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No Fans At This Year’s Breeders’ Cup; Purse Increases Postponed Until 2021; Keeneland To Host Again In 2022

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, announced on Saturday Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. will be the host site for the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Keeneland, which is also scheduled to host this year's World Championships on November 6–7, will hold the 39th championship event on November 4–5, 2022, which will mark the venue's third time as host since it first welcomed the Breeders' Cup in 2015.

The announcement of Keeneland as host of the 2022 event was made in conjunction with the decision to conduct the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships without fans on-site due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made following close, continuous communications with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Keeneland, local and state government and public health officials and independent medical experts to fully assess the conditions under which major sporting events may expect to operate safely in the coming months.

Under the new operational parameters, on-site attendance will be limited to essential personnel and participants only. Those accessing the grounds will be subject to strict guidelines and protocols put in place as part of Breeders' Cup's comprehensive COVID-19 health and safety plan, details of which will be announced closer to the event.

In keeping with the Breeders' Cup's commitment to showcase the highest quality of competition the sport has to offer, the 2020 Breeders' Cup will be run for $31 million in purses and awards, the same amount as 2019. While many racing events have reduced purses due to COVID-19 implications, the Breeders' Cup is committed to maintaining its lucrative purse levels during these challenging times to support the industry and its horsemen. With purses of $6 million and $4 million, the weekend's Longines Classic and Longines Turf remain two of the richest horse races in the world. The $4 million purse increase announced earlier this year has been postponed to 2021.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be joined by our fans on-site this year, our utmost priority is and always will be to conduct the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the safest way possible,” said Fred Hertrich, Breeders' Cup Board Chairman. “We would like to thank Governor Beshear, state and local health officials and public health authorities for their leadership, guidance and insight as we have worked to identify our options and finalize our plans. Lexington's local community of racing fans, businesses and members of the Thoroughbred industry are the backbone of our sport, and we believe they deserve a second opportunity, in short order, to experience the event at its full potential. As such, we are proud to award Keeneland the 2022 World Championships and look forward to bringing the Breeders' Cup back to Lexington in just two years' time.”

“The decision to hold this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships without fans in attendance was not made lightly,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup. “However, after many months of careful deliberation, planning and consultation, it has become abundantly clear that this is the right decision in order to proceed with our event while still protecting the collective health of our community. Despite many major racing events reducing purses significantly, we are proud to be able to maintain 2019 purse levels to support our nominators and horsemen during this challenging year.”

“While the World Championships will look different this year, Keeneland and Breeders' Cup remain committed to making the event the best it can be,” said Bill Thomason, Keeneland President and CEO. “We are grateful to continue providing a platform for our athletes and horses to showcase their talent, and we are excited for the event to return in 2022, when fans can experience the full spectacle of Breeders' Cup in the Bluegrass as we originally intended.”

To enhance the viewing experience for the influx of horse racing fans who will be watching the races from home, Breeders' Cup is working with its official broadcast partner, NBC Sports, to develop and introduce innovative and enhanced production elements. The organization is also implementing advanced technologies across its own digital platforms and channels to further engage with fans at home.

All 2020 ticket holders will receive a full refund and will also be granted first access to purchase the same or similar tickets for the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

Before the Breeders' Cup World Championships takes place at Keeneland in 2022, Del Mar Racetrack, in Del Mar, Calif., will be the site of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 37th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7, 2020. The event will be broadcast live on NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. To learn more about the event, please visit BreedersCup.com/2020.

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

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Breeders’ Cup Back to Keeneland in 2022, Purses Maintained in 2020

The Breeders’ Cup will return to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. as the host site for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup announced Saturday. Keeneland, which is also scheduled to host this year’s World Championships Nov. 6-7, will hold the 39th Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5, 2022. It will be the third time the Breeders’ Cup has been held at Keeneland since 2015. Del Mar will remain the host of the 2021 event.

The announcement of Keeneland as host of the 2022 championships was made in conjunction with two other pieces of news: first, attendance at this year’s event will be limited to the connections of race participants and essential staff, and without fans on-site, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Breeders’ Cup said in a press release that the decision was made following “close, continuous communications with Governor Andy Beshear, Keeneland, local and state government and public health officials and independent medical experts to fully assess the conditions under which major sporting events may expect to operate safely in the coming months.”

Additionally, purse levels will be maintained at the 2019 level, with $31 million in purses and awards. The Longines Classic will again offer a purse of $6 million, while the Longines Turf will be run for $4 million.

In February, prior to the pandemic, the Breeders’ Cup had met and decided to increase purses by a total of $4 million for 2020; that increase will now be postponed to 2021.

Under the new operational parameters, on-site attendance will be limited to essential personnel and participants only, the release said. Those accessing the grounds will be subject to strict guidelines and protocols put in place as part of Breeders’ Cup’s comprehensive COVID-19 health and safety plan, details of which will be announced closer to the event.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be joined by our fans on-site this year, our utmost priority is and always will be to conduct the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the safest way possible,” said Fred Hertrich, Breeders’ Cup Board Chairman. “We would like to thank Governor Beshear, state and local health officials and public health authorities for their leadership, guidance and insight as we have worked to identify our options and finalize our plans. Lexington’s local community of racing fans, businesses and members of the Thoroughbred industry are the backbone of our sport, and we believe they deserve a second opportunity, in short order, to experience the event at its full potential. As such, we are proud to award Keeneland the 2022 World Championships and look forward to bringing the Breeders’ Cup back to Lexington in just two years’ time.”

“The decision to hold this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships without fans in attendance was not made lightly,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup. “However, after many months of careful deliberation, planning and consultation, it has become abundantly clear that this is the right decision in order to proceed with our event while still protecting the collective health of our community. Despite many major racing events reducing purses significantly, we are proud to be able to maintain 2019 purse levels to support our nominators and horsemen during this challenging year.”

“While the World Championships will look different this year, Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup remain committed to making the event the best it can be,” said Bill Thomason, Keeneland President and CEO. “We are grateful to continue providing a platform for our athletes and horses to showcase their talent, and we are excited for the event to return in 2022, when fans can experience the full spectacle of Breeders’ Cup in the Bluegrass as we originally intended.”

This year’s Classic was to get a $1 million bump to $7 million; the Turf a $2 million boost to $6 million, and the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile a $1 million increase to a total purse of $2 million.

“To enhance the viewing experience for the influx of horse racing fans who will be watching the races from home, Breeders’ Cup is working with its official broadcast partner, NBC Sports, to develop and introduce innovative and enhanced production elements,” the press release reads. “The organization is also implementing advanced technologies across its own digital platforms and channels to further engage with fans at home.”

All 2020 ticket holders will receive a full refund and will also be granted first access to purchase the same or similar tickets for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

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A ‘Mighty’ Upset in the Queen’s Plate

Odds were that if Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll was going to win her third Queen’s Plate, it’d come with heavy favorite and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage. Instead, her other two entrants made up a longshot exacta, with lightly raced and one-eyed Mighty Heart dominating the Canadian Classic. Fourth in a rained-off Fair Grounds mile event in February, the bay colt bore out on the turn and crossed the wire 11th when getting on the grass there a month later (he was later officially moved up one spot due to a medication DQ). He broke through by daylight over a couple of these foes going 8 1/2 panels on the Tapeta July 11 and was most recently third–one slot behind Tecumseh’s War (Summer Front)–in a nine-furlong allowance Aug. 1.

Tugging his way to the front from the 13 hole while on his incorrect lead, the homebred settled somewhat and continued along on an uncontested lead through splits of :23.57, :47.61 and 1:12.70. He was briefly headed by Plate Trial winner Clayton around the bend as Curlin’s Voyage revved up wider, but swatted them all away and ran up the score from there. Maiden Belichick made a good late run to round out a C$961 triactor.

“I was concerned for a minute or two with the quick fractions but he looked like he was settling and doing it easily,” said Carroll. “We knew he’d go all day and he sure did. You know what, he’s just a very exciting horse who’s come a long way for [owner/breeder Larry] Cordes, who’s had a lot of confidence in him from the start.”

It was winning rider Daisuke Fukumoto’s first Queen’s Plate ride.

“Unbelievable,” said Fukumoto. “I can’t explain…he’s feeling good today… I saw that nobody [was going for the lead] so I just sent him and he just kept going. After the wire, he still kept going, he didn’t stop there.”

The young pilot, who notched his first-ever stakes win Aug. 22, continued, “He was sharp today. I thought it was fast but I took the lead so I can’t do anything, you know…I let him go. He only has one eye, but he’s got a big heart, a mighty heart.”

Pedigree Notes:

Mighty Heart is the second of two black-type winners for the Distorted Humor stallion Dramedy, winner of the 2015 GII Dixiana Elkhorn S. at Keeneland. Dramedy originally stood his first two years at War Horse Place in Kentucky, then moved to River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma for another two seasons prior to being sold to Saudi Arabia for the 2020 season. With a mere 29 foals from his two crops of racing age, Dramedy has had nine individual winners from 16 starters. His other stakes winner is Southgate, who broke his maiden last year in the restricted Iowa Stallion Futurity. Mighty Heart’s modest female side was void of black-type after his fourth dam until Saturday’s score, while his unraced broodmare sire, the Storm Cat stallion City Place, has three stakes winners out of his daughters, including the Queen’s Plate winner. Emma’s Bullseye’s most recent foal is the unraced 2-year-old filly Evelyn’s Delight (Silver Max).

Saturday, Woodbine
QUEEN’S PLATE S., C$1,002,400, Woodbine, 9-12, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:01.98, ft.
1–MIGHTY HEART, 126, c, 3, by Dramedy
1st Dam: Emma’s Bullseye, by City Place
2nd Dam: Fleeting April, by Northern Afleet
3rd Dam: April’s Luci, by Sunny Clime
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Lawrence Cordes; B-Larry Cordes
(ON); T-Josie Carroll; J-Daisuke Fukumoto. C$600,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-2-0-1, $508,506.
2–Belichick, 126, c, 3, Lemon Drop Kid–Game (Fr), by Montjeu
(Ire). ($300,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods;
B-Sean Fitzhenry (ON); T-Josie Carroll. C$200,000.
3–Clayton, 126, c, 3, Bodemeister–Smarthalf, by Smart Strike.
($16,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Donato
Lanni & Daniel Plouffe; B-Bernard & Karen McCormack (ON);
T-Kevin Attard. C$100,000.
Margins: 7HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 13.25, 26.60, 3.00.
Also Ran: Tecumseh’s War, Curlin’s Voyage, Merveilleux, Dotted Line, Glorious Tribute, Truebelieve, Holyfield, Olliemyboy, F F Rocket, Sweepin Hard, Halo Again.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Got Stormy Returns to Winning Ways in KYD Ladies Turf Sprint

After winning two Grade Is last year, Got Stormy had a hard time finding the wire first this season, but finally returned to the winner’s circle Saturday at Kentucky Downs. Rushing up to contest the pace in the initial strides, the heavy favorite was shuffled back to fifth through a :22.54 opening quarter and :46.27 half-mile. Searching for running room turning for home, the chestnut swung out four wide in the lane and charged clear in the final sixteenth for an authoritative victory.

“We always felt that way [that she’d sprint], but there’s never been an opportunity,” winning trainer Mark Casse said. “For $500,000, we figured this would be a good time to do it. I’ve always said she’d handle soft going; it just limits how far she can run. So for her to get a mile, she needs it extremely, extremely hard. And she hasn’t gotten that once this year. So the bit of the give in the ground was a little worrisome, but it kind of played to her favor.”

As for what’s next, Casse said, “I’ll talk to Gary [Barber], but we’ll probably come back and run her 5 1/2 [furlongs] in the [GI] Breeders’ Cup [Turf Sprint at Keeneland]. I think she’ll like that. [Tyler Gaffalione] said he could have been on the lead, no problem.”

Got Stormy captured the GI Fourstardave H. last term and was a close second in the GI Woodbine Mile next out in September before filling the same spot behind subsequent champion Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile in November. Returning to winning ways when sent west for the GI Matriarch S. Dec. 1, she was fourth in the GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa Feb. 8 and missed by a neck next out in Santa Anita’s GI Frank E. Kilroe S. Mar. 7. The 5-year-old was fourth in both the June 3 GIII Beaugay S. at Belmont and filled the same spot against the boys in that venue’s GIII Poker S. July 4. Got Stormy entered this test off a second to Halladay (War Front) in this term’s Fourstardave Aug. 22.

Pedigree Notes:

The winner’s dam Super Phoebe is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz) and GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat). The 16-year-old mare is also responsible for the unraced juvenile colt Got Curly (Super Saver); a yearling colt by Mohaymen; and a 2020 colt by Bolt d’Oro. She was bred back to Uncle Mo.

Saturday, Kentucky Downs
KENTUCKY DOWNS LADIES SPRINT S.-GIII, $498,000, Kentucky Downs, 9-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.41, sf.
1–GOT STORMY, 121, m, 5, by Get Stormy
1st Dam: Super Phoebe, by Malabar Gold

2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact
($23,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP; $45,000 2yo ’17 EASMAY). O-Gary
Barber; B-Mt Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope
McLean Jr (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $288,300.
Lifetime Record: MGISW, 24-9-5-3, $1,901,378. *1/2 to Sky
Gold (Successful Appeal), SP, $151,020. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Winning Envelope, 121, f, 4, More Than Ready–Granby Girl,
by Badge of Silver. ($3,000 2yo ’18 KEEJAN). O-Lothenbach
Stables Inc. (Bob Lothenbach); B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Chris
M Block. $93,000.
3–Into Mystic, 123, f, 4, Into Mischief–Loveofalifetime, by
Medaglia d’Oro. ($650,000 2yo ’18 OBSAPR). O-George Chris
Coleman & Brad King; B-Runnymede Farm Inc & Catesby W
Clay Investment 2 LLC (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. $46,500.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.90, 14.20, 6.10.
Also Ran: Lady Lawyer, Surrender Now, Quebec, Change of Control, Dixieincandyland, Mentality, Bohemian Bourbon, Cariba, I’llhandalthecash. Scratched: Intuicao (Brz), Jakarta, Kimari. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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