Tag: Preakness

Swiss Skydiver Gets the Better of Authentic in Stirring Preakness Stretch Drive

Only five fillies had managed to take home the blanket of black-eyed susans in the previous 144 runnings of the GI Preakness S. and the last to do so was Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, who beat GI Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length in the 2009 renewal. However, in 2020, a year of upsets and the unconventional, a filly took down the Derby winner yet again with Oaks runner-up Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) getting the better of Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) in an epic stretch battle in this year’s Preakness. In addition to being the final leg of the Triple Crown, rather than the middle jewel, the Preakness was also a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Let go at 11-1, Swiss Skydiver was away in good order from post four and settled on the fence in a joint third with Art Collector (Bernardini)–who beat Swiss Skydiver in her first try against males in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. in July–and Pneumatic (Uncle Mo). The trio ran just a length off the front-running Bob Baffert duo of Authentic and Thousand Words (Pioneerof Nile), a late scratch on Derby day after flipping over in the paddock, through a moderate first quarter in :24.48 and a half-mile in :47.65.

Thousand Words threw in the towel at that juncture, leaving Authentic exactly where he wanted to be, alone on the lead. That was Swiss Skydiver’s moment to strike. The chestnut filly took advantage of the opening on the rail left by Thousand Words, slipping through to challenge Authentic. She stuck her head in front as three-quarters went in 1:11.24 and turned for home with a half-length advantage. Swiss Skydiver and Authentic pulled well clear of the rest of the field in the lane, battling it out all the way to the wire in the grittiest of stretch duels. However, despite Authentic’s best efforts, Swiss Skydiver refused to yield to the Derby winner, determinedly fending off her foe all the way to the wire to make history by a neck.  It was 9 3/4 lengths back to 40-1 shot Jesus’ Team (Tapiture) in third and Art Collector was just a head behind him in fourth.

“I’m just proud of Robby [Albarado],” said trainer Ken McPeek, who was winning hiss first Preakness and second Triple Crown race, having saddled Sarava to a 70-1 upset in the 2002 GI Belmont S. We had to call him in at the last minute. He did a great job. I’m really proud of him, her, [owner] Peter Callahan. I wish he was here. This is just a real honor to be around a horse like this. This is a special moment.”

McPeek continued, “It was a genius move by Robby coming up the fence. He saw a hole and went right at it. It felt like she took him there. If he waited, she would take him there. I think she should have won the Oaks too. Maybe if we stay inside, we win that one too, but it is what it is. She’s just really neat to be around. Robby and I have had a great week. We’ve been getting on her, walking her together, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner together. This is a lifetime experience for both of us and we hope we’re back.”

When asked if he will take the free berth to the Classic or go back to running against females in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, McPeek said, “We can look at both races, I suppose. We got in for the Distaff after the Alabama, but I would say right now we would probably lean towards the older fillies and mares. But nothing set in stone and we don’t have to make a decision today, I don’t think.”

The stretch duel was reminiscent of another Triple Crown battle of the sexes involving Albarado and Authentic’s pilot John Velazquez. In 2007, Velazquez was the one on the filly, piloting Rags to Riches to a narrow success over Preakness winners Albarado and Curlin in a thrilling battle at Big Sandy in the 2007 GI Belmont S. (video).

“I had an opportunity, a split second, to take advantage of the rail because Johnny [Velazquez on Authentic] was sitting off the fence there,” said Albarado. “I made a conscious decision on the backside. ‘It’s give or take now. Do I make that move now or do I wait to see if they come back to me?’ She’s been doing extremely well. Kenny’s been doing a great job. I’ve been around her all week. I figure she knows where she’s at, she’s in her surroundings. I said let me try and make this Jerry Bailey move and win.”

“We had a good start, no trouble at all,” said Velazquez of beaten 3-2 chalk Authentic. “In the first turn we got by Art Collector. By the backstretch, I tried to open up, but he just stood there and Swiss Skydiver came to him. I tried to get him rolling again, but he just stayed with that other horse from the half-mile pole to the wire.”

When asked his thoughts post-race, Baffert said, “I was hoping he was on the lead. We had to get the lead. He runs better on the lead. He likes to be out there running fast. But he got beat. He had the whole stretch to get by her. She ran a gallant race. He’s a free-running horse and likes to be on the lead. I saw he wasn’t on the lead and was struggling a little bit. That’s a good filly. He had every chance to get by her. He got beat. He just couldn’t get by her. She dug in. She’s tough.”

 

The Makings of a Champion…

Purchased by McPeek for just $35,000 at Keeneland September, Swiss Skydiver opened her account with a 5 1/2-length graduation in her seven-panel unveiling at Churchill Downs Nov. 16. A close second over a sloppy mile beneath the Twin Spires just two weeks later, she could only manage fifth in Tampa’ss Gasparilla S. Jan. 18 and was third to early divisional leader Finite (Munnings) in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 15.

Swiss Skydiver had her coming out party so to speak in the Mar. 28 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, which she won in dominant fashion at odds of 9-1. Victorious again in the May 1 GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn, the Peter Callaghan colorbearer went wire-to-wire for a four-length romp in the GII Santa Anita Oaks June 6. Trying males for the first time in the July 11 Blue Grass, she was bested only by Art Collector, finishing a gallant second and rebounded with a decisive score in the 10-furlong GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 15. Dispatched as the second choice to Gamine (Into Mischief) in the rescheduled Oaks Sept. 4, the chestnut made a three-wide bid, but could not quite catch GI Juddmonte Spinster S. contender Shedaresthedevil, finishing second.

Pedigree Notes:

Swiss Skydiver is one of four black-type winners and two Grade I/graded winners along with Shedaresthedevil for former WinStar stallion Daredevil, who was exported to Turkey in November. Her dam Expo Gold was purchased by Blue Chip Thoroughbreds for $15,000 at the CTBA January Mixed Sale. Her first foal Is It Gold (Indygo Shiner) is set to sell in foal to Nyquist as part of the South Point Sales consignment at the upcoming Keeneland November Sale. Expo Gold’s recent produce includes an unraced juvenile colt named Inspector General (Daredevil), who was purchased by Southern Racing for just $4,000 at KEESEP; and a yearling colt by Danzing Candy, who RNA’d for $145,000 at the recent Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase. The 12-year-old mare was barren when bred to Danzing Candy for 2020 and was bred to Catholic Boy this spring.

Post-Preakness Thoughts…

“I feel very excited and I’m proud of my team and their work with Jesus’ Team. He’s really improved every day. I am very sure that he is going to be a great horse in the United States. I’m very happy for the result in this race, the Preakness Stakes, one of the most important races for 3-year-olds in this amazing country.” –Jose D’Angelo, trainer of Jesus’ Team (third)

 

“I thought he ran fine. He didn’t break quite as sharp as we hoped he would and that kind of had us playing catch-up a little bit. He was kind of in tight and it wasn’t the best trip; it’s not the trip we were hoping for. But we’ve got no excuse. The winner ran huge and we had our shot to get to them and just couldn’t do it.” –Tom Drury, conditioner of Art Collector (fourth)

Saturday, Pimlico
PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,000,000, Pimlico, 10-3, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:53.28, ft.
1–SWISS SKYDIVER, 123, f, 3, by Daredevil
                1st Dam: Expo Gold, by Johannesburg
                2nd Dam: Clouds of Gold, by Strike the Gold
                3rd Dam: Cloudy Colors, by Personal Flag
($35,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Peter J. Callahan; B-WinStar Farm,
LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Robby Albarado. $600,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-6-3-1, $1,792,980. *1/2 to Miss Hot Legs
(Verrazano), SP, $151,620. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Authentic, 126, c, 3, Into Mischief–Flawless, by Mr. Greeley.
($350,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC,
MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight
Racing; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $200,000.
3–Jesus’ Team, 126, c, 3, Tapiture–Golden Memories, by Suave.
($30,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Grupo Seven C Stable; B-Pamela P.
Gartin (KY); T-Jose Francisco D’Angelo. $110,000.
Margins: NK, 9 3/4, HD. Odds: 11.70, 1.50, 40.90.
Also Ran: Art Collector, Max Player, Excession, Mr. Big News, Thousand Words, Ny Traffic, Pneumatic, Liveyourbeastlife. 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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Preakness Notes: ‘Other Baffert’ Expected To Run Big, Swiss Skydiver ‘A Model Of Consistency’

Authentic, Thousand Words

While his Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic is the program favorite for the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said his other starter should not be overlooked.

“Thousand Words has been very good here. I expect him to run a big race, too,” Baffert said Friday morning.

Thousand Words is a son of Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile, who sired Baffert-trained 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. He was scratched from the Derby after rearing and falling while being saddled in the paddock. A lackluster work on Sept. 19 put his Preakness status in question, but he stepped back into the picture for the Maryland classic with a sharp breeze while wearing blinkers on Sept. 26. He will be equipped with blinkers again in the Preakness after having competed without them in his last two races. Florent Geroux will ride the colt, who is 6-1 on the morning line, for the first time.

Purchased for $1 million as a yearling by Albaugh Family Stable LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC, Thousand Words won his first three starts and was a prime member of Baffert's crew of Triple Crown prospects early this year. Even though he was being successful, Baffert said the colt was a bit behind the other members of his core group of top 3-year-olds: Authentic, Nadal and Charlatan.

“He was so immature mentally,” Baffert said. “It's started to catch up slowly with him. He's always been a bit of a slow learner, but he's getting with it now. He still has to fill out. He's got a beautiful frame; that's why he cost so much money. He's doing really well. They're both doing really well.”

Thousand Words was fourth to Authentic in the San Felipe (G2) in March and stumbled at the start of the Oaklawn Stakes in April. With blinkers off, he was second by four lengths to stablemate Uncle Chuck in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) on July 4. Four weeks later, he won the Shared Belief, holding off Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A.P. After the Derby paddock fiasco, he is at Pimlico playing second fiddle to Authentic in Baffert's band and getting good reviews from the maestro.

“He's getting over the track really well,” Baffert said. “He's happy. He's pretty sharp. He's fresh; he didn't run in the Derby. He's pretty honest. So you never know. He's getting better. I can tell that he looks better now than he did for the Derby.”

Baffert schooled both his colts in Pimlico's indoor paddock Thursday and said saddling Thousand Words will not be a problem.

Asked to make a case for Thousand Words in the Preakness, Baffert said: “He's fast. He gets away from there. I added a little blinker to him. He's got a lot of speed. He's not as quick as Authentic. If he gets into a nice rhythm and is right there you just never know. As the gamblers say, he is the 'other Baffert.'”

Both of Baffert's Preakness colts galloped on the track Friday morning.

Baffert has won the Preakness with each of his first five Derby winners and will try to extend that record to 6-for-6 with Authentic. With the first five, the Preakness was two weeks after the Derby. The pandemic changed the Triple Crown schedule.

“I've never come in here with a horse that I've had a month to prepare him for it,” Baffert said. “I can see a big difference out of him, what he's doing. To me, I think he's getting better. He's stronger. You can tell he is filling out. At this stage of the game they are ready to run with older horses. Back in May, they are still filling out.

“He's doing good, but I've watched those other horses that are in the race train and everybody looks good. Art Collector looks good. Mr. Big News, he looks good. It's exciting with everybody that is here. There are some new faces here and they are excited about their horses.”

Art Collector

Trainer Tommy Drury Jr. got his first look at Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector training at Pimlico Friday morning and was happy with what he saw from the colt who is rated second at 5-2 in the morning line for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1).

“I'm just glad to be able to watch him go this morning. It looked like he skipped over the racetrack,” Drury said. “That's all we can ask for. We've all done our part. Maybe a little jog in the morning – we may decide to walk him – and we'll turn our keys over to the jock and hopefully he'll use good judgment and we'll go from there.”

Art Collector will seek his fifth victory in a row since being transferred to Drury this year, including dominating wins in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby and July 11 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

“He's pretty straightforward and easy. We just tried to stay out of his way and use good judgment and make logical decisions,” Drury said. “He won off the shelf the right way. The next logical step was to try him around two turns. We did that. The next logical step after that was to try stakes company. He's kind of earned his way into this stuff.”

Art Collector went about his business Friday morning in a thoroughly professional manner.

“He's pretty laid-back and easy going, which is a good thing because I get nervous for both of us,” said 49-year-old Drury, who celebrated his first graded-stakes success in the Blue Grass.

Art Collector has shown versatility during his winning streak while either setting the pace or stalking the leaders under Brian Hernandez Jr.

“He's a kind horse to ride. As Brian kind of jokes, 'He's a fingertips kind of horse.' He's got a little stop-and-go to him. You can use him to get yourself out of a spot if you need to and he'll shut back down,” Drury said. “We're hoping that will be beneficial come raceday.”

The son of Bernardini didn't make his first start this year until May 17, when he came off a 5 ½-month layoff to win a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Churchill.

“If the Derby would have ran on a normal schedule, this horse was only five-eighths fit. Not to mention he had 0 [qualifying] points,” Drury said. “[The reshuffling of the Triple Crown] has actually been beneficial for me. You've got to give Bruce credit for stopping on the horse and letting him mature and thinking about the horse first. I think that's the biggest reason why we're here today.”

Swiss Skydiver

Trainer Kenny McPeek pronounced Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver ready for her clash with the boys in Saturday's Preakness (G1) following her early-morning gallop over a wet Pimlico racetrack Friday.

“She's a model of consistency. She just keeps it even. She's very professional. She keeps it even every day,” McPeek said. “There's nothing complicated about her.”

The daughter of Daredevil has finished first or second in her last six starts, including victories in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn, Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Alabama (G1) at Saratoga, as well as runner-up finishes in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill.

Swiss Skydiver, who will be ridden for the first time by Robby Albarado, has tactical early speed but has shown the ability to rate off the pace.

“I'm not going to guess the pace of the race. I learned that a long time ago – you can't guess the pace. She's an honest '12s' horse. When you go 24 and 48 [seconds] and then let her do her thing after that – that's her best race. If there's no pace and they go 48 on the front end and she's up there, that's fine. If they go 46 and she's 10 lengths back, I'm fine with that too,” McPeek said. “Robby's going to have to get her in a nice rhythm. He's been around. He knows how fast horses are going and whether they're doing too much.”

Mr. Big News

Allied Racing Stable LLC's Mr. Big News, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, had a strong 1 ½-mile gallop over a sloppy Pimlico track Friday morning in preparation for a start in Saturday's Preakness (G1).

“He had another good day. Everything has gone well since we got here. I don't know if he's had an opportunity to get across the track like it's going to be Saturday, but he's training very good and he's sharp,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “I feel good going into it, so now it's up to him.”

The son of Giant's Causeway closed from 10th to enter contention at the top of the stretch in the Derby before finishing evenly in the stretch. Calhoun expects that Mr. Big News will once again be sitting well off the early pace in the Preakness.

“He is who he is. I think he's a closer. That's the style he has developed and I think that suits him best. Sometimes they change their style – some will want to show more; some will want to show less. It's kind of strange over time how they can change their styles sometimes, but this suits him well,” Calhoun said. “We're going to leave him alone and let him run how he wants to run and forget what's going on in front of him.”

Gabriel Saez has the return mount.

Liveyourbeastlife

Whether it's horsemen or horseflesh, trainer Jorge Abreu has learned from and worked with some of the best.

Six years spent as an assistant to 72-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito gave him an up close look at champions Storm Song and War Pass and stars such as Bellamy Road, Birdstone and Commentator. Nine years as an assistant to trainer Chad Brown, a five-time Eclipse Award winner already with Hall of Fame credentials at the age of 41, exposed Abreu to a steady wave of talent including champions Big Blue Kitten, Dayatthespa, Flintshire, Lady Eli, Stacelita and Zagora.

Abreu, a 46-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, also spent time as an assistant under trainer John Terranova, getting the chance to gallop horses that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert would ship East for stakes that took residence in Terranova's barn.

“He used to send us horses like Captain Steve, Congaree around that time,” Abreu said. “I'm lucky. I've been around a lot of nice horses.”

This week, Abreu has shared a shedrow with Baffert at Pimlico Race Course for Saturday's 145th Preakness Stakes (G1). Baffert will send out two contenders, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and program favorite Authentic, and Abreu will counter with William H. Lawrence's longshot Liveyourbeastlife, runner-up in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

Liveyourbeastlife galloped 1 ¼ miles over the main track Friday morning for Abreu, who is making his Triple Crown debut. Baffert owns a record 16 Triple Crown race wins, including historic sweeps with American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018). Also in town for the Preakness are Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and trainer Ken McPeek, both Classic race winners.

“I can't describe it. I'm speechless. Really. It will be my first time. It's a big step. I'm very blessed to be here,” Abreu said. “You're in the barn with Bob, Kenny, Steve Asmussen – you're talking about the big guns. I'm very proud of myself.”

Abreu saddled his first two winners (from two starters) while under Brown's employ in 2016 before going out on his own full-time in 2017. He was thrilled when Stellar Agent ran third to Brown-trained Newspaperofrecord in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

“She was 71-1 walking over, and I felt like she was 8-1. I had great confidence she was going to run good, and she got beat for second right on the wire,” Abreu said. “Being here, it's a different feel. It's just nervous.”

Liveyourbeastlife is listed at 30-1 on the morning line for the Preakness, but Abreu has similar confidence in the son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, who had to be supplemented into the race because he was not originally nominated to the Triple Crown.

“He seems like he's really improving since the last race. He had two really good breezes at Belmont Park, and Mr. Lawrence told me, 'If you want to take a shot, why not? Let's take it,'” Abreu said. “The horse is doing everything right, so why not take the shot? I'm not here just to be here. If I know the horse has no chance, why waste time? It's a very competitive race, but I think my horse belongs in there, So why not give him the chance?”

Lawrence won the Preakness in 2017 as co-owner with Klaravich Stable of Cloud Computing. Liveyourbeastlife will leave from outside Post 11 under champion Maryland jockey Trevor McCarthy, riding in his second Preakness and first since 2015.

“Everything in this game has its ups and downs, but I've been around a lot of nice horses,” Abreu said. “It helps a lot, just to define what kind of horse you're dealing with because every horse is different. Some horses are just late bloomers, some horses are good 2-year-olds or 3-year-olds and then you don't see them anymore. I think this horse is coming around, and I think he's going to be even better as a 4-year-old.”

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Tiz the Law Fires Bullet at Big Sandy

Sackatoga Stable’s top sophomore Tiz the Law (Constitution) breezed a speedy, best-of-six five furlongs in :57.87 at Belmont Park Friday morning under regular breeze rider Heather Smullen. “I didn’t want to see him go that fast, but he came out of the work well,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He scoped well and everything is going good with him.” Upset when second in the GI Kentucky Derby Sept. 5, the four-time Grade I winner is skipping Saturday’s GI Preakness S. and training up to the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Del Mar Ship & Win: Preakness, Keeneland Fall Stars, Arc De Triomphe

The 145th edition of the Preakness Stakes headlines a spectacular weekend of racing that also features the opening of Keeneland's fall meet, which hosts a total of nine Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races from Friday to Sunday in preparation for the World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The Preakness was moved from its original May date due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be contested without fans in attendance.

NBC will broadcast the Preakness Stakes on Oct. 3 during its coverage which runs from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports will also provide coverage of Keeneland's weekend, broadcasting from 5-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 2 and 4:30-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 4.

The entire Keeneland meet will be televised on TVG. NBCSN will also pick up a one-hour broadcast of TVG's “Trackside Live” on Friday from 4-5 p.m. ET.

TVG coverage will also continue at Santa Anita this weekend and on Sunday, fans of international racing can tune in and watch champion Enable (GB) attempt to make history and win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third time. Enable, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, won this race in 2017 and 2018 and was second last year. Post time is approximately 10:05 a.m. ET.

Racing from Belmont Park will be showcased on the NYRA-produced “America's Day at the Races” show, airing on either FS1 or FS2. A special edition program of “America's Day at the Races” will also air Sunday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. ET, broadcasting races from Longchamp in Paris highlighted by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Friday Oct. 2

5:05 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN

Robert LaPenta, Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners' Whitmore will make his fourth start in the $200,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. Trained by Moquett, Whitmore won the Phoenix in 2017 and has been runner-up in the race the past two years. Whitmore has used this race as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint the past three years, a race in which he finished third in 2019 at Santa Anita and second in 2018 at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100220USA8-EQB.html

5:40 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN

Heider Family Stables' undefeated Thoughtfully headlines a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered for the Alcibiades, which awards the winner a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Thoughtfully debuted June 11 at Churchill Downs and romped to an
8¾-length score going 5 ½ furlongs. A month later at Saratoga, she scored a 5-length victory in the Adirondack (G2) going 6½ furlongs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100220USA9-EQB.html

6:23 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Pimlico Special Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold, who has enjoyed some of his finest career moments at Pimlico Race Course, will get the chance once again to display his affinity for the when he returns to the Baltimore, track to defend his title in the Pimlico Special. The 50th running of the Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up, is back to its original distance of 1 3/16 miles after being contested at 1 1/4 miles for the first time last year. A 5-year-old homebred son of two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Curlin out of the Tapit mare Temptress, Tenfold can become only the second two-time winner of the Pimlico Special following the Hall of Famer Challedon, who captured back-to-back editions in 1939 and 1940.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100220USA11-EQB.html

Saturday Oct. 3

11:35 a.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Juliet Foxtrot (GB) and Varenka, graded winners in 2019, will seek their first stakes score this season in the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette on grass. Augustin Stable's homebred filly Varenka showed so much promise as a 2-year-old that she raced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf as a maiden and won three of five starts last year, topped by a dead-heat victory in the Grade 2 Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga. The daughter of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper is winless in three tries in 2020. In her most recent outing, she was fifth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, as the 3-1 favorite in the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA2-EQB.html

1:22 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper, making just her sixth career start, looks to return to the winner's circle for the first time in nearly a year when she lines up against six rivals in the Miss Preakness. Wicked Whisper debuted last August at Saratoga with a popular front-running 6 ¼-length triumph. She was stepped right into stakes company by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and captured the Grade 1 Frizette in similar fashion at Belmont Park. From there, Wicked Whisper ran fifth after pressing the pace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, exiting the race with a minor leg issue. She didn't kick off her 3-year-old season until June 10, fading to be fourth behind Four Graces in the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA5-EQB.html

2:01 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Already a four-time winner of the race, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey will go after No. 5 with Maryland-loving multiple graded-stakes winner Doctor Mounty in the Dinner Party – previously run as the Dixie. Doctor Mounty snapped a five-race losing streak when he returned from a brief freshening with a front-running 1 ¾-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Henry S. Clark Sept. 7 at Laurel Park. It was his first victory since his previous trip to Maryland, when the now 7-year-old gelding rallied to win the Prince George's County by a length last June.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA6-EQB.html

2:42 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Dash Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on TVG

Last fall, trainer John Terranova sent an unknown minor stakes winner from New York to Maryland, one that had been competitive graded company without success, in search of a breakthrough race. Killybegs Captain delivered, springing a mild upset in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash. Though the horse and the venue have changed, Terranova is looking to repeat the pattern with Stan the Man Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Stan the Man is a two-time stakes winner, taking the 1 1/8-mile Queens County last December at Aqueduct and the six-furlong Tale of the Cat last time out August 20 at Saratoga.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA7-EQB.html

2:55 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park on FS2

Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's sophomore filly Frank's Rockette will face elders after winning three straight races in the Gallant Bloom going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette has gone off as the favorite in all nine of her lifetime starts and has never finished worse than second. She is 3-2-0 this year with each start at a different track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA5-EQB.html

3:30 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Lawrence and Jennifer Goichman's Shawdyshawdyshawdy will make his second career stakes start in the Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles. Trained by Jorge Abreu, the Summer Front bay graduated impressively on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Aug. 1 on the Saratoga turf. He followed with a deceptively good fourth on Sept. 7 in the one-mile Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA6-EQB.html

3:45 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Leinster, winner of this past July's Grade 2 Shakertown, tops an evenly matched field of nine turf sprinters in the Woodford contested at 5½ furlongs. Leinster has not raced since posting a head victory in the Shakertown. Second in the Woodford last year, Leinster will be ridden by Luis Saez and break from post position eight.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA6-EQB.html

4:03 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Grade 1-winning multimillionaires Channel Maker and Sadler's Joy will face one another for the 15th time, while each making their respective fourth straight appearance in Saturday's 43rd running of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over the Widener turf. Channel Maker, winner of the 2018 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will attempt to be the first non-consecutive winner of the race since Val's Prince won in 1997 and 1999. Woodslane Farm's homebred Sadler's Joy also makes his fourth appearance in the Joe Hirsch but is still in search of his first victory, having finished fourth in 2017 and third in the past two editions.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA7-EQB.html

4:18 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

KMN Racing's Sneaking Out, riding a two-race graded stakes win streak, headlines a field of seven fillies and mares in the Thoroughbred Club of America, a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Sneaking Out won the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos on July 4 and followed that with a 3¾-length victory as the favorite in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar on Aug. 21.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA7-EQB.html

4:35 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park on FS2

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a multiple Grade 1-winner trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, leads a talented field of five in the Kelso Handicap, a one-turn mile on the main track for 3-year-olds and upward. The 4-year-old Noble Mission colt opened his current campaign with a half-length score over Kelso-rival Endorsed in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling 1 1/16-miles over a muddy Belmont main. The $2.5-million earner followed with a closing third in the Met Mile on July 4 and was subsequently an even fourth in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 1 at the Spa.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA8-EQB.html

4:41 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on NBC

An evenly-matched field of 11 fillies, led by graded-stakes winners Bonny South, Hopeful Growth, Perfect Alibi and Project Whiskey, are set to gather for the 96th running of the Black-Eyed Susan. Juddmonte Farms homebred Bonny South was rerouted to the Black-Eyed Susan following the announcement in mid-August that it was to join the Preakness lineup. The chestnut daughter of multiple graded-stakes winning sprinter Munnings tuned up for the race with a five-furlong work in 1:01 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA10-EQB.html

4:51 p.m.—$350,000 Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Trainer Chad Brown is well represented in the First Lady Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Uni (GB), the champion grass mare of 2019, will try to become the first repeat winner of the First Lady as she headlines a field of six. Uni used the First Lady last year as a springboard to victory over the boys in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita. She finished seventh as the favorite in her most start in the Grade 1 Fourstardave against males at Saratoga and prior to that was third in the Grade 1 Just a Game to stablemate and First Lady rival Newspaperofrecord (IRE). Newspaperofrecord, winner of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs, finished second in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA8-EQB.html

5:06 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park on FS2

A thrilling finish to the Saratoga Derby Invitational in August saw the top-five finishers separated by less than a length. The trifecta from that contest – Domestic Spending, Gufo and No Word – will engage again as part of a talented nine-horse field in the Belmont Derby Invitational. Otter Bend Stables' Gufo ran second by a head to Domestic Spending in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby and will look to turn the tables in a rematch for trainer Christophe Clement. The Declaration of War colt has won four of his six career starts, with his third-place debut effort in November at Aqueduct marking his only other non-winning effort.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100320USA9-EQB.html

5:24 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on TVG

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality, a flashy winner on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, headlines a field of nine 2-year-olds for the Breeders' Futurity, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality is on the same path for Godolphin that Maxfield was in 2019: win a one-turn race in September at Churchill and go straight into the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality won that debut by 4 lengths going 6 furlongs and since has come back to work twice at Churchill Downs with the most recent being a :59.80 move over 5 furlongs last Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA9-EQB.html

5:36 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on NBC

Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, the No.1-ranked horse on the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll, will headline a field of 11 sophomores entered for the 145th Preakness Stakes, which will bring down the curtain on a most unusual 2020 Triple Crown. The Bob Baffert-trained colt was installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 3/16-mile classic that traditionally has been in mid-May. In a quest to win a record eighth Preakness, Baffert will also saddle Thousand Words, who is rated at 6-1. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector is rated second at 5-2 in the Preakness morning line for his quest to win a sixth straight race. The son of 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini had earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field with a victory in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland but missed a start in the Run for the Roses due to a minor foot issue.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM100320USA11-EQB.html

5:57 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on TVG

Bowies Hero will attempt to become the third horse to win the Shadwell Turf Mile in consecutive years when he faces 10 rivals Saturday in the 35th running of the race. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Bowies Hero will be trying to join Gio Ponti (2010-2011) and Dumaani (1995-1996) as the only repeat winners in the race that is a “Win and You're In” test for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile. To repeat, Bowies Hero will have to get by a quartet of runners trained by Chad Brown headed by two-time Grade 1 winner Raging Bull (FR).

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100320USA10-EQB.html

7:25 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Mark Glatt's venerable 6-year-old gelding Sharp Samurai and Peter Miller's razor sharp 4-year-old colt Mo Forza head a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in the City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita. A winner of the 2018 City of Hope Mile and most recently a solid second on dirt in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 22, Sharp Samurai will also be cutting back in distance a quarter mile, while Mo Forza, a 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, comes off a stirring 4 ¼ length win on turf in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap Aug. 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA100320USA8-EQB.html

Sunday Oct. 4

10:05 a.m.—$5,583,805 Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Paris-Longchamp on FS1 and TVG

Enable's path to a record third Arc became clearer on Thursday as Aidan O'Brien removed Love, her main market rival, from contention, but owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe stressed their mare still has plenty to beat despite the absence of a “huge danger”. Love had been the longtime ante-post favourite for the Arc prior to ground fears emerging from her camp this week and with further rain forecast in Paris before Sunday, conditions appear certain to be testing. The absence of this year's 1,000 Guineas and Oaks winner has left Enable a red-hot 5-4 favorite against her 14 rivals, but Grimthorpe insists plenty of threats remain and is concentrating his attention on final preparations for the John Gosden-trained star.

Entries: https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/211/longchamp/2020-10-04/763753/

4:12 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali brings a perfect 2-for-2 record into Sunday's Miss Grillo, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juvenile fillies. Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali graduated on July 23 with a two-length score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the Saratoga turf under Joel Rosario. The First Samurai chestnut then shipped to Kentucky Downs to capture the one-mile Mint Juvenile Fillies by 2 ¾-lengths on Sept. 7 with Tyler Gaffalione up.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA7-EQB.html

4:47 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Graded stakes-winner Point of Honor has displayed consistency all year long, but seeks a first win of 2020 when taking on Grade 1-winner Dunbar Road in Sunday's 80th running of the Beldame for older fillies and mares over the main track. Point of Honor has been a hard-knocking filly in 2020, finishing in the money in all four of her starts this season but is still seeking her first victory of the year. The George Weaver trainee has not won since taking the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last May at Pimlico and arrives at the Beldame off three straight placings against Grade 1 company. Peter Brant's Dunbar Road arrives at the Beldame off a three-length victory in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 11, where she won under a hand ride by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA8-EQB.html

5:10 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Bantry Farms' Barrister Tom, winner of the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile last month, headlines a field of 12 2-year-olds for the Bourbon Stakes, a “Win and You're In” race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Barrister Tom is perfect in two grass starts with both triumphs coming at a mile. In his most recent start, Barrister Tom scored a 44-1 upset at Kentucky Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100420USA8-EQB.html

5:20 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Crawford Farms Racing's Archidust has notched back-to-back stakes wins and will look for his third consecutive in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational for 3-year-olds and up. Since Hall of Fame Steve Asmussen took over the training duties, Archidust is 2-for-2, winning the 5 1/2-furlong Wolf Hill in July at Monmouth Park. He won at the same track and distance on Aug. 23, besting Spikes Shirl by a head in the Get Serious.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL100420USA9-EQB.html

5:45 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil will take on older horses for the first time when she heads a field of six fillies and mares in the Spinster, a “Win and You're In” race for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil brings a three-race win streak into the Juddmonte Spinster highlighted by her 15-1 upset in the Kentucky Oaks. Prior to that race, she won the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks by five lengths to mark her second graded victory of 2020.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE100420USA9-EQB.html

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