Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Expectations High For ‘Very Consistent’ Tacitus In Breeders’ Cup Classic

Multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus will attempt to carry the famous green and pink silks of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud's Juddmonte Farms to the finish line first on Saturday in one of the world's top races, the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Carrying a $6 million purse and contested over 1 1/4 miles on dirt, the Classic is the apex of a 14-race, 2-day and $31-million meeting held this year at Keeneland.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Tacitus, who is trained by inaugural Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Bill Mott, will be seeking his first Grade 1 in the race, but has been knocking on the proverbial door throughout his career, including seconds in the Belmont Stakes and Travers, thirds in two Jockey Club Gold Cups and a fourth in the Kentucky Derby. Also fourth in February's $20 million Saudi Cup astern Maximum Security, who reopposes on Saturday, Tacitus subsequently trained during the month of March at Meydan until the Dubai World Cup was ultimately cancelled.

“One of the unfortunate natures of the beast is when very good horses can't get their head in front in races,” said Garrett O'Rourke, General Manager of Juddmonte Farm. “This is a very sound, very talented and very consistent racehorse and you have to give him his credit because he does show up every time. Maybe there are some times when the expectations are higher with him and, yes, we were disappointed last time out (when third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup), but making his own pace does not come easy to him and he consistently runs his race.”

Hopes have been high since birth for the earner of nearly $3 million and winner of four of 14 starts. Tacitus is the first foal of brilliant five-time G1-winning champion mare Close Hatches—also trained by Mott for Juddmonte—and is a son of America's top stallion of the past decade, Tapit. Close Hatches was second in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff and Tapit has sired five Breeders' Cup winners.

“Horses like him often run their best races in races like the Breeders' Cup, when they don't have to worry about the pace because everyone's running for their lives in the race,” O'Rourke continued. “That will hopefully be the case and we can save all the ground from the rail (post). Hopefully that will be the difference. He's also a horse who also has been looking good and doing well for so long because he's always been healthy and sound. He's an honest horse in the big scheme of things and we have always aimed very high with him. Bill (Mott) wants to run him and that's what you want. If you're aiming for the stars, you want to go with the trainer driving you.”

Mott, who seeks his 11th Breeders' Cup trophy, updated on the eye-catching colt's training: “He's good, he's fresh and he feels good. He worked good here and he came out of that in good order. He's got to improve because the competition is a little tougher this time. I think the race having a little pace in it will be to his benefit. They have a long run to the turn, so everyone should get a good spot.”

If all goes well, it seems not impossible that fans, especially in his owner's native Saudi Arabia, may see him again. No decision has been made if the blueblood will stay in training, but if so, the early targets would likely be the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup, once again.

“I sure hope he (stays in training),” Mott continued. “He's not a horse who had a big 2-year-old campaign or anything and is worn out. I think he's a horse that should be a good 5-year-old. Maybe he hasn't reached his peak yet.”

In addition to champion Maximum Security, Tacitus' main competition is plentiful. From the rail out, after Tacitus, are Belmont (G1) winner Tiz the Law, Oaklawn Handicap (G1) winner By My Standards, Clark (G1) winner Tom's d'Etat, G2-placed longshot Title Ready, 2019 Pacific Classic (G1) winner Higher Power, Woodward (G1) winner Global Campaign, Whitney (G1) winner Improbable, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic and Maximum Security. Early favoritism resides with Improbable.

The post Expectations High For ‘Very Consistent’ Tacitus In Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Teaching An Old Horse New Tricks: Blinkers Have Arklow In Career Form For Breeders’ Cup Turf

Arklow's connections say he's a different horse since blinkers were added for the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup on Sept. 12, which proved his second triumph in Kentucky Downs' signature race in three years.

Saying he's different is saying something, given that Donegal Racing's 6-year-old Arklow had earned almost $2 million in 28 races without blinkers, including victory in New York's Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last year.

The Brad Cox-trained Arklow was much more engaged for jockey Florent Geroux early on during their 1 1/4-length Kentucky Turf Cup score over Red Knight, who won Keeneland's Grade 2 Sycamore in his next start. Meanwhile, Arklow has trained up to his third attempt at Saturday's $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, having finished fourth in 2018 at Churchill Downs and a deceptively good eighth — losing by a total of 2 3/4 lengths — last year at Santa Anita.

Arklow is the 5-1 co-third choice with New York-based Channel Maker in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, whose 1 1/2-mile distance is the same as the Kentucky Turf Cup. The 5-2 favorite in the field of 10 is 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Magical and the 3-year-old Mogul, with both trained by Irish kingpin Aidan O'Brien.

“A lot of people have forgotten, or never even knew, that he had the best speed figures of anyone in last year's Breeders' Cup, even though he finished eighth,” Donegal president Jerry Crawford said Thursday, referencing the Ragozin handicapping “sheets” that chart form cycles and the comparative speed of horses while taking into account trouble encountered in a race. “That's how wide he was the whole time. He was in great form them, but he's in dramatically better form now.

“All you have to do is talk to Brad Cox,” said Crawford, whose partners with Donegal in Arklow are Joseph Bulger and Peter Coneway. “I, frankly, have never heard Brad so positive and confident in a horse as he is in Arklow on Saturday. Which is not to say that we don't have enormous respect for the Europeans. They're always very, very good – and we've got to beat Channel Maker, too. It's truly a world championship race. We think Arklow belongs and has an excellent chance. In Brad's words, as good a chance as anybody.”

Cox has said he was tempted before to add blinkers but that it was hard to make a change on a horse who was so productive. The opportunity came after Arklow finished fourth in Monmouth Park's Grade 1 United Nations, an audible called after he came in a disappointing sixth in Keeneland's Grade 2 Sycamore. The thought was that Arklow was leaving himself too much to do. Not only did the blinkers encourage the horse to position himself closer to the pace — as he had been in winning the Joe Hirsch last year — but his timed workouts in the morning have been much stronger.

Crawford quips that “a lot of owners would be smarter than to wait until a horse was 6 to try blinkers. That's on me. Brad put them on for a breeze after our ill-fated six-days rest before running at Monmouth Park. He called and said, 'We've got a whole new horse.'

“We saw his ability to get to the front (group) of horses in the Kentucky Turf Cup and was sitting on go the whole way, really, and not only held on but pulled away. I don't know how you could run a more impressive race than that.”

Said Cox: “That's the thing you do with blinkers: trying to get a horse more involved. He ran a great race at Kentucky Downs, really just kicked away from them late. Really pleased with his effort.

“He's doing better now than ever, so (we have) more confidence this year than the past,” he said of the Breeders' Cup Turf. “The Europeans are always tough in that division. We'll have to step up and run a race of a lifetime in order to win it. He's training like he's going to give us a race of a lifetime, so we're optimistic we'll be in the mix.”

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Weekend Lineup: Breeders’ Cup World Championships Return To Keeneland

For the second time in its 37-year history, the Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Keeneland on Nov. 6-7 where 14 races will help determine year-end divisional honors. NBC Sports will broadcast live all of the Breeders' Cup races with Friday's five races will be shown on NBCSN during a broadcast from 2-6 p.m. ET. The first four of nine Breeders' Cup races on Saturday will be shown on NBCSN from noon-2:30 p.m. ET, and the final five will air on a national broadcast on NBC from 2:30-6 p.m. ET, culminating with the Breeders' Cup Classic, which has a post time of 5:13 p.m. ET.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will also be broadcast live on TVG. TVG will also show live racing from Del Mar and other tracks all week as part of its usual coast-to-coast schedule.

Friday, Nov. 6

1:50 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Stakes winner Ry's the Guy heads up a full field of 14 entered for the 1 5/8-miles Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Ry's the Guy most recently won the Champions Day Marathon at Churchill Downs on September 1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA5-EQB.html

2:30 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Ranlo Investment's Golden Pal is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the 5 ½-furlong race that drew a field of 14. Trained by Wesley Ward, who won this race last year with Four Wheel Drive, Golden Pal broke his maiden by 3 ½ lengths in the Skidmore at Saratoga after returning from Royal Ascot where he finished second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will break from post 14.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA6-EQB.html

3:10 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, who blew past 10 rivals in the stretch to win the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on October 4, is the 5-1 morning line favorite for the one-mile test that drew a field of 14. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Mutasaabeq will break from post six and be ridden by Luis Saez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA7-EQB.html

3:50 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

The Juvenile Fillies drew a field of seven for the 1 1/16-mile test that includes the top runners from California, New York and Kentucky, all of whom are unbeaten. Zedan Racing Stable's Princess Noor is the 9-5 morning line favorite off victories in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes. Simply Ravishing began her career on grass but won the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson at Saratoga by 6 ½ lengths before a 6 ¼-length blowout win the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland going 1 1/16 miles. Siena Farm and trainer Tim Hamm's Dayoutoftheoffice comes into Friday's race off a two-length victory in the Grade 1 Frizette.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA8-EQB.html

4:30 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

The one-mile is headlined by a trio of undefeated runners: Campanelle (IRE), Plum Ali and Aunt Pearl (IRE). Aunt Pearl cruised to a 2 1/2-length front-running victory in the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland October 7, five weeks after her debut win at Churchill Downs and is listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite. Campanelle, co-second choice at 4-1, won the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville and the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot as part of her 3-for-3 campaign. Plum Ali comes into Friday's race off a victory in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes. Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post four.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA9-EQB.html

5:15 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Kirk and Judy Robison's undefeated Jackie's Warrior is the 7-5 morning line favorite for the Juvenile, which drew a field of 14. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior emerged as the top 2-year-old in New York by posting daylight victories in the Grade 1 Champagne, Grade 1 Hopeful, and Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes. Second choice at 4-1 is Godolphin's homebred Essential Quality trained by Brad Cox. Essential Quality debuted on the Kentucky Derby card September 5 winning at six furlongs by four lengths and following that up with a 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland at the Juvenile distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110620USA10-EQB.html

Saturday, Nov. 7

11:50 a.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct on FS2

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by three fillies as looks to secure a fifth triumph in the 26th running of the Turnback the Alarm going 1 1/8 miles over the Aqueduct main track. Arriving fresh off a second career stakes triumph in the Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park is Teresa Viola Stable and St. Elias Stable's Nonna Madeline, who owns a consistent 12-4-3-1 record. The 4-year-old Candy Ride (ARG) bay maintained a stalking position in second in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile Lady's Secret and engaged in a stretch battle with fellow Turnback the Alarm aspirant Royal Flag, holding off the stubborn foe to win by a nose.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU110720USA3-EQB.html

12:02 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine is the 7-5 morning line favorite for the Filly & Mare Sprint that drew a field of nine. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine was an overpowering presence in one-turn romps in the Grade 1 Test Stakes by seven lengths and the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes by 18 ¾ lengths. Third in the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles in her most recent start, Gamine will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post position two. Second choice is Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress, winner of the 2019 Kentucky Oaks and third in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff. Trained by Tom Amoss, Serengeti Empress returned to sprinting this summer and posted a victory going seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga and then finished second, beaten a nose going the same distance in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA4-EQB.html

12:39 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Gary Barber's Got Stormy, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Mile last year at Santa Anita, is the 7-2 morning line favorite for the Turf Sprint over 5 ½ furlongs. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Got Stormy finished second against males going a mile in two Grade 1 races this year before cutting back to sprints. She responded with a victory going 6 ½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs and then a victory at Keeneland in the Grade 3 Franklin County Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs. Top challengers include Breeze Easy's Imprimis and Leinster, both listed as 4-1 co-second choices.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA5-EQB.html

1:18 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Klaravich Stables' Complexity, winner of the Grade 2 Kelso Stakes in his most recent start, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Dirt Mile that drew a field of 12. Trained by Chad Brown, Complexity will break from post 10 under Jose Ortiz. Second choice at 7-2 is the Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go who established a Keeneland track record going 1 1/16 miles at the recently completed Fall Meet. Two-for-two this year, Knicks Go is trained by Brad Cox and will break from post five under Joel Rosario.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA6-EQB.html

1:57 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Peter Brant's Sistercharlie (IRE) and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall will represent trainer Chad Brown in the Filly & Mare Turf, a race Brown has won four times. One of those victories came from Sistercharlie in 2018 at Churchill Downs. Winless in two starts in 2020 following a third-place finish in her bid to repeat last year, Sistercharlie will be ridden by John Velazquez and break from post position two. Favored at 5-2 is Rushing Fall, a winner of five stakes in six starts at Keeneland and a Grade 1 winner at age 2, 3, 4 and 5. A winner of 11 of career starts that includes a score in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, Rushing Fall will break from post position six under regular rider Javier Castellano.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA7-EQB.html

2:36 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on NBC and TVG

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the Sprint last year with Mitole, will send out two runners: Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's undefeated Yaupon and L and N Racing's Grade 1 winner Echo Town. Joel Rosario rides Yaupon from post 10 while Echo Town breaks from the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr. Adding an element of intrigue into the Sprint is the 3-year-old Frank's Rockette for trainer Bill Mott. Frank Fletcher's homebred filly has compiled a 10-6-4-0 career mark and brings a four-race win streak into the Sprint. Junior Alvarado has the mount and will break from post six.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA8-EQB.html

3:15 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland on NBC and TVG

Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables' Uni (GB) will take on the boys again as she bids to capture the Mile for a second consecutive year. Trained by Chad Brown, Uni has won two of three starts over the Keeneland turf course with the victories coming in the past two runnings of the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes. Favoritism in the Mile goes to Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's Ivar (BRZ) at 4-1. Trained by Paulo Lobo, Ivar won the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in his most recent start and will break from post 11 under Joe Talamo.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA9-EQB.html

3:32 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Trainer Mark Casse is represented by the duo of Heavenly Curlin and Tappitty Tappitty in the 1 ¼-mile main track Maple Leaf Stakes. Bred in Kentucky by Elevage II, Heavenly Curlin, a daughter of Curlin, has compiled a record of 2-0-1 from four starts. Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the bay is on a winning roll ahead of her spot in the Maple Leaf starting gate. On July 12, Heavenly Curlin rallied to win a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race at Woodbine, getting up for a 1 ¾-length score in a maiden special weight event.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO110720CAN6-EQB.html

3:54 p.m.—$2,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland on NBC and TVG

Champion Monomoy Girl, the 2018 Distaff winner, aims to become just the fourth horse to win the Distaff twice when she faces a field that includes 2020 Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver. Owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables, Monomoy Girl is undefeated in three starts in 2020 after missing all of 2019 because of a pulled muscle and bout of colic. Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver has won five of nine starts this year in a campaign that has taken her coast to coast. Trained by Kenny McPeek, who is seeking his first Breeders' Cup victory, Swiss Skydiver ran at Keeneland in July, finishing second against the boys in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA10-EQB.html

4:33 p.m.—$4,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on NBC and TVG

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's Magical (IRE) is the morning line favorite in a field of 10 for the Turf to be contested over 1 ½ miles. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Magical was second in this race in 2018 at Churchill Downs to the champion Enable (GB). Owning a 5-3-1-1 record in 2020 with all starts in Group 1 company, Magical will be ridden by Ryan Moore and break from post position two. For the same ownership, O'Brien also will send out Mogul (GB), winner of the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in his most recent start. Headlining the U.S. contingent are Grade 1 winners Arklow and Channel Maker.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA11-EQB.html

4:52 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 2 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Trainer Mark Casse, who won the Autumn in 2008 with Marchfield, will be represented by a pair of graded stakes winners, Salute With Honor and Skywire, and graded stakes placed Dream Maker, in the 1 1/16-mile main track Autumn for three-year-olds & upward. A six-year-old son of To Honor and Serve, Salute With Honor arrives at Saturday's race off a one-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Durham Cup on October 11. Bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, the chestnut gelding bested his stablemate Skywire by a length in the Tapeta race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO110720CAN8-EQB.html

5:18 p.m.—$6,000,000 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on NBC

WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., and SF Racing's Improbable has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of 10 for Saturday's Classic to be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track. Fifth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last fall at Santa Anita, Improbable has posted a 4-3-1-0 record in 2020 with the victories coming in his past three starts in Grade 1 tests. One of three Classic entrants trained by three-time Classic winner Bob Baffert, Improbable will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post position eight. Baffert's other two entries are Maximum Security, the champion 3-year-old of 2019, and Authentic, winner of the 2020 Kentucky Derby. Sackatoga Stable's Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE110720USA12-EQB.html

Sunday, Nov. 8

3:47 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Isolate has done no wrong in his first two career starts and puts a perfect record on the line when shipping to New York for the 44th running of the Nashua going a one-turn mile. Trained by Kathy Ritvo, Isolate did just as his name suggested in his last-out gate-to-wire effort where he defeated winners over a sloppy main track at Gulfstream Park by 10 lengths. The Florida-bred son Mark Valeski was a three-quarter length winner against his Sunshine State-bred counterparts in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on August 6 at Gulfstream, where he defeated next out-winner and subsequent stakes winner Poppy's Pride.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU110820USA9-EQB.html

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Soumillon Positive For COVID-19; Colin Keane Picks Up Breeders’ Cup Turf Mount On Tarnawa

Leading Irish jockey Colin Keane will pick up the mount on Tarnawa in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, reports At the Races  on Twitter, because regular rider Christophe Soumillon has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Dermot Weld-trained 4-year-old daughter of Shamardal is listed at 6-1 on the morning line off an undefeated season in 2020; she won the G1 Prix Vermeille and the G1 Prix de l'Opera in France this year.

“It complicates things a little,” Weld said. “She takes a bit of knowing and he'd won two Group Ones on her. But that's the way it is.”

Soumillon was also listed to ride Order of Australia in the Mile for trainer Aidan O'Brien. No replacement has yet been named.

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