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Weekend Lineup Presented By Del Mar Ship & Win: Can Mighty Heart Claim The Crown?

Woodbine is back in the spotlight this weekend as the Ontario track hosts the Breeders' Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. TVG will air the Breeders' Stakes as Mighty Heart attempts to become the first horse to sweep the series since Wando in 2003.

Racing from Belmont Park is televised on “America's Day at the Races” on FS2. “America's Day at the Races” will also broadcast races from the opening day of Churchill Downs' fall meet on October 25.
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Saturday, Oct. 24

5:43 p.m.—$400,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Mighty Heart will continue his quest to join an elite group of horses to sweep all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown this Saturday in the Breeders' Stakes. Trained by three-time Queen's Plate winner Josie Carroll, Mighty Heart headlines the final jewel of the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, which concludes on Woodbine's world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course with the longest leg at the distance of 1 ½-miles. The son of Dramedy, bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, is the even-money morning line favorite in the field of 12 having already scored wins in the $1 million Queen's Plate at 1 ¼ miles over Woodbine's Tapeta track on September 12 and the $400,000 Prince of Wales at 1 3/16 miles over Fort Erie's dirt course on September 29.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO102420CAN10-EQB.html

7:37 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Unbeaten in four starts by a combined 25 ½ lengths, trainer Mark Glatt's Magic At Midnight will try stakes competition for the first time as she squares off with Wesley Ward's multiple stakes winning Jo Jo Air in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes which has attracted a field of seven at 5 ½ furlongs over the Santa Anita turf. Claimed for $30,000 out of a first-out 13 length romp on July 14 at Los Alamitos, Magic At Midnight has been nothing short of tremendous in three subsequent starts for Glatt, including a 2 ¾ length score in her only try on grass two starts back in a turf allowance at Del Mar August 14.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA102420USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, Oct. 25

4:55 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing's Feel Glorious will look to bounce back from an off-the-board finish in last month's Grade 3 Noble Damsel with another graded stakes appearance, serving as one of two entrants for trainer Christophe Clement in the Athenia going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course. Feel Glorious is looking to recapture the form she showed earlier in her 4-year-old campaign, including a half-length victory in the Perfect Sting going the Athenia's distance on August 14 at Saratoga Race Course. Cut back to one mile in the Grade 3 Nobel Damsel on September 26 at Belmont, Feel Glorious ran seventh after going five-wide in the upper stretch and failing to rally, marking just the first time in her last seven starts the English-bred daughter of Bated Breath did not hit the board.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL102520USA9-EQB.html

7:30 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In top form and bidding for her third consecutive win, trainer Phil D'Amato's Raymundos Secret, along with Simon Callaghan's classy Maxim Rate, head a field of seven in Sunday's Goldikova Stakes. A gutty gate to wire winner of the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes, Raymundos Secret should relish the cutback in distance, as she's won four out of her five starts at a flat mile. Second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on September 26, Maxim Rate has three wins from six tries at one mile on grass and will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who guided her to a pair of wins this past summer at Del Mar.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA102520USA9-EQB.html

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Four New Members Added To Keeneland’s Advisory Board Of Directors

Keeneland has announced four new additions to its Advisory Board of Directors: Gatewood Bell of Cromwell Bloodstock, Coolmore's Aisling Duignan, Juddmonte Farms' Garrett O'Rourke and Sarah S. Reeves of Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President and CEO from 2000-2012, and J. David Smith Jr. of Stoll Keenon Ogden are retiring from the Keeneland Board.

All four new Directors began their service at the recent Advisory Board meeting. Reeves replaces Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin as Secretary of the Board.

“Gatewood, Aisling, Garrett and Sarah each provide the board with unique skill sets and business acumen that will help guide Keeneland as it navigates the future,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank them for their service to Keeneland.”

Gatewood Bell

Gatewood Bell, president of Cromwell Bloodstock, is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland, following his father, Jimmy Bell, and grandfather, John A. Bell. Bell is a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a U.S. representative for Goffs sales agency. He previously worked for Kiaran McLaughlin and Nicoma Bloodstock and served as a jockey's agent for Fernando Jara.

Aisling Duignan

Aisling Duignan is Director of Bloodstock for Coolmore America. Ashford Stud, owned by John Magnier, is Coolmore's headquarters in the U.S. The farm stands Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

Garrett O'Rourke

Garrett O'Rourke serves as General Manager of Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, where he has helped guide the American operation since 1992. Juddmonte, which has farms in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the U.S., is one of the leading breeders in the world, having bred 26 European and two U.S. classic winners, such as multiple champion and sire Frankel (GB) and Belmont (G1) winner Empire Maker. O'Rourke was named Farm Manager of the Year in 2001 by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club. He serves as a Director Emeritus of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and is on the Board of Trustees for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Sarah S. Reeves

Reeves is a member in Stoll Keenon Ogden's Lexington office and has been with the firm since 2010. She is part of the Business Services practice group and works primarily with clients in the Equine, Health Care and Alcohol & Hospitality industries. Reeves was recognized as a Rising Star by Kentucky Super Lawyers® and is a member of the Women Lawyers' Association of the Fayette County Bar Association. She serves on the board of Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Keeneland Board comprises leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky community.

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Pletcher: Halladay Puts In ‘Good Solid Work’ For Mile, Happy Saver Out Of Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has 4,993 career wins heading into Friday's racing action, breezed a quintet of Breeders' Cup contenders over the past two mornings at Belmont Park.

Harrell Ventures' Halladay, winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave last out on Aug. 22 at Saratoga Race Course, worked five-eighths in company Friday in 1:00.60 on the fast dirt training track while being pressed from the outside by maiden winner Jerry the Nipper, a 3-year-old New York-bred.

It was the second breeze back for the Breeders' Cup Mile contender after scratching out of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on October 3 at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.

“I thought it was a good work. We normally don't work him in company, but seeing as we're a little rushed for time between races, I wanted to get a good solid work into him today in company,” said Pletcher. “He's a very willing work horse on his own but the fact that we missed the prep race we wanted to get a good solid company work into him and we got what we were hoping for.

“He responded quickly to antibiotics and everything has gone according to plan so far,” added Pletcher.

The 4-year-old War Front gray, who captured the Tropical Park Derby in December at Gulfstream Park, took a big step forward in his 4-year-old campaign, reeling off a trio of triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures over his last four starts from wins in an optional-claimer [102] on the Gulfstream turf in April; a 1 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch [103] at the Spa in July; and a 105 Beyer for his frontrunning Fourstardave coup.

“He's always been an impressive horse to watch train,” said Pletcher. “The key to him getting better has been that he's learned to settle and relax a bit in the early part of his races. He was on the bridle in the early part of his breeze today with his company but he wasn't throwing his head and getting silly about it.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz and CHC Inc.'s Valiance made the grade last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland. The Tapit gray clocked a half-mile in 48.04 on the dirt training track Friday while working outside of 3-year-old allowance-winning filly Thankful.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be in really good form at the moment. I was really happy with the work and gallop out.”

A six-time winner from eight starts, Pletcher said the $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase continues to improve with each start ahead of facing deeper waters in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This is another step up but she seems to be in the best form of her career,” said Pletcher. “As she's gotten older and more mature and stronger, she's trained better on the dirt. She's won her last two starts on the dirt and has a win over the track which never hurts.”

Valiance, who won the off-the-turf Eatontown at Monmouth Park in August ahead of her Spinster score, is out of the Grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Last Full Measure.

Breeders' Cup hopefuls Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf], Likeable [Juvenile] and Union Gables [Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Turf Sprint] worked on Thursday at Belmont.

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, who was third in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful in September ahead of a last-out win in the Grade 2 Bourbon on October 4 at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in 49.75 through the fog on the dirt training track.

“We were under quite a bit of fog at the time, but what we could see looked very good. He seemed to be moving great and came back well,” said Pletcher.

By Into Mischief and out of the Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, Mutasaabeq was a $425,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables' Likeable worked five-eighths in 1:02.11 on Big Sandy under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

The Frosted bay finished second in his August 22 debut at Saratoga under Irad Ortiz, Jr. ahead of his impressive 8 ¼-length maiden score under Luis Saez in a one-turn mile on September 19 at Belmont.

“I wanted him [Velazquez] to get a feel for the horse and to learn something about him,” said Pletcher. “We've always liked this horse a lot. His two races have been good and he's trained like we would have hoped since then.”

Pletcher said Likeable is training forwardly enough that he opted for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile rather than the Grade 3 Nashua on November 8 at the Big A.

“The choices are do you take a conservative route like the Nashua or do you take a shot at the long ball when the horse is doing really well,” said Pletcher. “We figured there's a lot of upside if we're fortunate and not a lot of downside if were not.”

GMP Stables and F. Bellavia's Union Gables, a 2-year-old Speightstown filly, breezed a half-mile in 50.25 on the dirt training track. She finished third in the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson on September 3 at Saratoga ahead of a last-out second in the Grade 3 Matron at six furlongs on the Belmont turf on October 11.

“I think we'll pre-enter Union Gables in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and second choice in the Juvenile Turf Sprint after her second in the Matron. We'll see where she lands and how popular those races are,” said Pletcher.

Union Gables was a private purchase following her first-out graduation on the Saratoga main track on August 4 for former trainer Gary Gullo.

Pletcher said Wertheimer and Frere's undefeated Happy Saver, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10 at Belmont, will not enter the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Super Saver sophomore graduated on June 20 at Belmont ahead of a nine-furlong allowance win against older horses in July at the Spa. He entered the Jockey Club Gold Cup from a prominent win in the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park on September 7.

“We're going to pass on the Breeders' Cup with him and make a decision in the next week on whether we'll give him some time off or focus on a Plan B towards the Pegasus [at Gulfstream]. I think the Classic is coming up a little too soon,” said Pletcher. “He's a horse we plan to race next year and I felt like for the long term skipping this race and focusing on 2021 is the right move for him. He has a lot of talent and we want to make sure we keep him fresh for next year.”

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Stakes Winner Super Stock Headlines Sunday’s Street Sense, Steppingstone To Kentucky Jockey Club

Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's multiple graded stakes placed Super Stock was made the solid 8-5 morning line favorite in Sunday's $98,000-added Street Sense at Churchill Downs, while Kueber Racing's undefeated Coach tops the $98,000-added Pocahontas as the 3-1 early favorite.

The 1 1/16-mile Street Sense and Rags to Riches are the co-headlining races of the 11-race kickoff of the 24-day Fall Meet. Dubbed as Stars of Tomorrow I, the afternoon will feature all 2-year-old racing. First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Super Stock, a Kentucky-bred son of Dialed In, broke his maiden Aug. 11 in the $113,000 Texas Futurity at Lone Star Park. The colt subsequently finished third in the $200,000 Iroquois presented by Ford (Grade III) and $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (GI). Ricardo Santana Jr. has the call from post No. 7.

The complete field for the Street Sense in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Crime Spree (Mitchell Murrill, Eric Heitzmann, 15-1); Oncoming Train (Rafael Bejarano, Jimmy DiVito, 9-2); Arabian Prince (Joe Talamo, Dallas Stewart, 4-1); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 9-2); Eucharist (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset, 5-1); Franz Josef (Julien Leparoux, Glenn Wismer, 10-1); and Super Stock (Santana, Steve Asmussen, 8-5).

The Street Sense annually serves as a steppingstone to the $200,000 Jockey Club (G2) on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. It is carded as Race 8 with a post time of 4:36 p.m.

Two races later, Coach will stretch out in distance for the first time in the Rags to Riches. Trained by Brad Cox, Coach recorded dominant victories at Indiana Grand breaking her maiden by 4 ¼ lengths and besting first-level allowance company by 9 ¾ lengths. The daughter of Commissioner will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post No. 8.

The field for the Rags to Riches from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Orsetto (Declan Cannon, Tim Austin, 8-1); Malibu Bird (Tyler Gaffalione, Norm Casse, 9-2); Dash to the Top (Gabriel Saez, Wayne Catalano, 15-1); Oliviaofthedesert (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 4-1); Lady Traveler (Joe Talamo, Dale Romans, 5-1); Salty as Can Be (Ricardo Santana Jr, Mark Casse, 5-1); Torsie's Charm (Adam Beschizza, Eddie Kenneally, 20-1); Coach (Geroux, Cox, 3-1); and Midnight Ballerina (Julien Leparoux, Bill Mott, 8-1).

Inaugurated in 2005, the Stars of Tomorrow programs at Churchill Downs have helped launch the careers of more than 50 future Grade I winners including Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Kentucky Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra, Believe You Can and Monomoy Girl and Preakness (GI) winner Swiss Skydiver.

A total of 104 horses were entered in the body of Sunday's card for an average of 9.45 horses per race.

Sunday's National Weather Service forecast calls for cloudy conditions with highs in the high 60s. The rail on the Matt Winn Turf Course will be set in Lane 2, 15 ft. off the inside hedge.

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