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Keeneland Fall Meet Closes With Record Wagering

The 2021 Fall Meet at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, closed Oct. 30, with record all-sources wagering of better than $181 million over the course of 17 days of live racing at the historic facility.

When the dust had settled Saturday afternoon, all-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) totaled $181,009,626, obliterating the previous record of $164,680,229 established during this year's Spring Meet and the previous Fall Meet record of $160,207,916 set in 2019. This year's all-sources wagering numbers represented a 22% increase over last fall's $148,229,708. Keeneland offered a beefed-up stakes schedule worth $6 million across 22 black-type races.

On Saturday, Oct. 9, the second of the three programs that comprise 'FallStars' weekend, Keeneland established a new Fall record for single-day all-source wagering of $20,926,640, surpassing the prior record of $18,392,756 set in 2019. A new benchmark was also set for Pick 5 Wagering, as a sequence consisting of only stakes races attracted $1,255,080 in wagers, besting the previous record last fall by about 50%.

Keeneland also instituted for the first time an 'All-Turf' Pick 3 wager, that offered a low 15% takeout. The wager handled an average of $112,233 per day, with an average payout of over $1,300 for the base $3 wager.

“We are so appreciative of the tremendous support from our fans, our horsemen, the Central Kentucky community, our horseplayers and our corporate partners,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Welcoming fans back to Keeneland this fall, along with the return of our special events and tailgating on The Hill, felt like a breath of fresh air after the restrictions of the past year and a half. It was a terrific way to mark our 85th year of racing and to celebrate the important role Keeneland plays in our community and the horse industry.”

On the racing side, Keeneland hosted 10 races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, offering the winners of those races fees-paid berths into a variety of Breeders' Cup races. A dozen of the aforementioned 22 stakes events were held on the grass. Keeneland added a pair of juvenile sprint stakes–the Myrtlewood and the Bowman Mill S.–at the back end of the meet and revived the Perryville S. and Bryan Station S. for 3-year-olds.

Tyler Gaffalione ran away with the jockeys' title, booting home no fewer than 29 winners, while Brad Cox won the final race of the meet with new 'TDN Rising Star' Famed (Uncle Mo) to clinch a second consecutive fall title. Godolphin and Calumet Farm finished in a tie for leading owner with four wins. Sheikh Mohammed's operation, along with prominent owner/breeder G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. were each recipients of a prestigious Keeneland Tray, emblematic of having won their eighth graded stakes at Keeneland.

Keeneland hosted their annual 'Make a Wish' day, a charitable undertaking that was the brainchild of the late John Greely IV, on Oct. 14, benefiting 10 children; College Scholarship Day Oct. 15; and Heroes Day, presented by Rubicon, Oct. 24, further demonstrating the Keeneland Association's commitment to philanthropic efforts in the broader community.

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Essential Quality Half-Sis Splashes to ‘Rising Star’ Honors

A half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Essential Quality (Tapit), Ch. 2yo Colt, MGISW, $4,215,144, Famed (Uncle Mo) followed in the latter's hoofprints with a 'Rising Star'-worthy romp of her own in the fall meet finale from Keeneland Saturday afternoon.

The dark bay was bet down to 90 cents on the dollar for her much-anticipated debut at Churchill Sept. 26 and was in the thick of it from the start, but ultimately dropped a one-length decision to Sweet Dani Girl (Jess's Dream), who franked the form of the race with a 3/4-length success in Friday's Myrtlewood S. at Keeneland.

Getting blinkers off for this second go, Famed jumped alertly beneath Florent Geroux and showed the way from Bunduki (Gun Runner) through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.54. Left alone up front when Bunduki bolted approaching the five-sixteenths, tossing Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the process, Famed cornered a touch wide into the stretch while firmly in front, raced on her incorrect lead into the final 100 yards and was wrapped up late. Hernandez, Jr. was uninjured in the incident. Famed is the eighth 'TDN Rising Star' for Uncle Mo.

The victory allowed trainer Brad Cox to drop his nose down on the wire just ahead of Wesley Ward in the fall meet's trainers' premiership, prevailing by a count of 14 winners to 13. It also got Godolphin even with Calumet Farm for meet-leading owner honors with four wins apiece.

On behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's operation, John Ferguson parted with $3 million for Famed's second dam Contrive at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton November Sale a matter of days after her daughter Folklore (Tiznow) won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont Park. Contrive's fifth foal was Delightful Quality, a two-time winner at the races who placed in seven black-type events for trainer Tom Albertrani, including the GIII Bed 'O Roses H. Delightful Quality's first three foals made a grand total of one trip to the races, but Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality has done his part to ensure the family's longevity, with eight wins from nine starts, including last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. this season. He figures a strong second favorite in next Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Contrive is also the second dam of Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who is expected to start favorite for Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse.

Delightful Quality was barren to Uncle Mo for 2020 and to Nyquist for this season and was most recently bred back to Tapit.

10th-Keeneland, $83,921, Msw, 10-30, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:28.42, sy, 7 3/4 lengths.
FAMED, f, 2, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Delightful Quality (GSP, $253,900), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Contrive, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Jeano, by Fappiano
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $74,400. O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H Cox. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

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Breeders’ Cup Breeze Report: Letruska Hooks Company at Del Mar

St. George Stable's Letruska (Super Saver), the expected favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff next week, had a somewhat eventful final breeze at Del Mar Saturday. Scheduled to work a solo five-eighths, the four-time Grade I winner broke off behind 2-year-old filly Brandon'smylawyer (Astern {Aus}), and hooked that runner near the half-mile pole. The other filly continued on with Letruska, and finished her half-mile work several lengths to the good of Letruska, who was credited with five furlongs in 1:01.20 (2/7) (Click for video).

Brandon'smylawyer, a $340,000 OBS April grad, was most recently a headstrong sixth in the Surfer Girl S. earlier this month after winning on debut at Del Mar–she was credited with a half in :47.20 (3/25).

“I was not planning on company; it was not ideal,” said Letruska's exercise rider Roger Horgan. “She did relax. I was a bit concerned, but she switched off and I let her do it on her own. I was very proud of her the way she relaxed.”

Also among the dozen or so Breeders' Cup-bound workers Saturday at Del Mar was GI Classic contender Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). The GI Pennsylvania Derby winner was paired up with 2-year-old maiden stablemate Khantaro d'Oro (Kantharos). He worked seven furlongs in 1:26.80 (1/1), clicking off splits of :47.80, 1:00.20 and 1:13 flat.

“I thought the work was visually impressive,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “Charlie sat off his workmate and when Flavien [Prat] called on him, he responded well. He galloped out good and his energy was very high.”

O'Neill's GI Juvenile Turf runner Mackinnon (American Pharoah) worked six panels on the main track in 1:14.80 (1/1).

Other Breeders' Cup workers to stretch their legs at Del Mar Saturday included: Ain't Easy (Into Mischief), GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies, 5f in 1:01; Desert Dawn (Cupid), Juvenile Fillies, 5f in 1:00.60; Helens Well (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, 5f in 1:00.60; Oviatt Class (Bernardini), GI TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 5f in :59.60; Proud Emma (Include), GI Filly & Mare Sprint, 5f in :59.80; Aloha West (Hard Spun), GI Qatar Racing Sprint, 4f in :47.20; Channel Maker (English Channel), GI Longines Turf, 4f in :48.40; Chaos Theory (Curlin), GI Turf Sprint, 4f in :48.20; and Horologist (Gemologist), GI Longines Distaff, 4f in :49.60.

Meanwhile, at Santa Anita, Classic-bound Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) prepared to return to the track and trip over which he took August's GI TVG Pacific Classic S. as he worked five furlongs in :59 flat (4/38).

“He's trained well,” conditioner John Sadler said. “He worked at 6:30 this morning at Santa Anita under heavy fog and he'll go to Del Mar very early Monday.”

There was more than just fog in Kentucky Saturday, and trainer Brad Cox opted to push back final pre-Breeders' Cup breezes at Churchill Downs for Classic-bound Essential Quality (Tapit) and Knicks Go (Paynter) and Distaff contender Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) due to wet weather in Louisville.

He went ahead with plans to breeze GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Fillies hopefuls Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) and Turnerloose (Nyquist), who covered five panels in the slop together in 1:02.20.

“I think the track will dry out pretty well [Saturday] afternoon,” Cox said in the morning. “These three have an extra day in their schedule compared to Ready to Purrform and Turnerloose.” Click for more from Cox via KY HPBA.

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Breeders’ Cup Contenders Work At Churchill Downs Saturday

Following overnight rain in the Louisville area, several Breeders' Cup contenders had their regular training schedules altered Saturday morning because of a “sloppy” track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

However, three World Championships-bound juveniles recorded their final works prior to shipping to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., including Lucky Seven Stable's $2 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile hope Rattle N Roll, who worked five furlongs in 1:02.40. More than three hours after Rattle N Roll breezed, Dawn and Ike Thrash's $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf contender Turnerloose worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 outside of Donegal Racing's $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf possible Ready to Purrform.

Rattle N Roll, trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by the Louisville-based Mackin family, worked at 5:40 a.m. through early fractions of :13, :25.40, and :37.20. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:16. McPeek had a busy morning with Rattle N Roll breezing at Churchill Downs while Juvenile Turf runner Tiz the Bomb and $2 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf contender Reina de Mollendo (ARG) were scheduled to work at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Trainer Brad Cox altered the originally-scheduled works of $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic top choices Essential Quality and Knicks Go to Sunday along with $2 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff contestant Shedaresthedevil.

“I think the track will dry out pretty well (Saturday) afternoon,” Cox said. “These three have an extra day in their schedule compared to Ready to Purrform and Turnerloose.”

Turnerloose and Ready to Purrform worked over the sloppy conditions for Cox at 9 a.m. through early fractions of :12.60, :24.60, and :49. Ready to Purrform needs one defection from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf pre-entries in order to make the field.

All of the local Breeders' Cup hopefuls are scheduled to van to Indianapolis on Monday at noon (all times Eastern) for a 4 p.m. flight.

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