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Kentucky Downs Postpones Sunday Card to Tuesday

As a result of afternoon-long rains that pelted the track and with more inclement weather forecast for Sunday, officials at Kentucky Downs announced late Saturday afternoon that the 11-race program originally scheduled for Sunday would be postponed and run in its entirety on Tuesday.

“With the steady rain that we had from the fifth race on and the projected forecast for rain overnight and tomorrow, we felt it the prudent thing to do safety-wise for both horses and riders,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ senior vice president and general manager. “With the forecast being much more favorable for Tuesday and Wednesday, it was the right thing to do.”

Sunday’s card was to include the $500,000 TVG S., the $400,000 Untapable S. and the $400,000 Music City S. The Kentucky Downs meeting concludes Wednesday with a program that features the GIII Nevada State Bank Franklin-Simpson S. for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

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Breeders’ Cup Back to Keeneland in 2022, Purses Maintained in 2020

The Breeders’ Cup will return to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. as the host site for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup announced Saturday. Keeneland, which is also scheduled to host this year’s World Championships Nov. 6-7, will hold the 39th Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5, 2022. It will be the third time the Breeders’ Cup has been held at Keeneland since 2015. Del Mar will remain the host of the 2021 event.

The announcement of Keeneland as host of the 2022 championships was made in conjunction with two other pieces of news: first, attendance at this year’s event will be limited to the connections of race participants and essential staff, and without fans on-site, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Breeders’ Cup said in a press release that the decision was made following “close, continuous communications with Governor Andy Beshear, Keeneland, local and state government and public health officials and independent medical experts to fully assess the conditions under which major sporting events may expect to operate safely in the coming months.”

Additionally, purse levels will be maintained at the 2019 level, with $31 million in purses and awards. The Longines Classic will again offer a purse of $6 million, while the Longines Turf will be run for $4 million.

In February, prior to the pandemic, the Breeders’ Cup had met and decided to increase purses by a total of $4 million for 2020; that increase will now be postponed to 2021.

Under the new operational parameters, on-site attendance will be limited to essential personnel and participants only, the release said. Those accessing the grounds will be subject to strict guidelines and protocols put in place as part of Breeders’ Cup’s comprehensive COVID-19 health and safety plan, details of which will be announced closer to the event.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be joined by our fans on-site this year, our utmost priority is and always will be to conduct the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the safest way possible,” said Fred Hertrich, Breeders’ Cup Board Chairman. “We would like to thank Governor Beshear, state and local health officials and public health authorities for their leadership, guidance and insight as we have worked to identify our options and finalize our plans. Lexington’s local community of racing fans, businesses and members of the Thoroughbred industry are the backbone of our sport, and we believe they deserve a second opportunity, in short order, to experience the event at its full potential. As such, we are proud to award Keeneland the 2022 World Championships and look forward to bringing the Breeders’ Cup back to Lexington in just two years’ time.”

“The decision to hold this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships without fans in attendance was not made lightly,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup. “However, after many months of careful deliberation, planning and consultation, it has become abundantly clear that this is the right decision in order to proceed with our event while still protecting the collective health of our community. Despite many major racing events reducing purses significantly, we are proud to be able to maintain 2019 purse levels to support our nominators and horsemen during this challenging year.”

“While the World Championships will look different this year, Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup remain committed to making the event the best it can be,” said Bill Thomason, Keeneland President and CEO. “We are grateful to continue providing a platform for our athletes and horses to showcase their talent, and we are excited for the event to return in 2022, when fans can experience the full spectacle of Breeders’ Cup in the Bluegrass as we originally intended.”

This year’s Classic was to get a $1 million bump to $7 million; the Turf a $2 million boost to $6 million, and the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile a $1 million increase to a total purse of $2 million.

“To enhance the viewing experience for the influx of horse racing fans who will be watching the races from home, Breeders’ Cup is working with its official broadcast partner, NBC Sports, to develop and introduce innovative and enhanced production elements,” the press release reads. “The organization is also implementing advanced technologies across its own digital platforms and channels to further engage with fans at home.”

All 2020 ticket holders will receive a full refund and will also be granted first access to purchase the same or similar tickets for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

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A ‘Mighty’ Upset in the Queen’s Plate

Odds were that if Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll was going to win her third Queen’s Plate, it’d come with heavy favorite and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage. Instead, her other two entrants made up a longshot exacta, with lightly raced and one-eyed Mighty Heart dominating the Canadian Classic. Fourth in a rained-off Fair Grounds mile event in February, the bay colt bore out on the turn and crossed the wire 11th when getting on the grass there a month later (he was later officially moved up one spot due to a medication DQ). He broke through by daylight over a couple of these foes going 8 1/2 panels on the Tapeta July 11 and was most recently third–one slot behind Tecumseh’s War (Summer Front)–in a nine-furlong allowance Aug. 1.

Tugging his way to the front from the 13 hole while on his incorrect lead, the homebred settled somewhat and continued along on an uncontested lead through splits of :23.57, :47.61 and 1:12.70. He was briefly headed by Plate Trial winner Clayton around the bend as Curlin’s Voyage revved up wider, but swatted them all away and ran up the score from there. Maiden Belichick made a good late run to round out a C$961 triactor.

“I was concerned for a minute or two with the quick fractions but he looked like he was settling and doing it easily,” said Carroll. “We knew he’d go all day and he sure did. You know what, he’s just a very exciting horse who’s come a long way for [owner/breeder Larry] Cordes, who’s had a lot of confidence in him from the start.”

It was winning rider Daisuke Fukumoto’s first Queen’s Plate ride.

“Unbelievable,” said Fukumoto. “I can’t explain…he’s feeling good today… I saw that nobody [was going for the lead] so I just sent him and he just kept going. After the wire, he still kept going, he didn’t stop there.”

The young pilot, who notched his first-ever stakes win Aug. 22, continued, “He was sharp today. I thought it was fast but I took the lead so I can’t do anything, you know…I let him go. He only has one eye, but he’s got a big heart, a mighty heart.”

Pedigree Notes:

Mighty Heart is the second of two black-type winners for the Distorted Humor stallion Dramedy, winner of the 2015 GII Dixiana Elkhorn S. at Keeneland. Dramedy originally stood his first two years at War Horse Place in Kentucky, then moved to River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma for another two seasons prior to being sold to Saudi Arabia for the 2020 season. With a mere 29 foals from his two crops of racing age, Dramedy has had nine individual winners from 16 starters. His other stakes winner is Southgate, who broke his maiden last year in the restricted Iowa Stallion Futurity. Mighty Heart’s modest female side was void of black-type after his fourth dam until Saturday’s score, while his unraced broodmare sire, the Storm Cat stallion City Place, has three stakes winners out of his daughters, including the Queen’s Plate winner. Emma’s Bullseye’s most recent foal is the unraced 2-year-old filly Evelyn’s Delight (Silver Max).

Saturday, Woodbine
QUEEN’S PLATE S., C$1,002,400, Woodbine, 9-12, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:01.98, ft.
1–MIGHTY HEART, 126, c, 3, by Dramedy
1st Dam: Emma’s Bullseye, by City Place
2nd Dam: Fleeting April, by Northern Afleet
3rd Dam: April’s Luci, by Sunny Clime
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Lawrence Cordes; B-Larry Cordes
(ON); T-Josie Carroll; J-Daisuke Fukumoto. C$600,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-2-0-1, $508,506.
2–Belichick, 126, c, 3, Lemon Drop Kid–Game (Fr), by Montjeu
(Ire). ($300,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods;
B-Sean Fitzhenry (ON); T-Josie Carroll. C$200,000.
3–Clayton, 126, c, 3, Bodemeister–Smarthalf, by Smart Strike.
($16,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Donato
Lanni & Daniel Plouffe; B-Bernard & Karen McCormack (ON);
T-Kevin Attard. C$100,000.
Margins: 7HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 13.25, 26.60, 3.00.
Also Ran: Tecumseh’s War, Curlin’s Voyage, Merveilleux, Dotted Line, Glorious Tribute, Truebelieve, Holyfield, Olliemyboy, F F Rocket, Sweepin Hard, Halo Again.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Wesley Ward One-Two in Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint

Outadore (Outwork) provided his freshman sire (by Uncle Mo) his second black-type winner in the space of eight days, working home best of all to take the Juvenile Sprint S. over a rain-affected Kentucky Downs turf course.

Beaten for speed, Outadore settled in the second flight of horses as County Final (Oxbow) dueled on the lead inside of Bodenheimer (Atta Boy Roy) through the middle furlongs. Poised three deep as the field entered the straight, Outadore was roused to the lead leaving the eighth pole and held sway at stablemate Fauci (Malibu Moon) took a failed run at him late. Cowan (Kantharos) was just up to touch County Final out of third.

“I think both will go a little farther, which is nice as well,” said trainer Wesley Ward, who saddled the first two home. “I think they’ll both go a mile on the grass no problem. So we’ll probably split them up in their next start, one to the [GII] Bourbon [S. at Keeneland Oct. 4], one to the [GII] Pilgrim at Belmont [Oct. 3]. We’re going to talk it over with both owners and make a plan. The way it looks, Irad [Ortiz Jr.] said he was wanting more ground and was kind of waiting. First thing Tyler [Gaffalione] aboard Fauci] said was, ‘Wesley, please, run him farther.’ So we’re really excited about both colts.”

A May foal, Outadore was making his stakes debut off a visually impressive, 2 3/4-length debut victory going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Saratoga turf course July 26.

Outadore was the most expensive of 28 of his sire’s first-crop weanlings reported as sold in 2018, hammering for $140,000 at Keeneland November, and made for a nice return on investment when fetching $290,000 (3/66) at Keeneland September last year. Outwork is one of three freshman sons of Uncle Mo (Laoban, Nyquist) to be represented by black-type winners to date and joins the latter as the only first-crop stallions to have multiple stakes winners. Outwork’s daughter Samborella won the Seeking the Ante S. at Saratoga Sept. 4, but was sadly euthanized after suffering an injury nearing the wire. Outadore’s dam was most recently bred to Uncle Mo. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE TURF SPRINT S., $492,875, Kentucky Downs, 9-12, 2yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.31, sf.
1–OUTADORE, 120, c, 2, by Outwork
1st Dam: Adore You (SP, $276,240), by Tactical Cat
2nd Dam: Autumn Music, by Unbridled’s Song
3rd Dam: October Beauty, by Flying Paster
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ($140,000 Wlg ’18 KEENOV; $290,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Breeze Easy, LLC; B-Deann & Greg Baer DVM (KY); T-Wesley A Ward; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $294,500. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $334,100. *Second SW for freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). **1/2 to Piedi Bianchi (Overanalyze), MSW & MGISP, $506,700.
2–Fauci, 120, c, 2, Malibu Moon–Tashzara (Ire), by Intikhab. ($175,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $95,000.
3–Cowan, 120, c, 2, Kantharos–Tempers Flair, by Smart Strike. ($185,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP; $385,000 RNA 2yo ’20 OBSMAR). O-L William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables LLC & Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $47,500.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3 1/4, NO. Odds: 1.80, 2.40, 14.70.
Also Ran: County Final, Bodenheimer, Petit Verdot, Perfect Mistake, Boss Bear, Baytown Bear, Scorsese.

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