Tag: win and you’re in

Let The Breeders’ Cup Countdown Begin

There are but five weeks remaining between now and the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Nov. 4 and 5, and many of horse racing's biggest names will take in their final prep races over the course of the next couple of weekends. Better than 40 graded stakes, the majority of which have championship weekend implications, are set to take place from sea to shining sea, including 21 'Win and You're In' events offering the winners an all-expenses paid trip to the Bluegrass.

Santa Anita stages one of the four Breeders' Cup Challenge races on tap for Saturday, the GI Awesome Again S., a race used by future champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) as a springboard to GI Breeders' Cup Classic success back in 2018. Bob Baffert fields half of the eight starters as he looks for an eight renewal and third in succession. The charge is led by Country Grammer (Tonalist), whose two most important victories to date have come over 10 furlongs–the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita and G1 Dubai World Cup–but he has proven effective enough going this mile-and-an-eighth trip, with a record of 2-2-0 from four starts. The 5-year-old, a millionaire 11 times over courtesy of two big performances in the desert this winter, looks to bounce back from runner-up efforts behind the re-opposing Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman) in the GII San Diego H. July 30 and when finishing in area code 213 behind 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic Sept. 3.

Meanwhile, on the Eastern seaboard–which was expecting the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Ian late Friday–'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) revs up for his Breeders' Cup engagement as the overwhelming favorite in a field of five for the GI Woodward S.

Fourth to Country Grammer after failing to see out the 'stiff' 10 furlongs of the G1 Dubai World Cup, the 4-year-old has been nothing but brilliant since, with big-figure victories in the GII John A. Nerud S.–speaking of the Breeders' Cup–and last time in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga.

“He's an extremely talented horse,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose previous Woodward winners include Lawyer Ron, Quality Road and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile victor Liam's Map. “We just always hope that everything goes according to plan. It doesn't ever surprise me, but it is just remarkable how consistent he's been every single day he's out there. Every breeze is impressive and that's just what we've come to expect of him.”

The third of the Classic preps takes place at Churchill Downs, where the most competitive of the three fields heads postward in the GII Lukas Classic S. Favored at 8-5 on the morning line is the hard-knocking Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), but he'll be made to work for it by last year's Woodward winner and recent GII Charles Town Classic repeater Art Collector (Bernardini), GI Met Mile and Whitney runner-up Happy Saver (Super Saver) and Rich Strike (Keen Ice), who would become the first GI Kentucky Derby winner to succeed beneath the Twin Spires since Silver Charm took the 1998 GII Clark H. a year after being draped with the roses.

The Lukas Classic has been added to NBC's coverage of Saturday's preps.

 

 

 

Dirt Mile Berth Up for Grabs In Ack Ack…

Godolphin's Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) has the rail and is the even-money favorite for the one-mile GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs, with a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile awaiting the winner.

For the first four months of this year, the homebred looked like he might develop into one of the top horses in training, as he capped a three-race winning skein with a good-looking 4 1/2-length tally in the GI Carter H. at Aqueduct in April, good for a 114 Beyer. It's been anything but plain sailing since. Best-backed against Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11, he faded to third after setting the early pace and also had the misfortune of running into Life Is Good in the Nerud, finishing a distant runner-up. With Cody's Wish (Curlin) representing Godolphin in the GI Forego S. at Saratoga the same afternoon, Speaker's Corner was shipped to Del Mar for the Aug. 27 GII Pat O'Brien S. and never looked likely, dropping away to be fourth behind the impressive Laurel River (Into Mischief).

Juddmonte's Fulsome (Into Mischief), winner of this year's GIII Oaklawn Mile going a two-turn configuration and victorious in this track's GIII Matt Winn S. last year, and the class-dropping Untreated (Nyquist)–perfect in three tries going a mile, albeit against softer–could make life difficult on the rail-drawn favorite.

Juveniles Share The Spotlight at BAQ…

The Belmont at the Big A meet plays host to the afternoon's other 'Win and You're In' tests–the GI Champagne S. for 2-year-old males going the one-turn mile and the GII Miss Grillo S. for juvenile grass fillies.

Despite his relative inexperience, Verifying (Justify) will take plenty of beating while stepping into stakes company for the first time. A $775,000 Keeneland September purchase, the May-foaled half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) ran to 3-4 favoritism in the Travers Day opener at Saratoga, scoring by a widening 1 3/4 lengths, and looks to have trained on since the debut.

Trainer Brad Cox has yet to saddle a Champagne winner and believes his charge will be prominent in the run Saturday.

“I want to be up close, but he doesn't necessarily have to be on the lead,” Cox said. “He has enough natural speed going a mile that he's going to be in the mix. He's a good-looking horse. Based on pedigree and how he looks, I think he'll like more ground.”

A pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' figure to make their presence known as well. Gulfport (Uncle Mo), whose sire won the 2010 Champagne en route to a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory and an Eclipse Award, romped by better than a dozen lengths in the  July 4 Bashford Manor S. and has since finished runner-up in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GI Hopeful S. New York-bred Andiamo a Firenze (Speightstown), a homebred half-brother to 2017 Champagne hero Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior), was fractionally disappointing when third in the GIII Sanford S. upstate July 16, but bounced back with a smooth success in the state-bred restricted Funny Cide S. Aug 26 over the same sloppy underfoot conditions he's likely to encounter Saturday.

'Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) looks to remain perfect in three starts in the Miss Grillo, a race likely to test the field's collective ability to handle a fair bit of cut in the ground depending on what mood Ian is in.

“She fits great in this spot,” trainer Horacio De Paz said. “She's won twice and going long, so the distance shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully the weather stays together and we don't get a lot of rain, but even if we did get some rain, she's a horse that likes turf with a little give as well. Everything is very positive for her. She overcomes things.”

The field of six also includes Free Look (Tapit), a late-on-the-scene third to Be Your Best on July 31 debut ahead of a much-the-best score Sept. 4. Alluring Angel (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) won on Saratoga sprint debut for the always-dangerous Jorge Abreu barn Aug. 4 and stretches out off a stinging nose defeat in the Sept. 13 Untapable S. at Kentucky Downs.

'Kingdom' Comes Back in SA Sprint Championship…

In 2019, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella brought Omaha Beach (War Front) back off an April layoff and a missed chance in the GI Kentucky Derby to score impressively in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship S., then a Grade I. The conditioner looks for lightning to strike twice Saturday when the very talented Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) makes his much-anticipated return to action.

A $300,000 purchase out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, the chestnut son of the gifted Just Louise (Five Star Day) wired this track's GII San Vicente S. Jan. 29 and proved he could handle two-turns with a blowout win in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 5. But it all came undone in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9, as he dropped away to finished tailed off in last behind 'Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) and hasn't been seen since.

“Richard is a such a great caretaker and he's given him plenty of time and let him get back to the horse that we know he is,” Spendthrift's Ned Toffey told TDN's Steve Sherack recently for his APB series. “We know he's fast. We know he's talented. It's just been a frustrating year.”

Forbidden Kingdom faces a field that includes C Z Rocket (City Zip), winner of this race in 2020 and third in defense of his title last year; and the progressive Kid Corleone (Shackleford), who tries graded company for the first time.

 

 

 

Elsewhere On Saturday…

The final two legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes–the In Reality S. and My Dear Girl S. are set for Gulfstream Park; a five-stakes program at Laurel Park includes the Selima S. and Laurel Futurity for the 2-year-olds; and Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) tries to make it five-for-five ahead of a possible Breeders' Cup appearance in the Iowa Cradle S. at Prairie Meadows.

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In-Form Sibelius Sets His Sights on Breeders’ Cup Sprint

After airing in front-running fashion in Pimlico's Lite the Fuse S. with a career-high 105 Beyer Speed Figure earlier this month–his second straight triple digit rating–progressive 4-year-old sprinter Sibelius (Not This Time) is getting good at the right time.

Just how good, exactly? That question will be answered in Keeneland's 'Win and You're In' GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. on opening day Oct. 7.

“I'm a big believer in horses getting confident when they win,” trainer Jerry O'Dwyer said. “When they back it up, back-to-back like he has, he's walking around there with his chest out and looking and feeling good.”

The Jun H. Park and Delia Nash colorbearer ended a five-race losing skid with a sharp victory over a trio of next-out winners while cutting back to six furlongs in an optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 10, good for a 100 Beyer, prior to his aforementioned 7 1/2-length romp in Baltimore Sept. 10.

The chestnut gelding also ran well in defeat in his two previous trips to the post while third with first-time blinkers behind subsequent GIII Monmouth Cup winner Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) going a one-turn mile at Belmont May 28 and also filled that same slot behind GISP Baby Yoda (Prospective) in upstate New York going seven furlongs July 16, respectively.

“He's a horse that we've always liked and he's always shown some natural ability,” O'Dwyer said. “I think now being a 4-year-old, he's reaching his peak performance, maturity and strength wise. Mentally, he's in a great place. He couldn't have been any more impressive in his last win at Pimlico. Just the way he jumped out and traveled nicely and opened up in hand. After running a big number in Saratoga the time before, you like to see them back it up to something equivalent. He stepped up again, which is nice.”

The six-furlong Lite the Fuse was Sibelius's first attempt versus stakes company since a trio of disappointing stakes tries last season, including a distant fifth in a sloppy renewal of the rained-off GIII Penn Mile S. in his first go versus winners last May. He was previously a big-figure maiden winner at second asking at Keeneland, site of this year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

“I think it took him a little while to get his confidence back,” O'Dwyer said. “His works at home were always very good. You could tell he had a lot of ability. I started stretching him out a bit because in the sprint races, he wasn't traveling strongly on the bridle like he is now. Even when we stretched him out, he ran super [finishing second] over the one-turn mile at Aqueduct [Apr. 2].

O'Dwyer continued, “But then his works just started getting so much stronger and sharper. He's been giving us all the right signals. We started gradually cutting him back in distance and he's been showing us that he's just an out-and-out sprinter now. Super fast and sharp.”

With six starts at three and already eight attempts under his belt this season, Sibelius isn't the kind of horse that needs a lot of work in between starts. Currently residing at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Kentucky, Sibelius is slated to join the South Florida-based O'Dwyer's Keeneland string Friday.

Bred in Kentucky by Taylor Brothers Properties LLC, Pollock Farms, Patrick H. Payne, et al, Sibelius brought $100,000 as a KEENOV weanling. He subsequently RNA'd twice–for $62,000 at KEEJAN and for $75,000 at KEESEP. Out of the unraced Pulpit mare Fierey Pulpit, he is a half-brother to MSP Dypsy (Broken Vow), dam of MSW & MGISP Edwards Going Left (Midnight Lute). Sibelius is one of 22 stakes winners for promising young sire Not This Time.

“He's very straightforward,” O'Dwyer said. “He's not a big, robust horse. He looks very muscular and doesn't carry too much excess flesh. He'll get a lot out of his gallops if you let him. So, we keep him under wraps a little bit. He'll just have a blowout on Friday, maybe an easy half mile in :49 or something like that. I'll see how he is over the next couple of days.”

After beginning his career as a jockey in Ireland and England, O'Dwyer came to the U.S. to gallop for trainer Al Stall, Jr. He also worked under trainers Bill Mott, Michael Matz and Andrew McKeever before going out on his own in 2014. Shotski (Blame) became the first graded winner for O'Dwyer with an upset victory in the 2019 GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct.

Should Sibelius earn his way to the Breeders' Cup Sprint via next week's Phoenix, it would be the first starter in the World Championships for O'Dwyer.

“We want to be there on the big days,” O'Dwyer said. “We're fortunate that he's given us a bit of a highlight this year. We're hoping he can continue to do that.”

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Hronis and Sadler Team Up for Course Record with Bran in Turf Sprint

It turns out Flightline (Tapit) isn't only fast horse Hronis Racing has in the John Sadler barn, as Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) set a new course record of 1:07.41 for the six furlongs of the GII FanDuel Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. A “Win and You're In” event for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the $1 million race was being contested for the 24th time and was Sadler's first win at the Franklin, Ky. track after just a handful of starts.

At 11-1, Bran broke uneventfully and sat mid-pack between rivals in the 11-horse field as a first quarter unfurled in :21.51 with Artemus Citylimits (Temple City) steering the ship. Moving well off the turn after a half in :43.97, Bran split horses while wide with his sights on the leader as he drove to the wire. He swapped to his wrong lead down the impossibly long stretch, caught Artemus Citylimits late, and hit the wire a neck in front.

“My horse was beautiful before the race,” said winning rider Vincent Cheminaud. “I was a little bit relaxed from the start. I followed the horse that was in front of me, my horse was very good at the finish, and he finished strong.

“The trainer told me he was very good to win today, and now we won it. I'm very happy. This was only the second time that I've ridden for John Sadler, and the other time was on this horse. I won a very good race for him. This track is like Europe for me, it's not the same track, but to ride a good horse, it's more easy.”

Bran had a respectable career in France, getting four wins under the tutelage of M. Delcher-Sanchez before shipping stateside after bloodstock agent Shawn Dugan purchased him for €80,000 at the Arqana October sale last fall. He debuted for Sadler Jan. 1 of this year with a third in the GII Joe Hernandez S., then added wins in the GIII Daytona S. and the Siren Lure S., both at Santa Anita, as well as placings in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. at Churchill Downs and the Wickerr S. at Del Mar.

“I think people maybe underestimated him a little bit [in the Turf Sprint], but they forget how good his race was at Churchill,” said Sadler from Lexington, where he was preparing for the upcoming Keeneland September sale. “That was a really good second at Churchill. I thought he was a good fit for this. Remember, when we're talking about Santa Anita, he's run six on the flat and he's run 6 1/2 down the hill. So he's had good experience, then you throw in what they do in Europe, where the courses are different. So all those little things made a good vibe for the horse going there.”

Pedigree Notes:

English and French highweighted, as well as a winner of four Group 1 races, Muhaarar (GB) is the sire of 15 black-type winners from his four crops to date. Seven of those are group/graded winners for the son of Oasis Dream (GB), who stands at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud in England. Bran is out of the King's Best (70 stakes winners out of his daughters) mare Best Intent (GB), who has a 2-year-old filly named Atakama (Fr) and a yearling colt, both by Le Havre (Ire). Best Intent's dam, herself a GSW & G1SP in France, is a half to four Group winners, including French champions Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector) and Machiavellian (Mr. Prospector), as well as additional French G1 winner Exit to Nowhere (Irish River {Fr}).

Saturday, Kentucky Downs
FANDUEL TURF SPRINT S.-GII, $648,640, Kentucky Downs, 9-10, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.41 (NCR), fm.
1–BRAN (FR), 125, g, 4, by Muhaarar (GB)
               1st Dam: Best Intent (GB), by King's Best
               2nd Dam: Hydro Calido, by Nureyev
               3rd Dam: Coup de Folie, by Halo
(€36,000 Ylg '19 AROYRG; €80,000 3yo '21 ARARC). O-Hronis
Racing LLC; B-Lordship Stud (FR); T-John W. Sadler; J-Vincent
Cheminaud. $320,540. Lifetime Record: 21-7-4-4, $678,932.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Artemus Citylimits, 121, g, 5, Temple City–Dene Court, by
City Zip. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 RNA Wlg '17
KEENOV; $34,000 Ylg '18 FTKFEB; $60,000 RNA 4yo '21
FTKHRA; $85,000 4yo '21 EASDEC). O-Paradise Farms Corp.,
David Staudacher & Michael Dubb; B-Gunpowder Farms LLC
(ON); T-Michael J. Maker. $103,400.
3–Arrest Me Red, 125, c, 4, Pioneerof the Nile–Maraschino
Red, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-Lael Stables; B-M. Roy Jackson (KY);
T-Wesley A. Ward. $94,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 11.78, 10.56, 1.05.
Also Ran: Front Run the Fed, Charcoal, Arzak, Totally Boss, Chewing Gum, Chasing Artie, Johnny Unleashed, Bob's Edge. Scratched: A C Expressway, Gregorian Chant (GB), Necker Island, Torontotoro. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Blockbuster Kentucky Downs Card on Tap Saturday

Kentucky Downs will host six graded events Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' $1-million GII Fanduel Turf Sprint S. and $1-million GII Kentucky Turf Cup S. NBC Sports will broadcast both live on CNBC.

After successfully defending his title in Saratoga's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. Aug. 27, Gufo (Declaration of War) returns on short notice for the Kentucky Turf Cup. He is the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The 8-year-old Arklow (Arch) looks for his third win from five attempts in this contest following victories in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

Drawn widest of all in post 12, GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. winner and last out GI Jaipur S. runner-up Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Fanduel Turf Sprint.

The rescheduled GIII WinStar Mint Million S. features last year's winner Pixelate (City Zip). Originally carded for last Saturday, inclement weather forced the cancellation of racing following the day's seventh race.

The streaking Big Invasion (Declaration of War) is the clear-cut one to beat in the GII Franklin-Simpson S. following impressive wins in Saratoga's GIII Quick Call S. and Mahony S. “Every time he runs, he gets better,” jockey Joel Rosario said.

Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}), one-two in the 2021 GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S., face off again in Saturday's renewal. Dalika got the better of her aforementioned rival by a half-length in last month's GI Beverly D. S. at Churchill Downs.

The globetrotting Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), most recently a dead-heat third in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S., returns in the GIII Mint Ladies Sprint S. The full field of 12 also includes the race's defending winner In Good Spirits (Ghostzapper).

“For a non-Breeders' Cup card, this is truly amazing,” Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing, said of Saturday's 12-race program.

Baffert Shooting for Fourth Straight Debutante…

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be represented by a pair, led by 9-5 morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Home Cooking (Honor Code), while looking for a fourth straight victory and 11th win overall in Saturday's GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S.

Home Cooking romped by 9 1/4 lengths with blinkers off at second asking Aug. 21 while her stablemate Fast and Shiny (Bernardini) won at a generous 6-1 on debut Aug. 7. Both are owned by Pegram, Watson and Weitman.

The rail-drawn Vegas Magic (Good Magic) puts a perfect three-for-three record on the line for Doug O'Neill following a 14-1 upset in the GII Sorrento S. Aug. 13.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes: Del Mar's GII John C. Mabee S.; Pimlico's GIII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S.; and the GIII British Columbia Derby at Hastings.

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