Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Royal Ascot Winner The Lir Jet To Step Up In Trip, Give Michael Bell First Breeders’ Cup Runner

Winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, The Lir Jet will be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6, reports the Racing Post. The 2-year-old son of Prince of Lir has only competed over six furlongs this year, but trainer Michael Bell announced that connections plan to run him over the 1 1/16-mile trip at Keeneland due to his strong finish when fifth last out in the G1 Middle Park Stakes.

It will be Bell's first Breeders' Cup runner.

“In all his races his last furlong has been his best, which suggests he's worth a try over further,” Bell told racingpost.com. “His pedigree doesn't say he will definitely stay, but his style of racing suggests he might, especially going around a two-turn mile like they have at Keeneland.”

Owned by Qatar Racing Ltd., The Lir Jet is out of the Green Desert mare Paper Dreams. He was a $9,775 yearling at Goffs, and owns a record of two wins and two seconds from five starts for earnings of $116,914. Other top finishes this year include a second in the G2 Prix Robert Patin at Chantilly and a second in the G1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Breeders’ Cup Unveils Official Artwork For 2020 World Championships At Keeneland

Breeders' Cup unveiled Wednesday the official artwork for the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held at the historic Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7. Renowned equestrian artist Peter Howell has created two original paintings that capture the energy and excitement of the World Championships at Keeneland.

The artwork will be featured on promotional materials for the 2020 Breeders' Cup, including the Official Track Program covers which will be available online this year.

Born in Caernarfon, North Wales, Howell is an artist best known for depicting equestrian scenes in his paintings. Introduced to horse racing at the age of eight, Howell spent his youth surrounded by horses in the stables of British trainer George Lambton in Newmarket, England. After completing his studies, Howell pursued a career in horse racing, and his surroundings frequently inspired him to create artworks of racehorses and racecourses. In the 1960s, Howell began to explore art more deeply and studied the works of French impressionists, eventually wholly devoting himself to painting in 1969. His works have been exhibited in New York City, London, Saratoga and Newmarket, and his artistic talents have been highlighted by BBC, Architectural Digest and The Sunday Times.

“We are delighted to be featuring two great works from Peter Howell at the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “With an illustrious body of work and a deep connection to the world of horse racing, Peter was the perfect candidate to bring the spirit of Breeders' Cup at Keeneland to life and celebrate the beauty and pageantry of our event.”

“As a lifelong lover of horse racing, I am honored to collaborate with the Breeders' Cup, one of the world's most distinguished Thoroughbred racing events,” said Howell. “I was deeply inspired by the vibrant energy of the Breeders' Cup and the classic elegance of Keeneland, and I hope I was able to capture and share the essence of this year's event through my artwork.”

The original Howell paintings featured on the Breeders' Cup Friday and Saturday program covers will be on display at the 8^th Annual Sporting Art Auction on Sunday, Nov. 22 in Lexington. The artwork will be available online and at the following locations prior to the auction: the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, Dudley's restaurant and the Cross Gate Gallery.

To learn more about the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships, please visit BreedersCup.com. Breeders' Cup is also committed to alleviating the impacts of the health crisis on the horse racing community and other industry stakeholders in need. To learn more about Breeders' Cup's ongoing support of the community and to contribute to the organization's COVID-19 relief efforts, please visit BreedersCup.com/Donate.

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Dual-Surface Colt War Of Will Likely To Make Final Career Start In Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Though War of Will has campaigned exclusively on the turf in 2020, including a victory in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile in July, the 4-year-old son of War Front will return to the dirt next month at Keeneland in what is likely to be his final career start.

According to bloodhorse.com, trainer Mark Casse is planning to enter Gary Barber's colt in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 7.

“It would be nice—he's already a grade 1 winner on the turf this year—to win another grade 1 on the dirt,” Casse told bloodhorse.com. “This will probably be his last start I would say before he retires to stud.”

War of Will will stand at Claiborne Farm for the 2021 season.

As a 3-year-old, War of Will won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, the G2 Risen Star, and the G3 Lecomte, while also placing third in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby. He'd run on turf as a 2-year-old, finishing second in the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Most recently, War of Will finished third in the G1 Woodbine Mile. Overall, the colt's record stands at 5-1-3 from 17 starts with earnings of $1,871,803.

Spanish Loveaffair Tops Field Of 11 In Wednesday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Jessamine Stakes

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber's Spanish Loveaffair leads Wednesday's JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., live on NBCSN at 4 p.m. ET. The winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine, which drew 11 starters, will earn an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Wednesday's telecast, produced in association with TVG, marks the 11th and final program in this year's “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 37th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, scheduled for Nov. 6-7 and airing on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

Reporting and commentary for the telecast will be provided from Keeneland by TVG's Todd Schrupp, Matt Bernier, Caton Bredar, Gabby Gaudet, Britney Eurton and Caleb Keller. Simon Bray will be providing commentary from home.

Spanish Loveaffair, a bay daughter of 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Karakontie (JPN), has won both her starts at Gulfstream Park. Spanish Loveaffair is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won this race in 2016 with La Coronel. After breaking her maiden at 1 mile by an eye-popping 11 lengths on July 23, Spanish Loveaffair returned on Aug. 29 to win the 1-mile Sharp Susan Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths as the 1-2 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Spanish Loveaffair and will break from post position 10.

Among the challengers to Spanish Loveaffair is the Brad Cox-trained Aunt Pearl (IRE). In her lone start on Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs, Aunt Pearl, a bay daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE), set the early pace in a 1-mile race and drew off by 5 lengths. Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and The Elkstone Group, Aunt Pearl will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 7.

Another impressive debut winner is Don Alberto Stable's Ingrassia. Trained by Chad Brown, who has won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf three times, Ingrassia overcame a bumpy start in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga on Aug. 19 and steadily worked her way to the front to win by a nose. A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Ingrassia will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Ben Rollins and Shelia Rollins' Beautiful Star, a daughter of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, who was fifth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 7. Adam Beschizza has the mount and will break from post position 4. Asmussen also will send out Kentucky Downs debut maiden winner Arm Candy for the partnership of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Kurz Equine Investments. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride from post position 6.

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