Tag: golden pal

Breeders’ Cup Weekend Ready for Take-Off!

LEXINGTON, KY – Led by unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit), the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships–consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million– return to Keeneland for a third time with a two-day run beginning Friday.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s–does it get any better than that?–are expected for the 'Future Stars Friday' program. Cave Rock (Arrogate) will put his unbeaten mark on the line for Bob Baffert in the Juvenile while Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) headlines a wide-open renewal of the Juvenile Fillies. There will also be a trio of Breeders' Cup grass races for 2-year-olds with Godolphin's European invader Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) leading the way in the featured Juvenile Turf.

Some of the top storylines for Saturday's absolutely stacked program–there's currently a 40% chance of afternoon showers in the forecast–include: Flightline's quest for glory in the $6-million Classic; a showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates Malathaat (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin) in the Distaff; War Like Goddess (English Channel) taking on the boys in the Turf; the unexpected return of the talented Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) off a 14-month layoff in the Mile; and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) shooting for a third win at the Championships in the Turf Sprint.

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

For wall-to-wall coverage of all 14 Championship races, click here for Friday's preview edition and click here for Saturday's preview edition.

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Highfield Princess Poised For Turf Clash With Golden Pal

Trainer John Quinn is “happy” with three-time Group 1 winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) ahead of a start in the 5 1/2-furlong $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 5. The 5-year-old drew stall six in the field of 16, two to the inside of crack American sprinter Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). She also carries three pounds less than the colt, and Quinn is relishing a clash with the Wesley Ward trainee. Ward also has multiple Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (stall four) and Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof The Nile) (stall seven) signed on for the Keeneland contest.

“She's in good form as you can see,” said Quinn. “She's well in herself, she's ready and hopefully we'll get her there. She's been ticking over well; her work has been pleasing and she still looks well so I'm happy with her.

“Golden Pal is the best sprinter they've had in America for a long time. I watched him win in Keeneland in the Breeders Cup trial two weeks ago. He made all the running; he came out like a bullet. I thought his stall wasn't closed he came out so quick. He was well in control and broke the track record. I thought he was good but so is she.”

Quinn noted that the Breeders' Cup was always on his radar for the winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, G1 Nunthorpe S. and G1 Flying Five S.

“The Breeders' Cup is something we've been thinking about all year,” he added. “I said to my son, Sean, in the spring, if this filly improves seven to 10 pounds, I'd love to see her around Keeneland over 5 ½-furlongs round a bend. She's won round a bend at both Chelmsford and Haydock, she's good going left-handed. The bonus is wonderful but the fact she is good enough and we're happy with her is the clincher really.

“They've had a very dry time at Keeneland. She's got very good form on fast ground, but you just wouldn't like it to be rock hard. I believe there is some rain forecast. She has won on all grounds, but I just hope they get some rain and its decent ground.”

As long as the Trainers House Enterprises, Ltd. colourbearer exits her Breeders' Cup start in good order, there is every chance she would return as a 6-year-old.

“If she's fit, well and has got the appetite for it, he'll [owner John Fairley] race her next year,” Quinn said. “It's fantastic that he's thinking of keeping her for next year.”

 

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Unbeaten Flightline Tabbed as 3-5 Favorite for Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, KY — With University of Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari pulling the pills, unbeaten superstar Flightline (Tapit) drew post four for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic to a round of applause during Monday's Rood & Riddle Post Position Draw held at the home of the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.

The 3-5 morning-line favorite will meet seven rivals in the $6-million centerpiece at Keeneland, including the talented Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (post two) and top 3-year-olds Epicenter (Not This Time) (post six), Taiba (Gun Runner) (post one) and Rich Strike (Keen Ice) (post eight).

“Good draw,” trainer John Sadler said of the runaway GI Pacific Classic winner. “We would've been happy with any draw. We think at 1 1/4 miles you have a good run into the turn to get your position. So, for him, it's just fine.”

Seven returning or former Breeders' Cup winners were entered for the two-day Championships: Aloha West (Hard Spun) (Sprint), Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) (F/M Sprint), Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) (F/M Sprint), Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (Turf Sprint), Life Is Good (Classic), Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Mile); and Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (Mile).

The GI Breeders' Cup Distaff will be one of the more highly anticipated races of the weekend, led by the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of champion Malathaat (Curlin) and leading 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin). The latter was tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite.

“We're blessed to have both of them,” Pletcher said. “It's a contentious field. There are some other really good fillies in there. It's certainly not a match race between the stablemates.”

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a disappointing sixth as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, is the clear cut one to beat in Saturday's renewal. The Sprint lost one of its major players with the defection of star 3-year-old Jack Christopher (Munnings). Expected to go off as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was scratched by the track veterinarians the day prior to the race.

“It was a difficult decision, but it's my understanding that the veterinary teams in charge of clearing horses to participate are likely to scratch the horse on or before race day primarily based on the way he moves,” trainer Chad Brown told Daily Racing Form.

Morning-line favorites for Championship Saturday's races: Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint) (3-1); Golden Pal (Turf Sprint) (2-1); Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile) (5-2); Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (F/M Turf) (5-2); Jackie's Warrior (Sprint) (4-5); Modern Games (Ire) (Mile) (7-2); Nest (Distaff) (9-5); Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Turf) (3-1); and Flightline (Classic) (3-5).

Morning-line favorites on the 'Future Stars Friday' program: The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) (7-2); Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) (Juvenile Fillies) (7-2); Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) (4-1); Cave Rock (Arrogate) (Juvenile) (4-5); and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Juvenile Turf) (3-1).

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

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Golden Pal Headlines Keeneland’s Friday Work Tab

Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Westerberg's Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), undefeated in four prior starts at Keeneland, worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 as he completed his preparations toward defending his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“Sometimes when you come up to a big event like the Breeders' Cup, you can get a little nervous and try to overdo things,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “But we are just sticking with the plan.”

Also working Friday for Ward was Stonestreet Stables's 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns (U S Navy Flag), who breezed five furlongs in 1:08 in anticipation of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Joining that pair on the work tab Friday morning was the D.J. Stable's owned and Marke Casse-trained duo of GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf pre-entrant Webslinger (Constitution). Each worked a half-mile, with Wonder Wheel going in :48.40 on the dirt and Webslinger covering the same distance on the grass in :50.40.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) and Lost Ark (Violence), both pre-entered in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile S., to work in company–the pair went a half-mile in :48.80. Shortly after, Pletcher's two GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies entries, Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) and Atomically (Girvin), also went a half together in :49.80.

Manny Wah (Will Take Charge), trainer Wayne Catalano's GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint pre-entry, covered the same half-mile distance in :47.40.

Last seen taking down the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 17, Curly Jack (Good Magic) had his first timed workout over the Keeneland track Friday, going a half-mile in :49.80.

“This is his last work going into the race,” said trainer Tom Amoss. “I know the big question on everyone's mind is the time between races and how he will respond to that. I am very comfortable with that. Today's work was designed to be an easy half-mile with a good gallop out. We got just that.”

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