‘Love’ Is In The Air at Keeneland

Prior to sending out Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) to a victory in last year's GI Keeneland Turf Mile, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, trainer Paolo Lobo had not tasted Grade I success in 16 years dating back to Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck)'s victory in the GI Met Mile in 2004. Jockey Alex Achard, 30 years of age, hadn't so much as ridden in a top-level event, but made the most of the opportunity Saturday afternoon, guiding In Love (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) to a 12-1 upset, giving his connections a second straight success in the race.

The lesser-preferred half of the uncoupled entry with 4-1 Ivar, In Love was settled in a midfield seventh, a spot or two behind a tugging Ivar, as longshot Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy) cut out the running from Diamond Oops (Lookin At Lucky) and a three-wide Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown). Nicely settled along the fence and traveling underneath reigning Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order of Australia (GB) (Australia {GB}) down the backstretch, In Love raced more or less on the back of Ivar and improved by a spot as Order of Australia called it a day three furlongs down. Traveling extremely kindly nearing the stretch, he was eased off the heels of Ivar and into the the three or four path in upper stretch and sprinted his final quarter mile in :22.91 (according to Trakus) to cause the upset. One-time claimer Tell Your Daddy (Scat Daddy), exiting a front-running victory in the GII Bernard Baruch H. Sept. 6 at Saratoga, ran on gamely for second just ahead of Somelikeithotbrown.

In Love is nominated to the Breeders' Cup and trainer Paolo Lobo seemed to indicate Ivar would benefit from the return effort and would alsp proceed to Del Mar. Bonne Chance and Stud RDI are also set to be represented in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf by Imperador (Arg) (Treasure Beach {GB}), winner of the GII Calumet Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs.

A maiden scorer and Group 2-placed in Argentina, In Love was an allowance winner at last year's Keeneland fall eetingand snapped a three-race losing streak with in a second-level allowance at Arlington July 25. He was exiting a 2 1/4-length success with blinkers added in the TVG2 S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8.

“I think the big key was we went to Arlington and tried an easier spot, and he won the race, and then we put blinkers on him and he improved a lot,” said Lobo who saddled Farda Amiga (Broad Brush) to win the 2002 GI Kentucky Oaks before closing her career with a runner-up effort to Azeri (Jade Hunter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Arlington. “I think the horse is improving. You know, Kentucky Downs horses get very fit. And also he loves it here [at Keeneland]. Last year he won an allowance very easy here, and I think the give in the ground helped him.”

Pedigree Notes:

In Love is the 16th G1SW/GISW for Agnes Gold (Jpn), a son of Sunday Silence who passed away in late September in Brazil at the age of 23. Last Bet is the dam of In Love's 2-year-old full-sister Miss Sarajevo (Brz) and a yearling full-brother to In Love.

Saturday, Keeneland
KEENELAND TURF MILE S.-GI, $750,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.84, gd.
1–IN LOVE (BRZ), 126, g, 5, by Agnes Gold (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Last Bet (Brz) (GSW & G1SP-Brz),
                                by Know Heights (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Barefoot Contessa (Brz), by Ghadeer (Fr)
                3rd Dam: Feminite, by Duke of Marmalade
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Bonne Chance
Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.; B-Fazenda Mondesir / Stud Rio
Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo; J-Alex Achard. $450,000.
Lifetime Record: GSP-Arg, 13-5-2-2, $729,700. *1/2 to Last Kiss
(Brz) (Elusive Quality), G1SW-Brz, G1SP-Arg. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tell Your Daddy, 126, g, 5, Scat Daddy–Harbingerofthings, by
Rockport Harbor. ($250,000 Ylg '17 FTKTUR). O-Flying P Stable;
B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Thomas Morley. $150,000.
3–Somelikeithotbrown, 126, h, 5, Big Brown–Marilyn Monroan,
by Tapit. O-Skychai Racing LLC & Sand Dollar Stable LLC; B-Hot
Pink Stables & Sand Dollar Stables (NY); T-Michael J. Maker.
$75,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, HD. Odds: 12.30, 29.10, 6.80.
Also Ran: Ivar (Brz), Space Traveller (GB), Front Run the Fed, Pixelate, Diamond Oops, Argentello (Ire), Monarchs Glen (GB), Brown Storm (Chi), Order of Australia (Ire). Scratched: Field Pass. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Thoroughbred Club Win Gives Bell’s The One Chance At Breeders’ Cup Return Engagement

Third behind Gamine in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2020, Lothenbach Stables Inc.'s Bell's the One received an automatic fees-paid entry to this year's edition of the race with a hard-fought come-from-behind neck victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Yet her trainer, Neil Pessin, said she seems to get no respect.

Patiently ridden by Corey Lanerie, the 5-year-old mare by Majesticperfection rallied from last  with a four-wide move into the stretch, hit the front inside the eighth pole, then held off a fast closing  Club Car. Estilo Talentoso finished a head behind the runner-up, followed 1 1/2 lengths farther back by Inthemidstofbiz, Frank's Rockette and Miss Mosaic.

The Thoroughbred Club of America is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In race for the Filly & Mare Sprint division, giving the winner a fees-paid berth and a travel allowance.

Bell's the One ran the six furlongs in 1:08.63 on a fast main track after getting a good set-up with quick fractions of :21.57, :44.80 and :56.60 from pacesetter Inthemidstofbiz. She paid $3 to win as the heavy favorite.

“When I ride her, I just let her gather her feet underneath her and be comfortable wherever she needs to be,” said Lanerie. “Today I actually tried to keep her a little closer because I was afraid if they got away from me I wouldn't be able to make up the ground, going six furlongs, and she gives everything she's got every time. I could tell from about the five-sixteenths pole, I'm in contention where, if she gives me her kick, I'm going to catch them. She has the fastest turn of foot (of any horse) I've ever been on.”

Bell's the One gave veteran horseman Pessin his first career Grade 1 win last year when she scored in the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. She finished a good third behind Gamine – beaten 6 1/4 lengths – in the Filly & Mare Sprint, but Pessin wouldn't immediately commit to this year's Breeders' Cup, to be held at Del Mar in California Nov. 5-6.

“It will still depend on how she comes out of it,” said Pessin. “The plane reservations are still tough, the way they've got it—I know it's the best they can do—but we'll try to make a go of it if she comes out of it well.”

Pessin was referring to the absence of the Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation aircraft that horsemen have depended on for a number of years. The company's lease expired on the plane expired and it has not been able to acquire a replacement to date. Breeders' Cup officials have arranged for charter flights using Fed Ex.

Bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, Bell's the One was produced from the Street Cry mare, Street Mate. She was a $150,000 purchase by Bob Lothenbach at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Brereton C. Jones.

Bell's the One has now won 10 of 21 starts and has been a graded stakes winner at ages 3, 4 and 5, with victories in the G2 Raven Run Stakes in 2019, the G3 Winning Colors and G1 Derby City Distaff in 2020, and the G2 Honorable Miss Handicap and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes in 2021.

“She's one of the best mares, if not the best horse, I've ever had,” said Pessin. “The only thing I regret with her is she never gets the respect she deserves. Even in this race, people weren't even picking her on top, which made absolutely zero sense to me. The Breeders' Cup, they got Ce Ce picked in front of her on the program and I've beat her every time I've run against her. So I don't what this mare has to do to earn respect, but she's definitely got mine.”

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Bell’s The One Outclasses Them in TCA

Bell's the One stamped her ticket to the Breeders' Cup with a gritty score in the TCA at Keeneland Saturday. Heavily favored here, the bay trailed the field through a :21.57 opening quarter. Making an eye-catching move on the backstretch, she launched a five-wide bid turning for home to put herself in contention and fought her way past her foes in mid-stretch, edging clear to score.

“She's one of the best mares, if not the best horse, I've ever had,” trainer Neil Pessin said. “The only thing I regret with her is she never gets the respect she deserves. Even in this race, people weren't even picking her on top, which made absolutely zero sense to me.”

As for the Breeders' Cup, the conditioner said, “It will still depend on how she comes out of it. The plane reservations are still tough, the way they've got it–I know it's the best they can do–but we'll try to make a go of it if she comes out of it well.”

“When I ride her, I just let her gather her feet underneath her and be comfortable wherever she needs to be,” winning pilot Corey Lanerie said. “Today I actually tried to keep her a little closer because I was afraid if they got away from me I wouldn't be able to make up the ground, going six furlongs, and she gives everything she's got every time. I could tell from about the five-sixteenths pole, I'm in contention where, if she gives me her kick, I'm going to catch them. She has the fastest turn of foot [of any horse] I've ever been on.”

Winner of last year's GI Derby City Distaff, Bell's the One was a well-beaten third in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint S. in her next start. Dead-heating for second when making her seasonal bow in this venue's GI Madison S. Apr. 3, she was fourth when attempting to defend her Derby City title May 1 and returned to winning ways in Churchill's Roxelana S. June 19. The 5-year-old followed suit with a narrow score in Saratoga's GII Honorable Miss H. July 28 and was a close second in the Open Mind S. back beneath the Twin Spires last out Sept. 18. Bell's the One was originally scheduled to train up to the Breeders' Cup after that victory, but connections called an audible and sent her to the TCA for one more race in her home state before making the trek to Del Mar.

Pedigree Notes:

Bell's the One's dam Street Mate, a $35,000 KEENOV purchase in 2012, is a half-sister to GSW & GISP Tap Day (Pleasant Tap). Her first foal was SP Running Mate, who was retained by owner/breeder Bret Jones. The 13-year-old mare is also the dam of an unraced juvenile filly named Skipper Sue (Cairo Prince), a $400,000 KEESEP purchase by Rob Masiello,and a weanling filly by Collected. She was bred back to Not This Time.

Saturday, Keeneland
THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA S.-GII, $250,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.63, ft.
1–BELL'S THE ONE, 122, m, 5, by Majesticperfection
                1st Dam: Street Mate, by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Day Mate, by Dayjur
                3rd Dam: Possible Mate, by King's Bishop
($155,000 Ylg '17 FTKJUL). O-Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob
Lothenbach); B-Bret Jones (KY); T-Neil L. Pessin; J-Corey J.
Lanerie. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 21-10-4-2, $1,336,825.
 Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Club Car, 120, m, 5, Malibu Moon–Sittin At the Bar, by Into
Mischief. ($120,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Ball, Michael and
Katherine G.; B-Brett A. Brinkman & P. Dale Ladner (KY); T-Ben
Colebrook. $50,000.
3–Estilo Talentoso, 122, f, 4, Maclean's Music–Bazinga Baby, by
Afleet Alex. ($77,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $95,000 RNA 2yo '19
OBSAPR; $15,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-Medallion Racing,
Fowler, Barry, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Little Red Feather
Racing and BlackRidge Stables LLC; B-Mile High Bloodstock LLC
(KY); T-Juan Arriagada. $25,000.
Margins: NK, HD, 1HF. Odds: 1.10, 14.00, 2.70.
Also Ran: Inthemidstofbiz, Frank's Rockette, Miss Mosaic. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Private Mission Wins Zenyatta, Earns Distaff Berth In Breeders’ Cup

Heavily favored Private Mission, who was originally scheduled to run out of town last weekend, stayed home and was a convincing 2 ¼-length winner of Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, Private Mission got 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.77 and earned a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 6 as the Zenyatta is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier.

Baffert, who opted to stay home with the 3-year-old Into Mischief filly instead of running in the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes near Philadelphia on Sept. 26, ran one-two in the Zenyatta as his As Time Goes By completed the exacta.

Blessed with an abundance of early speed, Private Mission sat just off of pacesetter Samurai Charm in the run up the backside.  Prat stepped on the gas leaving the three-furlong marker and Private Mission enjoyed a 2 ½-length advantage turning for home in what appeared to be her best race yet in career start number five.

“I'm happy to run one-two,” said Baffert.  “Private Mission, I'm glad I stayed home with her.  I decided this would be best for her with the Breeders' Cup in mind, we didn't want to stress her.  She's on the improve, getting better and better.  I'm really happy with the way both fillies ran.”

A 6 ½-length winner going a flat mile in the G3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 21, Private Mission was off at even money in a field of eight fillies and mares three and up and paid $4.20, $2.40 and $2.20.

“She broke well and got herself into the race,” said Prat, who rode her to her Del Mar win on Aug. 21.  “She relaxed well and took a nice breather going to the three-eighths pole and ran good when I asked her to make her move.  I thought this race was better than last time, for sure.”

Owned by Baoma Corporation, Private Mission, who is out of the Unbridled mare Private Gift, picked up $120,000 for the win, boosting her earnings to $256,800 while getting her fourth win from five outs. She was bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares LLC and sold for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

Ridden by John Velazquez, As Time Goes By kept to her task gamely late and in a much improved effort, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Miss Bigly.  The second choice at 5-2, she paid $2.80 and $2.20.

Miss Bigly, mid-pack early, was easily third, finishing 6 ½ lengths in front of Stellar Sound.  Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Miss Bigly paid $3.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.21, 46.87, 1:11.45 and 1:36.89.

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