Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Irish Trainer Loughnane ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ With First Breeders’ Cup Runners Go Bears Go, Hello You

David Loughnane is excited about next year for Go Bears Go and Hello You after they ended their juvenile campaigns with excellent performances at the Breeders' Cup.

Go Bears Go was a fast-finishing half-length runner-up to Twilight Gleaming in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar, while Hello You just faded in the last half-furlong when fifth to Pizza Bianca in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf.

Both horses were Group Two winners in 2021 with Go Bears Go taking the Railway Stakes at the Curragh and Hello You the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

“It was a great experience and both ran great races. I couldn't be happier with them,” said the Shropshire handler.

As for next year, Loughnane plans to aim Go Bears Go at the Commonwealth Cup and Hello You will begin in a Classic trial.

“I thought going into it five might be a bit sharp for him over there. He missed the break by a millisecond which he's never done before,” he said.

“I don't know whether it was the stalls are wider over there or having a stalls handler in the gate with him that just took his mind off the job for half a second.

“Had he jumped, he'd have won. In four more strides he'd have won, but I couldn't be any prouder of the horse. He ran an absolute belter of a race and it capped off a fantastic year for him.

“Five to six furlongs will be his trip over here next year. I suppose the most logical option would be something along the lines of the Commonwealth Cup.

“We'll see how it goes. He thrived off the whole travelling. There are loads of options, including Dubai at the end of February. He'll go for a nice holiday now and then we'll take it one step at a time. We'll see how he is come January and then we'll make a plan from there.”

Loughnane felt the long trip to California took its toll on Hello You, but has no concerns about her staying a mile next season.

“The journey over there probably took a bit more out of her. She jumped, she travelled, she got a lovely run through the race,” he went on.

“She travelled like a dream and turning for home, I thought how far does she win, then when Johnny (Velazquez) asked her she just didn't go though with it completely. She pulled up a tired horse. It took a lot out of her. She was only beaten a length and a half in a Grade One over there when she wasn't at her best.

“I have no doubt on her day she was probably the best horse in the race. She'll go for a holiday as well now and we'll come back and try for a Guineas trial with her.

“I have no concerns about her getting the mile. I said whatever she did this year was only going to be a bonus to what she does next year.”

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After Disappointing Distaff, Letruska To Return In 2022 With Lighter Schedule

Trainer Fausto Gutierrez plans to bring likely champion Letruska back to the races in 2022, according to bloodhorse.com, despite a disappointing effort in Saturday's Breeders Cup Distaff at Del Mar. Off as the 8-5 favorite, the 5-year-old Super Saver mare pressed rapid early fractions of :21.84 and :44.97, then faded to finish 10th of 11.

“She came out of the race good. The first impression is that she will be OK. She scoped clean and ate everything. We need to watch her for a few more days before making a final decision on how she is,” Gutierrez told bloodhorse.com. “It was a very, very tough race on her, but this happens in a race as good as the Breeders' Cup. When I heard the announcer say the fractions, I had the same reaction as all of the fans when they said 'ooh.' I knew she was finished after seven furlongs.”

Letruska had put together an impressive season ahead of the Distaff, winning seven of her six starts including four Grade 1s, and is the likely Eclipse Award champion. Gutierrez, who has trained her since her championship 3-year-old season in Mexico, plans to keep Letruska in training through 2022 with the goal of bringing her back to the Breeders' Cup. He is considering a lighter schedule for the mare next season, perhaps with six starts instead of eight, so she'll be more fresh when she arrives at Keeneland for a second shot at the World Championships.

Life Is Good Could Take On Knicks Go In Pegasus; Medina Spirit To Saudi Cup

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Life Is Good could be pointed to the Pegasus World Cup, WinStar President and CEO Elliott Walden told the Thoroughbred Daily News this week. It brings up the potential of two Breeders' Cup winners facing off in the Jan. 29 contest at Gulfstream Park, as trainer Brad Cox has indicated that Classic winner Knicks Go may make the Pegasus his final career start before heading off to stud.

Life Is Good, the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief trained by Todd Pletcher, put in an extraordinarily dominant performance in the Dirt Mile. Walden believes the victory brings Life Is Good into the discussion for the 3-year-old Eclipse Award.

“I think he is the best 3-year-old in the country and I think he showed that,” Walden told the Thoroughbred Daily News. “It's unfortunate that he couldn't show that in the Derby and some of the other big races we're always trying to win. But, at the same time, you take what the horse gives you. And you have to be grateful for that. He's such an athlete that we're just lucky to have him. I always felt like if you take care of the horse they will take care of you.”

Meanwhile, trainer Bob Baffert reports that Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit, also in the running for the 3-year-old Eclipse Award, is most likely to make his next start in the Feb. 26 Saudi Cup.

The third contender for the 3-year-old Eclipse Award, Travers winner Essential Quality, will stand the 2022 season at Darley.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Meet Kong, The Pony Who Stole The Show On Breeders’ Cup Weekend

If you found yourself distracted during the horseback interviews of this year's Breeders' Cup winners, you weren't the only one. Yes, it's a moment of joy for the jockey and the winning horse, it's a great chance to see NBC reporter Donna Barton Brothers doing her best work, but it's also a shining moment for the horse Brothers is riding on the big day.

This year, people were interested in Brothers' black and white paint – both readers and Paulick Report staff members. If you'd wondered who the handsome steed is, wonder no more.

Kong is a 10-year-old American Spotted Draft/Percheron cross trainer Kristin Mulhall picked up at an auction. He was a pick-up horse at rodeos for many years, meaning he was responsible for 'picking up' cowboys off bucking broncos and helped wrangle bucking bulls at the end of their runs. He has been trained in all types of ranch work, but specialized in rodeos. There's not much that can phase him – which is good, because although he's seen big crowds at rodeos, last weekend was his first time working the races.

“He's a gentle giant,” said Mulhall.

Mulhall was out with Kong in the mornings as well, helping out trainers who didn't have their own pony horses at Del Mar. Most horses running on Breeders' Cup week shipped in, either from Santa Anita or from out-of-state, and with flights in short supply, many couldn't practically bring their own ponies. Mulhall could be spotted pitching in to help with the European visitors in particular. Despite his much heavier build, Mulhall said Kong has no problem keeping pace with the Thoroughbreds he leads – he just lets his large stride make up the difference, especially when he trots. His canter, Mulhall said, is a little more difficult to sit.

Mulhall with Kong (left) and Metz with Smokey (right)

Kong could be spotted alongside his stablemate, an American Mustang named Smokey with Zoe Metz aboard, in the mornings. They're just two of the horses Mulhall is riding or training between sunup and sundown each day, in addition to her racing string. Mulhall said she's a frequenter of local horse auctions, picking up riding horses to train and resell.

“I've got a bunch of riding horses at the house, probably 15 horses,” she said. “And I've started getting into the draft crosses. When I go home, that's when the work starts. I'm home all day, working after training stops. It's a full-time job. But I enjoy it. I love being outside working with horses.”

As for Kong, he celebrated each successful interview with Brothers with horse cookies Mulhall kept in his saddle bag. He may have been visible on NBC cameras walking the dirt track in between races with Mulhall at his head. That's because the one thing he doesn't care for is the shadowy tunnel between the paddock and the track. His requirements gave Mulhall a good spot, right on the rail, where she could hold him in between Brothers' rides.

Perhaps strangely, Kong has never been much for mints, carrots, or apples. Mulhall had to teach him what cookies were about, but now that he knows, he's never going to forget her for it.

“He wouldn't take treats out of your hand,” she said, speaking of Kong's demeanor when she first got him. “He was the type that if you walked up to him, he'd snort at you. You couldn't catch him. It took me like two days to get him spoiled.”

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