Tag: tom’s d’etat

Classic Notes: Tom’s D’Etat ‘Deserves To Be This Type Of Horse’

A below 30-degree morning sent many Breeders' Cup pre-entrants to the Keeneland training track in lieu of the main track that did not open for training until 90 minutes after its regular 6 o'clock opening.

Training was extended on the main track until 10:30 and turf training pushed back to 10:30-11.

Among the marquee names training on the main track was Tiz the Law (Classic), who had a strong gallop under Heather Smullen in his first day back on track following a 5f work in 59 1/5 on Saturday.

Arriving across the road from the track at Blue Grass Airport was a flight from New York that included the World Championships contingents from trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher.

The draw for post positions for all 14 Championship races is scheduled for this afternoon starting at 5 p.m. ET on TVG and streaming live on www.Breederscup.com.

Longines Classic (G1)

Authentic, Improbable/Maximum Security — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert traveled from his home in Southern California to Kentucky Monday after entering six horses in the 37th Breeders' Cup. Baffert's sextet will ship to Keeneland on Tuesday.

Baffert is scheduled to have three starters in the $6 million Classic: Authentic, Improbable and Maximum Security. He has won the marquee event of the 14-race Breeders' Cup lineup three times.

Also headed to the World Championships from the Baffert barn are Gamine for the Filly and Mare Sprint; Princess Noor in the Juvenile Fillies and Classier in the in the Juvenile.

By My Standards — Allied Racing Stable's Longines Classic contender By My Standards jogged a circuit of Churchill Downs on Monday morning for trainer Bret Calhoun.

“He just went and jogged today,” Calhoun said. “He came out of his work well (5f in 59 4/5) and was very sharp this morning.”

The son of two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents will ship over to Keeneland on Wednesday.

Calhoun added: “We'll just train him on Wednesday morning and ship him over early.”

Global Campaign – Sagamore Farm's Global Campaign, who galloped 1 1/4m at Churchill Downs Monday morning, will ship to Keeneland Wednesday morning for his scheduled start in the Classic.

“He'll just gallop into the race. He's been training really, really well,” trainer Stanley Hough said.

Higher Power – Hronis Racing's Higher Power jogged once around on the main track at Keeneland with Juan Leyva, assistant to trainer John Sadler, in the saddle.

The morning exercise marked the first day back on the track for Higher Power, who had worked 5f in 58 4/5 on Saturday, his fifth work since arriving at Keeneland a month ago.

Leyva said that Sadler, who won the 2018 Classic with Accelerate, will be at the barn in the morning.

Tacitus – One day after breezing 5f in 1:00 flat, the Bill Mott-trained Tacitus continued his preparation for the Longines Classic on Monday morning at Keeneland. While the majority of Thoroughbreds may walk or jog the day after a workout, the 4yo Juddmonte Farms blueblood did a little more. Leaving Barn 60 at just past 8 o'clock, the son of Tapit galloped one lap of the 1 1/16m main track under Felipe Castro.

“He had worked yesterday,” said Riley Mott, assistant trainer. “We usually take him to the track the day after he works just to do a little something, because he's pretty high-energy in the barn. He just galloped a short mile. He came out really good (from the breeze). He has good energy and is moving sound. His legs are good and he looks good.”

Title Ready – Charles Fipke's Title Ready braved the cold early this morning and galloped at his Churchill Downs base at 5:20 under exercise rider Emerson Chavez. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Title Ready is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland Wednesday.

Tiz the Law – Exercise rider Heather Smullen knows Sackatoga Stable's three-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law very well and likes how he feels and is acting approaching the Longines Classic.

With Smullen up Saturday, Tiz the Law breezed 5f in :59.20 at Keeneland. The rider and her enthusiastic 3yo colt were back on the track Monday for more routine daily exercise. Smullen said the son of Constitution was happy to be out on the sunny but chilly morning.

“Yes, he drug me around for a mile and a half,” she said with a laugh.

Tiz the Law won the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28, the Belmont on June 20 and the Travers on Aug. 8 at Saratoga to climb to the top of the 3yo division. He has not competed since finishing second by 1 ¼ lengths to Authentic in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. On the advice of trainer Barclay Tagg, the owners decided to skip the Preakness on Oct. 3 and prepare for the Classic.

Tagg worked him a Belmont Park on Oct. 16 and shipped him to Keeneland two days later to give him three weeks – and two works – to become accustomed to the track. Smullen said Tiz the Law is comfortable and gearing up for his first try against older horses.

Tom's d'Etat – Two days after putting in his final serious breeze in advance of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat returned to the track and put in a jog at Churchill Downs on Monday under the watch of trainer Al Stall Jr.

If simply getting a horse into a Breeders' Cup race is an achievement in itself, Tom's d'Etat's slated presence in Saturday's 10f test is a massive reward to his connections for the faith they have displayed through his start-and-stop career. Though the son of Smart Strike is the veteran of the Classic field at the age of 7, he has made just 19 career starts because of physical setbacks, including a pair of ankle surgeries.

Since November 2018, however, Tom's d'Etat has been able to stay healthy. After ending his 2019 season with consecutive wins in the Fayette and Clark, the bay horse has kept himself at the forefront of the handicap ranks this year with victories in the Oaklawn Mile and Stephen Foster.

“That's it. The continuity has just helped him where instead of starting and stopping, he's been actually good since November of 2018,” said Stall, who famously upset eventual Hall of Famer Zenyatta in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic with champion Blame. “He's basically been going forward since then. He's been a straight forward, regular horse for over two years now. That continuity has got his cardio perfect and has his mind just right. I think that's why we're where we are today.”

Tom's d'Etat hasn't started since finishing third in the Whitney at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 1, a race in which he stumbled at the break and lost all chance. Stall gave his charge some extra time to make sure no physical issues manifested after that troubled start and Tom's d'Etat has been solid on the work tab since, including a pair of bullet 6f moves on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24.

“I'm just happy for the horse. He deserves to be this type of horse,” Stall said. “We've felt that way all along and a lot of horses might have had this kind of untapped potential and not get to it. But for him to show up on this type of stage at this point in his career, I'm happy for him and the owners. My crew worked hard on this horse for a long, long time. It's a feel-good story.”

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Breeders’ Cup Presents The News Minute: A Busy Day For Classic Contenders

Nine of the 11 horses pre-entered for next Saturday's $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic turned in their final timed workouts on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky and Santa Anita Park in California. Belmont and Travers winner Tiz the Law worked at Keeneland for trainer Barclay Tagg, Kentucky Derby winner Authentic breezed at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert and Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver did her final preparations at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said later Swiss Skydiver would most likely be entered against fillies and mares in the Distaff rather than take on males in the Classic. One of her chief opponents in that race, Monomoy Girl, also worked over the Churchill Downs main track on Saturday morning.

The Europeans are starting to arrive and will be out of quarantine as early as Monday, with Aidan O'Brien's contingent arriving later Monday from Ireland.

View the News Minute below.

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Tiz the Law Completes Classic Preparations at Keeneland

Sackatoga Stables’ GI Belmont S. winner and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law (Constitution) capped off his serious work ahead of next Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic with a five-furlong breeze at Keeneland Saturday morning.

With his regular work rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the New York-bred drilled five furlongs in :59.20 and galloped out an extra eighth of a mile in 1:12.20 (video).

“I saw just what I wanted. He went perfectly,” said trainer Barclay Tagg who will send out his 11th Breeders’ Cup starter next weekend. “We wanted him to go in :59 and he went in :59.20, so it was just right.”

Tiz the Law will be making his first start since dropping a 1 1/4-length decision at the hands of Authentic in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby and was an early arrival at Keeneland Oct. 18. Saturday’s work was his second locally, having breezed three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.20 Oct. 23.

“I thought he needs to get a good feel of this track (because) he has never run over it,” Tagg said of the plan to ship in the colt on the early side. “He has to run against older horses; it is going to be a tough race. “I have a super-duper crew and everything has gone right. We pay attention to the horses. We carry 30 horses at the most and try to get the best out of what we got, and every now and then we get a good one.”

Hronis Racing’s Higher Power (Medaglia d’Oro) has been on the grounds at Keeneland since early October and also tuned up for the Classic Saturday with a strong five-furlong work that was timed in :58.80, with a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:11.60 (video).

“I liked the way he came back from it,” said former jockey Juan Leyva, who serves as assistant to trainer John Sadler and who rode Musical Romance (Concorde’s Tune) to an upset victory in the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. “He was blowing a little bit but not out of this world. His level of fitness has really progressed here.”

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stables’ Vequist (Nyquist) arrived into Lexington from Philadelphia this past Monday and geared up for her start in next Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by zipping a half-mile in :47.20 for trainer Butch Reid (video). The 9 1/2-length winner of the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga Sept. 6, the dark bay was a latest second to the impressive Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) in the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 6.

“I think a work over the track is very important and that is why we came when we did,” Reid said. “She had three or four good gallops and the work was fine. She did work at Saratoga [before the Spinaway] but didn’t before the Frizette because Belmont is just up the road from Philadelphia.”

Reid, who won the 2011 GII Breeders’ Cup Marathon with Afleet Again (Afleet Alex), said that Joel Rosario will have the mount Friday.

Monomoy Girl Headlines Busy Morning at CD…

The Saturday morning worktab across Interstate 64 at Churchill was equally busy at it was at Keeneland, with no fewe than 27 Breeders’ Cup pre-entered horses getting in their final serious work.

The two females that will vie for favoritism in Saturday’s GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff were the marquee names on a chilly Louisville morning. Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) was one of a half-dozen workers for trainer Brad Cox, and the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine tuned up with a steady five-furlong work that was timed in 1:01 flat. With Florent Geroux up and galloping in the company of GI Dirt Mile hopeful Owendale (Into Mischief), Monomoy Girl went in fractions of :12.80, :24.60, :37 and :48.40 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.40 (video).

“She’s a champion mare and really a horse of a lifetime,” said Geroux, winner of four other Breeders’ Cup races in addition to the Distaff. “She’s a future Hall of Famer with her resume. The speed figures show she is a little bit faster this year than her 3-year-old year.”

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), last-start winner of the GI Preakness S., breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:00 flat in :24.60, :36.40 and :48.20 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20 (video). While trainer Ken McPeek and owner Peter Callahan still have some work to do, Swiss Skydiver is likely to take up her spot against her peers on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.

“At this point we’re going Distaff unless there’s a late defection from the Classic,” McPeek told pool reporters Saturday morning. “We had a chance to look at not only the regular past performances but all the Ragozin numbers and that’s what we’re doing.”

McPeek says Swiss Skydiver has been ticking right along and is pleased with what he saw on the track Saturday morning.

“She busted out 12s,” he said. “[Jockey] Robby [Albarado] really does have her number right now, he’s got her in nice rhythm out there and knows how she feels under him. I think we’re well loaded and we’ve got her right on even keel.”

McPeek, still in search of a maiden Breeders’ Cup victory, also sent out GI Darley Alcibiades S. romper Simply Ravishing (Laoban) to work five-eighths in 1:00 flat. She and Swiss Skydiver worked on their own.

Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) will enter the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic with just three starts under his belt this season and will be having his first run since a troubled third to Improbable (City Zip) in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga in early August. The dean of the field at age seven, the G M B Racing runner breezed a very easy four furlongs in :50.40 Saturday morning.

“We really just wanted to go out there and stretch his legs,” said trainer Al Stall, Jr. “It was just get him around there, save a lot of energy and come out of it nice and just be ready for Saturday.”

Bell’s the One (Majesticperfection) may lack the star power, even with her defeat of Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in the GI Derby City Distaff Sept. 5, but the 4-year-old continues to thrive and worked a smooth half-mile in :47 3/5 at Churchill Downs Saturday morning.

“She did just what we wanted, just wanted an easy half and did it very easily and we’re set to go,” trainer Neil Pessin told pool reporter Alicia Wincze Hughes.”

The defection and subsequent retirement of Bellafina (Quality Road) could make life more difficult for Bell’s the One, in Pessin’s estimation.

“I don’t know if anyone is fast enough to go with Serengeti,” he opined. “Bellafina was, she laid right off her. Venetian Harbor (Munnings) and Gamine (Into Mischief) are speed horses, but they’ve never gone faster than :45 in their lives and Serengeti can go :43 3/5. If they go :44 and two or three, that sets it up better for Serengeti than for us. But we’re doing good, my filly is going to run her race and hopefully we can catch them at the end.”

Three of Bob Baffert’s top Breeders’ Cup contenders put in their final breezes ahead of their respective World Championship races at Santa Anita Saturday morning.

GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) covered five panels in :59.60 (7/53) (video) ahead of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ was last seen finishing second to GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff-bound Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3.

“He was out there doing his thing,” Baffert told the TDN when reached by phone. “He always works alone, him and Improbable. They are both very willing. He bounced out of the Preakness really well and his last two works were pretty strong. He is about as ready as I can have him. I really like the way he is coming into this race.”

Fellow BC Classic contender Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) also breezed five furlongs in Arcadia Saturday, stopping the clock in 1:00.60 (14/53) (video). Winner of the GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 22, the bay was second to his stablemate Improbable (City Zip)–who is scheduled to work Sunday–in the GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 26.

“He went well,” Baffert said of Maximum Security. “He is the lazier type [in his breezes], but he gets enough out of his works. He looks great. He will be right there.”

‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamine (Into Mischief) clocked the fastest five-furlong work of the Baffert trio, covering the distance in :59.40 (2/53) (video). An ultra impressive winner of both the GI Longines Acorn S. and GI Longines Test S., the bay was last seen finishing third in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4 and will cut back in trip for the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint S.

“Gamine looked fantastic,” Baffert said. “She just sat there with another horse and when he asked her to pick it up, she just went boom. She has matured and just looks really good coming into this race. She has been on the lead and she makes the lead because she is brilliant on her own. But, she is not a speed crazy type of horse. I can see she is on top of her game.”

Baffert also offered a comment on GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies contender and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Princess Noor (Not This Time), who breezed five panels in :59.80 (3/43) in Arcadia Friday.

“She worked yesterday. She looks great,” Baffert said. “On paper, her numbers don’t stack up to those other fillies, but she has done everything here in a hand ride. I think she is special. The thing about the Breeders’ Cup is you can brag all you want, but when the gate comes open, the separation begins. That is the beauty of the Breeders’ Cup. That’s why they have it. The good horses, they separate themselves.”

Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup contingent will fly to Keeneland Tuesday for the Nov. 6-7 World Championships.

Another Hall of Famer sent out a BC-bound Saturday morning in Arcadia with GI Breeders’ Cup Turf runner United (Giant’s Causeway) covering six panels in 1:15 (1/2) (video) for Richard Mandella.

Pletcher Pair Take To Belmont Main Track…

Trainer Todd Pletcher was on hand to see the final Breeders’ Cup works for Halladay (War Front) and Valiance (Tapit) Saturday morning on a brisk Long Island morning.

Halladay, unraced since wiring the field in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga Aug. 22, clocked :49.21 (video) for his four-furlong breeze over the main track. It was the third work for Halladay since having to be scratched from the GI Shadwell Mile S. Oct. 3 with a hind-leg infection.

“I was happy we were able to get it in today. The track dried out pretty nicely considering all of the rain we’ve had,” Pletcher said. “Halladay was a touch keen early on. He went off a little quick but then he relaxed, settled quickly, finished up strong and galloped out well. I was happy with that.”

Also working by her lonesome was GI Juddmonte Spinster S. upsetter Valiance, who stopped the clock in :49 flat (video).

“Valiance maintains form really well. Not only was her work good, but she galloped out well. She seems to be doing as well as she can at the moment,” Pletcher said.

Luis Saez has the call on both horses in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile and GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, respectively.

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Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver Among 27 Pre-Entries Working At Churchill Downs

With the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships one week away, 27 pre-entered horses logged their final breezes Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., prior to shipping to Keeneland for the two-day event that runs Friday and Saturday.

Below is the full list of Breeders' Cup horses that worked on Saturday at Churchill Downs:

Horse Work (splits/gallop out) Workmate Trainer Race
Arklow 4F :49 (:12, :24.20, :36.40/1:02) Brad Cox Turf
Beau Recall 4F :50.40 (:25.60, :37.80/1:03.60) Shared Sense Brad Cox Mile
Bell's the One 4F: :47.60 (:24/1:00.60) Grove Daddy Neil Pessin F&M Sprint
By My Standards 5F :59.80 (12.40, :24.20, :35.80/1:12.60) Bret Calhoun Classic
Casa Creed 4F :47.20 (:12, :23.20, :35.40/1:00.20) Harvey's Lil Goil Bill Mott Mile
Crazy Beautiful 5F 1:01 (:12.40, :24.40, :36.40/1:14) Kenny McPeek Juv. Fillies
Factor This 4F :48.80 (:12.20, :23.60) Brad Cox Mile
Global Campaign 5F 1:00.40 (:36.40/1:14) She Love Me Stan Hough Classic
Got Stormy 4F :48.80 (:12, :23.60, :36.40) Mark Casse Turf Sprint
Harvey's Lil Goil 4F :47.20 (:12, :23.20, :35.40/1:00.20) Casa Creed Bill Mott Filly & Mare Turf
Hog Creek Hustle 4F :47.80 (:11.40, :35.40/1:01.40) Vickie Foley Sprint
Knicks Go 4F :48.20 (:12.20, :24, :35.80/1:01.60) Brad Cox Dirt Mile
Lady Kate 4F :48.20 (:12.20, :24, :35.80/1:01.60) Mo Zone Eddie Kenneally Distaff
MonomoyGirl 5F 1:01 (:12.80, :24.60, :37, :48.40/1:14.40) Owendale Brad Cox Distaff
Mr Freeze 4F :50.40 (:13.20, :25.60/1:03.40) Dale Romans Dirt Mile
Mr. Money 4F :48.60 (:24.20, :36.60/1:01.80) Bret Calhoun Dirt Mile
Owendale 5F 1:01.20 (:12.60, :24.80, :48.60/1:14.40) MonomoyGirl Brad Cox Dirt Mile
Sally's Curlin 4F :48.60 Dale Romans F&M Sprint
Sconsin 4F :48.80 (:37/1:01.40, 1:15) Greg Foley F&M Sprint
Silver Dust 4F :49 (:12.60, :24.80, :37.20/1:02.60, 1:15.20 Bret Calhoun Dirt Mile
Simply Ravishing 5F 1:00 (:11.80, :35/1:14) Kenny McPeek Juv. Fillies
Swiss Skydiver 5F 1:00 (:24.60, :36.40, :48.20/1:13.20) Kenny McPeek Distaff/Classic
Texas Wedge 4F :49.80 (:24.40/1:03.80) Peter Miller Turf Sprint
Title Ready 4F :48.20 (:23.20/1:02.40) Dallas Stewart Classic
Tom's d'Etat 4F :50.40 (:25/1:03.60) Al Stall Jr. Classic
War of Will 4F :48.20 (24/1:00.40) Mark Casse Dirt Mile
Whitmore 4F :48.80 (:11.60, :23.20/1:03) Unnamed (out of Famous Lady) Ron Moquett Sprint

Saturday was another busy morning for Brad Cox's barn as he worked six of nine contenders including $2-million Distaff (G1) likely favorite Monomoy Girl.

“I hate to sound cliché but it was another awesome morning for all of these horses,” Cox added. “Most of the serious preparation was done last week but these works still matter to make sure each horse is in top shape prior to the event.”

Jockey Florent Geroux was aboard Monomoy Girl for her final breeze prior to the Breeders' Cup as she worked alongside $1 million Dirt Mile (GI) contender Owendale. Monomoy Girl was one of six horses Geroux breezed Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“She's a champion mare and really a horse of a lifetime,” Geroux said. “She's a future Hall of Famer with her résumé. The speed figures show she is a little bit faster this year than her 3-year-old year.”

The only remaining Breeders' Cup contenders to work at Churchill Downs are Just Might and Manny Wah. Both will work on Sunday, according to their respective trainers.

Saturday finalized the works for trainer Bret Calhoun's trio of By My Standards, Mr. Money and Silver Dust. Jockey Gabriel Saez worked Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Dirt Mile (G1) contender Mr. Money at 5:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) prior to breezing $6-million Classic (G1) hope By My Standards at 5:45 a.m. Jockey Adam Beschizza worked Tom Durant's Dirt Mile contender Silver Dust at 7:30 a.m.

“(By My Standards and Mr. Money) both worked awesome this morning,” Saez said. “By My Standards was supposed to be in about 1:01 but I couldn't slow him down. He's just doing really, really good. Mr. Money got over the ground great again, too.”

By My Standards was one of four Classic contenders to work on Saturday. Another was Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's $500,000 Woodward (G1) winner Global Campaign. Trained by Stan Hough, Global Campaign returned from a nine-month freshening in April at Gulfstream Park and sports a 3-for-4 record in 2020.

“In the Fountain of Youth he really tore his quarter as bad as I've seen it,” Hough said. “That set up for a series of foot problems after that. He's very talented and I think we're getting to a place where he can really show it.”

Other Classic contenders to work Saturday were Charles Fipke's longshot Title Ready and G M B Racing's Grade I winner Tom's d'Etat.

“We are ready to go for the big money,” trainer Dallas Stewart said of Title Ready. “He's a longshot but he will be coming with his run. We'll see what happens but we'll be ready.”

Star 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver was one of three Kenny McPeek trainees to work Saturday morning. Jockey Robby Albardo was once again aboard for the work on the Preakness (GI) winner. She pre-entered both the Distaff and Classic and McPeek is leaning to the Distaff barring any major defections in the Classic.

Entries for all 14 Breeders' Cup races will take place on Monday. There are 43 horses from Churchill Downs expected to be entered. All horses are required to be on the grounds Wednesday. Many local contenders are set to arrive on Monday including Cox's nine-horse squad.

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