Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Keeneland-based Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) candidate Hot Rod Charlie worked a half-mile in :49.40 Saturday morning over a fast track for trainer Doug O'Neill.

The move was the colt's first since his victory over Kentucky Derby (G1) winner  Rich Strike in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Oct. 1 Churchill Downs.

“It was a good, relaxed work,” said Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard the 4-year-old by Oxbow. “He went well within himself. I'm very happy right now. He's in a great mindset.”

Owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing, and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Hot Rod Charlie has made two previous Breeders' Cup starts. At Keeneland in 2020, he was second in the Juvenile (G1) at odds of 94-1 and last year at Del Mar was fourth in the Classic (G1).

“He's grown up a lot (since the Juvenile),” Gaffalione said. “He's much bigger, much more powerful and much more mature. Right now, it seems like he's the complete package.”

In the Lukas Classic, Hot Rod Charlie finished a head in front of Breeders' Cup Classic candidate Rich Strike after an intense stretch battle.

“He loves competition,” Gaffalione said. “In the mornings when he works by himself, he can be a little bit lackadaisical and kind of lazy getting into stride, but once he finds a stride he gets going. In the race (the Lukas Classic), he made the lead and his ears came forward and he was kind of just waiting on the other horses. When Rich Strike came to his outside he re-engaged. He's very tenacious. He won't back down from a fight.”

Also on the work tab for O'Neill on Saturday were Breeders' Cup possibles Awake At Midnyte (Distaff [G1] or Filly and Mare Sprint [G1]; half-mile in :49.80), Slow Down Andy (Classic or Dirt Mile [G1]; half-mile in :48.60) and Vegas Magic (Juvenile Fillies [G1]; 5 furlongs in 1:01.80).

Another O'Neill runner, B Dawk, worked five 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 for the listed Perryville Oct. 22 at Keeneland.

The post ‘I’m Very Happy Right Now’: Gaffalione Radiates Confidence After Hot Rod Charlie’s Keeneland Workout appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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RED TR-Racing's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike worked a half-mile on his own in :47.60 at 5:35 a.m. (ET) Saturday over a fast track at Keeneland.

The Keen Ice colt, under Gabriel Lagunes, went out five furlongs in 1:00.

“I didn't think that I'd get nervous for only a maintenance work,” trainer Eric Reed said of Rich Strike, who left his home base at Reed's Mercury Equine Center in northeast Lexington for the work. “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.”

The decision that looms is whether to pre-enter Rich Strike in the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at the Lexington track or wait for the $750,000 Clark (G1) Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

“The decision would be easier if the Breeders' Cup was at Churchill Downs and there wasn't a Flightline,” said Reed, who watched the work from the grandstand alongside jockey Sonny Leon. “And it is not only Flightline, but there is Life Is Good and Olympiad and Epicenter.”

Epicenter was the horse Rich Strike ran down in the final sixteenth of a mile in the Kentucky Derby and a horse he likely would have to beat again to possibly claim the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

“I know Rich Strike is a better horse than he was at the Derby, and he (Epicenter) is, too,” Reed said. “And I would have to beat him again and not just by a nose (to earn the championship). We've got 10 days to make a decision.”

In his most recent start, Rich Strike was second, a head behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Lukas Classic (G1) Oct. 1 at Churchill.

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

“I think we will pre-enter,” Reed said. “I will probably bring him over (to Keeneland) the 23rd or 24th, let him gallop one day, and then work the 25th or 26th. He will stay here (instead of returning to Mercury).”

Rich Strike left Keeneland at 9 a.m. to return home.

The post ‘I Think We Will Pre-Enter’: Rich Strike Drills At Keeneland, Could Be Pre-Entered For BC Classic, Clark Is Option appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Taking to the track at Santa Anita just after the 6:30 a.m. (PT) break, unbeaten Flightline drilled a handy six furlongs Saturday morning as his routine preparations continue for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Under exercise rider Juan Leyva, who also is trainer John Sadler's assistant, the 4-year-old Tapit colt was timed in 1:11.80. Because it was still dark, Leyva wore a light on his helmet so that the colt's workout would be easier to follow.

Brad Free of Daily Racing Form reports that Sadler caught Flightline's mile gallop-out in 1:38.60. Along with co-owner Kosta Hronis, Sadler viewed the workout from the grandstand stairs.

“Look at that rhythm,” Sadler said as Flightline cruised past the finish line. “This is nice.”

Flightline's schedule calls for him to walk Sunday, jog Monday, and gallop Tuesday through Friday before his final Santa Anita workout Oct. 22, the Form reports. He is set to ship Oct. 23 to Kentucky where his final Breeders' Cup workout will be at Keeneland.

Undefeated in five career starts, including his spectacular 19 ¼-length triumph in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) Sept. 3 at Del Mar, Flightline is the top-ranked horse for the Classic.

Also the world's top-rated Thoroughbred, according rankings published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, Flightline is campaigned by Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, breeder Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing LLC.

The post Flightline Pleases Sadler, Hronis With Saturday Workout At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A decision is still looming on which Breeders' Cup race is up next for Tami Bobo and Lugamo Racing Stable's Congruent, impressive winner of the Oct. 1 Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park in Maryland.

The connections are considering both the $2 million Juvenile (G1) on dirt and the $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland for Congruent, a juvenile son of 2003 Laurel Futurity winner Tapit out of the Grade 2-winning mare Part the Seas.

Lugamo's Luis Gavignano said Friday that Congruent is scheduled to breeze Saturday at Parx, where the colt has been since last month and prepped with his final work before the Laurel Futurity, and leave early Sunday with Antonio Sano-trained stablemate Simplification on a van bound for Keeneland.

Pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup close Monday, Oct. 24 with final entries closing Monday, Oct. 31.

“The plan is for him to breeze this weekend at Parx then the horse is going to be shipping to Keeneland and we're going to try to breeze him on the grass just to make the final decision,” Gavignano said. “We'll pre-enter the horse to both races and we'll make that decision probably next week.”

The Juvenile is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, while the Juvenile Turf travels one mile. The Laurel Futurity was originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass until remnants of Hurricane Ian caused it to be moved to a sloppy and sealed main track and run at one mile.

“The horse is doing good, very good,” Sano said. “He ran well the last race. He loved the sloppy track.”

Sano purchased Congruent for $350,000 on behalf of Bobo and Gavignano at OBS' March sale of 2-year-olds in training after the horse fetched $200,000 as a yearling last July. His dam won the 2013 Bessarabian (G2) on Woodbine's all-weather surface, while grandsire Stormy Atlantic was a two-time stakes winner on dirt. Tapit was a Grade 1 winner that has become one of the most influential sires of his generation.

All four of Congruent's races have come on dirt. He ran fifth in debut July 16 before graduating in a seven-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 13, both at Gulfstream. He stretched out to a mile in a Sept. 10 optional claiming allowance at Delaware Park, finishing third, prior to the Laurel Futurity.

“These 2-year-olds, they develop almost overnight sometimes, so we want to see his breeze on the dirt tomorrow. If the breeze is normal the same way he has breezed before, we're going to breeze on the turf and we're going to decide which race,” Gavignano said. “If he breezes really well on the dirt, then perhaps we'll keep him on the dirt for that race. There's a lot of moving pieces right now.”

Sano, based at Gulfstream Park in South Florida, has been to the Breeders' Cup with Bon Accord, fourth in the 2013 Juvenile Turf, and Gunnevera in the 2017 and 2018 Classic, respectively running fifth and second. Bobo and Gavignano have never owned a Breeders' Cup starter.

“We're very excited. That's the dream for any owner, any trainer, any breeder,” Gavignano said. “It's a dream, really. Whatever race you are running is a dream.”

The post Connections Of Laurel Futurity Winner Congruent Face Cup Surface Decision appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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