Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Tami Bobo and Lugamo Racing Stable's Congruent, a $350,000 son of Tapit, is headed to the Breeders' Cup following his decisive victory in the Laurel Futurity Oct. 1 at Laurel Park.

Trainer Antonio Sano said Friday from Gulfstream Park that a decision is coming next week as to which race the connections will target, either the $2 million Juvenile (G1) or $1 million Juvenile Turf (G1), both Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

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

“The race was supposed to be on the grass but after it rained and the race came off, we decided to run. He won two races on the dirt very good,” Sano said. “The horse ran well and came back well.

“The next race is the Breeders' Cup, but I don't know whether it will be on the dirt or the turf,” he added. “I have a meeting with the owners Monday night where we'll make a decision which race to run.”

In the Laurel Futurity, jockey Feargal Lynch tucked Congruent in third along the rail, momentarily dropping back to fifth while awaiting room midway around the far turn. Lynch gave Congruent his cue straightening for home, splitting pacesetter Splendor Beauty to his inside and Free Soul, then engaged in mid-stretch with Otago who had a clear run on the outside before steadily edging clear to win by 2 ½ lengths in 1:40.45.

“We wanted to try him on the turf,” Sano said. “We were 100 percent confident going into the race either way. The jockey gave him a perfect trip.”

Sano purchased Congruent for Bobo and Luis Gavignano of Lugamo at OBS' March sale of 2-year-olds in training after the horse fetched $200,000 as a yearling last July. His dam, Part the Seas, won the 2013 Bessarabian (G3) 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.

“He's a very, very nice horse,” Sano said. “I liked the pedigree. It's a very good pedigree and his conformation is very, very good. We have been very happy with him.”

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.

The Futurity, contested as a Grade 1 from 1973-88 and having maintained its graded status through 2004, has a rich history dating back to 1921 inaugural winner Morvich, who would go on to win the 1922 Kentucky Derby. The Futurity has also been won by Triple Crown champions Affirmed, Citation and Secretariat along with Barbaro, In Reality, Honest Pleasure, Quadrangle, Riva Ridge, Spectacular Bid and Tapit.

The post Laurel Futurity Winner Congruent Headed To Breeders’ Cup; Turf Vs. Dirt Yet To Be Decided appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., hosts two days of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In live horse racing coverage this weekend, headlined by the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on Saturday and $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Sunday, at 5 p.m. ET both days on CNBC. Keeneland will also serve as host of the 39^th Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5 presented across NBC Sports.

Saturday and Sunday's coverage on CNBC mark the final two programs in this year's “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock, and CNBC from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here and the NBC Sports programming schedule can be found here.

NBC Sports' coverage will be led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, handicapper Matt Bernier, and reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Santin leads the 12-horse field with four also-eligibles in the Coolmore Turf Mile, which gives the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Trained by Brendan Walsh, Santin has won two Grade 1 stakes races this year, taking the Old Forester Turf Classic in May at Churchill Downs, and after a sixth-place finish in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June, came back to win the Arlington Million at Churchill on Aug. 13. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount, breaking from post 7. The Bill Mott-trained Casa Creed has earned invitations into two World Championships races this year. Owned by LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC, Casa Creed gained a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) when he captured the 6-furlong Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June and then won the 1-mile Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 13 and gained an automatic starting position into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Casa Creed will be ridden by Luis Saez from post nine.

From California, Cannon Thoroughbreds' 5-year-old Smooth Like Strait led last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar until the final furlong before being overtaken by Modern Games (IRE) and finished a half-length behind in second. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait was second to Santin in the Arlington Million. John Velazquez rides Smooth Like Straight from post two.

Returning from Ireland to the scene of his greatest win is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Order of Australia (IRE), who came off the also-eligible list before the 2020 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland and won it by a neck at odds of 73-1. Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne-Marie O'Brien, Order of Australia captured this year's Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in Ireland on July 17. Christophe Soumillon has the mount, breaking from post three.

One race prior to the Coolmore Turf Mile, a Win and You're In berth in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) will be up for grabs in the $600,000 Keeneland Breeders' Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds. A full field of 14 plus two also-eligibles has been entered, led by 3-1 morning line favorite Forte. Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5, splashing home in the mud to a 3-length victory under Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount, breaking from post seven.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox won the Breeders' Futurity and the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2020 with Essential Quality, one of five horses to capture both races. On Saturday, Cox sends out impressive maiden winner Loggins for Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, and Winners Win. On Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs, Loggins won a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight by a widening 8 ½ lengths. Florent Geroux has the mount, breaking from post two.

Sunday's $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, gives the winner a free starting position into the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). St. George Stable's Letruska won last year's Spinster before finishing a disappointing 10^th in the Distaff at Del Mar. Still, she had a marvelous season of six wins, four of them Grade 1 scores, which lifted her to the Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, the 6-year-old Letruska has two wins in four starts this year, including the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April at Oaklawn Park. Letruska will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3.

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, trained by Todd Pletcher, won last year's Central Bank Ashland at Keeneland (G1), the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the Alabama Stakes (G1) to propel her to the 3-year-old filly Championship. This year, the daughter of 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin has won the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland's spring meeting, and most recently, the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27. John Velazquez will ride Malathaat, breaking from post one.

The $350,000 Bourbon Stakes (G2), for 2-year-olds on the grass course, precedes the Spinster. The winner receives an invitation to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The field of 12 and four also-eligibles is led by Breeze Easy and John Oxley's Boppy O. Trained by Mark Casse, Boppy O started twice in dirt races before making his turf debut in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug. 31, and won it by a neck at 23-1. The Florida-bred son of Bolt d'Oro will be ridden from post six by Dylan Davis.

Reckoning Force, owned by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, and Magnolia Racing Syndicate, and trained by Brendan Walsh, broke his maiden in his fourth start, winning the listed Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes on Sept. 14. Joel Rosario will ride, breaking from post three. The Steve Asmussen-trained Gigante is also a stakes winner. Owned by Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing, Gigante won the black-type Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten's Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6 by 6 ¾ lengths. Vincent Cheminaud has the mount on Gigante, starting from post nine.

As part of the benefits, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for all Challenge Series winners to start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.

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Breeze Easy and John Oxley's Boppy O, winner of Saratoga's With Anticipation (G3) on Aug. 31, headlines a field 12 2-year-olds plus four also-eligibles entered Thursday for Sunday's 32nd running of the $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland turf course.

Scheduled as the eighth race on Sunday's 10-race program, the Castle & Key Bourbon is a “Win and You're In” race for the 16th running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to be run here Nov. 4. Post time for the Castle & Key Bourbon is 5:10 p.m. ET with first post time at 1 p.m.

Trained by Mark Casse, Boppy O made his grass debut a successful one by winning the With Anticipation. Dylan Davis, who was aboard for that victory, has the mount Sunday and will break from post position six.

Two other stakes winners are in the field: Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel and Magnolia Racing Syndicate's Reckoning Force and Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing's Gigante.

Now trained by Brendan Walsh, Reckoning Force won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile (L) on Sept. 14. Joel Rosario, who was aboard for that victory, has the mount Sunday and will break from post three.

Gigante, trained by Steve Asmussen, was a 6¾-length winner of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Kitten's Joy going 1 1/16 miles at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6. Vincent Cheminaud has the mount Sunday and will break from post nine.

The field for the Castle & Key Bourbon, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

1. B Minor (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118 pounds)
2. Panama (GB) (Luis Saez, 118)
3. Reckoning Force (Rosario, 120)
4. Deer District (Martin Garcia, 118)
5. Rarified Flair (Corey Lanerie, 118)
6. Boppy O (Davis, 122)
7. Hendrickson (Mickaelle Michel, 118)
8. Accident (Isaiah Wiseman, 118)
9. Gigante (Cheminaud, 120)
10. Really Good (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)
11. Our Dream Rye'd (Julien Leparoux, 118)
12. Andthewinneris (Flavien Prat, 118)

Also-Eligible: Mendel's Secret (Gerardo Corrales, 118), General Jim (Luis Saez, 118), Zaici (David Cohen, 118), Oscar Award (Rey Gutierrez, 118).

Stonestreet Stables' filly Love Reigns (IRE) and Mike McCarty's Private Creed headline a field of 11 2-year-olds entered Thursday for the fifth running of the $250,000 Indian Summer (L) for 2-year-olds going 5½ furlongs on the Keeneland turf course.

Scheduled as the sixth race on Sunday's 10-race program, the Indian Summer is a “Win and You're In” race for the 16th running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to be run here Nov. 4. Post time for the Indian Summer is 3:57 p.m. ET.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who has won two runnings of the Indian Summer with fillies, Love Reigns romped to a 9¾-length victory on the grass in her debut on closing day of the Keeneland Spring Meet.

From there, Ward shipped her to Royal Ascot in England, where she finished fourth in the Queen Mary (G2) before returning stateside for a victory in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga. Paco Lopez has the mount Sunday and will break from post five.

Private Creed, trained by Steve Asmussen, won the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint (L) going 6½ furlongs on Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs in his most recent start. Joel Rosario has the return riding assignment and will break from post 11.

The field for the Indian Summer, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

1. Revere Note (Fernando De La Cruz, 118 pounds)
2. Ghent (Francisco Arrieta, 118)
3. Bourbon Therapy (Luis Saez, 118)
4. Kbcya Later (Dylan Davis, 118)
5. Love Reigns (IRE) (Lopez, 117)
6. Numero Seis (Brian Hernandez Jr., 115)
7. No Nay Hudson (IRE) (John Velazquez, 118)
8. Mounsieur Coco (Tyler Gaffalione, 120)
9. Mo Stash (Rafael Bejarano, 118)
10. Castelmola (Edgar Morales, 115)
11. Private Creed (Rosario, 120)

The post ‘Win And You’re In’: Boppy O, Love Reigns Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berths At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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St. George Stable's Letruska and Shadwell Stable's Malathaat will clash for a fourth time as they headline a field of five fillies and mares entered Thursday for Sunday's 67th running of the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

The Juddmonte Spinster is a “Win and You're In” race for the 39th running of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) to be run here Nov. 5. The Juddmonte Spinster winner has come back weeks later to the win the Breeders' Cup Distaff six times with Bayakoa (ARG) doing it twice in 1989 and 1990. The most recent horse to accomplish the double was Blue Prize (ARG) in 2019.

The Juddmonte Spinster will go as the ninth race on Sunday's 10-race program with a 5:45 p.m. ET post time. First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska will be bidding to become the fifth horse to win the Juddmonte Spinster in back-to-back years. The most recent was Blue Prize in 2018-2019.

Letruska, who has won two of four starts this year, in her most recent race was third behind Malathaat in the Personal Ensign (G1) at the 1 1/8-mile distance. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Letruska in the Juddmonte Spinster and will break from post position three.

Malathaat, who also finished in front of Letruska in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff as well as in the Ogden Phipps (G1), is perfect in two starts at Keeneland. Here she won the Central Bank Ashland (G1) in 2021 and opened her 2022 campaign with a victory in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3). Trained by four-time Juddmonte Spinster winner Todd Pletcher, Malathaat will break from post position one and be ridden by John Velasquez.

Stepping back into Grade 1 company is Rigney Racing's Played Hard.

Trained by Phil Bauer, Played Hard comes into the Juddmonte Spinster off a 5¾-length victory in the Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17. In her previous Grade 1 test, Played Hard finished fifth behind Malathaat in last year's Alabama at Saratoga.

Joel Rosario has the mount on Played Hard and will break from post position four.

Also returning to Grade 1 competition is Three Diamonds Farm's Army Wife.

Third in the Alabama and Cotillion last year, Army Wife has won one of four starts in 2022 for trainer Mike Maker. Luis Saez has the mount Sunday and will break from post position two.

The field for the Juddmonte Spinster, with riders from the rail out, is:

1. Malathaat (Velazquez)
2. Army Wife (Saez)
3. Letruska (Gaffalione)
4. Played Hard (Rosario)
5. Princess of Cairo (Geovanni Franco)

All starters will carry 124 pounds.

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