Breeders' Cup Challenge Series | Horse Racing Free Tips

Town Cruise Upsets Woodbine Mile, Earns Spot In BC Mile

Town Cruise made it look easy in his upset win in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, taking the field gate to wire to earn a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Over the familiar turf of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, the 6-year-old gelding followed up his runner-up showing in the G2 King Edward Stakes with a victory for co-breeder/trainer/owner Brandon Greer.

Breaking from the first post, jockey Daisuke Fukumoto hustled Town Cruise out to the lead in the race's opening strides, with Duke of Hazzard and Change of Control settling in second and third. Through opening fractions of :24.01 and :47.10, Town Cruise stretched his lead out to two lengths, running easily on the lead. Into the stretch, the field bunched up behind Town Cruise; Avie's Flatter tried to challenge in the stretch, but the Ontario bred was too much for him. After leading at every call, Town Cruise hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front, with Space Traveller and Raging Bull coming on late to finish second and third.

The final time for the G1 Woodbine Mile was 1:35.41. Find this race's chart here.

Town Cruise paid $19.30, $10.10, and $6.10. Space Traveller paid $10.20 and $6.30. Raging Bull paid $3.70.

As a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the winner of the Woodbine Mile receives a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Co-bred by trainer Greer and his father Terrance, Town Cruise is by Town Prize out of the Candy Ride mare Candy Cruise. The Woodbine Mile is Town Cruise's third win in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 14 starts and career earnings of $700,106.

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St. Mark’s Basilica Earns BC Turf Berth With Irish Champion Stakes Win

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor's St Mark's Basilica (FR) was an impressive winner of a thrilling Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes, and earned an automatic berth into the $4 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

The Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes was one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races to take place at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland today, alongside the Group 1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes and Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2).

The Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica (FR) showed his brilliance when defeating 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf champion Tarnawa (IRE) and dual Group 1 winner Poetic Flare (IRE).

Winner of the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas, the Group 1 French Derby, and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse earlier this summer, the 3-year-old extended his unbeaten record this season and captured his fifth Group 1 success.

Patrick Sarsfield (FR), the outsider of the four-runner field, made the running until inside the final quarter-mile when the three Group 1 winners then struck for home. A tactical contest, St Mark's Basilica (FR) drifted right in the closing stages, taking Tarnawa (IRE) with him across the track, but the Ballydoyle stable star secured his victory by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Ryan Moore. On his first start over 10 furlongs, Poetic Flare (IRE) finished a nose behind Tarnawa (IRE) in third. A stewards' inquiry was called following the race but the results remained unchanged.

“It was great because it was tactical,” said winning trainer Aidan O'Brien. “They sprinted up the straight and he did well. One thing we know he does is quicken. He really quickens. His strong qualities are that he relaxes and can really turn it on. He has done that in every race.”

No decision has been taken over where St Mark's Basilica (IRE) will race next.

A son of Siyouni (FR) out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Cabaret (IRE), St Mark's Basilica (IRE) completed the 1 ¼ miles in 2:11.19 on a course rated as good.

No Speak Alexander Conquers in Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes

Charles O'Callaghan, Noel O'Callaghan, and Paul O'Callaghan's No Speak Alexander (IRE) was back to her best in a dramatic renewal of the G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes. The victory securing the filly an automatic entry into the $2 million Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, No Speak Alexander (IRE) crossed a neck in front of Pearls Galore (IRE) in a tight finish and survived a stewards' inquiry to secure the 1-mile contest. Mother Earth (IRE), winner of the Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix Rothschild, suffered a luckless run to finish third under jockey Ryan Moore.

A 3-year-old daughter by Shalaa (IRE) out of the Dandy Man (IRE) mare Rapacity Alexander (IRE), No Speak Alexander (IRE) completed the contest in 1:41.98.

Winning trainer Harrington said: “That was absolutely fantastic. After she was third in the Irish [1000] Guineas [G1], we wanted to go the Group 1 route. We thought we'd go to Ascot, that didn't happen, and then we thought we'd go for the Falmouth, and that didn't happen either. We took her to France [10th in Prix Rothschild-G1] and she got very badly interfered with a furlong down, so it was a no race. We've ended up coming here and thank goodness we've got the result.”

Atomic Jones wins the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes

The Ger Lyons-trained Atomic Jones (FR) powered home from the back of the field to win the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes by a head in good style. The winner earning an automatic berth into this year's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Settled near the rear of the 10-runner field under jockey Colin Keane, Atomic Jones struck for the line late to secure the victory by a head, with joint favorite Stone Age (IRE) finishing in second, and Absolute Ruler (USA) in third.

Atomic Jones, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), completed the 1-mile contest in 1:42.75.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for all three winners to start at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

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Ginobili Slam Dunks Pat O’Brien Foes, Earning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Slot

Getting a perfect trip under Drayden Van Dyke just off pace-setting Brickyard Ride, Ginobili took command at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 1 3/4-length victory over 2-1 favorite C Z Rocket in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Flagstaff, second choice in the wagering, finished third, with Eight Rings fourth in the field of nine sprinters going seven furlongs on dirt.

Ginobili, a 4-year-old gelding by Munnings out of Find the Humor, by Sharp Humor, completed the distance on a fast track in 1:22.36. He paid $12.80 for the win, his first in a stakes race in his 13th career start.

The win gave Ginobili an all fees paid spot in the starting gate for the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, as part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Series. This year's Breeders' Cup world championships will be held Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan, Michael Nentwig and trainer Ricard Baltas, Ginobili was a $35,000 purchase by Baltas at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his breeder, Hinkle Farms.

Brickyard Ride delayed the start by running off as horses were loading, then once loaded grabbed the early advantage, setting fractions of :22.05 and :44.38 for the opening half mile. Ginobili was on Brickyard Ride's right flank, then put that one away on the far turn. Eight Rings pursued from third, with Flagstaff in fourth and C Z Rocket – the 2020 O'Brien winner – in seventh position with three-eighths of a mile to go.

Ginobili opened up a 3 1/2-length lead at the furlong pole, the six furlongs clocked in 1:09.36, and he was never seriously threatened down the lane.

The win was Ginobili's third from 13 career starts. His connections said they would point the gelding to the Dirt Mile.

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Beat Ray At Del Mar: For Joaquin Jaime, It All Began At The Fair

Joaquin Jaime is a living example of why small tracks matter.

The TVG host, analyst and reporter was fascinated by horse racing when his family first took him to the Big Fresno Fair on the Northern California fair circuit as a child. It wasn't long before Jaime latched onto an uncle who taught him to read Daily Racing Form past performances and explain how pari-mutuel wagering worked.

Attending Saint Mary's College of California brought him closer to San Francisco and the Bay Area tracks of Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and Pleasanton, and his first job out of college was as a researcher for TVG. He's been with the racing network now for 15 years.

Jaime is this week's guest handicapper in the Beat Ray Everyday Beach Boss competition, focusing on Saturday's Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar – a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. While we both have respect for the two Pat O'Brien favorites, C Z Rocket and Flagstaff, each of us went in a different direction.

Beat Ray Everyday is a season-long online contest that is free to enter and calls for players to wager a mythical $100 each racing day at the seaside track. The player with the biggest bankroll at the end of the competition wins two VIP tickets to this year's Breeders' Cup world championships, to be held at Del Mar Nov. 5-6. It's not too late to enter. More details and registration can be found here.

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