Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Catching Up with 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Street Sense

With a patented Calvin Borel ride, Street Sense skimmed the rail and ricocheted off the turn with such momentum that perhaps even Borel was caught by surprise, as he glanced back several times before finally easing the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner past the wire while 10 lengths clear. Much was made at the time of the 'Juvenile Jinx,' as no Juvenile winner had yet won the GI Kentucky Derby the following year. The charismatic Street Sense promptly put that myth to bed the next spring, then added the GI Travers for good measure. Now two of his own Grade I-winning sons stand alongside him at Darley.

“I looked after Street Sense for his first season in 2008 in Australia,” said stallion manager Graham Lovatt. “Has as much character in a stallion that I've ever worked with. He'll 'ask' for a carrot or a treat when you walk by and will actually lift a leg up as a prompt. He'll know when his pin is out of his stall door and he'll open it up with his nose/muzzle to get his carrot. He's very respectful. Not a mean bone in his body. I've never known him to bite or kick anyone out of malice.”

Street Sense (2004 dark bay or brown horse, Street Cry {Ire}-Bedazzle, by Dixieland Band)

Lifetime record: Ch. 2yo colt, MGISW, 13-6-4-2, $4,383,200

Breeders' Cup connections: B-James Tafel (KY); O-Jim Tafel LLC; T-Carl Nafzger; J-Calvin Borel.

Current location: Darley America, Lexington, Ky.

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Classic: Geaux Rocket Ride Drills Six Furlongs After Recovering From Slight Fever

Geaux Rocket Ride continued his preparations for the $6 million, Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4 with a six-furlong work in company under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith Friday at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

Sent to the main track around 7:45 a.m., Geaux Rocket Ride completed the move in an official time of 1:13.80. His company-mate, the stakes-placed 6-year-old gelding Salesman, was timed in 1:14.20.

“It was a good work, especially for him,” Smith said of Geaux Rocket Ride. “He's never been the flashiest horse in the morning.”

Eleven days ago, Geaux Rocket Ride also drilled six furlongs, but the work was not recorded because of dense fog that left the colt out of view. Mandella on Friday said Geaux Rocket Ride emerged from that work with a slight temperature but bounced back quickly.

“We had to put him on an antibiotic,” the trainer noted. “Luckily, he got right through it. It didn't amount to much. We're happy. Next week he'll have a better work.”

A 3-year-old by Candy Ride, Geaux Rocket Ride has three wins and a pair of seconds in five starts this year. His victories for owner Pin Oak Stud include the Affirmed Stakes June 4 and G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park July 22. Most recently, Geaux Rocket Ride was second to Arabian Knight in the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 2, which is at the same 1 ¼-mile distance of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Geaux Rocket Ride was among several horses to work Friday who are pointing to the Breeders' Cup. Three horses who won stakes here two weekends ago – Chatalas, Endlessly and Slider—all returned to the tab following their triumphs.

Chatalas, winner of the G2 Chandelier Oct. 7 for trainer Mark Glatt, went four furlongs in 47.40 seconds. The Gun Runner filly is pointed to the $2 million, G1 Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3. Endlessly, winner of the G3 Zuma Beach on turf Oct. 8 for trainer Michael McCarthy, worked four furlongs in 48.20 seconds for the $1 million, G1 Juvenile Turf on Nov. 3. Also returning to the tab for McCarthy was Zuma Beach runner-up Ngannou, who also went a half mile in 48.20 seconds. Ngannou is possible for the Juvenile Turf.

Slider won the Speakeasy for 2-year-olds going five furlongs on turf Oct. 7 for trainer John Sadler. The Jimmy Creed colt worked four furlongs in 47.40 seconds for the $1 million, G1 Juvenile Turf Sprint Nov. 3.

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Bay Bridge Ready To Defend QIPCO Champion Stakes Crown

James Wigan & Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) will bid to become the first horse since Cracksman in 2018 to win back-to-back editions of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot. This Saturday, the British flat racing season comes to its conclusion with two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In races featured as part of a spectacular card. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (G1) gives the winner an automatic starting position for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and the winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) earns an invitation to the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Top Stars Align for Champion Stakes

Eight runners have been declared to take on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Bay Bridge in the 1 1/4-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes. The son of New Bay (GB) finished a creditable sixth behind Ace Impact (IRE) in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 1, but weakened inside the final furlong over 1 1/2-miles. However, he is reported to have returned from the French capital in excellent condition and now returns to his optimum distance at Ascot.

“He appears to have come out of the Arc well and he ran very well there. If he can go back and defend his crown, that would be wonderful. It looks like this is his best trip and his highest ratings are at 1 1/4-miles,” said John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud, who owns the horse with James Wigan.

Storm Babet has hit the U.K. this week with the condition on the straight and round courses at Ascot changed to soft on Thursday, after almost 13mm (about half an inch) of overnight rain. With further rain forecast on Friday, there will likely be testing conditions at Ascot on Saturday. French raider Horizon Dore (FR) is one horse who will relish the ground. There have been three French-trained winners of the QIPCO Champion Stakes since the race moved to Ascot in 2011 and the Patrice Cottier-trained 3-year-old son of Dabirsim (FR) will be hoping to emulate Cirrus Des Aigles (FR), Almanzor (FR), and Sealiway (FR). Horizon Dore has won four consecutive races, including a stylish victory in the Sept. 30 Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) at Longchamp. This will be his first attempt at Group 1 level.

King Of Steel is set to be Frankie Dettori's final ride in the UK. Narrowly denied Betfred Derby (G1) glory by Auguste Rodin (IRE), the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) easily won the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot before running well in defeat in both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) and the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1). With owners Amo Racing no longer retaining jockey Kevin Stott, Dettori has been called up for what is scheduled to be the Italian's final mount in Europe.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Mostahdaf (IRE), already the winner of two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Races this season – the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) – is only a possible runner on Saturday with connections expressing concerns about the likelihood of testing ground in Berkshire. Having already secured an automatic starting position into the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), he could be set for the Breeders' Cup if he doesn't run at Ascot.

The George Boughey-trained Via Sistina (IRE), a 2-length winner of the July 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes (G1), will be partnered by Oisin Murphy as she takes on the colts for the first time this season.

My Prospero (IRE) finished third, a half-length behind Bay Bridge in this race last year, and will once again team with Tom Marquand for trainer William Haggas. He was last seen winning the Foundation Stakes (Listed) at Goodwood. Dubai Honour (IRE), second in this race in 2021, will also line up for William Haggas.

The progressive Royal Rhyme (IRE) and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Point Lonsdale (IRE) complete the field.

Irish Strongly Represented in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

There hasn't been an Irish-trained winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) since Minding (IRE) won in 2016, but Irish contenders look to hold a strong hand in Saturday's renewal with Paddington (GB) and Tahiyra (IRE).

Paddington's six-race unbeaten record came to an end in the Juddmonte Stakes (G1) in August over 1 1/4-miles but Aidan O'Brien has given the son of Siyouni (FR) a 60-day break to freshen him up. Paddington was particularly impressive at Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1), around a bend, and the straight mile on Saturday should suit him even better given he has proven his stamina over 1 1/4-miles.

Meanwhile, four-time Group 1 winner Tahiyra has been beaten just once in six career starts, when edged out by Mawj in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Her trainer Dermot Weld looks set to make a late call on her participation with the potential for very soft ground on her first start outside of her own sex a concern for Weld. Should Tahiyra sidestep Ascot, she would have the option of traveling to America for the Breeders' Cup.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Nashwa (GB) finished a neck ahead of Paddington in the Juddmonte International Stakes before finishing an unlucky third in the Royal Bahrain Champion Stakes. She drops down to a mile for the first time since her emphatic victory in the July 14 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket. The yard will also be represented by Epictetus (IRE).

France will be represented by Big Rock (FR) and Facteur Cheval (IRE). Big Rock has finished second in three consecutive Group 1 races, with the most recent effort coming in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) with Facteur Cheval a half-length back in third.

QICPO 2000 Guineas (G1) hero Chaldean (GB) will make his comeback to the track after 106 days off. He will be partnered by Frankie Dettori.

Angel Bleu (FR) flew home late to land the Aug. 26 William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (G2) on soft ground at Goodwood, and connections supplemented the son of Dark Angel (IRE) at a cost of £70,000.

Other contenders include the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Millennium (IRE), William Knight's Checkandchallenge (GB), and the Kevin Ryan-trained Hi Royal (IRE)

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup 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 Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.

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Catching Up with 2012-13 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Winner Groupie Doll

Fan favorite and beloved Bradley family member Groupie Doll won two Eclipse Awards, two Breeders' Cup races, four Grade Is, and nine graded stakes; she set two track records, including at Churchill Downs in the GI Humana Distaff; and she sold to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $3.1 million. But it's not the accolades that mean the most to co-breeder, co-owner, and trainer Buff Bradley, he said. It was the special ride she gave the Bradley family during a difficult time.

“Winning the Breeders' Cup was great and awesome and wonderful for myself, my family, and my career. Really, being able to see something that we bred and foaled and raised do that was very special.

“Everybody says, 'You did good with that filly [as her trainer],' but I had more pleasure from being a co-breeder and attending her foaling. That meant more to me than anything.

“My father and I got to share a lot of good racing over the years from maiden claimers all the way up to Grade Is with [Bradley family homebred] Brass Hat, but when the Breeders' Cup with Groupie Doll came about, it was very special for me because my dad had been diagnosed with dementia and I knew this might be his last hurrah with a horse.

“That was something that could keep my dad going and have him communicate with me, so it was really special to win that first one. The second year my father wasn't able to travel, but they had a party in Frankfort.

“My ex-wife, Kim, and I–we're still good friends–always go back and talk about her. I could tell you 100 stories about Groupie Doll since I was there since her first breath.

“We didn't really want to sell her ever, but we'd had several offers that kept coming. Right after her maiden win, I finally told my dad what we needed to do is sell 10% of her to our best partners and that was Carl Hurst and Brent Burns. We sold 10% to each of them so we could have some fun with them and that way we could say we already sold her and get people off our backs about selling her.

“Kim and I were talking just the other day about Groupie Doll. In between her Breeders' Cup wins, I had her turned out with Brass Hat. Once, from our house, we were watching them run in the paddock. As we watched them, Brass Hat would keep cutting the corner on her and make her run around him. In the end, she was blowing and he wasn't! We had to cool them out. I wanted to take him back to the track [he was retired], but Kim said it was time for her to go back. It was a lot of fun to see those two.

“When Groupie Doll was born, I told Kim, 'We're going to keep this filly, she'll be part of the broodmare band.' We kept moving forward and won the two Breeders' Cups, but before the second one, I told the family she would be worth more than we could afford. We were so happy to see Mandy purchase her. I was able to keep Groupie Doll in my barn after that and race her two more times for Mandy. Now she's at Gainesway and I haven't seen her in a while, but I used to visit her sometimes when she was at Timber Town. I'd go out in the field and she'd even talk to me a little bit when she walked toward me. She knows I have a peppermint for her.”

Groupie Doll (2008 chestnut mare, Bowman's Band–Deputy Doll, by Silver Deputy)

Lifetime record: Ch. female sprinter (twice), MGISW, 23-12-4-4, $2,648,850

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Fred Bradley & William Bradley (KY); O-Fred F. Bradley, William B. Bradley, Carl Hurst, and Brent Burns; T-William 'Buff' Bradley; J-Rajiv Maragh.

Current location: Gainesway, Lexington, Ky.

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