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Order of Australia Blows Up Tote in the Mile

Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) only drew into the race with the scratch of One Master (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and needed a back-up rider when Christophe Soumillon was sidelined by a positive COVID test, but the 3-year-old overcame it all to lead home a one-two-three finish for Coolmore and trainer Aidan O’Brien in the GI Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Mile Saturday at Keeneland.

Off as a 73-1 outsider with Pierre-Charles Boudot picking up the ride from Soumillon, Order of Australia was able to get down into the three path after veering a bit outward at the break and sat within striking distance as Halladay (War Front) and Factor This (The Factor) eyeballed each other up front. Looming a threat turning for home, the bay sophomore took command inside the final sixteenth of a mile and withstood a late run from G1 Queen Anne S. winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the victory.

“Aidan [O’Brien] was very confident before the race and he told me, ‘He is fast and he’s a proper horse for the mud and the good ground and he did it very well,” Boudot said after winning his second championship race of the day. “I took a good place just behind the pace. He travelled very nicely on the bridle and

when I ask him, he give me a very nice turn of foot.”

Earlier on the card, Boudot rode Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to victory in the F/M Turf. It was another pick-up mount for the jockey after Ioritz Mendizabal tested positive for COVID.

“It’s a dream come true,” Boudot said of the double. “It is only by chance to get these rides and I’m sorry for Ioritz Mendizabal and Christophe Soumillon. It’s a difficult situation with COVID, but I was given two nice opportunities. I’m over the moon.”

It was the 13th Breeders’ Cup win for trainer Aidan O’Brien, but his first in the Mile and it was the second biggest upset in Breeders’ Cup history.

“It’s a real team effort, we’re very happy,” said Pat Keating, O’Brien’s traveling head man. “First three home is unbelievable. You need a lot of luck in this game. We’re lucky enough to have good horses and good jockeys. I’m just happy for everyone involved.”

Order of Australia was fourth in the G1 Irish Derby and seventh in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club while still a maiden and he only won his first race four starts back at Dundalk Sept. 18. He followed up with an allowance win at The Curragh Sept. 27 and was a well-beaten ninth in a listed race in Kildare last time out Oct. 11.

Pedigree Notes:

The unraced Senta’s Dream is also the dam of last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf winner Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}). Order of Australia’s second dam is 2002 GI F/M Turf winner Starine (Fr) (Mendocino), who sold for $1 million at that year’s Keeneland November sale.

Order of Australia’s 2-year-old half -sister Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star‘ following a debut win at The Curragh Sept. 26.

Australia, winner of the 2014 G1 Irish Derby, is a son of two-time F/M Turf winner Oujia Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Order of Australia is his 12th graded stakes winner and his second Group 1 winner. His son Galileo Chrome (Ire) won this year’s G1 English St. Leger S.

Saturday, Keeneland
FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP MILE PRESENTED BY PDJF-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-7, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.73, fm.
1–ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (IRE), 123, c, 3, by Australia (GB)
                1st Dam: Senta’s Dream (GB), by Danehill
                2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
                3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor &
Anne Marie O’Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan
O’Brien; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. $1,040,000. Lifetime
Record: 8-3-0-1, $1,096,675. *1/2 to Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of
The World (IRE)), GISW-USA, G1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Ire,
$1,988,198. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Circus Maximus (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Duntle (Ire), by
Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs.
John Magnier & Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.; B-Flaxman Stables
Ireland Ltd. (IRE); T-Aidan P. O’Brien. $340,000.
3–Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), 123, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Black
Dahlia (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€900,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG).
‘TDN Rising Star‘ O-Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier &
Michael Tabor; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (IRE); T-Aidan P. O’Brien.
$180,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 1. Odds: 73.20, 11.30, 18.00.
Also Ran: Ivar (Brz), Uni (GB), Halladay, Kameko, Factor This, Siskin, Raging Bull (Fr), Digital Age (Ire), Casa Creed, March to the Arch, Safe Voyage (Ire). Scratched: One Master (GB).
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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Gulfstream West Cancels Sunday Card

Gulfstream Park West canceled its live racing card Sunday due to the impending arrival of Tropical Storm Eta. Entries will be taken Sunday for Friday’s program and live racing returns to the Miami Springs track Wednesday.

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Fourth Time Lucky In the Sprint for Fan-Favorite Whitmore

Making his fourth consecutive appearance in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the 7-year-old gelding Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) did what few have done over the course of the weekend–rally from far back on the main track to score an 18-1 upset in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint Saturday at Keeneland.

The $4.2-million earner lagged in the latter third of the field early as Japanese raider Jasper Prince (Violence) ensured a fast pace, chased along by fellow longshot Empire of Gold (Goldencents). Traveling nicely within himself on the turn, Whitmore crept into it while steadily gaining on the leaders, angled out into the three path entering the final furlong and outran C Z Rocket (City Zip) to the wire to take it by 3 1/4 lengths. Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) rallied up the inside to just touch Empire of Gold out of third.

Heavily favored sophomore Yaupon (Uncle Mo), unbeaten in four prior attempts racing on the engine, including Saratoga’s GII Amsterdam S., tired to eighth after chasing the early leaders on the outside from third.

“I said in the pre-race interview that whenever there are this many track records, it’s almost impossible to think a closer is going to do well,” winning trainer and co-owner Ron Moquett said after saddling his first Breeders’ Cup winner. “For him to run against the bias the way he did and the patience of the rider [Irad Ortiz, Jr.], the willingness to listen, it all worked out. I’m so proud of the horse, proud for the connections. I’m proud for everyone out there that’s thinking when you run last in the Kentucky Derby, kick them out, do right by the horse come back, and you have a shot to reach other dreams. You don’t discard them. You just do right by the horse and it keeps working out.

Moquett continued, “I’m just grateful. Grateful for the horse. Grateful to everyone that sends me well wishes and congratulations after the race. Just grateful.”

Two years ago Moquett was diagnosed with autoimmune disease, which affects the lungs and can make breathing difficult. The disease forced him to avoid the racetrack for several months.

Whitmore, who gave Moquett his second career Grade I victory in the 2018 Forego at Saratoga, has helped the affable trainer get through his darkest days.

“Right after the race they come up and they want to do interviews, and for a little bit, for a guy that’s lung compromised, I’m sitting over here trying to go, ‘Okay, first you catch your breath and then you can talk and then when you put these, what I call life restrictors on me, then it makes it that much harder to get air through there,'” Moquett said.

“He’s everything. You get a horse like this, and all horses, I mean, we drive across the country all the time just to see horses. But a horse like this that tries and fights and gives you everything consistently, you want to be there. I’m not saying that even in one of these big barns that he wouldn’t have performed beautifully and done just as well, but I am saying that Whitmore in a big outfit may not have received the exact attention that he needed to get there. So, I use that as motivation. If I’m not there to do my job, who is going to do it?”

Whitmore, a Classics hopeful after finishing third in the GI Arkansas Derby in 2016, finished 19th in that year’s GI Kentucky Derby.

Re-invented as a sprinter since, Whitmore finished eighth in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, second to Roy H (More Than Ready) at Churchill two years ago and third to Mitole (Eskendereya) last year at Santa Anita.

Whitmore lined up six previous times this season, led by wins in Oaklawn’s Hot Springs S. (4x winner) and GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. (3x winner). This term’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. runner-up entered off a flat fourth in the local GII Phoenix S.

Whitmore is campaigned in partnership by Robert LaPenta, Moquett and Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners LLC.

“It’s just an incredible win,” said Kumin, also a co-owner of Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire) and Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). “You own lots of horses, but very rarely do you find one that is a fighter like this guy, with so much heart. All the credit goes to Ron and his team and Whitmore because he’s just, you know, he’s a warrior and it was just amazing to see today.”

Will we see the popular gelding back again at age eight?

“I see no reason, as long as Whitmore wants to do it. I see no reason to do anything but what he wants to do,” Moquett concluded.

Pedigree Notes:

The veteran Whitmore, who would undoubtedly win any popularity contests of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, is the most accomplished horse sired by 2003 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect–although the latter also sired 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Shared Account, who in turn foaled 2019 GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Sharing (Speightstown)–from his 20 black-type winners and seven graded winners. Pleasantly Perfect died in June in Turkey, where he had stood from 2015-2019. Whitmore is out of the Scat Daddy mare Melody’s Spirit, who was unraced and produced Whitmore as her first foal. Her 2-year-old colt Skip Intro (Liam’s Map) is a barnmate of Whitmore’s in Ron Moquett’s shedrow and was second in a Churchill maiden special weight Nov. 1. Melody’s Spirit’s yearling colt by Arrogate–named Arrogates Spirit–was a $170,000 RNA at Keeneland September. The mare has been bred back to Constitution. The late Scat Daddy’s record as a sire has been well documented, but he also has nine black-type winners out of his daughters, led by Whitmore.

Saturday, Keeneland
BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-7, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.61, ft.
1–WHITMORE, 126, g, 7, by Pleasantly Perfect
                1st Dam: Melody’s Spirit, by Scat Daddy
                2nd Dam: Capture the Cat, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Ten Flags, by Seattle Slew
O-Robert V. LaPenta, Ron Moquett & Head of Plains Partners
LLC; B-John Liviakis (KY); T-Ron Moquett; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$1,040,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 38-15-11-3, $4,247,850.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–C Z Rocket, 126, g, 6, City Zip–Successful Sarah, by Successful
Appeal. ($800,000 2yo ’16 OBSOPN). O-Madaket Stables LLC,
Gary Barber & Tom Kagele; B-Farm III Enterprises LLC (FL);
T-Peter Miller. $340,000.
3–Firenze Fire, 126, h, 5, Poseidon’s Warrior–My Every Wish, by
Langfuhr. O/B-Mr Amore Stables (FL); T-Kelly J. Breen.
$180,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 18.40, 5.90, 8.80.
Also Ran: Empire of Gold, Manny Wah, Diamond Oops, Hog Creek Hustle, Yaupon, Lasting Legacy, Bon Raison, Frank’s Rockette, Collusion Illusion, Echo Town, Jasper Prince. Scratched: Vekoma. 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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Boudot at Brilliant Best As Audarya Upsets FM Turf

French Group 1 winner Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punctuated her U.S. debut with a well-earned victory over five-time Grade I scorer Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the Maker’s Mark GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland Saturday afternoon. GI Woodbine Mile heroine Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind) stumbled at the start, dropping Florent Geroux as Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) raced out from her outside berth to set the pace with Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) and Rushing Fall in close pursuit. Approaching the half-mile pole, Audarya moved through on the inside to assume fourth while tracking the leading trio to the top of the stretch where Cayenne Pepper began to wilt. Taken three-wide off the rail turning for home, Audarya put Mean Mary away at the sixteenth pole and gradually wore down the classy Rushing Fall late to score by a half-length. Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah) rallied to be third. Starship Jubilee and Geroux appeared to be fine after the eventful start. It was the first Breeders’ Cup win for trainer James Fanshawe and Pierre-Charles Boudot.
“First of all, thanks to all the team at home,” said Fanshawe, who indicated the filly would like stay in training in 2021. “The [traveling crew] has looked after her superbly since she’s been here. She’s done everything right since she’s been here. I just can’t believe it, some race to win. I’m just so thrilled. Pierre-Charles gave her a superb ride. Breeders Cup has looked after us amazingly.”
Of Rushing Fall, trainer Chad Brown added, “That’s what it sounds like talking to Javier [Castellano] [the distance got her]. I thought she was going to be able to pull it off in deep stretch here, but it wasn’t to be. She’s had an outstanding career. She’s definitely the horse of a lifetime for anybody including me. Javier has done a super job riding her entire career. I just thanked him for that. Sad to see her go [be retired], because you’re not going to replace her easily or if ever. Bottom line is I was super proud of her effort today. She gave it all she had. I think it would be fitting [if she won the Eclipse Award] because she deserves it.”
Listed placed at three, the €125,000 Arqana October yearling purchase failed to factor in a pair of English starts in early summer before visiting the winner’s circle for the first time in almost a year in a 10-furlong all-weather test at Newcastle Aug. 2. Recording a career high victory in the Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, the French-bred finished third to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix de l’Opera Longines Oct. 4.

Pedigree Insights:
French-bred Green Bananas, a daughter of Group 3-placed Anabaa Republic (Fr), produced her last registered foal in 2018, a colt by Polarix (GB), who died last season. This represents the family of French and UAE highweight older horse and Hong Kong Group 1-victor Tonic (Fr) (Double Bed {Fr}) and Grade I-scorer Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}).

Saturday, Keeneland
MAKER’S MARK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/16mT, 1:52.72 (NCR), fm.
1–AUDARYA (FR), 124, f, 4, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
                1st Dam: Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune
                2nd Dam: Anabaa Republic (Fr), by Anabaa
                3rd Dam: Gigawatt, by Double Bed (Fr)
(€125,000 Ylg ’17 AROYRG). O-A. M. Swinburn; B-S.A.R.L.
Haras D’Ecouves (FR); T-J. R. Fanshawe; J-Pierre-Charles
Boudot. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 13-5-4-1,
$1,229,046.
2–Rushing Fall, 124, m, 5, by More Than Ready
                1st Dam: Autumnal, by Forestry
                2nd Dam: Marie J, by Mr. Prospector
                3rd Dam: In My Cap, by Vice Regent
   ‘TDN Rising Star‘ ($320,000 Ylg ’16 FTSAUG). O-e Five Racing
Thoroughbreds; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $340,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
3–Harvey’s Lil Goil, 120, f, 3, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Gloria S, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Arch’s Gal Edith, by Arch
                3rd Dam: Force Five Gal, by Pleasant Tap
O-Estate of Harvey A. Clarke & Paul Braverman; B-Harvey A.
Clarke (KY); T-William I. Mott. $180,000.
Margins: NK, HD, 3/4. Odds: 17.80, 2.90, 20.40.
Also Ran: Lady Prancealot (Ire), Civil Union, Sistercharlie (Ire), Mean Mary, Nay Lady Nay (Ire), My Sister Nat (Fr), Cayenne Pepper (Ire), Peaceful (Ire), Mucho Unusual, Terebellum (Ire), Starship Jubilee. 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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