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Uncle Mo’s Golden Pal Speeds to Second BC Win in Turf Sprint

Breaking like shot out of a cannon, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) marked his return to Breeders' Cup competition following a win in 2020 to double up with a score in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Sent off what seemed to be a bit of an overlay, the 5-2 favorite was sure-footed at the start, streaking to the front and cutting out a brisk quarter in :21.71. With Lieutenant Dan (Grazen) in hot pursuit through an equally fast half in :43.34, last year's GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner turned for home about a length ahead of the GII Eddie D. S. scorer, kicked on all boosters in the stretch, and despite Lieutenant Dan's best intentions late, the Wesley Ward trainee was not for catching, crossing the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead. Charmaine's Mia rounded out the trifecta. Last season's defending champion Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) never got into the mix of things, finishing eighth.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded when I asked him for run down the stretch,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. “I was confident coming for home and he still felt very strong. He was ready today.”

The victory is the second of the weekend for Ward and Ortiz Jr., who teamed up to win Friday's GII Juvenile Turf Sprint with Twilight Gleaming (Ire). It is the sixth Breeders' Cup victory for Ward and 13th for Ortiz, but first for both in the Turf Sprint.

“He's got the title–he's the best horse [I've ever trained], affirmed Ward. “Bruce Headley, a great trainer, once told me when he had [Sprint Champion] Kona Gold, 'stay in there long enough and you'll get one as good as this.' I hope everyone in horse racing has a horse like this, as special as he is. He's just fast. He's mature and he has so much upstairs, as well. He has so much natural ability. What a horse.”

Added Steven Miyadi, trainer of runner-up Lieutenant Dan, “He wasn't ready to run against a rocket ship. He ran great, probably the best race of his life.”

A runner-up finish in last year's G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot proved but a taste of what was still to come for the Coolmore partners-owned runner, who rounded out his 2-year-old campaign with wins in Saratoga's Skidmore S. followed by a narrow victory on Breeders' Cup day at Keeneland. Given time off following a minor setback earlier this season, Golden Pal returned a winner in the GIII Quick Call S. at the Spa July 15 but didn't show his best when seventh in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20. Freshened after that, the Florida bred went wire-to-wire last time out in the 5 1/2-furlong GII Woodford S. at Keeneland Oct. 9.

Pedigree Notes:
Golden Pal was certainly bred to be a good one, becoming the 10th Grade I/Group 1 winner for Coolmore's Uncle Mo. His illustrious dam, 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Shipman, who missed by a neck in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint–was also bred by the colt's breeder, Randy Lowe. The graded-winning mare produced an Omaha Beach colt Mar. 24 and is back in foal to Uncle Mo. A Violence half-brother to Lady Shipman RNA'd for $170,000 at Fasig-Tipton July. For more on Lowe and Golden Pal, click here for a Second Chances column.

Saturday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT-GI, $920,000, Del Mar, 11-6, 3yo/up, 5fT, :55.22, fm.
1–GOLDEN PAL, 124, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Lady Shipman (GSW-Can, MSW & GISP-USA, $902,387), by Midshipman
2nd Dam: Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim
3rd Dam: Nannetta, by Falstaff
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($325,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Magnier,
Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick and Westerberg;
B-Randall E Lowe (FL); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$520,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-2-0, $1,299,056. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lieutenant Dan, 126, g, 5, Grazen–Excusabull, by Indian
Charlie. O/B-Nick Alexander (CA); T-Steven Miyadi. $170,000.
3–Charmaine's Mia, 123, m, 5, The Factor–Charming Vixen, by
Bernstein. ($40,000 RNA Wlg '16 KEENOV; $4,000 Ylg '17
KEESEP). O-Agave Racing Stable, Medallion Racing and Rockin
Robin Racing Stables; B-Gunpowder Farms LLC (KY); T-Philip
D'Amato. $90,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3HF, NK. Odds: 2.50, 4.60, 28.10.
Also Ran: Emaraaty Ana (GB), A Case of You (Ire), Gear Jockey, Kimari, Glass Slippers (GB), Extravagant Kid, Chaos Theory, Fast Boat, Caravel. Scratched: Arrest Me Red, Beer Can Man, Bombard, Commander (Fr), Hollywood Talent, The Critical Way.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Ce Ce Upends Gamine in F/M Sprint

DEL MAR, CA – With all eyes on defending champion and 2-5 favorite Gamine (Into Mischief) and star 3-year-old Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot), it was Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) who came rolling over the top in the stretch to upend Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

Last year's Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Gamine, looking to become only the second two-time winner of the race following Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band), went to the front, as expected, and was shadowed by GI Longines Test S. heroine Bella Sofia through an opening quarter in :22.31 and a half mile in :44.92 as the Bo Hirsch homebred sat in a dream spot in fourth in the five-horse affair.

Edgeway (Competitive Edge), winner of the local prep GIII Rancho Bernardo H. this summer, snuck through an opening along the inside on the far turn as three of them lined up with Gamine sandwiched in the middle. Ce Ce, meanwhile, patiently waited in fourth.

Ce Ce ranged up with a menacing, five-wide move beneath Victor Espinoza at the top of the stretch and blew by them all down the lane to win going away as much the best while stopping the timer in a sharp 1:21 flat for seven furlongs. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Edgeway in second. Gamine stayed on for third.

This was the second career Breeders' Cup winner for trainer Michael McCarthy, who won the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with the very talented City of Light (Quality Road). He saddled this year's GI Preakness S. winner Rombauer (Twirling Candy) for his first Classic victory. McCarthy was also represented by GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) later on Saturday's card.

“When she hit the front today, obviously a little bit reminiscent, it felt like the Preakness, you're certainly happy that they go ahead and show themselves and they're going to run well,” McCarthy said. “Whether they're going to run one, two, three, you don't know, but your job is basically done once they walk on the racetrack. When she hit the sixteenth pole and it looked like no one was coming to her, it was a special feeling.”

It was an emotional victory for Espinoza–his fourth in the Breeders' Cup–who suffered a fracture of the C-3 vertebra in his neck in a tragic morning incident at Del Mar three summers ago when his charge Bobby Abu Dhabi died of an apparent heart attack. Espinoza's last win at the Championships came aboard the brilliant Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

“My career's been up and down, but nevertheless, I've been down below and I never gave up,” Espinoza said. “And sometimes you hit the ground, but no matter how hard we hit it, when you stand up, you stand up big. And I feel great right now and like I say, it's really special, because my last Breeders' Cup win was American Pharoah, but in between I had a little bit of rough accident and other stuff. Life is interesting and fun, we don't know what's going to happen in the future, but just keep going day by day.

Espinoza continued, “As long as the body essentially is right, you know, it's what I've done my career and that's all I've done my entire life. I've been mentally prepared for when my body is not physically right, then I would sit back and start all over again. But it's almost like my body helped me to go forward and I got to continue riding and ride great horses like Ce Ce, that helps an awful lot, too.”

Ce Ce, heroine of last term's GI Apple Blossom H. going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn and GI Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita, focused on races going around one turn for her 2021 campaign. Her season was headed by strong wins sprinting in the GII Princess Rooney Invitational at Gulfstream July 3 and GIII Chillingworth S. at Santa Anita last out Oct. 3. She finished third, three lengths behind wire-to-wire winner Gamine in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Ce Ce was fifth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths, in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

Any chance we see her back for a 6-year-old campaign?

“Well, at my stage in life I want more fun than money, and as long as she wants to run, and as long as we know she wants to run, we're going to run for a while,” Hirsch replied.

McCarthy added, “It's a proud moment for [Bo Hirsch and I]. Such a fantastic day and fantastic event. Just happy for everybody. She's been very consistent. I think last year I decided that this year we would go one turn with her. She's been touting herself this week that she was going to run a big one. I'm just glad she did on a stage like today.”

Pedigree Notes:

Ce Ce becomes the third Breeders' Cup winner for the late Elusive Quality, who is also responsible for Raven's Pass (Classic) and Maryfield (F/M Sprint). She is one of 17 Grade I winners/56 graded winners/137 stakes winners for her sire. Ce Ce is one of eight Grade I winners/29 graded winners for Belong to Me as a broodmare sire. Ce Ce's lightly raced dam Miss Houdini was also a Bo Hirsch homebred, and annexed the 2002 GI Del Mar Debutante at second asking. She has also produced GII Arkansas Derby and GII San Fernando S. winner Papa Clem (Smart Strike). Her most recent produce is the unraced 2-year-old Native Thunder (American Pharoah), a $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Lazy F Ranch. Miss Houdini was bred to Mucho Macho Man and Tamarkuz for 2022. Ce Ce's Second dam Magical Maiden was just a $26,000 2-year-old purchase by Hirsch's father Clement and would go on to take a pair of Grade I races in Southern California and earn more than $900,000 before being sold for $400,000 at the 2000 KEENOV sale.

Saturday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY AND MARE SPRINT-GI, $860,000, Del Mar, 11-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.00, ft.
1–CE CE, 124, m, 5, by Elusive Quality
               1st Dam: Miss Houdini (GISW, $187,600), by Belong to Me
               2nd Dam: Magical Maiden, by Lord Avie
               3rd Dam: Gils Magic, by Magesterial
O/B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Victor
Espinoza. $520,000. Lifetime Record: 16-8-1-3, $1,753,100.
*1/2 to Papa Clem (Smart Strike), MGSW & GISP,
$1,121,190. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks
report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Edgeway, 124, f, 4, by Competitive Edge
               1st Dam: Magical Solution (SW), by Stormin Fever
               2nd Dam: Boltono, by Unbridled's Song
               3rd Dam: Buckaroo Zoo, by Buckaroo
($35,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $275,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR).
O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Pope McLean, Valerie Blethen &
David Blethen (KY); T-John W. Sadler. $170,000.
3–Gamine, 124, f, 4, by Into Mischief
               1st Dam: Peggy Jane (SP, $102,050), by Kafwain
               2nd Dam: Seattle Splash, by Chief Seattle
               3rd Dam: Grand Splash, by Bucksplasher
'TDN Rising Star' ($220,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $1,800,000 2yo '19 EASMAY).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Grace Thoroughbred Holdings
LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $90,000.
Margins: 2HF, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.20, 16.60, 0.40.
Also Ran: Bella Sofia, Proud Emma. Scratched: Estilo Talentoso.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Additional Statement on Juvenile Turf

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Breeders' Cup issued a collective statement Saturday regarding the incident at the gate prior to the start of Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which results in the eventual winner, Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), ultimately being withdrawn from pari-mutuel pools and competing for purse money only.

The statement, in its entirety, reads:

“The CHRB, Del Mar, and Breeders' Cup officials reviewed the circumstances of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last night and again this morning.

“The CHRB determined that, as discussed in the aftermath of the race, #1 Modern Games was scratched by the stewards on the recommendation of one of the track veterinarians, Dr. Chuck Jenkins, at the starting gate at 17:35:35 PT.

“After additional examination and assessment of Modern Games by the attending veterinary team, track veterinarian Dr. Dana Stead concluded that the horse had not been injured and communicated to the stewards that the horse was cleared to run.

“Due to a miscommunication between the stewards and the Del Mar mutuels department, Modern Games was reinserted into the pari-mutuel wagering pools at 17:37:01 PT.

“At 17:43:49 PT, after it was made clear to the mutuels department that Modern Games was competing for purse money only, the horse was again removed from the wagering pools.

“The race went off at 17:47:34 PT.

“Per CHRB rules, all wagers on #1 Modern Games in the win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and super high five pools are subject to refund. Daily Double and Pick 3 wagers to Modern Games received a consolation payment. Per CHRB rules, in all other multi-leg wagers ending on the 10th race, bettors with tickets including #1 Modern Games and #2 Albahr received the post-time favorite, #3 Dakota Gold, unless they designated an alternate for the race.

“As a result of the review, the CHRB, Del Mar and Breeders' Cup are modifying their injury management communications protocols, so that Dr. Stead will make the final determination with respect to recommended scratches at the starting gate and has sole authority to communicate those recommendations to the stewards.”

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Express Train Scratched from Classic, BC Friday Wrap

Express Train (Union Rags), slated to contest Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, was scratched the morning of the race because of swelling in his hind right hock.

“He was schooling in the paddock three days ago and he got a little playful, jumping around and kicked himself,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He'll be fine with a little more time and we plan on running him next year.”

Also withdrawn Saturday morning, Lael Stable's Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) was forced to miss Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“We had a little foot issue and changed the horse's shoes,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “It kept getting better, but we erred on the side of caution.”

“She was perfect [Saturday] morning,” he confirmed. “She jogged up perfect and is with [GII Juvenile Turf Sprint] third-place finisher Kaufymaker and fifth-place finisher and post-time favorite Averly Jane] on a plane [to Keeneland].”

L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), runaway winner of Friday's GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, will get some time off before returning for a 3-year-old campaign, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

“She needs a bit of a break now. So that she can fill in, she needs to grow,” he said. “She's not a big filly in stature, but as a Gun Runner, he was extremely talented, but he [later] developed into the best in the world.”

Earlier this season, the TDN Rising Star won the GI Spinaway S. and GI Frizette S. prior to her latest score.

Reflecting on Friday's victory, he added, “I think it's as simple as she's faster than they are. And, I think that's what she's been all year. She continues to be just extremely satisfying. When you look at a four-race year, three Grade Is and the style in which she's done it. All of her races are fast, her numbers are good. And, against the best company, that's as good as it gets. You catch the [GI] Alcibiades winner [JuJu's Map] and the [GIII] Pocahontas winner [Hidden Connection]. They made it here. And, she was better on the day. We're very proud of that.”

According to trainer Bob Baffert, Speedway Stables' Corniche (Quality Road) is also done for the season following his win in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“He won't race again this year,” the Hall of Famer confirmed. “We don't have any specific plans for him.”

Baffert was also responsible for Juvenile contestants Pinehurst (Twirling Candy, 5th) and Barossa (Into Mischief, 9th).

“All my horses came out of the race well,” Baffert said. “I thought his [Corniche's] race was very impressive. He's a really, really fast horse and this performance shows what a brilliant horse he is.”

Bobby Flay's Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was already heading back East following her win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday. The Flay homebred gave her trainer, Christophe Clement, his first win in a Breeders' Cup race.

“She ran very well and got a great ride,” said Clement. “She's a good filly. For me the biggest accomplishment of the whole deal–of course it's great to win the Breeders Cup–is that her owner/breeder Bobby Flay chose us with a filly that is very well bred and we were able to do this. It is very meaningful for me.”

Looking ahead, Clement added that New York's turf triple crown is a likely for next season.

“That would be the goal of the moment, but we have time to think about it,” he said.

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