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Brown Brigade Readies for Breeders’ Cup

Several of runners targeting next month's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar breezed for trainer Chad Brown at Belmont Saturday, including Oct. 2 GI Champagne S. winner Jack Christopher (Munnings), who worked a half-mile in :49.05. According to Brown, the Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant-owned colt remains on target for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5.

“He was great,” said Brown. He was in control the entire way and galloped out super. He came back good.”

Also on Saturday's worktab, Klaravich Stables' multiple Grade I-winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) breezed five-eighths in 1:01.85 in company with Peter Brant's multiple Grade I-winner Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“They went excellent this morning,” said Brown. “Both horses are on target for the Breeders' Cup.

Domestic Spending, who will target the Turf, is a winner of a trio of Grade Is including this season's Manhattan and a co-topping effort with Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the May 1 Turf Classic. Most recently, he was a closing second in the GI Mr. D on Aug. 14 at Arlington Park.

“He breezed great today and galloped out strong. He's very fit,” Brown said.

According to Brown, Raging Bull, a closing third in the Sept. 18 GI Woodbine Mile, will make his next start in the Mile.

“He's looking for really fast ground and I expect to get that at Del Mar,” added Brown.

In addition to Domestic Spending, Brown is also aiming GI United Nations scorer Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. victor Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) at the 12-furlong test. The former worked five panels in 1:00.50 in company with Group 2-placed filly Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (1:00.40).

Targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Peter Brant's My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's Orglandes worked a half-mile in company over the inner turf. The 11-furlong GIII Waya S. winner went in :49.23, while the latter completed the task in :49.26.

“The mile and three eighths is a good trip for her,” Brown said of the half-sister to champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}).

Also on target for the F&M Turf, Juddmonte's Pocket Square (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) worked five furlongs in 1:02.02 with Tamahere (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (1:02.11) over the inner turf.

“The filly is training pretty good. I'm going to pre-enter her in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and see what it looks like,” said Brown of the Sept. 25 GIII Athenia S. winner. “Her last race really changed my mind about her. I thought she ran good at that distance and the way she galloped out steady. If she's good enough or not, I'm not sure. It's not a definite she's going but I want to take a look at it and see.”

Klaravich Stables' Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy) breezed a half-mile in :49.41 in company with General Ken (Violence), a recent private purchase for an ownership led by Louis Lazzinnaro. A maiden winner, Portfolio Company was runner up in the GIII With Anticipation S. in September at Saratoga and GII Pilgrim S. Oct. 3 at Belmont. He is targeting the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Brown also confirmed that Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}), last out winner of the GII Beldame S., will target the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}), recent winner of Keeneland's GI First Lady S., would be pre-entered to the Mile.

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Gufo Likely for BC Turf

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo (Declaration of War), who earned a berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf with a win in the Aug. 28 GI Sword Dancer S., remains on track for the 12-furlong test at Del Mar Nov. 5. Trainer Christophe Clement said a breeze next weekend will likely determine Gufo's Breeders' Cup status. The chestnut was third most recently in the Oct. 9 Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

“We are training him to go to the Breeders' Cup at the moment,” said Clement. “I will speak to [Otter Bend Stables owner] Mr. Cainelli in the coming week for the plan and we'll make a decision. He'll breeze next weekend and then we'll assess him after the work.”

The 4-year-old recorded his most recent breeze at Belmont Oct. 3, going four furlongs in :48.80.

Victorious in last season's GI Belmont Derby Invitational, he returned this year to annex Belmont's Grand Couturier S. in July before earning his second Grade I win in the Sword Dancer. He also finished second and third, respectively, in this spring's GI Man o' War S. and GI Manhattan S.

Also working for Clement at Belmont Saturday, graded stakes-placed pair Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and City Man (Mucho Macho Man) breezed in company over the inner turf in :47.20. Runner up in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and Jockey Club Derby Invitational, Soldier Rising will target the Oct. 23 GII Hill Prince S. at Belmont. City Man, a three-time New York-bred stakes winner, will make his next start in the $200,000 Mohawk S. as part of the Empire Showcase Day Oct. 30.

“They worked a touch quick, but they worked well,” Clement said. “They came back in good order and are in good shape so far.”

Also on the work tab for Clement was Moyglare Stud Farm's Beautiful Lover (Arch), who went an easy half-mile in :52.10. The 5-year-old will target Belmont's $100,000 Zagora S. Oct. 31.

“She worked well. It was a slow, but by design. She finished up nicely,” Clement added.

A last-out fifth in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. Oct. 3, Beautiful Lover won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Belmont June 27. The Florida-bred, who earned black-type with a win in the 2019 Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth, also placed in that season's GII Hillsborough S. and GIII Matchmaker S.

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Into Mischief Colt Survives Race-Long Duel To Graduate

8th-Santa Anita, $63,000, Msw, 10-15, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.55, ft, 1/2 length.
BAROSSA (c, 2, Into Mischief–Bouquet Booth {GSW, $527,279}, by Flower Alley) was sent off the lukewarm 14-5 favorite in a strong-looking two-turn maiden Friday at Santa Anita got just the better of a race-long tussle with Durante (Distorted Humor) to graduate at third asking. The latter, drawn the inside for his first try at a distance of ground, was aggressively ridden and led into the first turn, but was joined immediately to his outside by Barossa and the two went a swift opening quarter in :23 flat. Still moving along at a good clip through a half-mile in :47.48, Durante retained the call as they hit the stretch, met and held the persistent challenge of Barossa deep into the final furlong and gave way grudingly. The winning margin was a half-length. A $775,000 Keeneland September yearling, Barossa was a well-beaten fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden at Del Mar July 25, but attended a good pace in his two-turn debut at Del Mar Aug. 27 and tired fractionally to finish third to Oviatt Class (Bernardini) subsequently third to 'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) and Pappacap (Gun Runner) in the GI Frontrunner S. at this venue Oct. 1. Bouquet Booth, who hails from the same female family as MGISW Riskaverse (Dynaformer) and Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), was most recently bred to Into Mischief's son Audible. Sales history: $775,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, $49,200. Click for the Equibase.com chartin or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Robert E Masterson & Jay A Schoenfarber; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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Zulueta Changes Plea to Guilty

Trainer Marcos Zulueta joined the growing list of those involved in the Jason Servis-Jorge Navarro doping scandal to change their plea to guilty. Zulueta did so Friday when appearing via teleconference before federal judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. In doing so, Zulueta became the ninth of 27 people indicted in March of 2020 to plead guilty.

Having pleaded guilty to adulterating and misbranding drugs with the intent to defraud or mislead, he faces up to five years in prison and will be sentenced in February.

In the original indictment, Zulueta was closely linked to Jorge Navarro and was alleged to be involved in the doping program that involved the star sprinter X Y Jet (Kantharos). However, Navarro's name was noticeably absent from most of Friday's proceedings. Instead, Zulueta spoke of his relationship with alleged drug distributor Ross Cohen when asked by Vyskocil to explain what he had done to justify his guilty plea. Cohen was among those indicted last year but his name was not included when a superseding indictment was announced last November.

“I misbranded medicine from Ross Cohen,” said Zulueta, who struggled with his English throughout the hearing. “I gave it to my horses for them to perform in training. I don't remember the specific days I gave it to the horses but I did it.”

Zulueta said he started using medications he got from Cohen in 2019, but said he stopped a few months later because he found that the drugs were having no impact on his horses. He made no mention of his dealings with Navarro.

“I realized that my horses weren't getting any better,” he said. “I didn't see any results. The last two or three months before I got arrested, I wasn't using it.”

When asked by Vyskocil whether, at the time, he knew what he was doing was illegal, Zulueta replied: “Yes, your honor. I am prepared to pay for the mistakes I have made.”

Representing the government, attorney Sarah Mortazavi told the court that investigators had compiled mounds of evidence to make their case against Zulueta and singled out evidence that Zulueta was using a drug called “monkey,” which has similar characteristics to epogen.

According to the original indictment, Zulueta was among those who where obtaining, shipping and administering misbranded and adulterated PED's for Navarro's benefit. The evidence included an intercepted phone call from February 2019 in which Navarro and Zulueta discussed Navarro's need for a customized PED referred to as a “blocker.” Zulueta assured Navarro he could get the drug for him.

On another occasion, Zulueta cautions Navarro about winning too often.

“Yeah, you should be happy-happy-happy that you are not winning all of them,” Zulueta allegedly told Navarro. “Otherwise, you will be arrested.”

Zulueta started training in 2011 and quickly became a force at Parx. In the few months in 2020 before his arrest, he had 18 winners from 58 starters, good for a winning rate of 31%.

Three individuals who have pled guilty have been sentenced. Scott Robinson and Scott Mangini each got 18 months and Sarah Izhaki got time served.

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