Tag: Knicks Go

Cox Duo Top Two on Breeders’ Cup Classic Morning Line

DEL MAR, CA – Leading older horse Knicks Go (Paynter) received the nod at 5-2 on the morning-line for Saturday's $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic as a field of nine was drawn during Monday's Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post-Position Draw held in the Del Mar paddock.

The speedy 2021 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and GI Whitney S. winner, hero of last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, will be on the engine from post five in this first attempt at the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance.

Last year's outstanding trainer Brad Cox will also be very well-represented by the 3-1 second-choice in 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). The 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and champion 2-year-old colt is drawn one to the inside of his stablemate. The Godolphin homebred takes on his elders for the first time off a hard-fought score in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga.

The Classic field also includes fellow leading sophomores–GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) (post eight; 4-1) and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) (post three; 4-1).

Consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, the two-day 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships feature 169 horses, including seven returning champions.

Saturday's loaded Breeders' Cup program also includes:

• Four-time GISW in 2021 Letruska (Super Saver) (post six; 8-5 favorite) meets GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) (post three) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

• 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) is the 3-5 morning line favorite to repeat in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The defending champion female sprinter is drawn in post five in the six-horse affair.

• Talented 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) (post two) is the 6-5 morning-line favorite as he meets his elders for the first time GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

• CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (post five), a facile winner of Belmont's GII Kelso H. for Todd Pletcher, returns to Southern California as the overwhelming 4-5 morning-line favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

• Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), owned by the H.H. Aga Khan Studs and trained by Dermot Weld, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and drawn one from the outside to defend her crown in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

• The G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret winner Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (post three) makes the trip across the pond for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the 14-horse field.

• War Like Goddess (English Channel) (post seven) leads the way in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf off four straight wins, including Saratoga's GI Flower Bowl Invitational. The defending F/M champion Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is drawn wide in post 12.

• Defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) is drawn on the rail to defend her title as she faces off against last year's speedy GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (post three). The latter is the 7-2 morning-line favorite.

The Future Stars Friday program includes:

• A showdown of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars' and GISWs is on tap in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile between the rail-drawn 9-5 morning-line favorite Jack Christopher (Munnings) and Corniche (Quality Road), drawn widest of 12.

• 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) puts her perfect three-for-three record on the line in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The 4-5 morning-line favorite is drawn widest of all in post six.

• Euro invader Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), runner-up in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S., will see them all from post 14 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He is the 4-1 morning-line favorite.

• The rail-drawn Bobby Flay homebred and GI Natalma S. runner-up Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been installed as the lukewarm 5-1 favorite in a completely wide-open renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

• The unbeaten Wesley Ward-trained filly and three-time stakes winner Averly Jane (Midshipman) (post eight) headlines a full field of 12 set for the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The post Cox Duo Top Two on Breeders’ Cup Classic Morning Line appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Knicks Go, Essential Quality Draw Center Posts In Breeders’ Cup Classic

A total of nine horses were entered Monday for the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic, led by the Brad Cox-trained duo of Knicks Go and Essential Quality. The two talented grays had their final breezes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Sunday, and were scheduled to fly to Del Mar for the World Championships on Monday.

Each has won two Grade 1 races this year, and both enter the Classic off victories: 5-year-old Knicks Go put on a dominant show in the G3 Lukas Classic at Churchill on Oct. 2, and the 3-year-old Essential Quality won the G1 Travers by a neck on Aug. 28 at Saratoga. Joel Rosario will ride 5-2 favorite Knicks Go from post 5, while Luis Saez will be aboard Essential Quality at 3-1 in gate 4.

Embattled trainer Bob Baffert will send out this year's Kentucky Derby first-place finisher and recent G1 Awesome Again Stakes winner Medina Spirit from post 8 (4-1), with John Velazquez in the irons.

Doug O'Neill will saddle his G1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, with regular rider Flavien Prat to ride the 3-year-old from post 3 (4-1). Rounding out the group of sophomores taking on their elders is longshot Stilleto Boy for trainer Ed Moger, Jr.; the Awesome Again runner-up will break from post 7 under Kent Desormeaux.

Other Grade 1 winners in this year's edition include Whitney winner Art Collector (Bill Mott, Mike Smith, post 6, 8-1), Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Max Player (Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr., post 9, 8-1), and Pacific Classic winner Tripoli (John Sadler, Irad Ortiz, Jr., post 1, 15-1).  Rounding out the Classic field is G2 San Diego winner Express Train (John Shirreffs, Victor Espinoza, post 2, 20-1).

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Breeders' Cup Turf 

  1. (15-1) Rockemperor – Javier Castellano – Chad Brown
  2. (20-1) United – John Velazquez – Richard Mandella
  3. (4-1) Domestic Spending – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  4. (20-1) Astronaut – Victor Espinoza – John Shirreffs
  5. (20-1) Tribhuvan – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  6. (20-1) Acclimate – Ricardo Gonzalez – Phil D'Amato
  7. (8-1) Walton Street – James Doyle – Charlie Appleby
  8. (20-1) Broome – Frankie Dettori – Aidan O'Brien
  9. (12-1) Sisfahan – Cristian Demuro – Henk Grewe
  10. (12-1) Yibir – William Buick – Charlie Appelby
  11. (8-1) Gufo – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  12. (6-1) Teona – David Egan – Roger Varian
  13. (9-5) Tarnawa – Colin Keane – Dermot Weld
  14. (20-1) Japan – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien

Breeders' Cup Distaff

  1. (8-1) Private Mission – Flavien Prat – Bob Baffert
  2. (8-1) Royal Flag – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown
  3. (4-1) Malathaat – John Velazquez – Todd Pletcher
  4. (30-1) Blue Stripe – Frankie Dettori – Marcelo Polanco
  5. (12-1) Clairiere – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – Steve Asmussen
  6. (8-5) Letruska – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Fausto Gutierrez
  7. (30-1) Horologist – Junior Alvarado – Bill Mott
  8. (4-1) Shedaresthedevil – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  9. (15-1) As Time Goes By – Luis Saez – Bob Baffert
  10. (30-1) Marche Lorraine – Oisin Murphy – Yoshito Yahagi
  11. (15-1) Dubar Road – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown

Breeders' Cup Mile

  1. (12-1) Master Of The Seas – James Doyle – Charlie Appleby
  2. (10-1) Smooth Like Strait – Umberto Rispoli – Michael McCarthy
  3. (3-1) SPace Blues – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
  4. (15-1) Raging Bull – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Chad Brown
  5. (20-1) Vin De Garde – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideaki Fujiwara
  6. (5-1) Mo Forza – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  7. (8-1) In Love – Alex Achard – Paulo Lobo
  8. (15-1) Hit The Road – John Velazquez – Dan Blacker
  9. (8-1) Mother Earth – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  10. (8-1) Blowout – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown
  11. (10-1) Got Stormy – Tyler Gaffalione – Mark Casse
  12. (12-1) Pearls Galore – Billy Lee – Paddy Twomey
  13. (15-1) Casa Creed – Junior Alvarado – Bill Mott
  14. (12-1) Ivar – Joe Talamo – Paulo Lobo

Breeders' Cup Sprint

  1. (6-1) Following Sea – John Velazquez – Todd Pletcher
  2. (6-5) Jackie's Warrior – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen
  3. (12-1) C Z Rocket – Florent Geroux – Peter Miller
  4. (20-1) Matera Sky – Yuga Kawada – Hideyuki Mori
  5. (8-1) Aloha West – Jose Ortiz – Wayne Catalano
  6. (10-1) Firenze Fire – Tyler Gaffalione – Kelly Breen
  7. (20-1) Lexitonian – Jose Lezcano – Jack Sisterson
  8. (6-1) Special Reserve – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Mike Maker
  9. (4-1) Dr. Schivel – Flavien Prat – Mark Glatt

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

  1. (12-1) Going To Vegas – Umberto Rispoli – Richard Baltas
  2. (15-1) Pocket Square – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Chad Brown
  3. (12-1) Acanella – Colin Keane – Ger Lyons
  4. (6-1) Rougir – Maxime Guyon – Cedric Rossi
  5. (20-1) Queen Supreme – James Doyle – Andrew Balding
  6. (4-1) Love – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  7. (7-2) War Like Goddess – Julien Leparoux – Bill Mott
  8. (4-1) Loves Only You – Yuga Kawada – Yoshito Yahagi
  9. (15-1) My Sister Nat – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  10. (20-1) Ocean Road – Oisin Murphy – Hugo Palmer
  11. (30-1) Dogtag – Flavien Prat – Richard Mandella
  12. (5-1) Audarya – William Buick – James Fanshawe

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

  1. (7-2) Silver State – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – Steve Asmussen
  2. (12-1) Pingxiang – Yuga Kawada – Hideyuki Mori
  3. (4-1) Ginobili – Drayden Van Dyke – Richard Baltas
  4. (30-1) Jasper Prince – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideyuki Mori
  5. (4-5) Life Is Good – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Todd Pletcher
  6. (20-1) Restrainedvengence – Edwin Maldonado – Val Brinkerhoff
  7. (12-1) Snapper Sinclair – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen
  8. (10-1) Eight Rings – Juan Hernandez – Bob Baffert

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

  1. (6-1) Glass Slippers – Tom Eaves – Kevin Ryan
  2. (5-1) Emaraaty Ana – Andrea Atzeni – Kevin Ryan
  3. (7-2) Golden Pal – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Wesley Ward
  4. (6-1) Lieutenant Dan – Geovanni Franco – Steve Miyadi
  5. (12-1) Arrest Me Red – John Velazquez – Wesley Ward
  6. (8-1) A Case Of You – Ronan Whelan – Adrian McGuiness
  7. (30-1) Charmaine's Mia – Flavien Prat – Phil D'Amato
  8. (20-1) Caravel – Jose Ortiz – Graham Motion
  9. (6-1) Kimari – Joel Rosario – Wesley Ward
  10. (5-1) Gear Jockey – Jose Lezcano – Rusty Arnold
  11. (12-1) Fast Boat – Tyler Gaffalione – Joe Sharp
  12. (12-1) Extravagant Kid – Ryan Moore – Brendan Walsh

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

  1. (20-1) Proud Emma – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  2. (12-1) Estilo Talentoso – Jose Ortiz – Juan Arriagada
  3. (12-1) Edgeway – Joel Rosario – John Sadler
  4. (4-1) Ce Ce – Victor Espinoza – Michael McCarthy
  5. (3-5) Gamine – John Velazquez – Bob Baffert
  6. (5-2) Bella Sofia – Luis Saez – Rudy Rodriguez

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

  1. (5-1) Modern Games – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
  2. (6-1) Albahr – Frankie Dettori – Charlie Appleby
  3. (8-1) Dakota Gold – Luis Saez – Danny Gargan
  4. (8-1) Tiz the Bomb – Brian Hernandez, Jr. – Ken McPeek
  5. (12-1) Slipstream – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  6. (8-1) Mackinnon – Juan Hernandez – Doug O'Neill
  7. (20-1) Great Max – John Velazquez – Michael Bell
  8. (12-1) Glounthaune – Ryan Moore – Aidan O'Brien
  9. (20-1) Stolen Base – Umberto Rispoli
  10. (6-1) Portfolio Company – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  11. (15-1) Grafton Street – Tyler Gaffalione – Mark Casse
  12. (30-1) Credibility – Mike Smith – Mark Casse
  13. (15-1) Coinage – Florent Geroux – Mark Casse
  14. (4-1) Dubawi Legend – James Doyle – Hugo Palmer

Breeders' Cup Juvenile

  1. (9-5) Jack Christopher – Jose Ortiz – Chad Brown
  2. (15-1) Jasper Great – Yuichi Fukunaga – Hideyuki Mori
  3. (20-1) Oviatt Class – Kent Desormeaux – Keith Desormeaux
  4. (15-1) Pappacap – Joe Bravo – Mark Casse
  5. (20-1) Double Thunder – Flavien Prat – Todd Pletcher
  6. (30-1) American Sanctuary – Florent Geroux – Chris Davis
  7. (30-1) Giant Game – Joe Talamo – Dale Romans
  8. (10-1) Barossa – Juan Hernandez – Bob Baffert
  9. (8-1) Pinehurst – John Velazquez – Bob Baffert
  10. (5-1) Commandperformance – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Todd Pletcher
  11. (30-1) Tough To Tame – Sophie Doyle – Chris Davis
  12. (5-2) Corniche – Mike Smith – Bob Baffert

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

  1. (5-1) Pizza Bianca – Jose Ortiz – Christophe Clement
  2. (12-1) Cairo Memories – Kent Desormeaux – Bob Hess
  3. (12-1) Cachet – Luis Saez – George Boughey
  4. (12-1) Turnerloose – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  5. (8-1) Bubble Rock – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Brad Cox
  6. (10-1) Hello You – John Velazquez – David Loughnane
  7. (8-1) Consumer Spending – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
  8. (20-1) Sail By – Junior Alvarado – Leah Gyarmati
  9. (6-1) Koala Princess – Joel Rosario – Arnaud Delacour
  10. (30-1) Helens Well – Umberto Rispoli – Phil D'Amato
  11. (10-1) Haughty – Tyler Gaffalione – Chad Brown
  12. (8-1) Malavath – Ryan Moore – Francis-Henri Graffard
  13. (6-1) Mise En Scene – Oisin Murphy – James Ferguson
  14. (8-1) California Angel – Rafael Bejarano – George Leonard, III

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

  1. (20-1) Desert Dawn – Ricardo Gonzalez – Phil D'Amato
  2. (5-2) Hidden Connection – Reylu Gutierrez – Bret Calhoun
  3. (15-1) Sequist – Junior Alvarado – Dallas Stewart
  4. (12-1) Tarabi – Javier Castellano – Cherie Devaux
  5. (5-2) Juju's Map – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
  6. (4-5) Echo Zulu – Joel Rosario – Steve Asmussen

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

  1. (15-1) Twilight Jet – Leigh Roche – Michael O'Callaghan
  2. (12-1) Kaufymaker – Jose Ortiz – Wesley Ward
  3. (15-1) Go Bears Go – John Velazquez – David Loughnane
  4. (20-1) Vertiginous – Javier Castellano – Brian Meehan
  5. (12-1) Hierarchy – Oisin Murphy – Hugo Palmer
  6. (4-1) Twilight Gleaming – Irad Ortiz, Jr. – Wesley Ward
  7. (6-1) Armor – Ryan Moore – Richard Hannon
  8. (5-2) Averly Jane – Tyler Gaffalione – Wesley Ward
  9. (4-1) One Timer – E. Baird – Larry Rivelli
  10. (15-1) Time To Party – Flavien Prat – Peter Miller
  11. (12-1) Derrynane – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement
  12. (20-1) Run Curtis Run – Luis Saez – Michael Maker

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Breeders’ Cup Breeze Report for Oct. 31: Cox Contingent on Track at Churchill

Three of trainer Brad Cox's Breeders' Cup hopefuls turned in their final works ahead of championship weekend Sunday at Churchill Downs, a day later than originally planned due to rain in the Louisville area Saturday. Aiming for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Essential Quality (Tapit) went five furlongs in a bullet :59.40 (1/22) and Knicks Go (Paynter) covered the same distance in 1:01.20 (9/22). GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) went her five furlongs in 1:00.80 (2/22).

“It was a great morning and all three horses put in great works,” Cox said. “It was exactly what we were looking for heading into the Breeders' Cup next week. All three of these horses were scheduled to work [Saturday], but we got a lot of rain in the area, so we moved them all to [Sunday]. Overall, it worked out really well. I thought it was a good track. It was still a little wet, but it was drying out as the morning was going on.”

Essential Quality, with jockey Florent Geroux in the saddle, breezed outside of 3-year-old allowance winner Colonel Bowman (Curlin). Last year's champion juvenile started one length back of his workmate and finished five lengths in front through splits of :23.40 and :47. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

“Essential really loved the track this morning and it was probably the Tapit coming out of him a little bit,” Cox said. “There was a set of horses slowing down in front of them and I told Florent on the radio to gallop out by them. It was a really, really good move. A lot of people scratch their heads the way he trains in the morning compared to running in a race. That's just who he is, but I think he's really developing at the right time.”

Essential Quality, whose lone career loss was a fourth-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby, won the GI Belmont S. and GII Jim Dandy S. and makes his first start since winning the Aug. 28 GI Runhappy Travers S. in Saturday's Classic.

Likely Classic favorite Knicks Go, with regular exercise rider Hugo Garcia up, clipped through fractions of :24.40, 36.40 and :48.60 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13.80 and seven furlongs in 1:27.60.

“He's just a really cool horse,” Cox said. “He's very kind when he's in his stall, but he's very aggressive, in a good way, outside of the barn. He knows his job and puts a lot into his training and works. I don't see anything from his previous races than he can't get the extra eighth-mile distance in the Classic. In the Whitney, against a field of really good horses, I thought he showed he could get an extra quarter-mile. He seems to clear off around the turn from his competition and is able to go fast and kick on.”

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, winner of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, comes into the Classic off wins in the July 2 GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H., Aug. 7 GI Whitney S. and Oct. 2 GIII Lukas Classic S.

Shedaresthedevil worked with Geroux aboard through early fractions of :24 and :48.20.

“She always gets into a good rhythm in her training and races,” Cox said. “We saw that again today. Florent worked her and she was just cruising around there. She always seems to be under the radar, even going back to when she won the Kentucky Oaks. I thought I ran her a little too quickly back in the GI Spinster S. last year. She's gotten the job done in three out of four starts this year. She doesn't run bigger figures than some of the older mares, but she is a racehorse through and through. When she gets in a battle, she shows all heart and determination to get the job done.”

Shedaresthedevil defeated likely Distaff favorite Letruska (Super Saver) when winning the GII Azeri S. in March. She comes into the Breeders' Cup off wins in the Aug. 1 GI Clement L Hirsch S. and  Sept. 18 GIII Locust Grove S.

Cox has six Breeders' Cup contenders training at Churchill Downs. Along with the trio who worked Sunday, he'll also target the GI Juvenile Fillies with Juju's Map (Liam's Map), the GI Juvenile Turf with Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) and the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf with Turnerloose (Nyquist).

All of the Churchill Downs-based Breeders' Cup hopefuls are scheduled to van to Indianapolis Monday at noon for a 4 p.m. flight to California.

Art Collector Tunes Up

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini) tuned up for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a four-furlong move in :48.40 (9/29) at Del Mar Sunday.

Art Collector, winner of the GI Woodward S., was one of three Breeders' Cup horses to work at the oceanside oval Sunday for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Neil Poznansky was aboard the trio that included Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) (Mile) going four in :47.60 (4/29) and War Like Goddess (English Channel) (Filly & Mare Turf) going a half-mile in :48.20 (8/29).

“They were all useful works, nothing blazing fast,” said Mott. “I never have a problem working good grass horses on dirt and this track looks safe and very forgiving.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was aboard Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) as she covered a half-mile in :48.40 in preparation for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

“She's a happy girl and she loves to just go about her business,” Rodriguez said of Bella Sofia. “She handled the track well and was very comfortable on it.”

Bella Sofia, a winner of four of five career starts, is coming off wins in the Aug. 7 GI Test S. and Sept. 26 GII Gallant Bloom H.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen worked four of his six Breeders' Cup contenders Sunday at Del Mar, with likely GI Qatar Racing Sprint favorite Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) going three furlongs in :36.80. Working half-miles for Asmussen Sunday were Clairiere (Curlin) (Longines Distaff) in :49.20, Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) (NetJets Juvenile Fillies) in :50.40 and Silver State (Hard Spun) (Dirt Mile) in :48.60.

Other Del Mar dirt workers included C Z Rocket (City Zip) (Qatar Racing Sprint) going 3f in :35.80, Commander (Fr) (War Command) (Turf Sprint also-eligible) a half-mile in :48.80, Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) (TVG Juvenile) a half-mile in :48.60, and the Richard Mandella-trained duo of Dogtag (War Front) (Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf) and Bombard (War Front) (Turf Sprint also-eligible) working five furlongs in :58.20 and :58.40, respectively, in company.

Working over the Del Mar turf Sunday were: Mo Forza (Uncle Mo), a two-time winner of the GII Del Mar Mile, worked a half-mile in :49.40 for the FanDuel Mile for trainer Peter Miller. Shortly after Mo Forza finished his work, Going to Vegas (Goldencents) worked a half-mile in :49.20 for trainer Richard Baltas in preparation for the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf.

Also working on the turf were Time to Party (Kantharos) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) going three furlongs in :38.20, Charmaine's Mia (The Factor) (Turf Sprint) going a half-mile in :50.20, Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid) (Turf Sprint) a half-mile in :49.40 in company with Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}); and Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) going five furlongs in 1:04.40.

In other Breeders' Cup works Sunday, GII Zenyatta S. winner Private Mission (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in a bullet :58.80 (1/44) for trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita.

Breeders' Cup Defections

Trainer Richard Baltas withdrew Idol (Curlin) from consideration forthe GI Breeders' Cup Classic after the GI Santa Anita H. winner worked five furlongs in company in 1:02.40. Baltas told Breeders' Cup officials that he did not feel Idol was 100%.

Also Sunday, trainer Ken McPeek reported that GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Rattle N Roll (Connect) would not be entered in the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“He came out of his workout with what looks like a left hind foot abcess,” McPeek tweeted Sunday.

Two other horses were withdrawn from Breeders' Cup consideration by their connections Sunday morning: Flagstaff (Speightstown) from the Qatar Racing Sprint and Reina de Mollendo (Arg) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf.

Breeders' Cup Draw Live on TVG & Streamed

The Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post-Position Draw for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be shown live on Monday from Del Mar, beginning at 2:30pm PT/5:30pm ET.

All 14 races will be drawn and announced live on TVG, along with BreedersCup.com, the Breeders' Cup mobile app, and Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.

The Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post-Position Draw will be hosted by Britney Eurton and Nick Luck.

 

The post Breeders’ Cup Breeze Report for Oct. 31: Cox Contingent on Track at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Cox BC Contingent Work At Churchill Downs Ahead Of Trip to Del Mar

With rain moving out of the Louisville area Saturday afternoon, trainer Brad Cox's Breeders' Cup stars Essential Quality (five furlongs, :59.40), Knicks Go (five furlongs, 1:01.20), and Shedaresthedevil (five furlongs, 1:00.80) logged their final works Sunday at Churchill Downs prior to shipping to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., for the Nov. 5-6 world championship event.

Cox's $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic contenders Essential Quality and Knicks Go both worked following the 7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) track renovation break. Essential Quality, with jockey Florent Geroux in the saddle, breezed outside of stablemate Colonel Bowman. The multiple Grade 1-winning 3-year-old started one length back of his workmate and finished five lengths in front through splits of :23.40 and :47. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13. Shortly after his move, likely Classic favorite Knicks Go, with regular exercise rider Hugo Garcia up, clipped through fractions of :24.40, :36.40, and :48.60 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13.80 and seven furlongs in 1:27.60.

About 90 minutes later, Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil, preparing for the $2 million Grade 1 Longines Distaff, worked with Geroux aboard through early fractions of :24 and :48.20.

“It was a great morning and all three horses put in great works,” Cox said. “It was exactly what we were looking for heading into the Breeders' Cup next week. All three of these horses were scheduled to work (Saturday) but we got a lot of rain in the area so we moved them all to (Sunday). Overall, it worked out really well. I thought it was a good track. It was still a little wet but it was drying out as the morning was going on.”

Owned by Godolphin, Essential Quality has been off since winning the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes two months ago at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“Essential (Quality) really loved the track this morning and it was probably the Tapit coming out of him a little bit,” Cox said. “There was a set of horses slowing down in front of them and I told Florent on the radio to gallop out by them. It was a really, really good move. A lot of people scratch their heads the way he trains in the morning compared to running in a race. That's just who he is but I think he's really developing at the right time.”

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, who is the likely favorite in the Classic, will attempt his second-straight Breeders' Cup victory after winning last year's Grade 1 Dirt Mile. The speedy Maryland-bred has won his last three races, including a victory in the $400,000 Grade 3 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs.

“He's just a really cool horse,” Cox said. “He's very kind when he's in his stall but he's very aggressive, in a good way, outside of the barn. He knows his job and puts a lot into his training and works. I don't see anything from his previous races than he can't get the extra eighth-mile distance in the Classic. In the Whitney, against a field of really good horses, I thought he showed he could get an extra quarter-mile. He seems to clear off around the turn from his competition and able to go fast and kick on.”

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Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing, and Big Aut Farm's Shedaresthedevil defeated likely Distaff favorite Letruska earlier this year in the $350,000 Grade 2 Azeri. The talented 4-year-old filly is scheduled to sell at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale following the Distaff.

“She always gets into a good rhythm in her training and races,” Cox said. “We saw that again today. Florent worked her and she was just cruising around there. She always seems to be under the radar, even going back to when she won the Kentucky Oaks (at odds of 15-1). I thought I ran her a little too quickly back in the (Grade 1) Spinster last year. She's gotten the job done in three out of four starts this year. She doesn't run bigger figures than some of the older mares but she is a racehorse through and through. When she gets in a battle, she shows all heart and determination to get the job done.”

Cox has six local Breeders' Cup contenders. Along with the trio who worked Sunday, he'll also target the $2 million Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies with Juju's Map, $1 million Grade 1 Juvenile Turf with Ready to Purrform and $1 million Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Turnerloose.

All of the local Breeders' Cup hopefuls are scheduled to van to Indianapolis on Monday at noon (all times Eastern) for a 4 p.m. flight.

The post Cox BC Contingent Work At Churchill Downs Ahead Of Trip to Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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