Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cox: Spinster Likely ‘Top Spot On Radar’ For Breeders’ Cup-Bound Idiomatic

Juddmonte's Kentucky homebred Idiomatic was awarded a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for her dominant score in Friday's Personal Ensign (G1), a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Brad Cox, Idiomatic led at every point of call under Florent Geroux to draw off strongly in the lane to a four-length triumph in a final time of 1:49.12 over a sloppy and sealed main track. It was her third consecutive graded score and came on the heels of a determined head victory over Classy Edition in the Delaware Handicap (G2) on July 8 after a bobble at the start and a wide run into the stretch.

“She is doing well and has been since she came back from a layoff [in December],” said Cox. “When the draw came out, I thought based on what we saw on paper, she had a good shot to establish a nice, clear lead and obviously, she did. I didn't think the mile and an eighth would be an issue because she had just run a mile and three-sixteenths and overcame a tough trip at Delaware. She has a lot of class and it's a huge update for her pedigree and herself. She's a serious filly.”

Cox said the daughter of Curlin could be pointed to the Spinster (G1) on October 8 at Keeneland, but that he will meet with her owners to make solid plans in the near future. Other potential races include the $250,000 Beldame (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the same day at Belmont at the Big A.

“She's got a nice little win streak going and she came back well,” said Cox. “We'll talk with Prince Khalid and family and come up with a game plan, but I would say the Spinster is probably the top spot on the radar given the fact it's a Grade 1 and Juddmonte sponsors the race. The Beldame would be 'Plan B' because there's not a lot of options. Obviously, the Breeders' Cup is the target to end the year, and we'll need another race between now and then.”

On Saturday, Cox sent out two other trainees to on-the-board efforts in Grade 1s at the Spa, with Matareya finishing third in the Grade 1 Ballerina (G1) and Verifying placing second in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1).

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Matareya, a two-time Grade 1 winner, was a hard-trying third in the seven-furlong Ballerina behind the victorious 2021 champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu and the reigning champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive. The daughter of Pioneerof the Nile tracked in third one length behind the pace and made a brief bid into upper stretch, but weakened and held on long enough to secure show honors by a nose over Caramel Swirl.

“She came back really good and I was very proud of the effort,” said Cox. “It was a good ride to save ground and she was beaten by two Champions, so no disgrace in the performance. I'm happy with the way she looks this morning. I'm not sure where she'll land, so we'll talk it over with the Godolphin team. We'll pursue the Breeders' Cup, but we'll probably want one more race. She's run well enough against these top fillies this year to be in the mix.”

Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Indiana Derby (G3) victor Verifying finished second in the H. Allen Jerkens 1 3/4 lengths behind the late-running One in Vermillion after pacesetter New York Thunder fell in midstretch due to a catastrophic injury.

Cox said the race led to difficulty in taking away anything about Verifying's first start around one turn since October.

“He looks great this morning, but I don't really know what to say about the race at all,” said Cox. “He's going to take some homework on what to do moving forward. I'm not really sure what to do with him. I do like what I saw from him around one turn though, and I like him at seven-eighths and a one-turn mile.”

Cox said it is likely Verifying could target the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) in December at Santa Anita Park as a year-end goal.

“We need to figure out something between now and then, but he came back in good order,” said Cox.

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Fiske: Gunite Could Have Race Prior To BC Sprint; Echo Zulu Could Train Up To BC Filly & Mare Sprint

To be the champ, you have to beat the champ. And Winchell Thoroughbreds, in collaboration with trainer Steve Asmussen, did just that with two Gun Runner progeny in a pair of Grade 1 events on the Travers Day program at Saratoga Race Course.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gunite kicked off Grade 1 action when turning the tables on reigning champion male sprinter Elite Power in the Forego going seven furlongs. Piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, the dark bay colt set an easy early tempo and fended off Elite Power's inside rally to win by 1 3/4 lengths and register a 101 Beyer Speed Figure – his eighth triple-digit number to date.

The redeeming triumph came following the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) on July 29 at the Spa, where he appeared poised for victory at the top of the stretch but couldn't fend off the late outside rally of Elite Power, who won by a head.

The win was a second Grade 1 victory for Gunite, who captured the 2021 Hopeful at Saratoga by 5 3/4 lengths. He has never finished worse than second at Saratoga in six starts.

David Fiske, the racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, spoke of Gunite's consistency and compared him to his multiple stakes-winning New York-bred millionaire Bankit.

“He's just such a cool horse. He always shows up, he's always dependable,” Fiske said. “He's like the new Bankit. You can always depend on him. So far, he's never let us down. To see him get another Grade 1; one as a 2-year-old, one as a 4-year-old; and head to the Breeders' Cup for the second year in a row is satisfying and gratifying. He's so cool and I was so glad to watch him get it done.”

Fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland, Gunite will target this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park and will likely have one more start beforehand.

While the $250,000 Vosburgh (G2) on September 30 at Belmont at the Big A and the $350,000 Phoenix (G2) on October 6 at Keeneland – both “Win And You're In” events for the Sprint – are both logical next targets for Gunite, Fiske did not rule out the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) on September 30 as a possible next start.

“We haven't talked about it, but that could be a possibility,” Fiske said. “I know that Steve has a habit of shipping early, whether it's to California for the Breeders' Cup or Dubai for the World Cup (G1). Curlin went to Dubai about two months before and even got a race in over there beforehand. It's not out of the realm of possibility.”

While Gunite will likely race once before his Breeders' Cup endeavor, Echo Zulu is likely to train up to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) after she secured a “Win and You're In” berth in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga.

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds in partnership with L and N Racing, Echo Zulu defeated last year's champion female sprinter and defending Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive, who also won last year's Ballerina.

Like Gunite, Echo Zulu also set an early tempo down the backstretch and kept Goodnight Olive at bay in upper stretch before strolling home a 2 1/2-length winner over Goodnight Olive, with two-time Grade 1 winner Matareya completing the trifecta.

Echo Zulu produced a 112 Beyer, which is the co-highest figure recorded by any thoroughbred this year. She registered the same number when capturing the Honorable Miss (G2) on July 26 at the Spa by 7 1/4 lengths. Godolphin's Cody's Wish earned a 112 Beyer when capturing the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.

“Obviously, we all knew she was fast. A 112 Beyer is the fastest number anyone has run this year and she did it two times in a row. To do that a second time, that was pretty impressive,” Fiske said. “She's a little bit different than Gunite. Steve said Gunite would probably run again before the Breeders' Cup. Echo seems to run well when fresh and yesterday was kind of a third race in a cycle. Steve may just wait and train her up to the Breeders' Cup.”

Echo Zulu, the 2021 champion 2-year-old filly, was second in last year's Filly and Mare Sprint, where she drew post 13 and was five wide in the through the turn, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Goodnight Olive.

“Last year in the Breeders' Cup, Echo Zulu was a little disadvantaged by post position and how the race shaped up. It just didn't break her way that day, but she still ran a good second. Yesterday was an excellent race,” Fiske said. “In the filly and mare sprint division there aren't many Grade 1s, so if Echo Zulu can win again, she's probably the Eclipse winner. I would think if Gunite could win the Sprint, he would be the champion.”

Last year, Winchell and Asmussen enjoyed their first Travers (G1) victory when Epicenter strolled home a 5 1/4-length winner en route to champion 3-year-old colt honors. They took home the silver medal this time around when graded stakes-winner Disarm launched a strong inside rally, finishing one length behind the victorious Arcangelo. The effort, his first in blinkers, garnered a career-high 103 Beyer.

“He just seems to get incrementally better,” Fiske said. “[The blinkers] didn't hurt. It's hard to say how much of a difference they made because he did run some pretty credible races without the blinkers. I suspect he'll run back with them because like I said, they didn't hurt him at all.”

Fiske mentioned the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on September 23 at Parx Racing as a possibility for Disarm, who achieved millionaire status with his Travers effort.

“We really weren't having that discussion last night, so I'd say all options are on the table,” Fiske said. “Going into the race, there was some talk about the Pennsylvania Derby. I think we were kicking around either [two-time winner] Magic Tap or Disarm as to who might be our Pennsylvania Derby horse. We'll talk this week, regroup and come up with some sort of plan.

The post Fiske: Gunite Could Have Race Prior To BC Sprint; Echo Zulu Could Train Up To BC Filly & Mare Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Arcangelo in Fine Shape After Travers Victory

Arcangelo (Arrogate) was in fine shape Sunday following his victory in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Saturday, but connections will take their time before picking out a next start for the sophomore.

“He came back well and is full of himself today,” said trainer Jena Antonucci. “Of course the Breeders' Cup is on the radar, but horses don't care about schedules or spreadsheets. We'll do what we've been doing and give him his space. We'll let him pave the way.”

Arcangelo added the Travers to his win in the GI Belmont S. in June.

“I'm just so glad the race has helped to validate he's not a fluke or a one-hit wonder,” said Antonucci. “It allows him to be validated, and I'm grateful for that. Horse and team, I'm most proud of that.”

Travers runner-up Disarm (Gun Runner), who closed for second while making his first start with blinkers, could make his next start in the Sept. 23 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

“He just seems to get incrementally better,” said Winchell Thoroughbreds racing manager David Fiske said. “[The blinkers] didn't hurt. It's hard to say how much of a difference they made because he did run some pretty credible races without the blinkers. I suspect he'll run back with them because like I said, they didn't hurt him at all.”

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher reported Sunday Tapit Trice (Tapit) and Forte (Violence) emerged well from their respective third- and fourth-place finishes in the Travers.

“They're doing good,” Pletcher said. “Both of them looked well this morning.”

Asked for future plans for the pair, Pletcher said, “We'll give it a few days to see how they are and come up with a game plan.”

Pletcher said he is pleased with how Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest (Curlin) came out of her third-place finish as the favorite in Friday's GI Personal Ensign S., just her second start this year following her 2022 champion 3-year-old filly campaign.

“She's doing good,” Pletcher said. “She bounced out of the race well. It was hard to make up ground on a sloppy, gooey track when a quality horse gets loose on the lead. I thought she ran hard. It was only her second race of the year so, hopefully, it moves her forward.”

Pletcher said Nest will be pointed to either the GII Beldame S. during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet or the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland. Both 1 1/8-mile races are Oct. 8.

Repole Stable's Fierceness (City of Light), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his impressive debut victory at Saratoga Friday, will likely tackle Grade I company for his second start, according to Pletcher.

“I think the [Oct. 7 GI] Champagne is the most logical next start,” Pletcher said.

Of the colt's maiden score, Pletcher said, “He was very impressive. He had been training really well leading up to it. We were expecting a good effort, but he actually delivered an even better one than we were hoping for.”

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‘Every Horse Brings You To This Point’: Antonucci Reflects On Arcangelo’s On Travers Preparation, Victory

While some racing fans may be new to the name Jena Antonucci, the longtime horsewoman is far from a novice in the Thoroughbred industry.

The 47-year old trainer has gained a wealth of knowledge in the 13 years since she started her first horse in March 2010 at Tampa Bay Downs, culminating in historic triumphs in this year's Belmont Stakes (G1)in June and the Travers (G1) on Saturday with Blue Rose Farm's Arcangelo.

“I think the journey of getting here is just allowing yourself to grow from every horse you've worked with, so it prepares you and your team to handle whatever comes your way, good and bad,” said Antonucci, who became the second woman to train a Travers winner and first since Mary Hirsch saddled Thanksgiving to victory in 1938. “Every horse brings you to this point and I'm extremely grateful to all of those horses who have helped us be ready for a horse like Arcangelo.”

In the weeks leading up to the Travers, Antonucci could be seen daily aboard her pony with the recognizable Arcangelo, traveling along with him to the track each morning and allowing him to take in the sights and sounds of the Spa to prepare for the historic 10-furlong test for sophomores. Patience and thoroughness in Arcangelo's conditioning and schooling are important to Antonucci, who said there can never be doubt when leading a horse over for any race, let alone the Travers.

“Just never question listening and leaning into the horse,” said Antonucci when asked what lessons she has learned in her career. “I think that has gotten more fine-tuned over the years, and if there's a doubt, it's a 'no.' Before if there was a doubt, it was, 'Oh, maybe this,' or, 'Oh, maybe that.' I think getting stronger and more committed to the constitution of what you're working towards [is key]. If it's a 'yes,' you make sure you check all the boxes in the process. The horses and your team feed off of it and I think it teaches you to be steady and present. It's not being overconfident or taking it for granted, it's owning your space that you're living in.”

All of Antonucci's patience and perceptiveness came to fruition once again in the Travers, 11 weeks after Arcangelo stormed home to win the Belmont Stakes and made her the first woman to train a winner of a Triple Crown race.

Ridden again Saturday by Javier Castellano, Arcangelo placed himself atop the 3-year-old male standings with an off-the-pace trip when saving ground along the inside behind the pace set by Scotland before angling around foes four-wide in the final turn, drawing off to a decisive one-length score over the late-closing Disarm.

“It was a patient ride and wasn't a perfect trip, but this horse had some rough trips early on [in his career] that helped him yesterday,” said Antonucci. “I think more than anything, Javier has gotten so confident on the horse and believes in this horse, and he [Arcangelo] just feeds off of that in a really cool way.”

Castellano arrived at the barn Sunday morning to check in on his record seventh Travers winner after getting back to work breezing horses as early as 6:30 at the Spa.

“When someone wins the Super Bowl, people think, 'Oh, you go on vacation now and go to Disney World.' My neighbor when I won the Belmont said, 'Oh, congratulations, you won the Belmont, so now you can go rest and on vacation!' I said, 'What? I've got to work horses in the morning,' ” said Castellano, with a laugh. “I'm very lucky, fortunate and blessed to win with this beautiful horse who gave me the opportunity to be back in the game and compete with everybody at the top of the game. He can be anything.”

The 46-year-old veteran rider adds to an already impressive resume for the year, which included his first victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Mage and additional Grade 1 scores in the Beverly D. [Fev Rover] and United Nations [Therapist]. Though it is only August, Castellano is celebrating his best year in terms of earnings since 2019 and currently ranks fifth in earnings amongst all North American riders.

“Thank God, I've been so blessed,” said Castellano. “I don't take anything for granted because this game is hard. You can be at the top one day and at the bottom the next. People think, 'Oh, you've won seven Travers,' but it's not easy. I had a little bump in the road, but I try to be positive and consistent, and work hard with dedication, consistency and discipline. It paid back quickly.”

With two of the nation's biggest Grade 1 wins under his belt, Arcangelo appears ready to give serious challenge to older competition this fall in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park. For now, Antonucci will retain her usual level-headedness, and allow Arcangelo the time and patience he needs before committing to the year-end championship event.

“He came back well and is full of himself today,” said Antonucci. “Of course the Breeders' Cup is on the radar, but horses don't care about schedules or spreadsheets. We'll do what we've been doing and give him his space. We'll let him pave the way.”

While Arcangelo paves his own way, the same can be said for Antonucci, who has challenged and defeated the historical trends with every race Arcangelo dominates.

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