Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Breeders' Cup hopeful Practical Move returned to the Santa Anita work tab Saturday following a sharp comeback victory going a flat mile against against allowance foes Oct. 6 at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

At about 6:45 a.m. (PT), Practical Move hit the main track and went four furlongs in company in :48.80. He is targeting the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Nov. 4, trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed.

“He got some outside company and it all went well,” Yakteen said. “I was just looking to see that his energy level was good, make sure all systems are a go. That's what we saw.”

Yakteen added he is “planning on the (Dirt) Mile” for Practical Move.

In his comeback effort, which followed a nearly six-month layoff, Practical Move and jockey Ramon Vazquez settled just off the early pace before surging past rivals at the top of the stretch and cruising to an easy four-length victory. The effort earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

By Practical Joke, Practical Move has won five of eight starts and never missed the board. Following his win in the Santa Anita Derby April 8, he was shipped to Churchill Downs to contest the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. He never got the chance. The week of the Derby, Practical Move developed an elevated temperature and had to be scratched.

Practical Move was among several Breeders' Cup contenders to work Saturday.

Also returning to the tab for Bob Baffert were Muth and Wine Me Up, the one-two finishers in the  American Pharoah (G1)  Oct. 7. Muth went five furlongs in :59.40 and Wine Me Up was timed in :59.20 for the same distance. Both are pointed to the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 3.

Working towards expected starts in the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 4 were Anarchist (5f, 59.40) on the main track and The Chosen Vron (5f, 1:01.60) on the training track. Also working on the main track for trainer Steve Asmussen was Gunite (5f, 1:00.20), who is possible for either the Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Anarchist worked with Vazquez in the irons. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt trained by Doug O'Neill most recently won the Pat O'Brien (G2) going seven furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 26.

“He went really good. This is a happy horse,” Vazquez said.

Added Leandro Mora, O'Neill's assistant: “He's stepping things up. He looks more focused and fresher, which was the idea giving him more time between races.”

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs were both Kirstenbosch for trainer John Sadler and Society for Asmussen. Kirstenbosch, winner of the Chillingworth (G3) Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, went five furlongs in 1:00.40. Society went the same distance in :59.80.

Clearly Unhinged, second in the Chillingworth for trainer Michael McCarthy, also worked towards a potential start in the Filly & Mare Sprint with a four-furlong move in :48.20.

Drilling a half mile on the training track for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Mile were Du Jour and Exaulted, the one-two finishers in the Del Mar Mile (G2) most recently on Sept. 2. Du Jour worked in :48.60 while Exaulted, winner of the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in the spring, went in :47.40.

Astronomer, also a candidate for the Mile following a second-place finish in the City of Hope Mile (G2) Sept. 30 worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.00 for trainer Simon Callaghan.

Working towards the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 4 was Motorious for trainer Phil D'Amato. Winner of the Green Flash (G3) at Del Mar on Sept. 2, Motorious worked four furlongs on the training track in :46.80.

D'Amato also worked Desert Dawn six furlongs in 1:13.40. The Arizona-bred daughter of Cupid is possible for either the $2-million Breeders' Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles or the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Pre-entries for the 40th Breeders' Cup will be announced Friday at 9 a.m.

The post Practical Move Among Breeders’ Cup Hopefuls To Drill At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With owner William Simon looking on and trainer John Ortiz in the saddle, Brightwork on Saturday at Keeneland tuned up for an expected run in the $2-million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Working with 4 G Racing's Crown Imperial, a candidate for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) also on Nov. 3, Brightwork finished in front of her stablemate while completing five furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14. Crown Imperial was timed in 1:02.20 for 5 furlongs.

“She did it very easy,” Ortiz said of Brightwork, who sustained her first defeat in the Oct. 6 Darley Alcibiades (G1) run at 1 1/16 miles after opening her career with four victories. “She's a filly that likes to take direction, and she understood that today I wanted to give her confidence to go two turns.”

Ortiz plans to breeze the Outwork filly next Saturday at the Lexington track with a scheduled Oct. 30 departure date to Southern California. She and Crown Imperial would mark the Breeders' Cup first starters for Ortiz at Santa Anita.

“Never saddled one on my own,” Ortiz said. “I was out there before as an assistant to Kellyn Gorder.”

Also on Saturday at Keeneland, trainer Cherie DeVaux worked her three Breeders' Cup hopefuls on the main track.

First was John Gunther's Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) candidate Stage Raider, who worked five furlongs in 1:01. Following the morning's track renovation session, Lael Stable's She Feels Pretty worked a half-mile in :48.40 for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks worked a half-mile in :48.60 for the FanDuel Mile (G1) on turf.

Other Breeders' Cup possible candidates working on the dirt were Juddmonte Spinster (G1) runner-up Le Da Vida (CHI) (half-mile in :47.60, best of 79 at the distance) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV in preparation for the Distaff (G1) and Hidden Class (half-mile in :49.40) for Joe Sharp for a possible run in the Juvenile Fillies Turf or Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Working on the grass with designs on the Breeders' Cup were Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) runner-up Master of The Seas (IRE) (half-mile in :52.20; click here for a video of the work) and First Lady (G1) runner-up In Italian (GB) (half-mile in :51.80).

The deadline to pre-enter for the Breeders' Cup is Monday, Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. (ET). Pre-entries will be announced Oct. 25 at noon.

The post Spinaway Winner Brightwork Breezes At Keeneland Toward Breeders’ Cup Bid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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French raider Big Rock produced a devastating front-running performance Saturday to slam his rivals by six lengths in the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Sent off at 5-1 odds and always travelling strongly under Aurelien Lemaitre, Big Rock just kept on rolling as the opposition toiled in behind and ultimately had no trouble ending a run of three successive runner-up placings this season at the highest level. He covered one mile is 1:44.58 on turf rated as soft.

Facteur Cheval kept on from off the pace to make it a one-two for French-trained runners, a neck in front of Tahiyra who could never get to grips with the runaway winner.

The 7-4 favorite Paddington was well below par, offering Ryan Moore nothing when push came to shove, finishing ninth in the field of 11.

With Saturday's win, Big Rock, a 3-year-old Rock of Gibraltar colt, earned an automatic, fees-paid berth in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita via the Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In.

His victory Saturday marked was a poignant success for trainer Christopher Head, whose father, Freddy, won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes twice, most recently with Solow in 2015.

“Big Rock was tremendous,” Head said. “Today was pretty much the best mile race of the season and seeing him win this way is crazy. What a horse, what a season. He's really doing very well on that type of ground, but that was very, very impressive.

“I am really happy for the owner-breeder [Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals of Yeguada Centurion SL] because he has done tremendous work with the breeding and this horse is the pinnacle of the breeding system.

“You are always a bit scared that the rest of the runners will come on to you but he was always going faster and faster. We had faith because we have known him all throughout the season and he has always been like this.

“It is very nice to see him winning this race, because it is one of the best mile races in Europe. We need to discuss with the owner about whether he will stay in training and Leo will decide what we do.”

Lemaitre, who was riding his first winner in Britain, said: “That was very easy. Big Rock loved the ground today. He is a professional horse – he loved the soft ground, had very good pace and a great turn of foot. It is fantastic to win a Group 1 at Ascot. I am very happy.”

Big Rock is out the Sea The Stars (IRE) mare Hardiyna (IRE).

Mickael Barzalona said of runner-up Facteur Cheval: “He raced very well, he traveled easy and he's been very tough to get second place.”

Tahiyra's rider Chris Hayes said: “It was an unusual race. Big Rock had us all under pressure; he set a quick tempo on very testing ground. I'm very proud of my filly on ground she hated. She wouldn't accept defeat, and she kept trying to the line. Hopefully she's there next year; she is a remarkable filly.”

Dermot Weld added: “Tahiyra has run a brilliant race. We are delighted with her, it's just the conditions on the mile are very testing. She didn't really handle the ground, but she tries so hard. Somebody had to go after the horse in front and she said, 'I'm going after him!' ”

On future plans, he said: “We will see how she comes out of the race and will make a decision.”

The post ‘What A Horse’: Big Rock Wins QE II Stakes On Front End, Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Frankie Dettori bid farewell to British racing in fairytale fashion Saturday as he brought King of Steel from last to win the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Sent off the 3-1 favorite, King of Steel had work to do turning for home, but Dettori galvanized his mount, who finished powerfully to run down Via Sistina (11-2) and score by three-quarters of a length. French challenger Horizon Dore (4-1) was two lengths further back in third.

King of Steel covered about 1 1/4 miles in 2:08:42 on turf rated as soft.

With the win, King of Steel secured an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita as the race is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In.

The Champion Stakes win marked a significant success for the Amo Racing's Kentucky-bred King of Steel, who finally secured his Group 1 breakthrough after three near-misses at the highest level this year, most notably his second in the Epsom Derby June 3.

The victory also completed a double on the afternoon for Dettori, who was given a rapturous reception as he came back into the winner's enclosure.

Dettori said: “My emotions are all over the place, I can't believe it. The crowd got this horse over the line. I was doing my best on top, but the feeling that I got was incredible; thanks to all of you, you made me win this race and it's fantastic. I love you, a Hollywood script, I love you. I don't know how to feel at the moment, I don't know if it's real or……it was incredible.

“I struggled from the beginning of the race. I couldn't really get King of Steel to travel, he was stumbling – and then he started to come good. Then I got behind Mickael [Barzalona on Horizon Dore], who I thought was the horse to beat. Then I thought, 'Oisin [ Murphy, on Via Sistina] is going pretty good', so I got on his tail. When they kicked, they left me a little bit, but King of Steel just found a second wind, dug deep, the crowd got behind me and we got him over the line. What a feeling, I thought the first race the crowd was good but this was another level honestly, it was incredible. A fairytale ending for me, Ascot is my home.

“It is very hard to explain what I'm feeling now. I had the same surreal moment when I won my first Group 1 with Mark Of Esteem, when everything went dark. I know it's quite dark anyway, so that's not an excuse, but there's a feeling that, 'This can't be right'. It is very hard to explain my feeling. I thought I would cry, but I'm too happy to cry, to be honest with you. I didn't expect it – it's fantastic. What a day.

“The first race was mad; this was another level, to be honest with you. It was incredible – everyone was cheering for me. This was my last race, so they were all up for it. Amazing. After the race, people were singing, 'Oh, Frankie Dettori!'. That's one thing I'll miss and I can't take to America with me – I'm fairly new over there. But it's been memorable; from the beginning of the season, it's been tremendous. I wanted to finish at the top and I can't be more at the top than that. I'm very proud of my career and this year, it's been phenomenal. Can I go and have a beer now?

“I go to Santa Anita on Wednesday. I'll regroup, go to the States, and like I said, I'm moving there for good.”

Asked about whether, if King of Steel stays in training, he'd like to ride him again, Dettori said: “At the moment I'm focusing on my American adventure. I've got to make myself well known there and be there every day. I have no plans to come back to England.”

Winning trainer Roger Varian said: “King of Steel is a good horse, isn't he? And a tough horse. He has run great all year. He's done well to come from the back. Very tough. Good performance. Good ride, good effort by all the team. I haven't really had a debrief [from Dettori] – I've had a few hugs, but we'd need to watch it again.

“King of Steel is a very agile horse – I don't think his size has stopped him; I think the ground is hard for all of them. Big engine, big set of lungs — he's got to the line, hasn't he? Big heart, big effort.”

Kia Joorabchian of Amo Racing said: “I am sorry, I'm so emotional. Frankie the king of Ascot, King of Steel, he deserved that. What a ride, what a ride. Why is he retiring? What a ride. What an emotional moment, my family is here.

“I am so happy for Frankie, he deserved this more than anything in the world. To finish like that, I mean, he called me and said 'Can I ride King of Steel?' and I said, 'What can I say to that? Of course you can'.

“It's wonderful, what an incredible atmosphere. This is all for Frankie and he deserves it. What a career he has had and what an incredible performance. This guy King of Steel deserves it too, he's come second in the Derby and we've put him in some really tough tests and he's come through. I am so happy for the both of them. What an amazing training performance by Roger Varian, and Alex Elliott who first bought the horse.”

George Boughey said of runner-up Via Sistina: “She has run a blinder. Obviously, we were beaten by a superstar horse and a superstar jockey! I am delighted for Kia – he's a big supporter of the yard. We had a bit of dinner last night and we were talking about getting the one-two and I hoped it might be the other way! But she's a star and the best horse I've trained. She is in the mares' sale, so I imagine she will go there and I would love someone to buy her and send her back, because she could win a big one. She is obviously very, very high class.”

King of Steel is by Coolmore's Irish-based sire Wootton Bassett out of Eldacar (GB), by Verglas (IRE). He was bred in Kentucky by the Bonne Chance Farm, the Versailles, Kentucky division of leading South American operation Stud RDI, owned by Brazilian billionaire Gilberto Sayao Da Silva and Paulo Fernando de Oliveira. Offered by Gainesway at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling sale, he was purchased by Amo Racing Ltd. for $200,000 and shipped overseas. Amo Racing's Joorabchian is an Iranian-born British businessman who is heavily involved in professional soccer in England as an adviser to a number of players.

The post WATCH: Ascot Crowd Cheers As King Of Steel Delivers Champion Win In Dettori’s British Swan Song appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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