Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Flightline Heads BC Breezers Saturday

Unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) headed a bevy of Breeders' Cup workers across the country Saturday. The likely favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic covered six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:11.80 (1/3).

Flightline entered the main track via the quarter-mile chute with John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva aboard just prior to 6:35 a.m. Accompanied by a stable pony, he galloped under the wire and around the clubhouse turn and was set down approaching the five-furlong pole.

From there, he clicked off splits of :23.60, :35.40, :47.80 and :59.40 en route to the seven-furlong pole, where he stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:11.80. Clocker Gary Young had the 'TDN Rising Star' galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.80 and one mile in 1:38.60.

“Perfect,” said Sadler, who noted that Flightline will have his final Santa Anita work next Saturday, Oct. 22. “It was another routine work from him. He always works the same and we're not looking to do anything different from what we've been doing. As you saw, he went six [furlongs] in :12, out [seven-eighths] in :24 and a mile in :38 and three. Just a nice steady work pattern.”

He continued, “All's good. That's him, that's the way he works. He'll have one more here and then he goes to Keeneland after his next work. He'll have one work over there.”

Flightline is expected to ship to Lexington a week from Sunday, Oct. 23.

Among the many Breeders' Cup hopefuls who stretched their legs at Keeneland Saturday were:

  • Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), last seen taking a controversial renewal of the GII Lukas Classic S. at Churchill Oct. 1, had his first work back at Keeneland Saturday morning as he points for the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Doug O'Neill pupil was clocked in :49.40 (47/80) under Tyler Gaffalione, who was reunited with the $5.5-million earner last out for the first time since they finished second together in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 94-1 over the same strip. “It was a good, relaxed work,” Gaffalione said. “He went well within himself. I'm very happy right now. He's in a great mindset.” The leading Kentucky-based rider added, “He's grown up a lot [since the Juvenile]. He's much bigger, much more powerful and much more mature. Right now, it seems like he's the complete package.”

  • Rich Strike (Keen Ice), the GI Kentucky Derby upsetter who came up a head short of Hot Rod Charlie in the Lukas despite leaning on his rival, also got back to work Saturday. The chestnut, who could go in the Classic or wait for the Nov. 25 GI Clark S. at his favorite track, Churchill Downs, covered a half-mile in Lexington Saturday in :47.60 (4/80) first thing in the morning. He galloped out five panels in 1:00 flat. “I didn't think that I'd get nervous for only a maintenance work,” trainer Eric Reed admitted. “I was hoping for :48 or :49, but he was doing it so easy and as long as he wasn't fighting him, I was good with that. He handled the track well and whatever decision we make, he'll be ready to run.” Of what will go into that next race call, Reed said, “The decision would be easier if the Breeders' Cup was at Churchill Downs and there wasn't a Flightline. And it is not only Flightline, but there is Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Olympiad (Speightstown) and Epicenter (Not This Time).”
  • Leading conditioner Chad Brown sent out a number of Breeders' Cup-bound workers at Keeneland Saturday, including 'Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings, GI Sprint or GI Dirt Mile, 1:00 {1/67}); Search Results (Flatter, GI Distaff, 1:00.60 {5/67}); Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper, GI F/M Sprint, 1:00.60 {5/67}); and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic, GI Juvenile, :48.60, {21/80}). Jack Christopher's work came in company with fellow stakes-winning sophomore Artorius (Arrogate), who is expected to contest next Saturday's Perryville S. Last-out GI Champagne S. hero Blazing Sevens worked in company with GII Pilgrim S. runner-up and fellow 'Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing), who is pointing for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. “Everything was smooth this morning,” Brown said. “All of the horses have settled in nicely.”

  • Unbeaten Iowa-bred Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) tested out turf for the first time on Saturday, working three furlongs on the Keeneland lawn in :39.80 (1/1) ahead of a likely start in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The dark bay gelding has won his five starts, all at Prairie Meadows, by almost 60 lengths combined. Tyler Tribe's regular rider Kylee Jordan, who lost her bug earlier this season, was aboard for the work. “Kylee was comfortable with him out there,” trainer Tim Martin said. “I was a little concerned when he bobbled a bit, but he was trying to jump the cones [on the course that were set up near the outer rail]. Maybe he has a future as a jumper.” Martin said he was not at all concerned about the slow time: “He always works in :38 or :39. If he gets with another horse, he'll work a bullet. I know he is a fast horse and I know he can run.”

The post Flightline Heads BC Breezers Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bayside Boy Scores 33-1 Upset In ‘Win and You’re In’ Queen Elizabeth II Stakes At Ascot

Bayside Boy and jockey Tom Marquand came from the back of the pack to spring a 33-1 surprise in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) Saturday at Ascot.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland and Bayside Boy earned an automatic, fees-paid berth with Saturday's triumph.

The pre-race focus for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes had all been on Inspiral and Frankie Dettori who was chasing a third win in a row on the card.

However Inspiral fell out of the stalls and gave away crucial ground. It was to prove a deficit she could not make up.

With the favorite out of the picture, the race was set up to be a battle between Modern Games and Jadoomi, who'd got a break on the field after accelerating with three furlongs to go.

That was before Bayside Boy delivered a remarkable late surge to land his first Group 1.

Speaking to ITV immediately after the race, winning trainer Roger Varian commented, “We thought he was a lively outsider. We're not going to say we thought he'd win because he had to step up massively but he had very good juvenile form.

“He won the Champagne Stakes and he was third in the Dewhurst. We had high hopes for him this season, but he really didn't enjoy the firm ground in the summer.

“He won nicely at Sandown last time, that must have been a good confidence booster for the horse but we're delighted with him today. I'm looking forward to watching it again, he showed a great turn of foot.”

Bayside Boy, who covered the one-mile contest in 1:45.43 on good to soft turf, is a 3-year-old by New Bay from the Anabaa mare Alava. He was bred in Ireland by Ballylinch Stud, who campaigns him in partnership with Teme Valley and also enjoyed a victory one race later on the card as co-owner with James Wigan of Bay Bridge in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1).

The post Bayside Boy Scores 33-1 Upset In ‘Win and You’re In’ Queen Elizabeth II Stakes At Ascot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Bay Bridge Captures ‘Win and You’re In’ Champion Stakes At Ascot, Previously Unbeaten Baaeed Fourth in Swan Song

Bay Bridge, jockey Richard Kingscote, and trainer Sir Michael Stoute sprung an almighty shock as they claimed the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) Saturday at Ascot, with the previously unbeaten Baaeed finishing fourth.

Last seen placing fifth in the Coral Eclipse (G1), Bay Bridge came out on of an intense duel with Adayar, with My Prospero running on strongly to claim third late on.

Into the home straight all eyes were on previously unbeaten Baaeed and Jim Crowley, who tracked William Buick on Adayar. The pair made their bid for glory with a little over 2 ½ furlongs to go and prevailed at 10-1 odds.

Despite moving into contention Baeed failed to accelerate in his customary style. All the while, Kingscote and Bay Bridge enjoyed a smooth passage up the inside and lay down a strong challenge, eventually winning by half a length.

Speaking to ITV immediately after the racing Kingscote commented, “We came here knowing we had a nice horse but taking on one of the best around. You can't be afraid of one horse and that's why.

“It's perfect to ride beautiful horses like this, they've always liked him back home and he looked like he had a big one in him and on that ground he showed he's a really lovely animal.

“He was a bit fresh and ran with enthusiasm in the first three quarters but he was going so well on the turn and he responded by knuckling down really well when William came to us.”

Bay Bridge, a 4-year-old by New Bay out of Hayyona, by Multiplex, finished the approximate 1 1/4-mile trip in 2:09.46 on good to soft turf. He is campaigned by James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud, the latter also landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) one race earlier with Bayside Boy, who is co-owned by Teme Valley.

With the victory, Bay Bridge garnered an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland via the Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' series.

The post Bay Bridge Captures ‘Win and You’re In’ Champion Stakes At Ascot, Previously Unbeaten Baaeed Fourth in Swan Song appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Iowa-Bred Star Juvenile Tyler’s Tribe Works On Keeneland Turf Toward Breeders’ Cup Start

Undefeated Iowa standout Tyler's Tribe was introduced to the Keeneland turf course Saturday morning, working three furlongs in :39.80 with jockey Kylee Jordan aboard.

“I'd say we stick with the plan,” trainer Tim Martin, who co-owns the 2-year-old Sharp Azteca gelding with Tom Lepic, said after the work.

And the plan is?

“The 5½ on the turf,” Martin said of the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), his choice for Tyler's Tribe instead of the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. Both races are Nov. 4 at the Lexington track.

“Kylee was comfortable with him out there,” Martin continued. “I was a little concerned when he bobbled a bit, but he was trying to jump the cones (on the course that were set up near the outer rail). Maybe he has a future as a jumper.”

The time of the work did not concern Martin.

“He always works in :38 or :39,” Martin said. “If he gets with another horse, he'll work a bullet. I know he is a fast horse and I know he can run.”

Tyler's Tribe, who has won his five starts by a combined 59¾ lengths, will do the majority of his training up to the Breeders' Cup on the main track with another thee-furlong breeze on the turf scheduled for Oct. 29.

The post Iowa-Bred Star Juvenile Tyler’s Tribe Works On Keeneland Turf Toward Breeders’ Cup Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights