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Longshot Percolate Helps Kenneth Jordan Win Del Mar Fall Challenge

Kenneth Jordan from Farmington, N.J., vaulted to first in the last race of the Del Mar Fall Challenge handicapping tournament on Saturday. Jordan scored on a $1,000 win wager on longshot Percolate and finished with $18,649.

In addition to Jordan's bankroll winnings, he receives $40,500 in cash and a $10,000 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) 2023 entry.

Second-place finisher Danny Wolf of Studio City, Calif., ended with a bankroll of $10,447 and a cash prize of $5,000 and a 2023 National Horseplayers Championship entry. David Rink finished third good for $5,500 in cash. Both Danny and David also receive $10,000 BCBC entries.

The live money Challenge, played on-track at Del Mar or online through TVG.com had a buy-in of $3,000 with $2,000 going to the player starting bankroll and $1,000 to the prize pool.

PLACE	NAME	FINAL BANKROLL
1	Kenneth Jordan	$18,649.50
2	Danny Wolf	$10,447.90
3	David Rink	$ 9,800.00
4	Greg Wish	$ 7,505.00
5	Damian Roncevich	$ 6,810.00
6	George Nixon	$ 5,069.30
7	Evan Trommer	$ 4,987.50
8	Ryan Flanders	$ 4,860.00
9	Ciaran Thornton	$ 4,461.10
10	Donald Krawiec	$ 3,000.00

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Equibase Analysis: Nine Colts Looking for Road to the Derby Points in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

The Grade 2, $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is a very important race for 2-year-old males on the early “Road to the Derby” and could give us a number of top horses to watch as 3-year-olds. Last year's winner, Smile Happy, went on to finish second in this year's Risen Star Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes before an eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. The 2021 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes runner-up, Classic Causeway, won both the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby and ended up 11th in the Kentucky Derby, while last year's third-place Jockey Club Stakes finisher White Abarrio won both the Holy Bull Stakes as well as the Florida Derby before finishing 16th in this year's Run for the Roses.

This year's group of nine aspiring stars doesn't have a standout, per se, but does have a strong field starting with Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes runner-up Hayes Strike. Street Sense fifth-place finisher Red Route One was third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity prior to that and may have a big say in the outcome, as might Breeders' Futurity fourth-place finisher Instant Coffee.

Then there's Freedom Trail, who moves to dirt for the first time after winning the Awad Stakes on turf in only the second start of his career, after winning in his debut. Similarly, Gigante won the Kitten's Joy Stakes on grass in September before a 10th-place finish in the much tougher Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes last month. Curly Jack is another likely contender, having won the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at the distance of the Kentucky Jockey Club in September before a fifth of 10 finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile three weeks ago. Cyclone Mischief and Denington enter the race off maiden wins and hope to step up their game to this graded stakes level. Western Ghent rounds out the field off a last of 10 finish in the Street Sense.

Top contenders:

Red Route One made his career debut running two turns on grass this past summer at Saratoga, which is no easy feat for a young colt. After a fifth-place finish in that debut, Red Route One improved markedly to win by almost four lengths in September, also on turf. Moving to dirt for the first time in the Breeders' Futurity one month later, the colt broke 11th in a field of 14 horses and although wide on the far turn, rallied for third while the top two had drawn off by seven lengths. That was a strong field, as winner Forte returned to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, a race Red Route One passed to run in the Street Sense Stakes one month earlier. However, that choice did not help as the track came up sloppy and the colt finished fifth of 10. Still, with his effort in the Futurity resulting in a strong 94 Equibase Speed Figure, which is tied for the best dirt figure in the field with Instant Coffee, Red Route One might be the horse to beat if he runs back to that effort. This is particularly true as jockey Tyler Gaffalione gets on for the first time and has won 25% of the time he rides for trainer Steve Asmussen over the past couple of years.

Freedom Trail sports the best last race effort in this field, moving his record to a perfect two-for-two when winning the Awad Stakes four weeks ago with a 96 figure. That win, as well as his debut win one month earlier, came on turf but the colt does have good breeding to suggest he can transfer his top form to dirt. Given this is only the third start of his career and that he improved off an 82 figure in his debut to 96 last out, logical further improvement suggests Freedom Trail has a big shot to win for the third time in three starts.

Instant Coffee finished on even terms, or very close to it, when fourth in the Breeders' Futurity just inches behind third place finisher Red Route One. That was his first attempt in a two-turn race following his debut win at seven furlongs at Saratoga one month earlier. Like others in this field, Instant Coffee is on a recognizable pattern of improvement, going from an 89 debut figure to 94 last month. As such, and since the Futurity produced next out Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte as well as the runner-up finisher in the Bob Hope Stakes last weekend, this colt should be considered strongly as a contender in this year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

The rest of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures in a similar race, is Curly Jack (83), Cyclone Mischief (78), Denington (78), Gigante (81), Hayes Strike (77) and Western Ghent (70).

Win Contenders:
Red Route One
Freedom Trail
Instant Coffee

Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes – Grade 2
Race 11 at Churchill Downs
Saturday, November 26 – Post Time 5:56 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Sixteenth
Two Year Olds
Purse: $400,000

Ellis Starr is national racing analyst for Equibase

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Weekend Lineup: Plentiful Menu Of Graded Stakes For Holiday Weekend

Led by the Grade 1 Clark that features the return to Churchill Downs of G1 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend offers 18 graded stakes throughout North America, with a little something for everyone.

The action begins on Thanksgiving Day, with Churchill Downs offering a pair of graded stakes and Del Mar beginning its Fall Turf Festival with the G3 Red Carpet over the testing distance of 1 3/8 miles.

Aqueduct gets into the swing of things on Friday with the G3 duo of the Long Island on turf and Comely on the main track while the G2 Mrs. Revere Stakes complements the Clark on the Friday program at Churchill Downs. That same afternoon, the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup is the highlight of Del Mar's nine-race program.

Five tracks – Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, and Woodbine – each card at least one graded stakes on Saturday. At Woodbine and Churchill Downs, the Saturday spotlight will be on 2-year-olds, with Woodbine offering the G3 pair of the Grey and Mazarine Stakes and Churchill carding the G2 duo of the Golden Rod and Kentucky Jockey Club. The latter two stakes highlight a 12-race program exclusively for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Here's a quick look at some of this weekend's stakes:

Thursday

3:53 p.m. – Grade 3 Falls City Stakes at Churchill Downs

It's getting late in the year and there are limited opportunities for fillies and mares who will be retired to the breeding shed in 2023 to earn graded stakes black type. Simon Callahan may have shipped the Empire Maker filly Bellamore from California with that in mind and Brendan Walsh-trained Moon Swag, a Malibu Moon filly, just missed winning a G3 in 2021 and looked good winning her comeback race last month at Keeneland. But the into Mischief filly Played Hard, who won on this track in the G3 Locust Grove in September, may have these over a barrel for Philip Bauer and Joel Rosario is on hand to ride.

Falls City Entries

4:29 p.m. – Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar

Sister Otoole ships west for Graham Motion for this 1 3/8-mile turf test and the Amira's Prince mare will try to repeat her effort from summer, when she made a successful invasion of Del Mar to win the TOC/CTT Stakes at the same distance. Umberto Rispoli enters the holiday weekend on a cold streak (1-for-24) but rides this course as good as anyone. Victor Espinoza will try to steal it with Angel Nadeshinko for Patrick Gallagher, but she hasn't been tested at this class level yet.

Red Carpet Entries

Friday

3:14 p.m. – Comely Stakes at Aqueduct

Kathleen O. returns for the first time since closing to be fifth, beaten four lengths by Secret Oath, in the G1 Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Shug McGaughey is good at bringing horses back from lengthy layoffs and the daughter of Upstart should have a decent pace to close into with her late-running style. Bill Mott-trained Nostalgic won the G3 Gazelle over this surface in the spring and the Medaglia d'Oro filly just missed last out in the G3 Turnback the Alarm.

Comely Stakes Entries

5:56 p.m. – Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs

Brad Cox brings West Will Power to this spot off a big front-running win last out in the G2 Fayette at Keeneland, and the Bernardini colt could be the lone speed in this line-up if Injunction isn't sent early. Rich Strike has shown in his three races over this track that he likes the surface, and the 80-1 upset winner of the G1 Kentucky Derby may go favored for the first time in his 13th start. He comes back for trainer Eric Reed three weeks after a fourth-place finish behind Flightline in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Clark Stakes Entries

6:30 p.m. – Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar

None of the seven older runners entered here has won a graded stakes, so this is not the strongest Turf Cup field seen. The Grey Wizard travels to California for Graham Motion and his second behind Nations Pride in the G3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational in September at Aqueduct makes him a contender. Avenue scored a solid allowance win on the Del Mar turf going 1 3/8 miles last summer and the Quality Road colt should love the added distance to 1 1/2 miles, having finished a close third in the 1 3/4-mile, G3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes in June.

Hollywood Turf Cup Entries

Saturday

2:22 p.m. – Grey Stakes at Woodbine

Hal rolls into this G3 synthetic track test for juveniles unbeaten in two starts for Darwin Banach and the gelding from the first crop by Accelerate is the only stakes winner in the field, having won the Display Stakes three weeks ago. Saffie Joseph Jr. ships the English Channel colt Bluebirds Over up from Florida after a runaway win on the Gulfstream Park Tapeta surface. The always dangerous Mark Casse has two entered, both fillies by Quality Road.

Grey Stakes Entries

5:27 p.m. – Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs

Tom Amoss-trained Hoosier Philly has a lot going for her in this spot. She's by leading sire Into Mischief out of a Tapit mare, is unbeaten in two starts, and has a win over the track at the same distance as the Golden Rod. That was on a sloppy track in the Rags to Riches and might not translate to the same kind of performance on dry footing. American Rockette has run decently in a pair of G1 stakes in New York, and trainer Bill Mott is known for his patience. There could be improvement for the American Pharoah miss as she stretches out around two turns for the first time.

Golden Rod Entries

5:56 p.m. – Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs

Red Route One and Instant Coffee both chased Forte home in the G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland last out and Forte came back to win the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile impressively. Red Route One, by Gun Runner, came back to be a troubled fifth in the G3 Street Sense run over a sloppy track at Churchill and picks up Tyler Gaffalione for the first time. Instant Coffee, by red-hot freshman sire Bolt d'Oro, drew a tougher post but has Luis Saez in the saddle to figure out a good trip.

Kentucky Jockey Club Entries

6:30 p.m. – Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar

Phil D'Amato saddles a trio here – Masteroffoxhounds, Hong Kong Harry, and Lincoln Hawk – and all three appear to have a solid chance. Irish-bred Hong Kong Harry is 4-for-5 this year since being imported from the UK and was overpowering in his G2 Del Mar Mile win last summer. Flavien Prat rides him back. Santin just missed in last year's G1 Hollywood Derby for Brendan Walsh, who sends the Distorted Humor west once again. His best is good enough, he draws the rail and gets Umberto Rispoli in the saddle.

Seabiscuit Entries

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Kentucky Derby Futures: Wagering Suspended On Promising Maiden Winner Frank’s Honor

Wagering on Frank's Honor (#17), a five-length maiden winner at Churchill Downs, has been suspended for Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens its four-day run Thursday at noon (all times Eastern).

Frank's Honor, owned by Dell Ridge Farm, has sustained an injury and will likely be retired, according to his trainer Kenny McPeek.

The defection of Frank's Honor leaves the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with 39 betting interests that features 37 individual betting interests. The lineup (with betting number and morning line odds): #1 Awesome Strong (80-1); #2 Blazing Sevens (30-1); #3 Bromley (99-1); #4 Capture the Flag (99-1); #5 Cascais (99-1); #6 Champions Dream (99-1); #7 Corona Bolt (80-1); #8 Curly Jack (80-1); #9 Cyclone Mischief (99-1); #10 Denington (99-1); #11 Disarm (80-1); #12 Echo Again (50-1); #13 Expect More (99-1); #14 Extra Anejo (15-1); #15 Forbidden Secret (99-1); #16 Forte (10-1); #17 Frank's Honor (99-1); #18 Full Moon Madness (99-1); #19 General Jim (80-1); #20 Giant Mischief (25-1); #21 Gulfport (75-1); #22 Hal (99-1); #23 Hit Show (80-1); #24 Instant Coffee (80-1); #25 Joking Way (99-1); #26 Litigate (99-1); #27 Loggins (40-1); #28 Mr. Ripple (99-1); #29 Navy Man (99-1); #30 Practical Move (99-1); #31 Recruiter (99-1); #32 Rocket Can (99-1); #33 Signator (60-1); #34 Tapit's Conquest (99-1); #35 Ten Days Later (60-1); #36 Tuskegee Airmen (99-1); #37 Verifying (80-1); #38 Victory Formation (80-1); #39 “All Fillies from the 2020 Foal Crop (80-1); and #40 All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2020 Foal Crop (3-5).

Wagering on Pool 2, along with the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, will close Sunday at 6 p.m.

More information, Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available before the pool opens Thursday online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager.

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