Pletcher also saddled juveniles Mo Donegal and Nest to respective wins in the $250,000 G2 Remsen and $250,000 G2 Demoiselle, but the prosperous afternoon did not come without controversy as all three of his stakes winners survived objections/inquiries.

“Thankfully, everyone stayed up and everyone pulled up well,” Pletcher said. “It was an exciting day with plenty of drama. We were optimistic coming in that we had some horses training the way you'd want them to leading up to some big races. I'm happy they all delivered good performances.”

Americanrevolution, owned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc., collared stablemate Following Sea in deep stretch to secure his first Grade 1 victory. Pletcher previously saddled 2001 Cigar Mile one-two finishers Left Bank and Graeme Hall.

The son of leading third-crop sire Constitution cut back to one mile after making three straight starts going nine furlongs. He entered the Cigar Mile from a victory against his Empire State-bred counterparts in the Empire Classic on October 30 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., following a third in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby one month prior at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn.

Manny Franco, aboard third-place finisher Plainsman, filed an objection for possible interference in mid-stretch of the Cigar Mile, but no change was made in the order of finish.

Pletcher said he was delighted to see Americanrevolution display capabilities at various distances, adding that he was much similar to that of his sire, a Pletcher stable alumna.

“There's a lot of good horses that can sprint and route and he seems versatile enough to do that,” Pletcher said. “His sire was the same way. They were both talented horses.”

Pletcher, WinStar Farm, and CHC Inc. also campaign G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Life Is Good, who will point to the G1 Pegasus World Cup on January 29 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

“He [Americanrevolution] will go to WinStar and get a little freshening and we'll come up with a game plan,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully things continue to go well with Life Is Good. He'll start off in the Pegasus. We'll try to keep those two on separate paths, but we'll worry about that when the time comes.”

Following Sea, a Spendthrift Farm owned son of Runhappy, entered the Cigar Mile from a troubled third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he drew the rail and had to steady in upper stretch, angling several paths wide before closing to round out the trifecta. Two starts back, he defeated multiple graded stakes-winner Firenze Fire in the G2 Vosburgh on October 9 at Belmont Park.

Following Sea also drew the rail in the Cigar Mile which Pletcher said could have had an effect on the outcome of both races.

“I feel bad for him drawing the rail twice in a row in two races where an outside post could have made a big difference in the outcome for him,” Pletcher said. “He was setting some pretty solid fractions for the way the track was playing yesterday while under some pressure from Ginobili and was able to shake him off. He fought hard to the wire, Americanrevolution just got some steam later. I was really proud of both horses' performances.”

Pletcher said the G1 Metropolitan Handicap, traditionally run on the Belmont Stakes undercard, could be a long-term goal for Following Sea.

“We know he loves Belmont, so we'll keep the Met Mile in play,” Pletcher said. “I'll talk to the guys at Spendthrift, but we'll probably take him to Florida and freshen him up a bit and target something like the [Grade 1] Carter [at Aqueduct].”

Donegal Racing's Mo Donegal displayed determination in the Remsen, battling with impressive maiden winner Zandon down the Aqueduct stretch and coming out a half-length on top as both horses separated themselves by nearly 10 lengths from the rest of the field.

Mo Donegal, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, bumped with Zandon, piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, in the final jumps, but a jockey's objection by Velazquez and inquiry by the stewards resulted in no change to the order of finish.

“I liked the way he ran. Those two clearly separated themselves from the rest of the field,” Pletcher said. “He put himself into the race, got himself into a good position, and then he had to wait, wait, wait. He then had to angle out and lose a little ground and momentum when he did. He's shown improvement in each start.”

Mo Donegal, a son of Uncle Mo, earned 10 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Derby for the Remsen score and Pletcher said the $400,000 G2 Fountain of Youth on March 5 at Gulfstream Park [50-20-10-5 qualifying points] could be a target.

“I'll talk to Jerry [Crawford of Donegal Racing] about it. We talked about it before the race yesterday and told him we planned on going to Palm Beach this week,” Pletcher said. “We could use the Fountain of Youth on March 5 as a possible target. The great thing about that time of year is there's a prep every weekend, so it's a matter of figuring out the right one for him.”

Pletcher previously saddled Bluegrass Cat [2005] and Overanalyze [2012] to Remsen scores. Both horses competed in the Kentucky Derby the following year, finishing a respective second and 11th.

Following the Remsen, Pletcher captured the Demoiselle for the seventh time with Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House's Nest.

The daughter of Curlin earned 10 qualifying points toward the 2022 Kentucky Oaks when capturing the Remsen's female counterpart race. A claim of foul lodged by runner-up Venti Valentine's trainer Jorge Abreu alleging interference in the stretch was dismissed.

Nest, a full-sister to G1 winner Idol, will target major preps on the Kentucky Oaks trail this winter.

“She'll go down to Florida and we'll look at a two-prep schedule for her leading up to the Oaks,” Pletcher said. “We'll have to figure out what those two will be. I think everything is in play. It just comes down to timing really.”

Pletcher added that G1-placed maiden Commandperformance will join his contingent at Palm Beach Downs in Del Ray Beach, Fla., after a freshening in Kentucky. Following a runner-up in the G1 Champagne, the son of Union Rags was fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

“Everything is in play for him, including a maiden race,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said he's looking forward to the opportunities ahead for his stable next year.

“We're excited. It's great having some quality horses that are staying in training for another year,” Pletcher said. “We're getting Malathaat back as well and we're excited about our yearling crop as well. It's fun and we're looking forward to it, but we also know that every day is a new challenge.”

While Pletcher will soon take his show on the road to South Florida for the winter, he will still maintain a division in New York. Among the horses likely to remain in New York for the winter include recent maiden winner A Mo Reay, who Pletcher said will target the $100,000 Busanda on January 23 at Aqueduct – a 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifier.

Pletcher added that First Constitution, a last-out second in a November 28 allowance optional claimer, will remain in New York and target the $100,000 Jazil on January 22 at Aqueduct.

The post Pletcher Sweeps Three Graded Stakes Saturday, Looks Forward To 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

At the break, Pipeline was the fastest out of the gate, but Following Sea, who finished third behind Aloha West in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, took over the lead as they crossed onto the Aqueduct backstretch. Following Sea maintained his one-length lead until the stretch, when Ginobili made his bid for the lead, taking over briefly as they straightened out into the stretch.

Following Sea fought back, passing Ginobili inside the final eighth of a mile as Plainsman and American Revolution made contact briefly as they made their bids for the front in the stretch. Americanrevolution dug in and took over the lead inside the last sixteenth of a mile, finishing a half-length in front of Following Sea. Plainsman was third, with Olympiad fourth. The inquiry sign went up after the race as stewards looked into contact between Plainsman and Americanrevolution in the stretch, but the results were allowed to stand.

The final time for the one-mile G1 stakes was 1:36.68. Find this race's chart here.

Americanrevolution paid $7.50, $4.10, and $3.30. Following Sea paid $5.10 and $4.10. Plainsman paid $5.60.

“Luis [Saez] rode him terrifically. He kept him going in the turn when he was in traffic and things were getting tight. He responded to an energetic ride. He never gave up on him and I think that was important, especially backing up from the mile and an eighth. He never wanted to take his foot off the peddle. He kept coming and we knew he'd be fit backing up in distance,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after the race.

“We weren't 100 percent positive about the mile, but a lot of times good horses do multiple things really well and I think he's a great example of that. Constitution puts so much determination into his offspring and they're just like he was – very tough horses and versatile. It's great to see him get that Grade 1 win.”

“When he came around the three-eighths he was a little bit off the bit. I had to start riding him to get the momentum and at the top of the stretch, when he switched leads, he gave me that kick. After that, I knew I could win the race but I wasn't sure because I still had Following Sea in front of me and he was battling but in the end, Americanrevolution made his move and he got there,” jockey Luis Saez told the NYRA Press Office after the race.

“I feel like Manny [Franco, aboard Plainsman] tried to come out and he was trying to push me away and wanted my spot, but I was in my lane and it looked like the horse inside came out a little bit too and that's what made it look like that.”

Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Americanrevolution is out of the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. He is owned by China Horse Club, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the son of Consitution was purchased by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing for $275,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Preferred New York Bred Yearling Sale. With his win in the G1 Cigar Mile, the 3-year-old colt has five wins in six starts in 2021 and career earnings of $944,535.

The post Americanrevolution Beats Following Sea To Wire In Cigar Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Americanrevolution was moved to Pletcher after his debut and won his first three starts for his new barn, including dominant score in the state-bred New York Derby July 19 at Finger Lakes and Albany S. Aug. 27 at Saratoga. Third when returned to open company and stepped up to the big leagues for the Sept. 25 GI Pennsylvania Derby, the flashy chestnut put on a show in a sloppy renewal of the Empire Classic H. At Belmont Oct. 30, splashing home an 11 3/4-length winner and earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“He's been very consistent, and he's accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Pletcher said. “He's made a lot of progress. It's another class test and he's dropping back in distance which is always a challenge, but he deserves a chance.”

Following Sea earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for his impressive second-out graduation at Oaklawn Apr. 10 while under the care of Bob Baffert. Part of a group of Spendthrift runners transferred to Pletcher after the GI Kentucky Derby, the bay romped in a Belmont allowance June 3 and completed the trifecta when stretched to two turns for the GI Haskell Invitational S. July 17. He was third again next out behind Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and his GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile-winning stablemate Life is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Following Sea scored a good-looking victory in Belmont's GII Vosburgh S. Oct. 9 and was a respectable third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint S. at Del Mar last out Nov. 6.

“He still has to prove himself going further,” Pletcher said. “He was impressive in the Vosburgh and his allowance race and in his maiden win sprinting. He's always given us the impression of a horse that will run further, and he's certainly built like one that would.”

Independence Hall (Constitution) looks to close his career in style with a long-awaited Grade I score. A black-type winner at two, three and now four, the dark bay was third in the GII Californian S. Apr. 17 and was subsequently shelved. Fifth in the GI Pacific Classic when he returned Aug. 21, Independence Hall was second to likely Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in the Oct. 2 GIII Lukas Classic and powered home a 7 1/4-length winner of the GII Hagyard Fayette S. in the slop at Keeneland Oct. 30. MGISW and Fayette runner-up Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) also returns here.

Dirt Mile runner-up and GII Pat O'Brien S. winner Ginobili (Munnings) ships east along with Independence Hall for this prestigious event.

The post Pletcher Duo Loom Large in Cigar Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Following Sea defeated multiple graded stakes-winner Firenze Fire in the Grade 2 Vosburgh on Oct. 9 at Belmont Park en route to a troubled third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Following Sea had to steady in upper stretch of the Breeders' Cup when a seam along the rail was closed off by pacesetting favorite Jackie's Warrior, forcing Hall of Famer John Velazquez to angle the horse several paths wide. He made up enough ground to round out the trifecta at 20-1 odds, finishing 1 ½ lengths to Aloha West and Dr. Schivel.

“Take nothing away from the first and second horses because they obviously finished beautifully,” said Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey. “But if that hole stays open, he would have had to have his running shoes on. It would have been nice to see what would have happened. He looked poised to roll through there. He's a horse who has shown us a lot of talent and shown he can run with the very best in the country. We always need a little luck in this game and with that, he's more than capable of coming away with a win.”

After an open-length maiden score at Oaklawn Park for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Following Sea was transferred to Pletcher and made his debut for the stable a winning one, defeating winners going 6 ½ furlongs on June 3 over the Belmont main track.

Following Sea made his graded stakes debut in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational six weeks later at Monmouth Park, where he was elevated to second via disqualification after finishing a distant third. He then rounded out the trifecta in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial in August at Saratoga behind talented sophomores Jackie's Warrior and Life Is Good.

As one of the more prominent racing and breeding operations in North America, Spendthrift Farm's racing program is centered around making colts under their tutelage into stallion prospects.

Toffey said the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park could be one of the major goals for Following Sea's 4-year-old season.

“Our goal is always hoping that any colt in our program can earn his way into our stallion barn. I think that's what we're looking to do with Following Sea, so his campaign will be shaped around that.” Toffey said. “Certainly, the subject of 'stallion-making races' is an interesting one. If you ask stud farms and breeders, the Met Mile would be very high on that list. That would be one goal we would have in mind. Obviously, there's the Breeders' Cup as well. But as always, we're going to listen to Todd, and Todd will listen to the horse.

“This game is a little tricky to look too far ahead in, but we just have to see how things unfold,” Toffey continued. “He's a fun horse to have in the barn. He's given Todd every indication that he's ready to run a good race.”

A win would also provide Following Sea's second-crop sire Runhappy with his first Grade 1 victory as a sire. The medication-free stallion, who stands at Claiborne Farm, was voted 2015 Champion Sprinter and has seen his offspring garner much success in their second year of racing age.

“Following Sea has gone a long way to keep Runhappy in the forefront. He's shown that he's a horse that doesn't take a backseat to too many,” Toffey said.

Following Sea is out of the Speightstown mare Quick Flip, a stakes-winner during her juvenile season who also produced Gimmick, an Into Mischief filly, who broke her maiden this summer at Saratoga. Quick Flip is scheduled to be bred back to Into Mischief, who has been the leading sire for three years running.

Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm for a $250,000 stud fee and has been the pride and joy of the Lexington, Kentucky farm.

“He's a remarkable horse, that's for sure,” Toffey said of Into Mischief. “We've been very fortunate to have him in our barn. What I see the most is that they're really good-minded horses. They tend to enjoy their job. They like going to the track and train and are very workmanlike and at the same time very talented.”

The post Cigar Mile Entrant Following Sea Has ‘Shown He Can Run With The Very Best’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Then there's a pair of horses untried at this level in Americanrevolution and Olympiad. Americanrevolution just won the Empire Classic Stakes by 11 ¾ lengths, while Olympiad won an allowance race in mid-October. Plainsman won the Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes at the beginning of October before a disappointing third place effort as the favorite in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at the end of the month. Following Sea won the Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes the second week of October then finished third of nine in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and may find these opponents a bit easier. Pipeline rounds out the field as a colt who earned his first career win in September before a third place finish in the Perryville Stakes in October. 

Top three win contenders:
Olympiad is the most lightly raced horse in the field, having run just four races to date. Two were in 2020 as a 2-year-old where he finished third before winning by nearly three lengths last summer at Saratoga. For whatever reason Olympiad was given a year off by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, and similar to his career debut 13 months earlier the colt was a bit short of 100% as he finished second this September. His next race and his most recent on October 14 was telling, as Olympiad controlled the pace in front from start to finish but even more notably held off a dogged rival throughout the stretch to win.

Improving to a career best 106 Equibase Speed Figure from 103 one month earlier, Olympiad appears to be on a pattern to take a big step forward. Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode Following Sea to victory in the Vosburgh Stakes in October as well as rode Plainsman to win the Ack Ack Stakes that same month, has never ridden Olympiad but gets aboard for the first time. This is significant in my opinion because Rosario, whose 2021 earnings stand at $32.9 million, is on a path to break the all-time yearly record for a jockey which stands at $34.1 million. As such, every mount through the end of the year takes on added significance and so Rosario's choice of riding Olympiad in a race where the winner's share of the purse is $450,000 is yet another reason I think this colt can post the upset and win the Cigar Mile Handicap.

Ginobili enters the Cigar Mile out of the toughest last race of any in the field where he was not disgraced when second of eight in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile behind Life Is Good. In that race, Life Is Good was sent to the front on fractions that would be impossible for most horses to maintain but won by almost six lengths. Ginobili raced in fifth and fourth in the early stages before showing a burst of speed to get to second, and was even lapped on the winner before Life is Good drew off in the stretch. That effort earned a 111 Equibase figure which was rock solid. Previous to that, Ginobili earned a 110 figure effort winning the Pat O'Brien Stakes in August and shows this horse has what it takes physically and mentally to win this race.

Following Sea is another coming out of a big race, the Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished third of nine. Although passed in the stretch by winner Aloha West, Following Sea had some traffic issues in the race as he was on the rail on the far turn and early in the stretch but lost his path. Jockey John Velazquez, who rides again in the Cigar Mile, had to angle the horse off the rail to find a path and although the momentum Following Sea had lost earlier could not be totally regained, he did surge late to get third and earn a 107 Equibase figure. One race earlier in the Vosburgh Stakes, Following Sea earned a career-best 117 figure which is one of the best in the field. One slight question is whether he will like this one-mile trip he is running for the first time as much as those two six furlongs sprints. Other than that, Following Sea appears to have what it takes to contend for top honors in the Cigar Mile. 

The rest of the field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures, is Americanrevolution (117), Code of Honor (120), Independence Hall (109), Pipeline (104) and Plainsman (107). 

Win Contenders, in preference order:
Olympiad
Ginobili
Following Sea

Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets– Grade 1
Race 10 at Aqueduct
Saturday, December 4 – Post Time 4:13 PM E.T.
One Mile
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $750,000

Ellis Starr is national racing analyst for Equibase.

The post Equibase Analysis: Olympiad Should Get The Gold In Cigar Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Since its inception in 1988, a total of 11 sophomores have bested their elders in the prestigious race, which was run as the NYRA Mile prior to 1997. This year, two 3-year-olds will vie to add to that number, including the accomplished pair of Americanrevolution and Following Sea from the stable of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher – a four-time Cigar Mile winner.

“It's always a big race and it's the last Grade 1 in New York for the year,” said Pletcher who saddled previous Cigar Mile victors Left Bank [2001], Lion Tamer [2004], Purge [2005] and Stay Thirsty [2012]. “I'm not surprised that it's attracted a nice field.”

Owned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. and bred in New York by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Americanrevolution makes his return to graded company after finishing third two starts back in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 25 at Parx, which was won by Hot Rod Charlie over Midnight Bourbon.

Americanrevolution, one of two sons of leading third-crop sire Constitution in the Cigar Mile, has garnered three stakes victories against his Empire State-bred counterparts by a combined 24 lengths.

After a 7 ¼-length romp in the New York Derby on July 19 at Finger Lakes, he parlayed that impressive effort into the Albany on August 27 at Saratoga, which he won by five lengths. Following the next-out Pennsylvania Derby, Americanrevolution garnered a field-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure when besting older New York-bred company by 11 3/4-lengths in the nine-furlong Empire Classic on October 30 over a sloppy and sealed Belmont Park main track.

“He's been very consistent, and he's accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Pletcher said. “He's made a lot of progress. It's another class test and he's dropping back in distance which is always a challenge, but he deserves a chance.”

Pletcher, who also conditioned Constitution, expressed pride in seeing another one of his barn's alumna go on to have a successful stud career.

“He's on his way to becoming one of the top stallions in the country. He gets a little of everything – sprinters, routers, dirt, turf, fillies, colts,” Pletcher said.

Luis Saez will retain the mount from post 3.

Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea was a troubled third in the last out Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and seeks his second graded stakes triumph in Saturday's engagement. The son of second crop sire Runhappy was victorious in wire-to-wire fashion against multiple graded stakes winner Firenze Fire in the six-furlong Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 9 at Belmont.

Following Sea, who has never finished off the board in seven lifetime starts, was a distant third in his lone pair of starts past 6 ½ furlongs when completing the trifecta in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at nine furlongs and the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial going seven furlongs.

He broke his maiden by 5 ¾ lengths at second asking in a six-furlong maiden special weight in April at Oaklawn Park ahead of an open-length score against winners in a first-level Belmont allowance two months later.

“He still has to prove himself going further,” Pletcher said. “He was impressive in the Vosburgh and his allowance race and in his maiden win sprinting. He's always given us the impression of a horse that will run further, and he's certainly built like one that would. I haven't had too many Runhappy [progeny], but with him being a sprint champion I think some people expected him to come out sooner than they really wanted to. I wouldn't be surprised that as they mature a little bit, they will continue to improve.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Following Sea from post 1 as he and Pletcher seek their first collaborative Cigar Mile coup since joining forces 20 years ago with Left Bank.

While Americanrevolution and Following Sea are seeking breakthrough victories in the Cigar Mile, the one-turn mile will be a swan song for multiple graded stakes-winner Independence Hall who returns to Aqueduct for the first time since capturing the 2020 Jerome.

Trained by Pletcher's former assistant Michael McCarthy, Independence Hall arrives off a 7 ¼-length runaway victory at 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 30 over a sloppy and sealed Keeneland main track, where he registered a career-best 105 Beyer.

The son of Constitution garnered plenty of warranted attention in only his second career start, when capturing the Grade 3 Nashua in November 2019 at Aqueduct by 12 ¾ lengths for former trainer Mike Trombetta.

“His race in the Fayette was very good. He loved the slop,” McCarthy said. “Now he's going back to Aqueduct, the site of one of his most impressive victories, so we feel good about it. I'm excited about the turnback in distance for him.”

McCarthy said Independence Hall, who was fractious in the paddock prior to his Jerome victory, does not display such mannerisms around the barn.

“He's a very talented horse,” McCarthy said. “A complete gentleman around the barn so a little atypical the way he acts in the paddock compared to around the barn. He's very classy. I don't think there's a better looking horse on the grounds. He's very beautiful.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano seeks his third Cigar Mile win in six years aboard Independence Hall, who breaks from post 5.

Trainer Richard Baltas will ship Ginobili cross-country, attempting to give the son of Munnings a second graded stakes triumph.

Owned by Baltas in partnership with Nick Casato's Slum Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan and Michael Nentwig, Ginobili ended a nine race losing streak in July at Del Mar capturing a one mile allowance optional claimer by 9 ¾ lengths.

He followed with a score in the Grade 2 Pat O' Brien one month later at Del Mar, which offered a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, where Ginobili finished second to Life Is Good on November 6 at Del Mar.

“He ran two good races at Del Mar, and I wanted to give him a little time between then and the Breeders' Cup,” Baltas said of the spacing between starts. “We were already in the Breeders' Cup through 'Win and You're In'. He ran well against maybe the best horse in the country.”

Baltas added blinkers to Ginobili for his impressive victory three starts back, which has paid back dividends for the 4-year-old gelding.

“He was the type of horse where if he's not up in the race or had horses in front or beside him, he really didn't want to go,” Baltas said. “When he broke his maiden he was on the lead. In other races, when he was behind horses, he got disinterested. It's hard to say. So, I worked him blinkers and that's when he had that crazy race at Del Mar [on July 17] and he came back and won the Pat O'Brien.”

Drayden Van Dyke will ride from post 6.

As the lone millionaire in the race, William S. Farish's Code of Honor boasts a field-best $2,951,320 in lifetime earnings and seeks a third Grade 1 victory for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

During his sophomore campaign, the now 5-year-old son of Noble Mission, won the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga before being elevated to victory against older horses in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

This year, he captured the Grade 3 Phillip H. Iselin in August at Monmouth Park. He enters from a last out second to Independence Hall in the Fayette.

Although scheduled to join the 2022 stallion roster at Farish's Lanes' End Farm in Midway, Kentucky, the Cigar Mile might not be a final career start for Code of Honor.

“He's doing very well,” said McGaughey. “He's obviously been very good to me over the years. He'll go to stud next year, but whether this will be his final start, we're not sure yet.”

Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post 4.

Bill Mott will attempt a fourth victory in a race named after one of the greatest horses he has ever trained when the Hall of Famer saddles 3-year-old Olympiad.

Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods, Olympiad defeated older winners last out in a first-level allowance at Keeneland going seven furlongs. He broke his maiden in October 2020 against subsequent stakes winners Caddo River and Greatest Honour travelling the same distance at Belmont Park.

“We've always liked him,” Mott said. “We thought last year he was one of the best two colts we had. It's a big step up, no question.”

Joel Rosario will ride from post 7.

Completing the Cigar Mile lineup are Shortleaf Stable's Plainsman [post 2, Manny Franco], who captured the Grade 3 Ack Ack in October at Churchill Downs two starts back for trainer Brad Cox, and John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock's Pipeline [post 8, Jose Ortiz] who broke his maiden going seven furlongs at Saratoga two starts back and will attempt to give four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown his second Cigar Mile win.

The Cigar Mile honors Allen Paulson's all-time great, who from 1994-96 equaled 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation's modern-day North American record of 16 consecutive victories, a record which has since been broken twice. Cigar's unprecedented win streak included victories in the Breeder's Cup Classic, Donn Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Oaklawn Handicap, and Pimlico Special. Trained by Mott and ridden primarily by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, Cigar retired with nearly $10 million in lifetime earnings and resided at the Kentucky Horse Park upon his retirement until passing in 2014. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Cigar Mile is slated as the finale on Saturday's 10-race program, which also features the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying race, its female counterpart race, the Grade 2 $250,000 Demoiselle, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, and the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand for fillies and mares going a one-turn mile. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

The post Two Pletcher-Trained Sophomores Face Independence Hall, Ginobili In Cigar Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea, two-back winner of the GII Vosburgh S., exits a third-place effort to Aloha West (Hard Spun) and Dr. Schivel (Violence) in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, while Americanrevolution ran up the score last time in the Oct. 30 Empire Classic, besting his New York-bred elders by 11 3/4 lengths over a sloppy Belmont main track.

“They both went well,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Cigar Mile. “It was a good breeze for them both with a solid gallop out. They both seem to be happy and healthy, knock on wood.”

Seven 3-year-olds have won the Cigar Mile, including Maximum Security in 2019.

In other Cigar Mile news, Ginobili (Munnings), second to 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, tuned up for Saturday's race with a five-furlong drill at trainer Richard Baltas's San Luis Rey base in :59.60 Friday morning.

“It was an excellent work,” Baltas said on Friday evening. “He galloped out in 1:12 1/5 and out in 1:26 and did it in a gallop. I was really happy with the way he worked. He was more relaxed than usual.”

The post Pletcher Breezes Cigar Mile Duo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Both horses completed their half-mile moves over the dirt training track rated fast in :49.21.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Following Sea rounded out the trifecta behind Aloha West and Dr. Schivel in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. The son of second-crop sire Runhappy entered the Sprint from a solid score against older company in the G2 Vosburgh on October 9 at Belmont Park.

Americanrevolution, a CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm owned Constitution colt, enters the Cigar Mile off an 11 ¾-length romp against fellow Empire State-breds in the Empire Classic on October 30 at Belmont, where he produced a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

“They both went well,” said Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Cigar Mile. “It was a good breeze for them both with a solid gallop out. They both seem to be happy and healthy, knock on wood.”

Since 2000, seven 3-year-olds have bested elders in the Cigar Mile, which is the final Grade 1 event on the NYRA circuit for the calendar year.

Pletcher also worked a handful of juveniles slated for stakes action next week with Mo Donegal and Overstep breezing a half-mile in company over the Belmont training track in :49.77. Both horses are pointing towards the $250,000 G2 Remsen – a nine-furlong test for juvenile colts which offers 10-4-2-1 points towards the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Mo Donegal, a Donegal Racing owned son of Uncle Mo, stretched out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles to break his maiden at second asking on October 21 at Belmont. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's New York-bred Overstep, a bay son of Into Mischief bred by Chester and Mary Broman, was a close second in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 over a sloppy and sealed Belmont main track.

Pletcher previously captured the Remsen with Bluegrass Cat [2005] and Overanalyze [2012], both of whom contested in the following year's Kentucky Derby.

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House's Nest registered a half-mile work in :49.79 in preparation for the $250,000 G2 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies which offers 10-4-2-1 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Oaks.

Pletcher is a six-time winning trainer of the Demoiselle, including with subsequent Oaks victresses Ashado [2003] and Malathaat [2020].

On Friday, Pletcher saddled Repole Stable's Never Surprised to a flashy victory in the $150,000 Gio Ponti, which saw the Constitution bay garner a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Never worse than second in a half dozen career starts, Never Surprised was previously second to Public Sector at graded stakes level in the G3 Saranac at Saratoga and the G2 Hill Prince at Belmont. Last year, he captured both his starts over the Aqueduct turf, including a wire-to-wire win over stakes-winner Hard Love in the Central Park.

Pletcher said the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby on December 26 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., remains in play.

“That's a possibility. We'll see,” Pletcher said.

The post Pletcher Prepares Following Sea, Americanrevolution For Cigar Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

When asked about his thoughts on the race and if he was nervous when he saw the half-mile time of :45, Cox said, “You know, not a whole lot because he wasn't being pressed. He'd kind of cleared off at that point, and established maybe a two-length lead, so I felt comfortable about that. It's one thing being pressed. It's one thing going fast and being pressed, but it's different when you're going fast and you're kind of doing it by yourself. The opening quarter was on a straightaway, so I felt like it was relatively reasonable. I was almost thinking he wasn't going fast enough. Then I think Joel (Rosario), may have let him out a notch around the turn because like I said, he always runs around turns really well. I felt like he was in pretty good position.

“He had been doing extremely well. Both horses had been doing extremely well. Obviously, I do think the race, as it unfolded, played to Knicks Go's advantage, just the way it unfolded into the first turn. And, up the backside, I felt pretty confident that he would have enough to finish with. Obviously, the mile and a quarter is not an issue. I've never really thought it would be just based on his mile and an eighth performances this year. Just a huge performance.”

“Essential Quality, I thought he ran huge. I kind of thought we were in a little bit of a tough spot just with the fact that you know there was Knicks Go obviously, then everyone else was battling for position up the backside. The next group of horses were well bunched and we had some very good horses in front of us and he was able to pass several of them. He ran extremely well. We did a good job of saving ground to stand on the inside. At the three-eighths pole, I really thought he had a shot at winning, but Knicks Go and Medina Spirit just weren't backing up. I was very proud of what he was able to accomplish over the last year and a half and I'm looking forward to training his babies.”

Knicks Go, who could make at least one more start in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park, is all but assured himself Champion Older Dirt Male and Horse of the Year honors with his victory in the Classic, but there will likely be a tight race between Classic runner-up Medina Spirit, winner of the Kentucky Derby, and Essential Quality for Champion 3-Year-Old Male honors.

“I think he deserves to be champion 3-year-old,” Cox said. “He has two big Grade 1s, two very prestigious wins in the Belmont and Travers. He was able to have a campaign all year. It started in the Southwest, he ran a big one in the Blue Grass. The Derby, obviously didn't work out quite the way we would have liked, but he was able to follow it up with a spectacular summer at Saratoga. And, then to come in here and I really think he performed very well. I thought about this this morning when I woke up. 'Is there anything I could have done different with him to prepare for this?' I wouldn't have prepared him any different.”

While Knicks Go and Essential Quality remained in California Sunday morning, their stablemate Shedaresthedevil was already en route to Kentucky after her sixth-place finish in the G1 Longines Distaff. She is scheduled to be sold Tuesday night at the Fasig-Tipton sale.

“I thought she was in a fantastic spot at the half-mile mark,” Cox said. “I thought we looked like a winner, although the fractions were incredibly hot. It was hard to believe that any of those horses could keep going with those fractions. I thought she ran a good race. I guess you could say she ran the best race of the speed horses. She was the one that faltered the least amount. I do feel like she was really ready to run.

“We're excited about going to the sale with her. It's a possibility, you know, someone could purchase her and she could return to racing. She has no issues and is a very sound filly. We'll see how it plays out on Tuesday for her.”

On Friday, Juju's Map finished second in the G1 NetJets Juvenile Fillies (G1) and will now set her sights on the G1 Kentucky Oaks next May.

“We're excited about her,” Cox said. “We'll take her to the Fair Grounds and run in either the Fair Grounds or Oaklawn series for 3-year-old fillies. We'll probably run where (Juvenile Fillies winner) Echo Zulu doesn't. But, a huge congratulations to her team. They did a fantastic job.”

Medina Spirit/Gamine – Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit and Michael Lund Petersen's once-beaten Gamine emerged from their respective races fine, trainer Bob Baffert reported Sunday morning.

“I was really proud of his race,” Baffert said about his Kentucky Derby-winning Medina Spirit, who was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic behind Knicks Go. “We just got beat by a better horse. We hadn't planned to be as far back early, but he did kind of a stutter step just after the break and it cost us position. He ended up having a rough, wide trip. That's horse racing. He tried to make a run at the winner through the stretch, but that's a really nice horse that beat him

“He was best of all the others and he beat those same 3-year-olds (alluding to both Hot Rod Charlie and Essential Quality) again by about the same margin.”

Baffert indicated that while no specific plans had been mapped out for Medina Spirit for 2022, he mentioned that the horse's owner was keen on potentially running in the Saudi Cup next February.

No decision has been made about Gamine's racing future in the wake of a disappointing third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) for which she was the defending champion. The brilliant daughter of Into Mischief suffered only her second career defeat and first around one turn.

“I probably should have given her a prep race before the Breeders' Cup. She just got tired.” Baffert said. “We knew there was a lot of speed in the race and we thought about taking her back, but when she broke great, we had no choice.”

Hot Rod Charlie – Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing, and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie came out of his fourth-place Classic finish in good order according to trainer Doug O'Neill.

“He came out of the race fine and scoped clean,” said O'Neill, who has no immediate plans for Hot Rod Charlie. “We will sit down and discuss it, but right now nothing is targeted. He's only 3 and it is very exciting to think about the possibilities for him.”

O'Neill also did not have a target in mind for ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables, and Dave Kenney's Mackinnon, who finished third, beaten less than 2 lengths, in Friday's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

“He's got a lot of options,” O'Neill said of the three-time winner on grass. “He has shown a lot this year and he will get a little time off.”

Stilleto Boy – Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy, who finished fifth in the Classic at 51-1 odds, came out of the race well according to trainer Ed Moger Jr.

“Everything is good,” Moger said of the 3-year-old who finished ahead of three Grade 1 winners, earned a $180,000 check Saturday and has made back more than half of his $420,000 purchase price in four starts for the Mogers. “We are pointing for the Malibu (Dec. 26 at Santa Anita).”

Letruska – Though St. George Stable's 5yo filly ended her outstanding season on a down note as the 8-5 favorite in the Longines Distaff, trainer Fausto Gutierrez said Sunday that she came out of the race fine and will stay in training in 2022.

After attending a torrid early pace, Letruska ended up 10th of 11 under Irad Ortiz Jr. She was second to Private Mission through opening fractions of :21.84, :44.97, and 1:09.70.

“That race was very, very fast in the beginning,” Gutierrez said, “and we saw the result. The five horses that were in the back were the five horses that arrived in the front. That's what happened.”

Letruska won six of eight starts in 2021, four of them Grade 1 races, and is the leading contender for the Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award. Gutierrez said the mare will have some time to recover from her busy campaign and that he will develop a schedule for next year.

Life Is Good/Malathaat – Life Is Good, whose 5 ¾-length victory in the Dirt Mile was the biggest winning margin of the 14 Breeders' Cup races, will get a vacation at WinStar Farm in Kentucky before launching his 4-year-old campaign.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the Into Mischief colt was fine Sunday morning and that a start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park could be on the schedule.

“That's what we'd spoke about prior to the race that our sort of two-race plan was the mile and then stretch him out further in the Pegasus,” Pletcher said Sunday. “He certainly ran well enough to proceed in that direction if everything goes smoothly, but we haven't really had any time to really firmly discuss our entire plans yet. I'm sure once everybody gets back to their headquarters, we'll have that conversation.”

Life is Good came into the Dirt Mile with a big reputation and he delivered a strong performance, leading from gate to wire under Irad Ortiz Jr. He completed the mile in 1:34.12 after opening fractions of :21.66, :44.94 and 1:08.76.

“It was everything that we were hoping for and then maybe even more,” Pletcher said. “The horse had trained spectacularly coming into the race and I felt like he was sitting on a big race. When he broke cleanly, you could tell they were going quickly and there was some other horses trying to be involved. My first concern was just, hopefully, he hadn't gone too fast, but it seemed like he was relaxed and settled. In spite of the fact that he was rolling right along, he was doing it comfortably. I think that's kind of what we've come to expect from him. It's one of those horses that's extremely fast, has a very high cruising speed and the ability to continue doing it. What was even more impressive to me than, than the :21 and four and 44 and change and 1:08 and change, is that he essentially won geared down. Then Irad had to reach up and grab a hold of him in the middle of the turn. Galloping out, he was still full of horse. I don't think he could have been any more impressive.”

Pletcher said that Shadwell Stable's 3-year-old filly Malathaat came out of her third-place finish in the Distaff in good order and will continue racing in 2022. The winner of the Ashland, Kentucky Oaks, and Alabama is a top contender for the Eclipse Award.

Malathaat was a half-length back at the wire of the Distaff, which had extremely fast early fractions of :21.84 and :44.97 that ultimately melted the speed horses.

“I thought she ran a great race,” Pletcher said. “She, unfortunately, didn't come out on the winning side, which is frustrating when you have one as talented as she is, and you're not able to win. It was really a strangely run race. There was such a blazing opening quarter and half and things got kind of tricky for the closers in the far turn, because the pack was coming back so rapidly as the closers were starting to build up momentum.”

Malathaat, the 7-2 second choice in the wagering, was well off the pace early, and rallied with the other closers.

“Being on the inside, she kind of had to encounter some traffic there and got in some tight quarters, turning for home” Pletcher said. “She bumped with the runner-up (Dunbar Road) a little bit. And then finally regained some momentum late and was only beaten a nose and a half a length. Maybe with a slightly different trip, it could have altered the outcome. As always, she showed up and ran a big race and I think proved that she's the best 3-year-old filly in her crop.”

Pletcher said that Malathaat will ship to Shadwell Farm in Kentucky for a rest and rejoin his stable in Florida this winter.

Spendthrift Farm's homebred Following Sea emerged from this third-place finish in the Sprint under John Velazquez in good order, Pletcher said, and will ship back to Belmont Park this week.

Pletcher said the Cigar Mile and the Malibu are being considered for the son of Runhappy.

“I thought he ran a terrific race,” Pletcher said. “Drawing the rail in the Sprint you're always concerned and I think that that ended up perhaps costing us the race. He was making a really good move at the top of the stretch and for a brief moment, there was a hole open that closed before he could get there. He had to check lost all of this momentum and then re-rallied to be third. Johnny (Velazquez) felt pretty strongly that if he had gotten through, when that gap was open, that he could have won. A little frustrating with the outcome, but very, very pleased with his performance. I think we made the right decision to bring him because he ran a winning race. We just didn't quite get the job done, but he proved that he belongs with that group.”

Pletcher said that his two Juvenile runners, Commandperformance, who was fourth, and Double Trouble, who was eighth, will be prepared for their 3-year-old seasons.

CeCe/Smooth Like Strait – Bo Hirsch's Ce Ce and Cannon Thoroughbreds' Smooth Like Strait, who combined to give trainer Michael McCarthy a memorable Breeders' Cup Championship afternoon, were vanned back to the McCarthy's main stable operation at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Saturday night. Ce Ce was the upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, while her barnmate Smooth Like Strait was a strong runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Mile five races later. For CeCe, a daughter of Elusive Quality, the victory marked her fourth in six starts and third stakes triumph this year. Smooth Like Strait has been a gem of consistency, finishing first or second in five consecutive graded turf stakes races.

Aloha West – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' G1 Qatar Racing Sprint winner Aloha West exited his 11-1 victory in fine order, per trainer Wayne Catalano.

“He looks great to me,” Catalano said Sunday morning. “He's some horse. He's a monster. We'll chill out for a little bit after this and get him back to Lexington. We'll put him in the hyperbaric chamber for a few days and then I'll talk to Aron Wellman and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and make a plan for him for next year.

“Everybody keeps bringing up that I got a good Breeders' Cup record, but all I know is I've won four,” he continued. “We have been fortunate enough to have some runners who could get the job done. It really is satisfying to win with an older horse. With the younger horses, they come along and do their thing and the other horses aren't quite caught up to them. That's the way that works. But I'm just very grateful for the opportunity to develop this horse and run in and win another Breeders' Cup race. It's unbelievable.”

The dark bay 4-year-old colt became the sixth Maryland-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race, joining Cigar, Safely Kept, Knicks Go, Concern, and Sharing. Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go would go on to add a seventh trophy to the Free State mantle when taking the Classic later Saturday afternoon.

“My assistant trainer Lacy Pierce got on him when he first came to us off the farm and she said 'this is a runner.' She really liked him immediately,” Catalano continued. “He kept getting better. The other day after his breeze for the race when he came home in 22 and change and came back like he had a morning jog, I told Aron (Wellman, principal of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners) that this horse was training unbelievable and just might be the best horse I've ever had my hands on. He was blown away by it. This horse should have won the Phoenix, but was slammed out of the gate and went wide around.

“Yesterday, when he started down the backside and passed a couple of horses, I thought 'OK he's putting in his run and we might have a chance,' and then I thought as he's coming down the lane that he could maybe get there, but at the wire, I wasn't too sure. Then they showed (the finish replay) three times – the first time I thought we didn't get there; second time I wasn't sure; third time I thought 'maybe I got there!'

“He was closing so fast and Jose (Ortiz) rode a great race. He did the job you're supposed to do. Once he leveled off, it was 'Katy bar the door.' I was not worried about the race until they hit the wire. At my age, having to sweat those things out, that was a little hard – but we got the nod. Obviously, we all knew how good Jackie's Warrior and the others were, but like I say, they don't give you these races. They line them up in the gate and you have to go get them.”

Aloha West is the second Breeders' Cup winner for Darley stallion and 2007 Classic runner-up Hard Spun, following 2019 Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run, and improved Catalano's record to four wins from 15 starters, amassing just short of $4 million in prize money. Aloha West improved his own record to 9-5-2-0 with a career bankroll of $1,311,068 and won his first graded stakes in his second try, following a runner-up effort in October's G2 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. He is Catalano's first older horse to win a Breeders' Cup, as his previous three were in 2-year-old races.

“We have wound it down a bit with my barn, but I'm hoping I get another couple of horses like him and win a couple more Breeders' Cups – but this is the one right now,” Catalano concluded. “I'm looking to have some good ones and enjoy my family and my grandkids – three boys and one baby girl on the way. Life is shorter than you think.”

Golden Pal – On Sunday morning, Wesley Ward was pleased with how star pupil Golden Pal exited his second Breeders' Cup victory. Last year's G2 Juvenile Turf Sprint winner doubled up by taking the G1 Turf Sprint in brilliant gate-to-wire style under Irad Ortiz Jr. Ward confirmed that the Coolmore-owned 3yo colt will ship out late Monday night and focus on two major goals in 2022, Royal Ascot and a Breeders' Cup return.

“He's great. He's ready to go home,” Ward said. “I'm feeling good. I'm happy this horse won. I've been singing his praises for a long time and he's the best one we had running. I'm excited to run him in the Breeders' Cup next year at Keeneland. He's going to be a four-year-old and faster. We'll point to Royal Ascot with him and the (Group 1) King's Stand (Stakes) and prep at Keeneland in April in the Shakertown. If he can win in England, he can really stamp himself as a stallion, hopefully.

“He's a lot like (former trainee and current Coolmore stallion) No Nay Never, who would have won (the Turf Sprint) if it were a five-furlong race, instead of down the hill,” Ward continued. “They're both mentally so composed and never turn a hair. Yesterday, you could see him in the paddock just getting himself prepared mentally and getting focused.”

A son of 2010 G1 Juvenile winner Uncle Mo and 2015 Turf Sprint runner-up Lady Shipman, Golden Pal earned a third Breeders' Cup trophy for his sire, who also begat 2015 Juvenile winner Nyquist. Ward earned his sixth Breeders' Cup trophy and second of the weekend, following his third consecutive Juvenile Turf Sprint victory with Twilight Gleaming (IRE). It was his first win in the Turf Sprint after 11 losses.

Foreign Horse Report

The Breeders' Cup World Championships lived up to its name with a phenomenal weekend of racing. Japan and England led the way for the international challengers.

Trainer Charlie Appleby, jockey William Buick, and owners Godolphin were the stars of the show over the weekend recording three wins.

Space Blues (IRE) (Mile) won in impressive fashion and will now finish his career on a high and be retired to stud.

Yibir (GB) (Turf) completed a hat trick of winners for team Appleby after Modern Games' (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) big win Friday.

Yibir stayed on strongest to hit the wire hard and win by half a length. He will now have a break before connections map out a campaign for next year.

Loves Only You (JPN) (Filly & Mare Turf) recorded a win for Japan in the hands of Yuga Kawada. Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff) completed the Japanese double on the day when causing a shock for U.K. champion jockey Oisin Murphy. Future plans for both horses are yet to be decided, but a trip to Keeneland next year for the Breeders' Cup looks high on the agenda.

Arguably the most impressive winner of the day was Golden Pal (Turf Sprint) who showed electric speed from the gates. In behind were Emaraaty Ana (GB) and who were the nearest international challengers finishing fourth and fifth A Case of You (IRE). Emaraaty Ana is finished for the season, but connections of A Case of You are considering a trip to Hong Kong in December for the Hong Kong Sprint. Trainer Adrian McGuinness stated he would see how A Case of You travels home before firming up a trip to Sha Tin.

Teona (IRE) (Turf) ran a huge race to finish third for trainer Roger Varian and jockey David Egan who was having his first Breeders' Cup ride. She will now have a break and be aimed at the major races in Europe next season before a possible return to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Aidan O'Brien drew a blank this year, but hit the cross bar with Broome (IRE) (Turf) finishing second. He has been invited to run in the Hong Kong Vase and that trip looks to be a big possibility after yesterday's big run.

Plans for Tarnawa (IRE) (Turf) who was disappointing are still not confirmed. Irish champion jockey Colin Keane reported she ran flat with her previous run in the Prix de l'Arc Triomphe taking its toll.

It was also a good day Saturday morning at Del Mar for international runners the day after Modern Games (IRE) led the way by winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Albahr (GB) was scratched after going to the ground in the gates but he was fine Saturday morning. Both horses will have a break now with big plans ahead of next season.

Go Bears Go (IRE) who finished a gallant second in the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint also has come out of his race well according to trainer David Loughnane.

“It's a dream come true even though we didn't win,” Loughnane said. “To have a horse perform like that in a race as big as Friday is just amazing. He's a real star who has a huge heart and he'll be back next year when we'll have big plans. Hopefully, he travels home well.”

Malavath (IRE) second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf also came out of her race well. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, “All is good. I'm very proud of her performance and it's exciting times ahead.”

Cachet (IRE) who led most of the way in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf looked the winner for a long time but couldn't quite last home. Trainer George Boughey said, “She ran a massive race. She did us all proud. She's as tough as they come and has a big future. The Saudi Derby could be her next target in February.”

All international horses seem to have come out of their races in good shape before they embark on their journeys back to England, France, Germany, Ireland, and Japan.

The post Breeders’ Cup Sunday Notes: Connections Look To What’s Next in 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“When you're preparing for the Breeders Cup, they're all important, but these were big breezes this morning,” Pletcher said. “We'll come back next weekend and do a little bit less with them.”

Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea, a winner of the Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 9 last out, went to the track at 6:30 a.m. and worked a half-mile in 49.73 over the fast track.

“I liked it,” Pletcher said of the breeze. “It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren't looking to do a whole lot with him this morning. I was very happy.”

Although Following Sea earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in capturing the Vosburgh, a “Win And You're In” event, Pletcher said plans for the son of Runhappy remain in flux.

“We wanted to see today's work and then we'll talk to the Spendthrift guys about it,” Pletcher said. “We're under no pressure to make a decision right away. We'll give him the rest of the week and continue to monitor how he's doing.”

Graded stakes winners Life Is Good and Mind Control logged solo works at roughly 7:45 a.m. over the training track. An in-hand winner of the Grade 2 Kelso on September 25, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good went a sharp half-mile in 47.83 seconds – the second fastest of 41 recorded works at the distance.

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control, winner of the Parx Dirt Mile last out on September 25, went five furlongs in 1:01.27. Both horses are on target for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“Typical works for them,” Pletcher said. “Life Is Good is a very impressive horse to watch breeze. It looks like he's doing everything very effortlessly and then you look down at the clock and go, 'Wow'. He was rolling right along. He did it in hand throughout.”

The Parx Dirt Mile was the first two-turn start for Mind Control, a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty, since finishing off the board in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He captured the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 4 at Belmont Park in his first start for Pletcher two starts earlier.

“He's coming off a good win,” Pletcher said. “He's trained with good energy like he always does. He had an impressive breeze today and I like where he's at.”

Shadwell Stable's three-time Grade 1-winner Malathaat, a blue-blooded sophomore daughter of Curlin, worked at 9:30 a.m. following the renovation break covering five furlongs in 1:01.63 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“I thought she worked great today. She's just very impressive,” Pletcher said. “She keeps going and going and gallops out super. I think the time in between races has done her well. She's put on some weight and she seems very fit and happy.”

Malathaat has captured a trio of Grade 1 events this year, including the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and Alabama at Saratoga.

On Thursday morning, Pletcher worked his 2-year-old Breeders' Cup hopefuls, which include Annapolis [Juvenile Turf], Commandperformance [Juvenile], and Double Thunder [Juvenile].

Bass Stables homebred Annapolis, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim, and Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Commandperformance each went five furlongs in 1:02.02 and 1:01.02, respectively.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Double Thunder, runner up in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, went a half-mile with blinkers on in 49.98 seconds.

“Everyone looked great this morning and came out of their works in good shape,” Pletcher said.

In non-Breeders' Cup related news from the Pletcher barn, the veteran conditioner said Donegal Racing's Mo Donegal, who broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Thursday at Belmont, will likely target the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 4 at Aqueduct.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is training a number of his contenders for the upcoming Breeders' Cup, slated for November 5-6 at Del Mar, over the Oklahoma dirt and turf training tracks at Saratoga Race Course.

Mott, a 10-time Breeders' Cup winner, could look to add to his totals with Art Collector [Classic], War Like Goddess [Filly and Mare Turf] Horologist [Distaff], Channel Maker [Turf] and Casa Creed [Mile/Turf Sprint].

“We have a few [Breeders' Cup horses] that will be one of the first four choices in their races and then a few who are on the outside looking in types of longshots, but all of them are doing well and that's all you can ask for,” said Mott's son and assistant trainer Riley Mott.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector worked five furlongs in 1:01.85 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt is in the midst of a three-race win streak, including scores in the Alydar on August 6 at the Spa, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 27 and the Grade 1 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont.

“He looks good and he's a willing horse,” Riley Mott said. “He came out of his last race extremely well; he'll have to if he's going to run against the big boys in the Classic.”

There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Horologist finished ninth in last year's Distaff at Keeneland. She breezed a half-mile in 47.84 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Mott said the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist's runner-up effort last out in the Grade 2 Beldame could be a good omen as three of his father's five Distaff winners completed the exacta in the prestigious race ahead of Breeders' Cup glory, including Royal Delta [2011], Unrivalled Belle [2010] and Ajina [1997].

“She ran second last time and is in with an outside chance,” Mott said. “I was talking to my dad the other day and we have won three Distaffs after having finished second in the Beldame. So that's a good omen.”

Mott also saddled Escena to victory in the 1998 Distaff off a sixth-place finish in the Personal Ensign, while Royal Delta's 2012 Distaff score followed a win in that year's Personal Ensign.

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker finished third in last year's Turf – his best effort in three appearances in the turf marathon after finishing off-the-board in 2018-19.
The reigning Champion Turf Male, a four-time Grade 1-winner, finished fourth last out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 at Belmont. He worked a half-mile in 48.75 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“He's doing well. He's one of the ones that will have to regain his form from last year to be competitive. [The Breeders' Cup] is still the plan,” Mott said.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, has flourished this year, winning 6-of-7 starts including her last four in graded company taking the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland ahead of scores in the Grade 2 Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl this summer at Saratoga.

She breezed five-eighths in 1:02.55 Friday over the Oklahoma training turf.

“She's doing great and we are very excited about her,” Mott said. “She'll be a top three horse in her race, and deservedly so. She's had a great year.”

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed earned a berth to the five-furlong Turf Sprint with a win in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur in June at Belmont, but is targeting a return engagement in the Mile – a race the 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay finished 12th in last year. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.55 Friday on the Oklahoma training turf.

The post Pletcher, Mott Breeders’ Cup Brigades Put In ‘Big Breezes’ At Belmont appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post