Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Returns To NBC Sports This Weekend

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” will be at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto for two live  programs of outstanding turf racing on Saturday, Sept. 18 on NBCSN (5:30-6:30 p.m. ET) ― featuring the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) ― and on Sunday, Sept. 19 on NBCSN (4:30-6 p.m. ET), headlined by the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) and the $400,000 Summer Stakes (G1).

This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

  • The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
  • Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
  • Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold.  A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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Asmussen Hopes Stellar Tap Adds Another Memorable Win In Saturday’s Iroquois

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen arguably recorded one of the most memorable wins in his career when 2-year-old colt Stellar Tap broke his maiden last month at Saratoga to vault the 55-year-old conditioner past Dale Baird as North America's all-time leading trainer. Five weeks later, Stellar Tap is poised to tackle stakes company as the 3-1 favorite in Saturday night's $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

“We've been planning on that win for a long time,” Asmussen said. “It was better than anticipated. It was a wonderful moment with the entire family and we've relived it several times since.”

Owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Stellar Tap broke his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. The Tapit colt is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Gioia Stella, who is the half-sister to graded stakes winners Nereid and Sea Queen.

Also entered in the Iroquois is Stellar Tap's stablemate Guntown. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Guntown broke his maiden in his second start at Ellis Park. He is by the first crop of 2-year-olds from the former Asmussen-trained superstar Gun Runner.

“I couldn't be a bigger fan of Gun Runner,” Asmussen said. “I am surprised how good they are so soon. They trained really well in spring and continue to develop. Our colt Gunite, who won the Hopeful, took a couple of times to break his maiden. I do think it's a good sign the further they go, the faster they get.”

Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Iroquois kicks off the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” and awards the Top 4 finishers 10-4-2-1 points for the first Saturday in May. The winner of the Iroquois will also get an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

The Iroquois was carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m. The first of 11 races will begin at 6 p.m. The other stakes events on the evening's program are the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3), $300,000 Open Mind and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

The complete field for the Iroquois from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Tough to Tame (Sophie Doyle, Chris Davis, 20-1); Lucky Boss (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 10-1); Roger McQueen (Adam Beschizza, Larry Rivelli, 10-1); Strike Hard (Leonel Reyes, Matthew Williams, 10-1); Magnolia Midnight (Corey Lanerie, Dallas Stewart, 12-1); Stellar Tap (Santana, Asmussen, 3-1); Red Knobs (James Graham, Dale Romans, 20-1); Major General (Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 4-1); Guntown (Tyler Gaffalione, Asmussen, 9-2); Husband Material (Florent Geroux, Jimmy Toner, 15-1); and Bourbon Heist (Joe Talamo, Ian Wilkes, 9-2).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's Iroquois Stakes entrant Major General and Pocahontas runner Goddess of Fire arrived to Churchill Downs from New York around 4:30 a.m. Friday. Jockey Javier Castellano is scheduled to be in Louisville on Saturday for the riding assignments.

The Pocahontas is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The 1 1/16-mile race is carded as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.

The complete Pocahontas field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, morning line odds): Code for Success (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver, 20-1); Goddess of Fire (Castellano, Pletcher, 6-1); Mama Rina (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1); Ontheonesandtwos (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse, 5-2); Majestic d'Oro (Martin Garcia, Brendan Walsh, 8-1); Kneesnhips (James Graham, Tom Amoss, 8-1); Miss Chamita (Gregory Romero, Michel Doualhy, 30-1); Hidden Connection (Reylu Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 9-2); Lemieux (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Cassse, 10-1); and Joyrunner (Joe Ramos, Laura Wohlers, 10-1).

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‘Hard-Running’ Step Dancer Should Appreciate Extra Distance In Jockey Club Derby

Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable and Donna R. Pressman's New York-bred Step Dancer will step into elite company in Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, a 12-furlong test on the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

The Jockey Club Derby, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar, is the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for males that commenced with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby [won by Bolshoi Ballet] in July and continued with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby [won by State of Rest] in August at historic Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Derby is slated as Race 10 on Saturday's lucrative 11-race card which will also feature the 1 3/8-mile $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, the concluding leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies, in Race 9; and the 1 5/8-mile $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational in Race 4.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Step Dancer showed promise as a juvenile posting a 24-1 debut win traveling 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga turf last September before finishing third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim in October at Belmont Park. The War Dancer bay completed a solid campaign with a three-quarter length score against open company in the 1 1/16-mile Awad over yielding Belmont turf on October 31.

Tagg said he appreciates Step Dancer's willingness to compete.

“I've watched a lot of horses over the years. Everything you see about him in the morning gives you confidence. He's an athlete,” said Tagg.

Bred in the Empire State by Sugar Plum Farm and Richard Pressman, Step Dancer launched his sophomore campaign in March with an off-the-board effort in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park ahead of a close third in a 1 1/16-mile New York-bred allowance optional claimer on May 13 at Belmont Park.

Step Dancer was a late-closing second in the seven-furlong NYSSS Spectacular Bid on June 19 at Belmont and will enter Saturday's test on a high note after overcoming a troubled start in the one-mile NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 28 at the Spa, rallying four-wide down the lane to defeat his fellow eligible New York-sired rivals.

Tagg said he wasn't surprised by the game effort.

“He's a hard-running horse. He likes to do it,” Tagg said. “I don't know if he's a great horse or not, but I have a lot of confidence in him. He tries every time.”

Tagg said Step Dancer should appreciate the significant stretch out in distance.

“I've never felt like he couldn't run long. I might change my mind this coming Sunday, but not yet,” Tagg said with a laugh. “He's always seemed like he could go a distance. Anything you ask him to do, he does it. He loves his sport. Some horses are just like that.”

Jockey Dylan Davis has never finished off the board in five starts piloting Step Dancer and will retain the mount from post 5 in a field headlined by European raiders Bolshoi Ballet and Yibir.

The veteran conditioner said he will let Davis work out a sensible trip.

“It all depends on the pace of the race as you go along. You can be laying fifth and it might be just like taking him back in another race,” Tagg said. “Dylan's a good rider. He's intelligent and fearless. He's ridden very well for me.”

Tagg has enjoyed great success with New York-breds in his career, capturing two-thirds of the 2003 Triple Crown [Kentucky Derby and Preakness] with Funny Cide, and completing the set last year with Tiz the Law's popular score in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Step Dancer, who will look to add another New York-bred moment to Tagg's impressive ledger, posted an easy five-furlong breeze in 1:01.85 Sunday on the Belmont inner turf in his final preparation for Saturday's test.

“He went fine. I don't think they have to go out there and show off every time they breeze. He's done everything we've asked him to do,” said Tagg.

Regardless of the result on Saturday, Tagg said he appreciates Step Dancer's winning spirit.

“He's a very honest horse. Tried and true,” Tagg said. “They're [good horses] hard to find but he is one and no matter how he runs on Saturday, he's alright by me.”

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Bobby Flay Homebred Pizza Bianca Pursuing Fulfilment Of ‘Long-Term Plan’ In Natalma Stakes

The chance to add a Grade 1 victory to Pizza Bianca's pedigree page has her sole owner and breeder, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, making plans to be at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday (Sept. 19) for the $400,000 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies.

“The owner is planning on being there and we're all excited,” said Pizza Bianca's trainer Christophe Clement. “For an owner/breeder the black type is a big deal for him and the Grade 1 is also a big deal for him because it's more than just one race, it's a long-term plan.”

The winner receives a ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, thanks to the Natalma being part of the Cup's “Win and You're In” series. Clement said that is a great bonus, but “the real attraction is it being a Grade 1. A filly with a Grade 1 is a huge deal.”

Pizza Bianca is a daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS) out of White Hot (IRE) by Galileo (IRE). Her lone career start was a dominant victory in a $100,000 maiden special weight on July 22 on the inner turf at Saratoga with Joel Rosario riding.

“It was her first time out and she's still learning, but I was happy with the way she behaved the first time out and I was happy with the way she finished and Rosario was very positive about it, so it's exciting,” said Clement, who is looking for his first Natalma victory. “She's very honest. She's been very straight forward since Day One… She's training well. We don't know exactly how good she is, but let's give it a shot. It's a very open kind of a race and we've got a great jock Rosario who knows her and he rode her first time out.”

Meanwhile, trainer Roger Attfield, who won the 2020 Natalma with Lady Speightspeare, is hoping to repeat with her half-sister Ready Lady for her lone owner and breeder Charles Fipke.

“[Ready Lady] is much easier than her half-sister. [Lady Speightspeare] is very tough,” Attfield said. “[Ready Lady] is all class, actually. She's just a lovely filly to be around and as of this moment she's very easy to train. She's just a charm to have.”

Like Pizza Bianca, Ready Lady has had just one career start, a half-length victory on August 28 in a $126,800 maiden special weight on the turf at Woodbine.

“It was an encouraging race, I thought,” Attfield said. “She's trained very well since then and we thought if she did we'd give her a chance like we did for her half-sister at this point last year. It's the same type of timing.”

Lady Speightspeare, a daughter of Speightstown out of Lady Shakespeare, won the 2020 Natalma with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard en route to a perfect 3-for-3 season and the Sovereign Award for Canada's champion 2-year-old filly of the year.

Wilson will also ride Ready Lady, who is a daughter of More Than Ready.

“It's an interesting family because I've got so much of it,” Attfield said. “In fact, the maiden colt that I'm running in the Summer Stakes [Ready for the Lady] is related. The colt is out of a daughter of Lady Shakespeare [Perfect Lady] by Perfect Soul, which is her family, too. It's a big family thing.”

Attfield, a three-time Natalma winner, said the race could be an important step in Ready Lady's career.

“It's a progression and it's a very prestigious race,” he said. “It's a Grade 1 and she's a class filly with a big pedigree. It just happens that we've only had the one race into her, but it's just the timing of the year. She was late getting started… We've arrived at this point and she's well and healthy and I thought she won a very creditable race and I think she will move up off that race.”

The Natalma field also includes Wild Beauty (GB), who has a record of 2-2-0 in five starts racing in England for owner/breeder Godolphin. “She's a little fighter, really. She ran well last time out,” said Chris Durham, who works for trainer Charles Appleby. “She's done well. She's settled in here really well. We're happy.”

The Natalma Stakes is scheduled as the race eight on Sunday while the companion Grade 1 Summer Stakes is the ninth race. Both Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be broadcast live on TSN5 from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Ready Lady – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

2 – Pizza Bianca – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

3 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

4 – Royal Engagement – Colby Hernandez – Timothy Hamm

5 – Wild Beauty – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

6 – Baksheesh – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Diabolic – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

9 – Cardio Princess – Justin Stein – Mark Casse

10 – Eminent Victor –Flavien Prat – Chad Brown

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