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Leinster ‘Doing Much Better’ Ahead Of Return Trip To Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson's Leinster began serious preparations for a second run in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) by working a half-mile in :49.40 over a turf course labeled good Thursday morning at Keeneland.

Working on his own with Crystal Conning aboard, Leinster recorded fractions of :11.60, :24.80 and :37.40, according to Keeneland clockers.

“Looked good to me,” trainer Rusty Arnold said of Leinster's first work since winning the Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select on Oct. 3.

Leinster finished seventh last year in the Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

“Compared to last year at this time, he's doing much better,” said Arnold, who has had 13 Breeders' Cup starters with his first coming in 1996.

“In retrospect, I ran him too much last year. He won the race in New York (the Troy-G3) and that would have been enough to get him in (the Breeders' Cup). Then I ran him at Kentucky Downs and then BACK here in the Woodford, which I shouldn't have done. He didn't run bad (finishing second), but I just think he had lost his edge a little bit.”

In other Thursday works by Breeders' Cup hopefuls:

Ranlo Investments' Golden Pal, who figures to be one of the main players in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) on Nov. 6, worked 5 furlongs on the turf in 1:02.80 in company with Hat Creek Racing's Illegal Smile (IRE). Golden Pal started 3 lengths in back of Illegal Smile, who is two-time stakes-placed on the turf at Woodbine, and finished a length in front. Both are trained by Wesley Ward.

Working on the fast main track was DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid, who covered a half-mile in :47.80 for trainer Brendan Walsh. Runner-up to Leinster in the Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select, Extravagant Kid also is under consideration for the Turf Sprint.

Also working for Walsh was The Cool Silk Partnership's Midnight Sands, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.80. Midnight Sands is under consideration for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

David Bernsen and Jeffrey Lambert's Lasting Legacy, under consideration for the $2 million Sprint (G1), worked a half-mile in :47.60 for trainer Bob Hess.

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Leinster Has Girth Troubles, Kicks Off Anyway In Woodford Stakes At Keeneland

Leinster had a more eventful trip than it might appear in Saturday's Grade 2 Woodford Stakes, owing to the strap from his over girth coming loose from its keepers, but it didn't hinder what was otherwise a stellar performance in the turf sprint.

The 5-year-old son of Majestic Warrior carried on what has already been a successful 2020 at Keeneland, after winning the track's marquee turf sprint race of the July meet, the G2 Shakertown Stakes, in track-record time. Adding another Keeneland win puts him in a strong position to carry that home-course advantage into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at the same track.

On Saturday, Leinster broke sharply under jockey Luis Saez, and stayed within striking distance of leader Just Might. The strap on Leinster's girth was already loose and swinging by the time the field got through an opening quarter in :21.90 seconds, but Saez remained secure in the irons throughout the trip.

Just Might led the field through the turn and held on to the advantage, but Leinster gradually drew even with the pace setter approaching the final eighth, and he kicked on to win by a half-length over a late-gaining Extravagant Kid. Just Might continued on for third.

Leinster stopped the clock in the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:01.59 over a fast turf course, a tick slower than his course-record time at the same distance in the Shakertown, which he completed in 1:00.86. He won the race for owners Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables, and Jean Wilkinson, and he was trained by Rusty Arnold. Leinster paid $7.80 to win as the favorite.

To view the full race chart, click here.

Quotes from the $150,000 Woodford Presented by TVG, courtesy of the Keeneland notes team

Rusty Arnold (winning trainer of Leinster)

“We had a little setback – he had a foot problem. We actually were going to run him at Kentucky Downs. We didn't get to run. Maybe it's a blessing because he stayed right here on his home track. He got to work on this turf course a couple of times – I think that's a big edge. Worked out good.”

Luis Saez (winning rider)

“He broke pretty sharp. He put me on the lead, but we didn't really want to be there. We wanted to track somebody. We had a perfect position, and I had a lot of horse. He just took off.”

Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Extravagant Kid)

“I am very pleased with his effort today. He has a tendency to kind of wait on horses when he makes the lead, so I was trying to time it right. We got beat by a really nice horse. I am pleased with what my horse gave today and I am looking forward to next time.”

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Leinster Leads 1-2 Finish For Rusty Arnold In Shakertown Stakes

Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson's Leinster collared 2018 Shakertown winner Bound for Nowhere at midstretch and held off stablemate Totally Boss by a head to win the Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Rusty Arnold, Leinster covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in a course-record 1:00.86.

Bound for Nowhere, under regular rider Julio Garcia, led the field through fractions of :21.16 and :43.55 with Tiger Blood in closest pursuit and Leinster stalking in fourth.

Bound for Nowhere opened a daylight advantage in the upper stretch and grudgingly gave way to Leinster, who in turn held off Totally Boss.

The victory was worth $90,000 and improved Leinster's bankroll to $524,211 with a record of 21-4-6-4. Leinster is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Majestic Warrior out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar.

Leinster paid $22.40, $8.60 and $5.40. Totally Boss, with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, returned $7.40 and $5.20 with Bound for Nowhere finishing another neck back in third and paying $3.80 to show.

Fast Boat finished another half-length back in fourth and was followed in order by Extravagant Kid, Tell Your Daddy, Corruze, Tiger Blood, Just Might, Texas Wedge, Real News, Shared Legacy and Wildman Jack.

Shakertown Quotes
Tyler Gaffalione: “(Leinster) broke well. He put himself right in the race. I was able to drop in behind the speed. I had the perfect trip, really. All credit goes to (trainer) Rusty (Arnold) and his team. He told me when I got to the Paddock that (Leinster) was ready today. And he definitely showed it.”

Did you think you won the photo? “I was very confident. I had the momentum going forward.”

Rusty Arnold, trainer of 1-2 finishers Leinster and Totally Boss:

What was it like waiting out that photo finish? “It was probably the first time in my life I was begging for a dead heat. I've watched it three times and I couldn't tell (who won). It was going to work good for me either way, but it would have worked really good for me if it was a dead heat.”

Did you think both horses would have performances like that? “I did. They both came back from their one race at Churchill (a May 29 allowance, their first start of 2020), which they didn't win. But they were hung up in the virus this winter in Florida and we didn't get them going as early as we wanted. They have really done well here, both horses.”

How do you get them to peak again here for Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1)? “Not sure yet, but I'm going to work on that. I think the race today is probably good enough to get them both in. But we'll work our way backwards from that. That's where we want them both.”

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