Tag: Breeders’ Cup

With two weeks to go until the Breeders' Cup, trainer Chad Brown had the bulk of his likely World Championships contingent working Saturday at Keeneland on both the main track and the turf course.

“Everything went really, really well this morning, considering everything that was going on,” Brown said, referring to the high level of activity during training hours that featured 190 works on the main track. “They all did very well and they will have another work next week, but these were serious works today.”

Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with Champagne (G1) winner Blazing Sevens, could head to the $2-million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) or the $1-million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens is a candidate for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Klaravich Stables' three-time Grade 1 winner Domestic Spending worked five furlongs on the turf in company with $2-million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) candidate Virginia Joy in 1:01.40. Domestic Spending's most recent start was Aug. 14, 2021. He did not return to the work tab until this past August.

“He worked very, very well this morning and galloped out well,” Brown said of Domestic Spending, who is under consideration for the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). “We'll see how he is in the morning and then have one more work.”

Other workers for the 15-time Breeders' Cup-winning trainer and the races to which they are pointed were Search Results (Distaff), five furlongs in 1:02.60; Goodnight Olive (Filly and Mare Sprint), five furlongs 1:00.40; In Italian (GB) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs on the turf in :49.80; Regal Glory (Mile) and Rougir (FR) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs together on the turf in :49.20; Raging Sea (Juvenile Fillies) and I'm Very Busy (Juvenile Turf), four furlongs together on the main track in :48.20; and Oxymore (Juvenile Turf), who worked four furlongs on the main track in :48.80 in company with multiple graded stakes-placed Portfolio Company.

Click here for a video of the work by In Italian.

Click here for a video of the work by Jack Christopher and Blazing Sevens.

Click here for a video of the work by Regal Glory and Rougir.

Click here for a video of the work by Search Results.

Click here for a video of the work by Virginia Joy and Domestic Spending.

The pre-entry deadline for the Breeders' Cup is noon on Monday, Oct. 24.

The post Jack Christopher, Blazing Sevens Lead Brown Contingent In ‘Serious’ Works For Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Doug O'Neill sent out his string of Breeders' Cup candidates Saturday at Keeneland as they continue preparations for the World Championships Nov. 4-5 at the Lexington track.

At 9 a.m. (ET), Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hopeful Hot Rod Charlie breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company under Tyler Gaffalione for his second work since winning the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs by a head.

“It went great,” Gaffalione said. “Everything was smooth. We sat a few lengths off our company. He was dragging me to go and catch them. Going into the stretch I just kind of gave him his head and let him finish up. He was well within himself, and he pulled up very happy. Everything seems to be going good right now. He's a very exciting horse. His resume speaks for itself. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity.”

In Hot Rod Charlie's only start at Keeneland, he was second in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at 94-1 odds. He finished fourth in last year's Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

“Charlie is absolutely bouncing around the barn cooling out,” O'Neill's assistant Stephanie Murray said. “You would never guess that he just went out and worked in a minute. He's just on his toes and has really good energy.”

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) candidate Sharp Aza Tack also worked for O'Neill this morning. The son of Sharp Azteca worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on the all-weather training track under Gaffalione at 8:30. The colt is coming off a second in the Sept. 8 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Also among O'Neill's workers on the main track this morning were Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) candidate Slow Down Andy in 1:00.40 for five furlongs in company; Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) candidate Awake at Midnyte in a half-mile solo in :49.40 and Juvenile Fillies (G1) candidate Vegas Magic in 1:00.20 for 5 furlongs.

“Everybody went super good,” Murray said. “Everything went according to plan. They will all work again next Saturday (Oct. 29).”

O'Neill is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland on Friday.

The post Watch: Breeders’ Cup Classic Hopeful Hot Rod Charlie Breezes At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Undefeated Flightline, the world's top-rated racehorse, put the finishing touches on his Southern California preparations for the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with a routine maintenance work Saturday at Santa Anita before heading to Kentucky.

Just before daylight and with exercise rider Juan Leyva wearing a light on his helmet, the 4-year-old Tapit colt drilled six furlongs in a handy 1:11.80, co-fastest at five timed moves at the distance at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

Flightline is expected to ship Sunday to Kentucky, where trainer John Sadler will finalize his training at Keeneland for the Nov. 5 Classic for which he the leading contender.

Unbeaten in five career starts, including his spectacular 19 ¼-length triumph in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) Sept. 3 at Del Mar, is campaigned by Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, breeder Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing LLC.

The post Watch: Flightline Wraps Up West Coast Preparations For Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Twin Creeks Racing Stables' graded stakes-winner Law Professor finished a game second to Breeders' Cup Classic-bound Life Is Good last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward on October 1 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trained by Rob Atras, Law Professor settled in third position under Jose Ortiz in the Woodward as the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Life Is Good carved out three-quarters in 1:13.07 over the sloppy and sealed main track. Law Professor took aim at the leader with three-eighths to run and stayed on well to the wire to finish just 1 1/4-lengths back of the multiple Grade 1-winner.

“It was a short field and he really settled down and it looked like he had a big shot, but I don't know if he did or not,” Atras said. “When Irad got into him [Life Is Good] and asked him again, he obviously had more horse. I take nothing away from our horse's effort. I thought he ran good, but Life Is Good is still a great horse.”

Law Professor worked a half-mile in 50.56 seconds Oct. 16 over Big Sandy in his first breeze back and Atras said the 4-year-old Constitution gelding will now target the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.

“Right now, we're pointing towards the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile,” Atras said. “He's a very versatile horse and he shows up every time. I don't blame them for wanting to take a shot. His numbers are good and he's doing really well right now.

“He bounced out of the race really good,” Atras added. “Ever since we got him back to running he's been very focused and very sharp in the mornings. He has a really good mind on him and it makes him very easy to train.”

Law Professor, who boasts two wins each on dirt and turf, captured the mile and 70-yard Tapit off a five-month layoff on Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs while making his first appearance for Atras ahead of the Woodward.

He was initially campaigned by Michael McCarthy, taking the off-the-turf Grade 2 Mathis Mile in December at Santa Anita. He followed with a game runner-up effort to Express Train in the nine-furlong Grade 2 San Pasqual in February at Santa Anita before returning to turf with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at the same track.

Atras said he is hopeful that Law Professor can reach yet another level on dirt.

“He trains so good on the dirt and the owner believes the horse is just as good, if not better, on the dirt,” Atras said. “I was excited to hear that from him and I thought the same thing. I'm glad he ran so good the other day.”

The post After Runner-Up Finish To Life Is Good, Law Professor Headed To BC Dirt Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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