Tag: Breeders’ Cup

WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Life Is Good, now a four-time Grade 1 winner, garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for his 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Woodward (G1) at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the accomplished Life Is Good broke sharply from the inside post under regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. and was quickly maneuvered off the rail and into the three-path to lead the compact field of four at each point of call with Law Professor tracking in third.

At the three-quarters call, Law Professor was called on by Jose Ortiz to take up second position and make his run at Life Is Good, swinging three-wide and steadily making up ground. Life Is Good dug in when asked by Ortiz, Jr., drifting out a bit in the stretch while Law Professor inched closer. Life Is Good would not be denied, and valiantly fought off Law Professor's game bid to secure the victory in a final time of 1:49.57 in his first outing over sloppy going. It was another 10 1/4 lengths back to Pletcher's other trainee, Keepmeinmind, in third.

Pletcher said he was pleased with Life Is Good's effort, noting the demanding fractions late into the race.

“They were coming home pretty good. The last three-eighths went in :36 and one, and going a mile and an eighth, it's hard to come home that fast, especially on an off and heavy racetrack,” said Pletcher. “I thought it was probably a little better than people might consider just looking at the final margin. Law Professor ran a good race and I'm happy to accomplish what we were hoping to.”

The win was Life Is Good's third Grade 1 this year, adding to scores in the Whitney in August at Saratoga Race Course and Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. His lone start at 1 1/4 miles was an even fourth-place effort in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March.

Pletcher said he is confident the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief will handle stretching back out to 10 furlongs in the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 5 at Keeneland.

“From all indicators talking to [WinStar President/CEO] Elliott [Walden] and those guys yesterday, we're focused on the Classic,” said Pletcher. “He'll ship to Keeneland tomorrow afternoon and train towards that. If you watch yesterday, he continued to gallop out past the wire. All of his training has given us the confidence he'll do it.”

The post ‘We’re Focused On The Classic’: Life Is Good Takes Aim On Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

A hopeful for the Breeders' Cup next month at Keeneland, unbeaten Iowa star juvenile Tyler's Tribe delivered another tour-de-force performance Saturday when capturing the $100,000 Iowa Cradle Stakes for state-breds by 6 1/2 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion at Prairie Meadows.

With regular rider Kylee Jordan aboard, the Sharp Azteca gelding broke on top with C R Insta Gator in close pursuit but soon put the outcome out of question in the matter of a few powerful strides.

When Jordan let out the reins a notch, Tyler's Tribe pulled away, increasing his lead to five lengths as a half mile went in :44.81. He went two-wide into the stretch and drove clear for an easy win in 1:09.74 for the six furlongs on a fast track, keeping his record a perfect 5-for-5.

Trained by Timothy Martin, who co-owns the colt with Thomas D. Lepic, Tyler's Tribe increased his career bankroll $306,294 with the $60,000 winner's share of the Iowa Cradle purse. He has won his five career starts by a combined 59 3/4 lengths, racing exclusively at Prairie Meadows.

The race for second place was on as Big Luke rallied from last in the six-horse field and overtook Palace Guard, who was third by a nose.

The overwhelming favorite, Tyler's Tribe returned $2.10.

Bred by Clifton Farm and Derek Merkler, Tyler's Tribe is named for Lepic's grandson Tyler, who is fighting leukemia. Produced by the Mission Impazible mare Impazible Woman, he was a $30,000 purchase from Clifton Farm at the 2021 Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Fall Mixed Sale.

Tyler's Tribe is possible for either the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at 1 1/16 miles or $1-million Breeders' Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at 5 ½ furlongs, both Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

The post Unbeaten Tyler’s Tribe Notches Easy Iowa Cradle Win In Final Start Before Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

A trio of runners from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen began the Keeneland portion of their preparations for the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 by working easy half miles over a fast track early Sunday morning.

First was J. Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning champion male sprinter Jackie's Warrior, who covered the distance in :49.80 with exercise rider Wilson Fabian aboard. A five-time Grade 1 winner, the 4-yera-old Maclean's Music colt is considered the probable favorite for the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

In Asmussen's next set, Fabian was aboard Winchell Thoroughbreds' Runhappy Travers (G1) winner Epicenter, who completed the half mile in :51. The Not This Time colt, one of the leading contenders for champion 3-year-old male honors, is being pointed to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

In the same set, Stonestreet Stables' two-time Grade 1 winner Clairiere worked a half mile in :49.80 with exercise rider Carmen Rosas aboard. One of the leading contenders for the Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female, the 4-year-old Curlin filly is being pointed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

The three runners have accounted for 19 graded stakes victories – eight of them Grade 1s – in their careers for combined earnings of more than $7.6 million.

The post Asmussen-Trained Epicenter, Jackie’s Warrior, Clairiere Tune Up At Keeneland For Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post