Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letter to the Editor: `I’m Skipping the Breeders’ Cup’

I'm skipping the Breeders' Cup this year. Or, if I allow myself a slight delusion of grandeur, I'm boycotting it. This is an action–consequential in my life–that I don't take lightly, especially given that Keeneland is hosting this year's Holy Days of Obligation for people of my ilk.

I had secured my tickets–great seats to take it all in–and had planned a road trip with my wife, a would-be firster at Keeneland. But I won't attend. Here's why:

I cannot in good conscience spend my discretionary recreation and leisure money in Kentucky, whose state statutes banning a woman's right to choose are the law of that beautiful land. This comes, of course, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there is no federal right that protects women's ability to decide the question for themselves.

Make no mistake: I have nothing against the Breeders' Cup, though I hope they'll consider placing future events in jurisdictions that recognize bodily autonomy, along with same sex marriage and contraception–the rights that are likely to be under attack next. (Put me down for next year's red-letter November weekend, assuming it's not at Lone Star or Remington or Oaklawn or the Fair Grounds or Gulfstream.) And I certainly have nothing against Keeneland; to the contrary, the splendor and charm of that magnificent racecourse made me want in on this year's Breeders' Cup even more than usual.

I know my decision doesn't carry the weight of Major League Baseball's moving last year's All Star game from Atlanta to protest Georgia's voting issues, nor professional organizations avoiding conference venues with similar social issues. But it's something I must do.

On a small scale, everyone loses. Wallace Station and the Keeneland backstretch kitchen will forfeit the revenue that one large, appreciative racing fan would have generated, and I'll miss out on the good eats. My bourbon-drinking friends will lose out on my services as hooch mule, and the distilleries will sell less of what my grandfather used to call profit water. Old Friends will have two fewer carrot- and mint-toting visitors than it would have.

I will lose out on introducing my wife to the setting I can't or won't shut up about. I'll watch the races on television and lose intelligently on my ADW, but there's nothing like watching in person as Songbird and Beholder throw down. Racing is (much of) my life. I don't remember if I put shoes and socks on this morning, but I recall vividly my first day ever at the track, my first bet, and my first winner: the Jersey Derby at Garden State in 1975, Professor Joe in the opener, and A Musical Formal in the fourth, respectively. I walked hots at Belmont in the mid-70s, did on-air racing analysis in the mid-80s, covered the sport for a daily newspaper, and have been to more than 70 Thoroughbred tracks in the nearly 50 years I've been chasing these magnificent creatures.

These losses, mine included, constitute collateral damage from the undeclared, but unmistakable war our government has declared on half of us – more, if you count men who care about propriety and justice. My support for women's unfettered right to choose is absolute, and I'm unable to fathom why anyone would want to deprive women of that unfettered right.

I do get to make one choice, and with some wistfulness but a conscience that tells me I'm doing the right thing, I choose not to contribute to Kentucky's economy or that of any state with similarly draconian laws. Even if it means that I'll have to wait a year for an in-person Breeders' Cup.

Dave Brooks is a freelance writer and former PR professional and hot walker emeritus with a more-than-healthy love for Thoroughbred horse racing. His wife thinks he should find a new hobby, such as Parchesi.

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Haskell Could Be In Play As Baffert’s 90-Day Suspension Concludes

Trainer Bob Baffert plans to return to training on Sunday, July 3, following the conclusion of a 90-day suspension issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. According to the Asbury Park Press, the nine-time winner of the Grade 1 Haskell could send one or more top 3-year-old entrants to the Jersey Shore for the 2022 edition on July 23.

Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, told the APP: “Bob Baffert has been a central piece of making the Haskell what it is today and has always supported Monmouth Park, and once his suspension ends he is welcome to come to Monmouth Park and participate in any of our races that he wishes to.”

The Haskell is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic; the winner is granted an expenses-paid berth in the Classic starting gate at Keeneland this November.

Among Baffert's possible Haskell contenders are the following:

Taiba, winner of the G1 Santa Anita Derby and 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Conditioned during Baffert's suspension by Tim Yakteen.
Messier, 15th in the Kentucky Derby. Conditioned during Baffert's suspension by Tim Yakteen.
Hopper, winner of the G3 Affirmed Stakes. Conditioned during Baffert's suspension by Sean McCarthy.

When the APP asked Baffert via text about the Haskell, the trainer responded: “I get back to training Sunday. Know more by the afternoon or Monday. Haven't seen horses for 90 days.”

Grade I Winners Prep For Foster

A week ahead of their expected clash in the $750,000 GII Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and fellow Grade I winner Americanrevolution (Constitution) each breezed five furlongs beneath the Twin Spires Saturday morning.

The adjudicated winner of the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby, Mandaloun hit the track at 5:30 a.m. and covered the five furlongs while working on his own in 1:00.80 under the watchful eye of trainer Brad Cox. His previous moves had come in the company of his GIII Oaklawn Mile-winning stablemate Fulsome (Into Mischief). Mandaloun was an impressive winner of the GIII Louisiana S. in his first start of the season and was last seen finishing a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 26.

“We thought about running in the [GIII] Salvator Mile [at Monmouth Park June 18], but it didn't make sense to ship him across the country with the hot weather when we can run out of our own stall at Churchill,” Cox said. “Once we got him back to the barn after the Saudi Cup, he's really been doing well at Churchill and we've been very pleased with his progress from that race to run him in a race like the Stephen Foster.”

Americanrevolution breezed in the company of last-out Blame S. winner Dynamic One (Union Rags) and went the distance in 1:00.20 before galloping out six panels in 1:13. The CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm runner won last year's GI Cigar Mile H. and was to have returned in the state-bred restricted Commentator S. at Belmont late last month, but was re-routed for the Blame when the race did not go. Americanrevolution was only fourth as the 11-10 favorite in the Blame, but trainer Todd Pletcher is taking a glass-half-full approach.

“It was maybe a better race than it looks on paper,” Pletcher said. “He was pretty wide on both turns–figure-wise, it came back solid. I think he took all the worst of it there off the layoff and when his schedule was adjusted late. He should be ready to move forward.”

Title Ready (More Than Ready), third to the Foster-bound Olympiad (Speightstown) in the May 6 GII Alysheba S. at Churchill, went a half-mile in :49.40 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The Foster is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Cyberknife Works Toward Haskell…

Gold Square LLC's Cyberknife (Gun Runner), who most recently nosed out Howling Time (Not This Time) in the GIII Matt Winn S. June 12, returned to the worktab Saturday morning with a half-mile breeze that was timed in :48.80 (42/125). The GI Arkansas Derby hero is likely to make his next appearance in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park July 23.

“He's a Grade I winner already and I think a race like the Haskell could help him increase his stallion value,” said Cox, who won last year's Haskell with the promoted Mandaloun. “He gutted out a victory in the Matt Winn last time and showed a lot of determination to get to the wire from off the pace. It'll be a tough race in the Haskell, but we're confident with him going up against Grade I-caliber horses.”

Cyberknife's owner Al Gold is a native of New Jersey.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Heads To Brazil, Peru, Japan This Sunday

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In features three Group 1 automatic qualifiers on Sunday, June 26 into this year's World Championships, with the Takarazuka Kinen in Japan, the Grande Premio Brasil in Brazil, and the Gran Premio Pamplona in Peru.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Sunday's winners start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 24 to receive the rewards.

The 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse will give the winner an invitation to the US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). The race will be televised live on TVG at 10:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 25.

The first 10 starters in the Takarazuka Kinen are determined by votes from racing fans, and this year's top vote-getter was Hiroshi Yamada's Titleholder (JPN), leading the 18 runners entered. A 4-year-old son of Duramante (JPN), Titleholder exhibited great stamina in winning three of his last four races at distances greater than 1 ½ miles. Trained by Toru Kurita, Titleholder won last October's 1 7/8-mile Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (G1) wire to wire at Hanshin. After closing the year with a fifth-place finish in the Arima Kinen (G1) on Dec. 26, Titleholder opened 2022 with a front-running score in the 1 9/16-mile Nikkei Sho (G2) at Nakayama on March 26. He won his third race at Hanshin in his most recent outing, taking the 2-mile Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) by 7 lengths over Deep Bond (JPN).

Carrot Farm Co. Ltd.'s Efforia (JPN), trained by Yuichi Shikato, is the most consistent runner in the field, winning six times in eight starts, which included four consecutive wins to start his career. That victory streak culminated last April with a 3-length win over Titleholder in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (G1). After finishing second to Shahryar (JPN) in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1), Efforia won two more Group 1 races, first taking the 1 ¼-mile Tenno Sho Autumn over Contrail (JPN) and then capturing the 1 9/16-mile Arima Kinen. A 4-year-old son of Epiphaneia (JPN), Efforia had an uncharacteristically poor performance to open the season, finishing ninth in the 1 ¼-mile Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin on April 3.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi saddled Japan's first two winners in Breeders' Cup history last year at Del Mar when Loves Only You (JPN) captured the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and Marche Lorraine (JPN) triumphed in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). On Sunday, he starts Shadai Race Horse Co. Ltd.'s 7-year-old Stay Foolish (JPN) and Hiroo Race Co. Ltd.'s 5-year-old Panthalassa (JPN). Both runners enjoyed great success in the Middle East earlier this year, beginning with Stay Foolish, a son of Stay Gold (JPN), who won the 1 7/8-mile Longines Red Sea Cup (G3) by 4 ¼ lengths at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 26 and then captured the 2-mile Dubai Gold Cup (G2) at Meydan on March 26. Panthalassa, by Lord Kanaloa (JPN), also won at Meydan on World Cup Night, finishing in a dead heat with Lord North in the 1 1/8-mile Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (G1). That win was Panthalassa's fourth in his last five starts, which includes a season-opening triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Nakayama Kinen (G2) on Feb 27.

Another horse who had a successful Middle East tour is Silk Racing Co. Ltd.'s 5-year-old Authority (JPN). Trained by Tetsuya Kimura, Authority won the 1 5/16-mile Neom Turf Cup (G3) at King Abdulaziz, and one month later, held the lead in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan until the final yards, before being overtaken by Shahryar and last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir (GB) at the wire. A son of Orfevre (JPN) out of the Symboli Kris S mare Rosalind (JPN), Authority closed out last year with two starts at Tokyo Racecourse, winning the Copa Republica Argentina (G2) on Nov. 7 and finishing second in the Japan Cup (G1) on Nov. 28, 2 lengths behind Contrail.

Before his second-place finish behind Titleholder in the Tenno Sho, Shinji Maeda's Deep Bond began 2021 with a victory in the 1 7/8-mile Hanshin Daishoten on March 20. Campaigning in France at ParisLongchamp last fall, the 5-year-old Deep Bond, trained by Ryuji Okubo, won the 1 ½-mile Prix Foy (G2) wire to wire but finished 14th in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 3. He returned home and finished second in the Arima Kinen to Efforia.

Also of interest is Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.'s Potager (JPN), by Deep Impact (JPN), who won the 1 ¼-mile Osaka Hai (G1) by a neck over Lei Papele (JPN) at 58-1 over the Hanshin course on April 3 for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.

Brazilian Derby Winner Sugar Daddy Headlines Gran Premio Brasil

The second Breeders' Cup Challenge race in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Division on Sunday is the 1 ½-mile Grande Premio Brasil (G1). Haras Doce Vale's Sugar Daddy (BRZ) leads the field of 18 starters. Sugar Daddy, trained by Venancio Nahid, has four wins in seven starts, which includes his first Group 1 win last time out in the 1 ½-mile Cruzeiro do Sul at Gavea (Brazilian Derby) on April 22. A 3-year-old son of Wild Event, Sugar Daddy stalked the leaders while sitting in third until the top of the stretch, and then took over at the quarter-pole and extended to a 1 ¾-length victory over Don Cambay (BRZ).

The big disappointment in the Cruzeiro do Sol was Stud Verde's Online (BRZ), who finished third, 2 ¾ lengths behind Sugar Daddy as the 3-5 favorite. Trained by Luiz Esteves, Online came into the Cruzeiro do Sol off an impressive 2 ½-length win over Jorel (BRZ) in the Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (G1) on April 10 for his fourth career win. A son of Agnes Gold (BRZ), Online captured two Group 3 races last year, taking the Mario de Azevedo Ribeiro in his third start in April and the Frederico Lundgren Stakes in December.

Esteves is also starting the lightly raced 3-year-old Cromwell (BR) for Haras Niju and Stud Enternamente Rio, and Stud Red Rafa's Osprey (BRZ). Unraced as a juvenile, Cromwell won his first race in his third start, taking a 1 ¼-mile maiden special weight at Gavea by 4 ¾ lengths. He stepped into Group stakes competition in his most recent start, the 1 ½-mile Grande Premio Doutor Frontin (G2) on May 29, and finished fourth, defeated by 6 ½ lengths.

Osprey has six wins in 12 starts. A son of Gober (BRZ) out of Intimidating (BRZ) by Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Siphon (BRZ), Osprey scored back-to-back victories in Group stakes races at Gavea. Last December, he won the 1 ½-mile Grande Premio Almirante Tamandare (G2) by 3 ¾ lengths and began 2022 by taking the Grande Premio Escorial (G1) on March 13.

Stud Pedudu's 3-year-old Jorel won the Doutor Frontin, by 4 ½ lengths, and avenged his defeat to Online in the Francisco Eduardo de Paul Machado. Trained by Lucio de Fatima Vaz, Jorel's win was his second career triumph. He broke his maiden by 6 lengths at Gavea last September at a mile.

Vaz has also entered Haras Cambay's 3-year-old Don Cambay, who has three wins in nine turf starts. Following his runner-up placing in the Cruzeiro do Sol, Don Cambay finished fourth in the 1 ½ mile Grande Premio Sao Paulo (G1), which was won by Roxoterra (BRZ).

Haras Fazenda Boa Vista's 4-year-old Roxoterra (BRZ) is a seven-time winner on turf, but Sunday's race will be his first start at Gavea, as all his previous starts took place at Hipodromo Cidade Jardim in Sao Paulo. Trained by Emerson Garcia, Roxoterra has been in the money in all three of his starts this year, including his first Group 1 win on May 15 when he triumphed in the Grande Premio Sao Paulo.

Undefeated Samay Headlines Gran Premio Pamplona in Peru

Stud Wall Street's Samay (PER), undefeated in four starts, leads the Gran Premio Pamplona for a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series berth into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). A field of 13 fillies and mares has been entered in the 1 ¼-mile race at Hipodromo Monterrico, near the capital city of Lima, Peru.

Trained by Juan Suarez Villarroel, Samay has won from 5 furlongs to 1 ¼ miles in his quartet of starts, all at Monterrico. She has taken two listed stakes this year, capturing the 1 1/8-mile Clasico Kimba on Feb. 27 and then rallying from sixth place and storming down the center of the course to take the 1 ¼-mile Clasico Ernesto Ayulo Pardo by 1 ¼ lengths on April 3.

Villarroel is also saddling Dos Stud G's 3-year-old Raika (PER), a daughter of Minister's Joy, who has won her last two races at Monterrico since finishing fifth in the Clasico Kimba. Raika won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race by 6 ¾ lengths on March 6 and then scored a 2-length victory over Ola Perfecta (PER) in the 1 ¼-mile Clasico Republica Argentina (G3).

Stud H. Santa Maria's Africa (PER) has finished third in her last three races, which included the Clasico Republica Argentina, where she finished 4 ¾ lengths behind Raika after leading the field by three lengths at the top of the stretch. Trained by Juan Arriagada, Africa, a daughter of Muwaary (GB), will be looking to get back in the winner's circle since she won a local stakes race at 1 ¼ miles on Dec. 12, and a 2-length victory in the listed 1-mile Clasico Batalla de Ayacucho on Jan. 29.

Stud Patriots' Ola Perfecta has won eight of 19 starts on turf. She made a bold move passing Africa for the lead inside the final furlong of the Clasico Republica Argentina but could not hold off Raika. Trained by Alfredo Chamy, Ola Perfecta has one win in four starts this year, taking a 1-mile stakes race at Monterrico on Feb. 12.

Stud Augusta's Mediapunta, bred in Kentucky by R.S. Evans, could be an emerging star following her 9 ¼-length allowance race win over the course on June 11. A daughter of Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Akron Gold, Mediapunta began racing last September and broke her maiden in her third start, winning a 7-furlong race by 3 ½ lengths. Prior to her recent allowance score, she finished sixth in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on Feb. 26 at Monterrico.

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