Breeders' Cup Challenge Series | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lady Prancealot, Bodhicitta Give Baltas Strong Hand In Rodeo Drive Stakes

Blessed with a pair of talented turf distaffers, trainer Richard Baltas has a big look at Saturday's Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as his Lady Prancealot, a fast-closing second in her most recent start, has solid distance credentials, while his Bodhicitta is in top form although distance may be a question.

For fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one quarter on turf, Saturday's $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes has attracted a competitive field of seven fillies and mares.

A winner of the G1 American Oaks in her only try at the Rodeo Drive distance five starts back on Dec. 28, Lady Prancealot, a 4-year-old Irish-bred filly, is winless in four graded stakes this year, but she flew late to be beaten a diminishing neck at a mile and one eighth on turf Sept. 5 and merits top billing.

With Umberto Rispoli back aboard Lady Prancealot and Flavien Prat with Bodhicitta, these two ultra-talented reinsmen will most certainly renew their rivalry that resulted in Prat taking a 50-49 photo finish for leading rider honors at the recently concluded Del Mar meeting.

The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Breeders' Cup Challenge Race qualifier, with the winner to receive a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

LADY PRANCEALOT
Owner: Jerry McClanahan, Michael Iavarone, Parkland Thoughbreds, et al
Trainer: Richard Baltas

A winner of three graded stakes in 16 stateside starts for Baltas, she has been close in nearly all of her races while amassing earnings of $604,841 from an overall mark of 21-5-5-3. With turf master Rispoli back aboard, look for Irish-bred Lady Prancealot to be on the move the final eighth of a mile.

BODHICITTA
Owner: Calvin Nguyen
Trainer: Richard Baltas

A game nose winner of the G2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 8, this 4-year-old English-bred filly has won three out of her last four starts, all with Prat aboard. Second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in the G1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf two starts back, she'll try a mile and one quarter for the first time in what will be her 16th career start. With four wins, as many seconds and one third place finish, she has earnings of $265,808.

MAXIM RATE
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing & James D. Branham
Trainer: Simon Callaghan

A winner of two consecutive turf routes at Del Mar, the most recent a neck victory in the CTT & TOC Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 16, she brings a solid recent record to the Rodeo Drive party but she'll be facing tougher. Ridden by Rispoli in her last two starts, she'll get the services of eastern-based Luis Saez, as Rispoli appears to have opted for Lady Prancealot. A G3 winner going a mile on turf at age three, her mile and three eighths win on Aug. 16 lends added encouragement at the Rodeo Drive distance.

GRADE I RODEO DRIVE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 11 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Tonahutu—Abel Cedillo—122

2. Maxim Rate—Luis Saez—122

3. Bodhicitta—Flavien Prat—124

4. Mucho Unusual—Juan Hernandez—122

5. Pretty Point—Mike Smith—122

6. Lady Prancealot—Umberto Rispoli—126

7. Catch the Eye—Victor Espinoza—122

First post time for an 11-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Although there is no public admittance, fans can follow a live video stream, free of charge, at santaanita.com

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Juvenile Turf Sprinters Contest ‘Win And You’re In’ Speakeasy

Trainer Wesley Ward, regarded as one of the nation's top trainers of 2-year-olds, will take on the boys with his talented Irish-bred filly Amanzi Yimpilo in Saturday's $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita. The Speakeasy, to be contested at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, has attracted a wide open field of nine, with one additional filly, the Peter Miller-trained Feathers, set to compete.

A first-out maiden special weight winner at Gulfstream Park June 10, Amanzi Yimpilo was subsequently a close third in an ungraded stakes at Saratoga Aug. 19 and she'll be ridden by eastern-based Luis Saez for the first time in the Speakeasy.

Miller's Wyfire, a rousing 3 1/2-length maiden winner going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt Aug. 16 and the Richard Baltas-trained Commander Khai, an impressive gate to wire maiden winner on turf Sept. 4, also rate huge chances on Saturday.

The Speakeasy is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

AMANZI YIMPILO
Owner: Susan Moulton, Marc Detampel & CJ Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Wesley Ward

A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling, this daughter of the Scat Daddy stallion No Nay Never, was off at 3-5 in her five furlong turf debut on June 10 and she breezed to a 2 ½ length win. Subsequently third, beaten 3 ½ lengths over a soft turf at Saratoga Aug. 19, she worked a half mile at Keeneland in 49.20 on Sept. 5 and another half here on Sept. 19 in 49.40. With Ward's eyes fixed on the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Nov. 6, look for a big effort.

WYFIRE
Owner: Gary Barber
Trainer: Peter Miller

Purchased privately by Barber following his big maiden win on dirt Aug. 16, Miller immediately made plans to run on turf in the Speakeasy and secured the services of top jock Flavien Prat. A Kentucky-bred colt by the Smart Strike stallion Dominus, Wyfire appears poised for a huge effort in what will be his third career start and first try on grass.

COMMANDER KHAI
Owner: Calvin Nguyen
Trainer: Richard Baltas

Quick from the gate, this Kentucky-bred colt by Twirling Candy showed the way in his five-furlong turf debut on Aug. 14, tiring a bit late to finish second by a half length. Off at even money and ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, he rocketed clear of his competition and never looked back in a 3 ¼ length maiden score going five furlongs on turf Sept. 4. If he runs back to his last race, Commander Khai should be plenty tough in the Speakeasy.

$100,000 SPEAKEASY STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 5 of 11 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

The Great One—Abel Cedillo—120
No Pedigree—Mario Gutierrez—120
Basque Man—Juan Hernandez—120
Commander Khai—Umberto Rispoli—120
Amanzi Yimpilo—Luis Saez—117
Fury Kap—Tiago Periera—120
Wyfire—Flavien Prat—120
Windy City Red—Heriberto Figueroa—120
Feathers—Ricardo Gonzalez—119

First post time for an 11-race card on Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. Although there is no public admittance, Santa Anita's races can be viewed free of charge, via the track's livestream video at santaanita.com

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After Some Drama In Starting Gate, Lady Speightspeare Relaxes, Wins Natalma

Lady Speightspeare, under vigorous handling by Emma-Jayne Wilson, punched her ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a three-quarter length score in Sunday's Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

A victory in the $253,000 Natalma, a one-mile “Win and You're In” Challenge Series turf race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, earned Lady Speightspeare a fees-paid berth in the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Fillies, which will be run at Keeneland this year on November 6.

Lady Speightspeare, owned and bred by Charles Fipke and conditioned by Roger Attfield, came into the Natalma off a front-running victory over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf course and was the slight 5-2 favorite in the field of seven 2-year-old fillies for the Natalma. And although the Kentucky-bred was skittish when first entering the starting gate, forcing Wilson to bail out, she was all business once the pair had reunited and reloaded.

“In the starting gate, she acted up a little bit, but a little bit was a testament to her intent. Last time she ran, she was such a racehorse,” said Wilson, who had ridden Lady Speightspeare to the front-end victory in her only previous start. “She broke through the pack early and went to the lead with such intent, I think it was the same thing today in the gate. She knew it was coming, they yelled 'last one,' she was anticipating the doors to open so she popped up a little.

“But kudos to the gate crew here at Woodbine, they kept her straight and steady so, despite her rearing, she didn't manage to get herself hung up or hurt in anyway, which meant she was able to compete and win today.”

While Lady Speightspeare had settled into second place in the Natalma after Big Big Plans, the rank outsider in the field, showed the way through fractions of :23.77, :47.92 and 1:11.59.

“It's interesting, she relaxed better than I expected but I wasn't overly surprised,” said the jockey.

“Like I said, in her first start, she ran to the lead with gumption and it took me by surprise. Today, there was little more pace in the race, and I didn't want to get hung up, caught up in between.

“When we've been training her since then, she's known more, she's settled more in her breezes with her intensity so I was hopeful that would translate into the race today and it did. The doors opened and I just kind of put my hands down and the outside horse out-stepped her the first little bit and she showed that composure of a race horse, she knew that she was going to get a chance to run and I had a chance to let that horse cross over and just put her right on her flank and she settled into stride, got into rhythm and, man, when they started to come to her, just like last time, she really leveled off and dug in.”

Lady Speightspeare finally put away the longshot leader with a furlong to run and held sway for her game victory.

Alda, returning from Fair Hill, Maryland after capturing the Catch A Glimpse over 6 1/2 furlongs of turf, held a decided edge in experience on the winner and while she loomed a serious threat in mid-stretch, she was simply unable to track her down.

The strong second choice at 2.60-1, Alda finished 2 3/4 lengths to the good of Seasons, who had trailed the field at the quarter pole but rallied to snatch third money by a head from Dreaming of Drew.

Dreaming of Drew, who had missed narrowly in the Catch A Glimpse, stalked throughout on the inside but was unable to mount an effective rally.

Sleek Lynx raced within striking distance but also was unable to close the gap and checked in fifth, another three-quarters of a length back.

Stunning Princess and Big Big Plans completed the order of finish as the mile was clocked in 1:34.61 on firm going.

Lady Speightspeare was the third Natalma winner for dual Hall of Famer Attfield, who sent out the superstar Alywow to capture the 1993 running and Llanarmon to turn the trick in 2013.

And the trainer was more than pleased that his charge had shown an ability to rate after her 3 3/4-length debut win.

“That's always nice to see,” said Attfield. “When you break your maiden and you're going into a race like this off of going wire-to-wire you really haven't had any education or anything going into something like this so it was nice to see that for sure.”

Regarding a Breeders' Cup venture, Attfield minced no words.

“Well, that would be up to Mr. Fipke, and I would say knowing Mr. Fipke we probably are,” he said.

A daughter of Speightstown and the Theatrical mare, Lady Shakespeare, Lady Speightspeare returned $7, $3.90 and $2.90. The 6-5 exacta with Alda ($3.70, $3) was worth $21.90, the 6-5-2 trifecta rounded out by Seasons ($3.50) came back at $97.70, and the 6-5-2-4 superfecta completed by Dreaming of Drew came back at $95.85.

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Juvenile Turf Next Goal For Nyquist’s Son Gretzky The Great Following Summer Stakes Score

Gretzky the Great netted his second added-money trophy in taking Sunday's Grade 1, $250,000 Summer Stakes, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series race, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Mark Casse for owners Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the son of Nyquist bred by Anderson Farms Ontario survived an inquiry after coming in during mid-stretch against pacesetter and runner-up Ready to Repeat in the one-mile grass engagement for 2-year-olds.

It was Ready to Repeat, under Luis Contreras, who broke on top after briefly acting up in the starting gate. Trained by Gail Cox, who co-owns the Kentucky-bred gelding with John Menary, Michael Ambler and Windways Farm, the Victoria Stakes champ led his six rivals through an opening quarter-mile in :24.10 over an E.P. Taylor Turf Course listed as “firm.”

Gretzky the Great, with Kazushi Kimura in the irons, sat second, while Secret Potion was third, and American Monarch positioned in fourth.

Ready to Repeat was still comfortably in front by two lengths after a half in :47.82, as Kimura kept the leader in his sights. Secret Potion and American Monarch continued their tussle behind the front duo, as Dolder Grand began to close ground from sixth.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Kimura roused Gretzky the Great to engage Ready to Repeat, and the bay colt responded with an impressive outside surge, striking front and looking to put away a determined foe.

A half-length on top at the stretch call, Gretzky the Great went on to notch a 3 1/4-length win in a time of 1:34.53. Ready to Repeat finished one length in front of Dolder Grand for second, with American Monarch finishing fourth.

Heat of the Night, Secret Potion and Download rounded out the order of finish.

“He is such an amazing horse,” said Kimura, who recorded his first Grade 1 win. “When I came to the final turn then come through the final stretch, he had a tremendous explosion. He sometimes was a little bit lugging in, but he's just still a baby.”

The Summer represented the third consecutive winner's circle trip for Gretzky the Great.

After a second in his first career start on July 12, Gretzky the Great broke his maiden courtesy of a 4 1/4-length win on August 2. That was followed up by a neck nod in the Soaring Free Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 23.

“First time out it was only five furlongs on the (Woodbine Inner) turf, then when he won the first time I was like, 'Oh, that will be a stakes horse for the future,'” offered Kimura. “And then winning a stakes and now got a Grade 1, he's such a nice horse.”

The next goal on Gretzky the Great's stat sheet could be a date in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on November 6.

“He's a so easy horse – I mean to control,” said Kimura. “If I want to do something, I can do anything.”

Gretzky the Great paid $6.80, $3.30 and $3. The 4-3 exactor with Ready to Repeat ($5, $4) returned $22.60. Dolder Grand ($4.10) finished off a 4-3-7 triactor worth $115.70, with American Monarch completing a $1 superfecta worth $220.70.

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