Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sacred Possible For Breeders’ Cup

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is targeting the G1 Prix de la Foret after returning to form with a win in the Aug. 14 G2 Hungerford S., but trainer William Haggas has also nominated the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar as a possibility for the 3-year-old filly who wants firm ground.

“Before the Foret the only possible is the [G2] Park S. at Doncaster, but she has to have to fast ground,” said Haggas. “Unfortunately fast ground Arc weekends are few and far between these days. I don't know whether [Cheveley Park owner Patricia] Mrs Thompson would like to travel, but the Breeders' Cup is certainly something I would consider. If she was keen on the idea then we'd go. But if she isn't then we'll wait; I think there's a chance she stays in training next year.”

Sacred has won twice over seven furlongs this season-the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and the Hungerford-either side of finishing seventh in the G1 1000 Guineas.

“Seven furlongs is the worst trip to have a good horse at; it's a pain,” Haggas lamented. “There is one Group 1 and four Group 2s, three of which fall in the same month. So you can't do them all–well, Jim Bolger might.

“There's then the Park S., and that's it. So it is a bad distance to have a good horse at, but that's the way it is. I think we'll try her over a mile again at some stage.”

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Sadler Reveling In Third Pacific Classic Win

TVG Pacific Classic upset winner Tripoli ($15.00) was asleep in his stall at mid-morning. Trainer John Sadler was inclined to leave the 1 ¼-length winner over Tizamagician undisturbed, calling it a “good sign,” while reflecting on what was a third TVG Pacific Classic victory for Sadler and Hronis racing in the last four years.

“I'm in the latter part of my career and when you can win these big races, I feel very blessed,” Sadler said. “I'm not that old, I'm 65, but I've been around a long time and I don't feel like I'm in the middle part of my career, whether there's two, five or 10 years left to go.”

As a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 6, Tripoli is now assured a spot in the champion-making race Sadler and Hronis won in 2018 with Accelerate.

Campaign planning for Tripoli going forward will be put on hold at least temporarily.

“We'll see how Rock Your World runs next Sunday ($100,000 Shared Belief Stakes), they might be candidates for the same race,” Sadler said. “(Tripoli) could run once (before the Classic) or… whatever.”

For the stable of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, the momentum of victories by Forbidden Kingdom (4^th race, $10.60) and Subconscious (5^th, $13.60) didn't carry over to the stakes. Tizamagician led for the first mile of the 1 ¼-mile Classic before yielding to Tripoli and his Royal Ship, the second wagering choice at just under 3-1, was a no-factor seventh.

“A pretty good day, you're never going to complain if you win two races on the day,” said Gary Mandella, deputizing for his father. “We had a really good second in the Classic with Tizamagician, but Royal Ship is a bit of a mystery. We don't know what went on with him except maybe the year has been a little bit tiring on him. We'll listen to him and figure him out. He'll tell us what to do.”

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Sharp Points Fast Boat To Kentucky Downs, Breeders’ Cup

Three years ago when trainer Joe Sharp came to Saratoga, he finished the meet with eight winners from 29 starters, which was his best performance since bringing horses to the Spa in 2015. Heading into Sunday's card, Sharp is not that far from reaching that mark, boasting a record of 22-6-0-1 with purse earnings of $329,361.

“It has been a great meet,” he said. “Obviously, we had some good racing luck with the right kind of horses. We have been fortunate to get some good racing luck and getting everything lined up.”

Two of his winners were for owner Brad Grady led by Grade 3 Troy-winner Fast Boat and maiden-winner Flint Ridge.

Fast Boat, a 6-year-old gelding, came off the pace with jockey Tyler Gaffalione to catch longshot Carotari near the finish to win his second graded stakes race in the Troy at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Sharp said the firm Saratoga course benefitted Fast Boat, who couldn't make as powerful of a run when he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., over a good turf course.

“Tyler rode him great,” Sharp said. “The biggest thing that seems to help him is the firm turf course. It was very firm that day. His turn-of-foot is much more significant. If you look at the Jaipur, we got so much rain the night before. Johnny [Velazquez] said he was closing into it, but he didn't have that explosiveness when he couldn't get hold of the ground.”

Sharp said Fast Boat is currently back at his farm in Kentucky before going back into training for a stakes race at Kentucky Downs, then onward to the Breeders' Cup.

“He doing great,” he said. “He came home a couple of days after that race. We do that after all of his races. We turn him out for about a week to 10 days. He likes it with the small paddock.”

Flint Ridge, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief purchased for $320,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, rebounded from a disappointing debut at Churchill Downs with a two-length maiden win after engaging in a pace battle while wearing blinkers for the first time on August 14.

Dylan Davis engineered the winning trip in the 6 1/2-furlong main-track event for 3-year-olds and up.

“We were high on him for the first time out,” Sharp said “He had been training well at Keeneland and shipped over the Churchill Downs on the day of the race. I think it took him by surprise a little bit. The gates opened and he got out-footed. We were very disappointed.

“When he got up here, his works were on point,” he added. “I was really impressed with that race. That was a tough trip. I was happy to see Dylan get him in the race with the blinkers. To take pressure from both sides and still be able to fight on at the end, that was definitely impressive.”

Sharp indicated that he plans to bring Flint Ridge back to Kentucky for the fall.

Another maiden winner from Sharp's barn was Lady Danae, who came off the pace over the turf course to win her first start by two lengths with Luis Saez aboard on August 13. While Sharp trained her mostly on the dirt, Saez believed the 2-year-old was a possible turf horse.

“At Keeneland, she was working really fast on the dirt,” Sharp said. “When we got up here, the track was a lot deeper. Luis Saez had worked her a couple of times in the morning and he said it twice, 'I really like her, but I think she's turf.' That was as impressive as it was with a first-outer that I've had from a horse.”

Just like with Fast Boat, Sharp indicated that Lady Danae is also being pointed for a stakes race at Kentucky Downs. He also added that Classic Lynne will pass on Friday's Seeking The Ante for another maiden race.

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Malathaat Likely to Train Up To Breeders’ Cup

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat (Curlin), winner of Saturday's GI Alabama S., will likely train up to the Nov. 6 GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Sunday morning.

“Right now, we're focused on the Distaff, so we'll zero in on that and take things from there. That's the most likely scenario,” Pletcher said. “Nothing's etched in stone, but that's sort of the plan that we discussed with Rick Nichols [of Shadwell] a while ago.”

Malathaat won the GI Ashland S. and GI Kentucky Oaks before suffering her first career defeat when second in the July 24 GI Coaching Club American Oaks. She rebounded to take the Alabama Saturday despite stumbling at the break.

“It was good to get back and get a reasonably good trip despite stumbling at the start,” Pletcher said. “It was a very, very strong performance. She looks good this morning.”

In addition to his Alabama victory, Pletcher also saddled a pair of impressive first-out juvenile winners on the Saratoga card Saturday. My Prankster (Into Mischief) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his 10-length debut victory in the seventh race and Major General (Constitution) graduated by a neck in the day's first race.

“He was very impressive, I thought he kicked on well down the lane and had something left in the tank, so it was very encouraging,” Pletcher said of My Prankster.

Of Major General, Pletcher added, “Major General was a little bit green yesterday. When that horse came to him, he looked him in the eye and found some horse, so we're happy to see that.”

Pletcher is taking a wait-and-see approach for next starts for both 2-year-olds.

“We'll let the dust settle and see how it goes,” he said.

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