Vase with GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runners-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is to take on two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

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Yoshito Yahagi's globetrotting mare has flown the Hinomaru flag from Dubai to Hong Kong and on to the USA then back to Sha Tin again in 2021, leading home a Japanese 1-2-3-4 in the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in April and then creating history by becoming the first horse from her nation to score at the Breeders' Cup.

Hong Kong's richest race had been nominated as the final race of the Deep Impact mare's career soon after she crossed the line in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on November 6.

Her fifth long flight of the year took her annual distance covered to over 20,000 miles but Loves Only You was produced in perfect condition and completed the final leg of her global odyssey with a last-gasp success under the coolest of rides from Yuga Kawada.

The 36-year-old rider, who was extremely fortunate not to be brought down when previous winner Danon Smash was badly hampered in a dramatic G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) earlier in the day, was understandably thrilled to record his first HKIR success. “Thank you very much, I'm very proud,” he said.

“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She's given me two big presents and is the best female horse I've ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother.”

Sent off the 2.6 market leader, Loves Only You jumped alertly from stall four and was soon traveling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star, and the wide-running Bolshoi Ballet.

Russian Emperor made a bold move to hit the front as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight but last season's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up edged right with his tongue lolling out as he did so, placing Loves Only You in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.

Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.

However, Kawada had Loves Only You in full stride by this stage and the five-year-old repeated her Del Mar heroics, quickening valiantly between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.

Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length away in third, while British raider Dubai Honour never looked like becoming the first European runner to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010 but stayed on powerfully for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Three years on from seeing his star filly Lys Gracieux beaten narrowly by Exultant in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a 50-1 Breeders' Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a commanding Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.

The colorful 60-year-old was unable to accompany Loves Only You on the final leg of her journey but his stable representative Yusaku Oka was on hand to savor a perfect finale.

“I'm so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan,” he said.

“She won the Breeders' Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.

“She's got a good pedigree – so we are looking forward to the next stage of her career – and as we have quite a lot of good horses in the stable we hope we will be back in Hong Kong with them in the future.”

Dusk was gathering over Sha Tin as an elated Kawada left the racecourse on a day that illustrated every aspect of the joy and pain that defines racing at the highest level.

The sun is also setting on Loves Only You's racing career but, if the 2021 edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races confirmed one thing, it is that the Land of the Rising Sun is now a true powerhouse on the global racing stage.

Following in the footsteps of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright, and Normcore, this success for Loves Only You means Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups and four of the eight HKIR races run in the last two years.

HKJC racecaller Mark McNamara summed up the latest thrilling finish to Hong Kong's most cherished prize by saying: “It's Japan 1-2, Loves Only You says sayonara with the Cup!”

Leave them wanting more is never a bad motto. But, who knows, maybe Japan's latest Cup queen will have a son or daughter to represent her on the LONGINES HKIR stage in years to come.

The post Loves Only You Finishes Career With Hong Kong Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mogul, a 4-year-old son of Galileo, has not won in four starts since last year's Hong Kong success. However, that victory was his third from as many runs right-handed at 2400 metres on good ground and jockey Moore believes his 2021 performances can be excused.

“He's had a quiet year,” Moore said. “He started in Dubai and ran respectably and (then) ran a good race in Paris in the Prix Ganay (G1, 2100m) before the ground was very soft at Epsom for the Coronation and he didn't like it and it was the same again when he went back to Deauville.

“A few things haven't gone quite right for him through the summer, so he's been lightly raced. His work's been good at home and he looks great. We know he likes Sha Tin and he likes quick ground. I believe Aidan's very happy with him, so we're hoping that he can step back in the right direction.

“He showed a couple of times last year he's very talented. He's a handsome horse with a great pedigree and I still have faith that he can get back on track. Aidan would like to have put a run in him but that didn't happen but we think he's in good shape. I suppose Mogul would look our best chance on paper.”

Moore and O'Brien, of course, combined with the most recent multiple Vase winner Highland Reel who scored in 2015, was second in 2016 and won again in 2017 immediately before his retirement to stud.

Zoffany filly Mother Earth, a dual Group 1 winner in 2021, represents the stable in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Moore says she can be forgiven a last-start Breeders' Cup Mile failure and be competitive in what he describes as a “very strong” edition of the Group 1.

“She's a wonderful filly. She's strong and she's been very busy, on the go all year and late on as a two-year-old as well,” Moore said. “The race in Del Mar (G1 Breeders' Cup Mile), she drew in the middle and didn't get away that quickly, the pace was steady and it was impossible to make up ground in that very short straight there.

“She's been consistent all year. The race on Sunday is very strong with Golden Sixty and a live Japanese contingent. It's going to be tough for her but she's got a nice draw, gets a nice weight pull and she usually runs a good race. I think Sha Tin will suit and she'll enjoy the quick ground.” Moore said.

Bolshoi Ballet returns to 2000 meters (1 1/4 miles), after two failures at 2400 metres, in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the drop in trip may be key to his prospects, according to the jockey.

“He won a Grade 1 in America at ten (furlongs) and his two wins at the start of the year were over the ten furlongs (2000 metres). He's obviously very happy at that distance. I had high hopes for him and (while) he hasn't run bad races lately I would like to have seen a little bit more from him.

“The quick ground will be in his favor and I don't think Sha Tin will be any problem. The two Japanese fillies (Lei Papale and Loves Only You) bring a high level of form and will be tough to beat but he (Bolshoi Ballet) is a nice type of horse and I still believe there's a good horse in there. He's a Group 1 winner and hopefully can run a respectable race,” Moore said.

Recently crowned LONGINES World's Best Jockey, Moore also picks up the ride on Hot King Prawn for trainer John Size in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, six furlongs).

“He's very consistent horse and obviously a Group 1 winner around Sha Tin. He's got a nice draw. Pixie Knight might be a level above but I'm very much looking forward to riding him (Hot King Prawn). He's had his prep race and hopefully will come forward. He's in there with a definite chance,” Moore said.

The post O’Brien-Trained Mogul Returns To Defend His Title In Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Fresh off Breeders' Cup success in the United States, Yoshito Yahagi's mare is just one of 22 Group 1 winners set to compete. Returning to Hong Kong in a bid for a second G1 success in the city, the daughter of Deep Impact is looking to cap a superb year and she is just one of the exciting contingent of overseas raiders aiming at this year's “Turf World Championships.”

Featuring prominently once more, Aidan O'Brien will return to Hong Kong in strength with 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles) winner Mogul while stablemates Broome, Japan, Bolshoi Ballet and Mother Earth also feature.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around many international racing events, the strength of the international presence in this year's line-up confirms that the Sha Tin showpiece retains its pre-eminent position at the top of the agenda for international horsemen.

The LONGINES HKIR is the sport's global year-end spectacular and features the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles), the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m, or one mile), the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m, or six furlongs) and the HK$20 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m, or 1 1/2 miles). The Cup, Mile and Sprint are the world's richest G1 races on turf over their respective distances.

Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Racing, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) is firmly established as one of the world's principal racing events and this year we will welcome an extraordinary line-up from Japan, Great Britain, Ireland and France which includes 16 individual Group 1 winners. To have runners of this caliber in any year would be notable but once again it is truly remarkable given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are delighted that the quality of the selected runners for this year's LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence and Loves Only You's return to Hong Kong after her historical Breeders' Cup victory is incredibly exciting, as is the arrival of a quintet from Aidan O'Brien's all-powerful Ballydoyle operation.

“Our hometown hero Golden Sixty is looking to enhance his astonishing unbeaten streak to 16 and also set a new all-time winning record of 19 in Hong Kong should he successfully defend his Hong Kong Mile title while star sprinter Wellington's development adds further intrigue and everything surely points to a thrilling afternoon of sport on Sunday, Dec. 12.”

Loves Only You spearheads a strong cohort from Japan, which includes first and second out of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse last month, Pixie Knight and Resistencia, respectively, with both plotting raids on the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Danon Smash returns to defend his crown in the dash, while Glory Vase will attempt to recapture his LONGINES Hong Kong Vase title from Mogul – last year's victor – who also returns from Ireland to represent Aidan O'Brien.

Joining Loves Only You in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is Lei Papale, winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) earlier this year who is looking to remain unbeaten over 10-furlongs. Bolshoi Ballet – O'Brien's American G1 winner – plots a course for the Hong Kong Cup, as does Mac Swiney for Jim Bolger and Dubai Honour for William Haggas. Both Mac Swiney – a two-time G1 winner – and Dubai Honour placed behind Sealiway in the British Champion Stakes with the latter getting within a length.

O'Brien will be double-handed in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase as the incredibly consistent Broome – who runs in Sunday's (Nov. 28) G1 Japan Cup (2400m) – journeys to Hong Kong for the first time following his cracking second to Yibir in the G1 LONGINES Breeders' Cup Turf (2400m) earlier this month at Del Mar Racecourse.

The William Muir-trained Pyledriver – winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup (2420m) at Epsom Downs Racecourse – is in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase. While, H H Aga Khan's Ebaiyra – trained by the iconic Alain de Royer-Dupre – is also targeting a Hong Kong Vase raid.

Eyeing a 16th consecutive win and second successive LONGINES Hong Kong Mile crown, Hong Kong's Golden Sixty will face no shortage of stiff opposition including Mother Earth for the Irish mastermind, O'Brien. Her brilliant three-year-old season boasts two G1 titles, winning the 1000 Guineas (1609m) and Prix Rothschild (1600m), while she has also placed in seven other G1 contests in Great Britain, Ireland, France and the United States.

Indy Champ and Vin de Garde join the Japanese brigade bidding to overthrow Golden Sixty, as does Danon Kingly, winner of the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) last June. Trainer Noriyuki Hori is no stranger to success in Hong Kong after the heroics of the great Maurice and he'll be represented by Hishi Iguazu in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup as well as the G1-winning Salios, who also boasts consecutive runner-up efforts to Japan's Triple Crown-winning Contrail. Salios will contest the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

Joining Golden Sixty – Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year – in the home team's defense is Hong Kong's Champion Stayer Panfield, who will be running in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Hong Kong's emerging talent has always been ever-present and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint will have no shortage of juvenile stars. Lucky Patch steps out for Hong Kong following consecutive G2 scores, while Courier Wonder, Naboo Attack and Sky Field bolster the home team's defences with established G1 stars, Hot King Prawn and Wellington spearheading the charge.

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Klaravich Stable's Domestic Spending, trained by Chad Brown, is a three-time G1 winner coming off a narrow defeat in the G1 Mr. D. Stakes (formerly the Arlington Million) at Arlington Park. LNJ Foxwoods' United, trained by Richard Mandella, scored a nose victory last out in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

Inflammation was detected on a leg in both horses on Thursday morning.

The scratches permit Aidan O'Brien-trained Bolshoi Ballet and front-running Bill Mott trainee Channel Maker into the field.

Watch the Breeders' Cup News Minute below:

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The Breeders' Cup announced Saturday that it had begun a review process to determine whether or not trainer Bob Baffert will be allowed to compete in this year's championship event. The outcome of that review is pending.

“The Breeders' Cup Board has commenced a review process as to whether Bob Baffert will be permitted to participate in this year's Breeders' Cup world championships,” read a statement from the Breeders' Cup. “The process will include an opportunity for Mr. Baffert to present his case and will conclude in advance of pre-entry for the 2021 world championships.”

The statement came shortly after a Breeders' Cup Board of Directors meeting was held Friday. No doubt, Baffert's status was brought up at the meeting. The Breeders' Cup said it has no further comment at this time.

By now, you all know the story. Baffert had five drug positives over a one-year period, including one in the GI Kentucky Derby, where race winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for betamethasone. That led Churchill Downs to issue a two-year suspension, which, if not overturned, will keep him from entering in the 2022 and 2023 Derbies, as well as the GI Kentucky Oaks and all other Churchill stakes races. The New York Racing Association has also taken steps to ban Baffert. Other tracks, including Santa Anita, Pimlico, Monmouth and Del Mar have said that Baffert is welcome

Now, the Breeders' Cup will have its say.

There are no easy answers when it comes to Baffert and his situation, but the Breeders' Cup would be doing the wrong thing if it decides the Hall of Fame trainer will not be allowed to enter horses at this year's event.

For one thing, it's too late. If the Breeders' Cup was going to exclude Baffert, it needed to do so shortly after the Medina Spirit positive became public. That's what Churchill and NYRA did. For the most part, nothing has changed since the Derby and there's no reason why a decision couldn't have been made back in May or early June. Now, the clock is ticking, there are fewer than seven weeks until the Breeders' Cup begins and the Breeders' Cup has not said when it will make its decision regarding Baffert. While there's little sympathy in the industry for Baffert's owners, it would be unfair to them to make them switch trainers this close to the event.

And if you want to ban him, be prepared for a court fight that you will probably lose. Baffert and his lawyers have already taken on NYRA and won an early round in their fight against them. To get an injunction that would, at least temporarily, overturn a Breeders' Cup ban probably wouldn't be that hard to accomplish.

But the most important question is this: Does he deserve a Breeders' Cup ban?

While perhaps sounding like a Baffert apologist, which might be an unpopular stance to take, banning him from the Breeders' Cup would be a case of piling on. Yes, he deserves some punishment for all the positives. It's inexcusable for a trainer to have so many in such a short period of time and when you factor in that Baffert has been the face of racing for all these many years, the offense looks all the more serious. This is a sport that has been knocked around pretty good over the last three years or so and all the black eyes have taken quite a toll. Baffert threw gasoline on all the sport's problems.

Still, the punishment is supposed to fit the crime.

What Churchill has done to Baffert will seriously impact his career over the next two years. Not only can't he run in the next two Derbies, but horses he trains will not be eligible to pick up Derby points in the preps. It hasn't happened yet, but there's sure to be a mass exodus from his barn, as no owner with a serious Derby or Oaks candidate will leave their horse in a stable ineligible for those races and not eligible for qualifying points. Expect horses to start going elsewhere early next year. Then there's the potential of a ban at NYRA, which if successful, will keep him out of the GI Belmont S., the GI Travers S. and the dozens of other major races run in New York. That would mean even more horses lost.

That's an awful big bite for a trainer who has been caught only with overages of therapeutic medications. Betamethasone is not a performance-enhancer per se, and neither are the other drugs involved when it comes to the Baffert positives. This is not at all comparable to the Jason Servis-Jorge Navarro situation and all its ugliness.

To have penalized Baffert is fine. But don't keep him out of the Breeders' Cup. At some point, enough is enough.

Europeans Dominate Again…

Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is a nice-enough horse, but far from the brightest star in the Charlie Appleby barn. A 7-year-old gelding, he had two wins this year in Dubai before resurfacing last month in Germany, where he finished third in the G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin. Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) is a 9-year-old gelding who hadn't won a race in two years. The winner of the Canadian International in 2018 and 2019, his best days seemed to be well behind him.

But when these two finished first and second in Saturday's GI Pattison Canadian International S. at Woodbine, no one should have been surprised. They were the only two European-based horses in the race, and this has been a year where the foreign horses have wiped the floor with their North American counterparts.

About 10 minutes after the Canadian International, Appleby struck again. His 3-year-old gelding Yibir (GB) Dubawi {Ire}) won the $1-million Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. at Belmont Park. He was coming off a win in the GII Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York in England. Yibir is a top horse, but no match for stablemates like G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Cazoo St Leger S. winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) or G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The second string came through again.

European grass horses are supposed to be better than U.S. grass horses. Our best horses run on the dirt and their best horses race on the grass. But, based on the results of this year's grass racing over here, never has the gap been so big. European horses with modest credentials keep coming here and winning rich, important races.

Appleby and the powerful Godolphin Stable has led the way. He first showed up on June 5 and finished one-two in the GI Longines Just a Game S. with Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Six weeks later, the same pair finished first and second again in the GI Diana S. Althiqa, who has not started since the Diana, had won a Group 2 in Dubai and a listed stakes in France. Appleby has had four stakes wins in the North America this year and finished one-two in two Grade I's. He has three Grade I wins and the Jockey Club Derby is not a Grade I only because this was just its second running.

Aidan O'Brien also has three Grade I wins on this side of the Atlantic. He won the GI Belmont Derby Invitational with Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) won the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and the GI Beverly D. S. He didn't miss by much when Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was second, beaten a neck, in the GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga. They're all very good horses, but don't have the star power of some of their stablemates.

O'Brien' s son, Joseph, has also had a remarkable year here. His Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) won the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. and he won the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational with State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Perhaps more so than any other horse, State of Rest tells the story of what has been happening this year. Prior to his arrival in Saratoga, he had won just once and was coming off a third-place finish in a listed stakes at the Curragh. He did not look like Grade I material.

After the U.S. based 2-year-old grass horses held their own on Breeders' Cup Friday last year, the Saturday grass races were dominated by the Europeans. They won all four, which included a one-two-three sweep of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile by Aidan O'Brien. The race was won by 73-1 shot Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

For this year's Breeders' Cup, the American contingent looks particularly weak. The best U.S.-based grass horse appears to be Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}). He's won a pair of Grade I races this year for Chad Brown, but had to settle for second last time out in the GI Mr. D. S. at Arlington. Beyond Domestic Spending, the list is thin.

Come Breeders' Cup weekend, it could be a long couple of afternoons for the U.S. grass horses.

Mejia Deserves His Punishment…

The Monmouth stewards didn't show an ounce of mercy toward Tomas Mejia, who was hit with a 10-year suspension for carrying a battery in a race earlier this month at Monmouth. They also recommended that the New Jersey Racing Commission take away his license permanently. Either way, at least in this country, Mejia's career is likely over. A 26-year-old journeyman who has never won more than 51 races in a year who now has this on his record, he's not going to be able to launch any kind of comeback ten years from now.

Using a battery on a horse is despicable and it is cruel and there must be zero tolerance for it. It's hard to imagine that Mejia was the only one who had used one during the Monmouth meet, but there's no going back. If other jockeys had used one, they probably have gotten away with it. The New Jersey racing season is almost over, but let's hope that management and the New Jersey Racing Commission will do everything in its power going forward to make sure this never happens again. That should mean frequent shakedowns at the gate.

The 10-year suspension is believed to be the stiffest ever handed down to a jockey for a battery and a lifetime ban by the commission would be unprecedented. But it was the right call. Let's hope that the Monmouth stewards have established a template going forward for others. Ten years should be the minimum penalty for anyone caught with a battery. Better yet, use a battery and you should never be permitted to ride in a race again.

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It has been something of an up-and-down season for the homebred full-brother to MG1SW Wild Illusion (GB), runner-up to Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill. A close third in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial Apr. 23, Yibir was a disappointing fourth in the Listed Dee S. at Chester in early May and was gelded following a runner-up effort in Goodwood's Listed Cocked Hat S. May 21. A comfortable winner of the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket July 8, he tired to beat just two home at short odds after overracing in the G3 Gordon S. back at Goodwood July 29. Fitted with a hood for the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York last time Aug. 18, he switched off and stayed on beautifully through the long straight to record a 1 1/4-length victory in a race customarily used as a springboard to the G1 St Leger. As a gelding, Yibir was not eligible for that Classic.

The Appleby-trained Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defeated stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the GI Just A Game S. and GI Diana S. earlier this year.

Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gets a third American stamp in his passport, having overcome stretch traffic to outfinish the re-opposing Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in a modestly rated renewal of the GI Belmont Derby July 10. The bay raced handier to the speed before weakening to fourth in the Aug. 7 GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and he was programmed for a G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trial in last weekend's G2 Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp, only to be withdrawn at the 11th for a reported outdated vaccination.

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a bit under the radar at 14-1 in the Saratoga Derby, having won two of four in lesser company in France for the legendary Andre Fabre. The bay was off slowly from the inside stall and lagged well back, but turned in a powerful stretch rally up the fence that saw him finish just a length adrift of the victorious State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Further improvement could see him get his picture taken here.

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The $1 million Jockey Club Derby, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar, is the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for males that commenced with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby [won by Bolshoi Ballet] in July and continued with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby [won by State of Rest] in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Derby is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's lucrative 11-race card which will also feature the 1 3/8-miles $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 9; and the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational in Race 4.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Bolshoi Ballet, by the late Galileo, was a stewards scratch from the Group 2 Prix Niel on September 12 at Longchamp due to an irregularity with the vaccination record in his passport and subsequently redirected to New York.

Bolshoi Ballet, trained by Aidan O'Brien, rallied to victory under jockey Ryan Moore in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 10, capturing the first leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series by 1 1/4-lengths over good turf. Last out, a more prominent Bolshoi Ballet faded to fourth in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

T.J. Comerford, O'Brien's traveling assistant, said the team is expecting another top performance.

“He was in France on Sunday, but we didn't run him so we decided to bring him here. I think the wider turns suit him well,” Comerford said. “He's won here two starts back and seemed to go around here over a shorter distance. His last start was a good experience for him. He's won here and has form here, so that's always a big help.”

The talented colt launched his sophomore season with decisive wins in the Ballysax on April 11 and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on May 9, both Group 3 events at 1 1/4 miles at Leopardstown.

Bolshoi Ballet entered the Belmont Derby from a disappointing seventh as the beaten favorite in the Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 5, emerging with a cut to his right hind leg.

Comerford said the stretch out in distance should be beneficial.

“He won at a mile and a quarter here, so that suited him but he's definitely a better horse going farther,” Comerford said. “He ran a mile and a half in the English Derby but got a bad cut on his leg, so he really didn't have a race. All of his wins this year were at a mile and a quarter, but he always steps up like a mile and a half horse.”

Bolshoi Ballet will jump from the outermost post 8 with Moore in the irons.

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who have already teamed up to win a pair of New York Grade 1s this year with Althiqa, will invade once more with the talented homebred Yibir.

Appleby successfully raided the NYRA circuit this summer with one-two finishes by Althiqa and Summer Romance in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game in June at Belmont and the Grade 1 Diana in July at Saratoga. On Saturday, the Newmarket-based conditioner will look to add to his good run with the regally-bred Yibir, who enters from a 1 1/4-length score in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur on August 18 at York Racecourse.

By Dubawi and out of the Monsun mare Rumh, Yibir is a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and 2018 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Wild Illusion.

Yibir upset the 12-furlong, left-handed Voltigeur under James Doyle, defeating the well-regarded trio of High Definition, Sir Lucan and Royal Ascot-winning stablemate Kemari.

The Voltigeur marked the second group score for Yibir since being gelded ahead of a 2 1/2-length victory in the 1 5/8-mile Group 3 Bahrain Trophy on July 8 at Newmarket. The chestnut finished a headstrong sixth between victories in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon on July 29 at Goodwood.

Yibir arrived in New York on Sunday in the care of traveling assistant Chris Connett, who said the Voltigeur effort was expected.

“We've always thought he had that type of talent in him,” Connett said. “He's just a bit of a character hence why he's been gelded. He has phenomenal talent and when things fall right for him, he can be any kind of horse.

“In the run at Goodwood, things just didn't go right. He got quite headstrong and he took off a little bit and did things completely the wrong way around,” added Connett. “In the Voltigeur, James just was able to get him switched off and he brought himself into the race and produced a lovely effort.”

Connett, who also worked closely with Wild Illusion, said the family holds a number of similar traits.

“She was a lovely big mare and I had a very soft spot for her. I was able to take her to the races many times and he's a big horse just like she was,” Connett said. “She was a big mama and temperament wise, they're very similar. She had a couple of quirks and so does he. Talent and mindset run in the family.”

Jamie Spencer will be tasked with engineering a winning trip from post 2.

“I think the plan will be to get cover early and carry himself into the race and make one run,” Connett said. “It's the kind of track that should suit him. It's one of the biggest galloping tracks in North America and it will suit the big horse that he is.”

Teruya Yoshida's Tokyo Gold, a French homebred son of Kendargent trained by Satoshi Kobayashi, captured the 11-furlong Group 2 Derby Italiano on May 23 at Campanelle Race Course in Italy.

Last out, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, Tokyo Gold rallied from last-of-9 to finish second, 1 1/4-lengths back of Bolshoi Ballet in the Belmont Derby.

Velazquez will pilot Tokyo Gold from post 3.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's Soldier Rising launched his career in France for trainer Andre Fabre, posting a record of 4-2-2-0, including a score in the 12-furlong Prix de Champlatreux in April at Chantilly.

Transferred to the care of Christophe Clement, the Frankel gelding made his North American debut with a closing second, defeated a length to the Joseph O'Brien-trained State of Rest in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

“I think O'Brien's horse got first run at us. We got through at the rail, but I'm not sure it would have made a difference. We were probably second best that day,” said Clement assistant Christophe Lorieul.

Lorieul said Soldier Rising, who breezed a half-mile in 50 flat Sunday on the Belmont inner turf, will be able to handle the added distance.

“He had an easy work here on Sunday over the turf and he went well. I've been told he had been working well at Saratoga as well,” Lorieul said. “The distance is not an issue. Obviously, the competition will be tough. We're happy with the horse and he looks great.”

Soldier Rising will exit post 4 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Calumet Farm's Tango Tango Tango enters from a pair of strong starts at Arlington Park, including a win in the 1 1/16-mile American Derby on July 17 ahead of a prominent effort last out when second to Point Me By in the one-mile Grade 1 Bruce D. on August 14.

Trained by Jack Sisterson, the lightly raced Tourist colt will emerge from the inside post under Flavien Prat.

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna R. Pressman's Step Dancer was squeezed at the start last out in the one-mile NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 28 at the Spa, but rallied four-wide down the lane to defeat his fellow eligible New York-sired rivals.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, the New York-bred son of War Dancer finished third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim in October at Belmont ahead of a win in the open Awad at 1 1/16-miles over yielding Belmont turf to close out his juvenile campaign.

Following a difficult trip when eighth in the Cutler Bay in March at Gulfstream to launch his sophomore season, Step Dancer hit the board in a pair of Belmont turf starts, including a third in a 1 1/16-mile state-bred optional-claimer in May and a closing second in the seven-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid in June.

Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 5.

Rounding out the field are graded-stakes placed Slicked Back [post 7, Luis Saez] and the stakes-placed Experienced [post 6, Jose Ortiz].

First post on Saturday's 11-race card is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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