Breeders' Cup: Regally Ready gets back on track for Turf Sprint with Nearctic win

Michael Burns

Regally Ready outfinishes Gypsy Ring and Bated Breath to win the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes.

Regally Ready, whose four-race win streak earlier this year was capped by a score over Bridgetown and Chamberlain Bridge in the Grade 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, got back on track with a front-running upset of last Sunday’s Grade 1, $511,600 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine. The Steve Asmussen-trained gelding earned a fees-paid berth to the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint after prevailing over 2-1 favorite Bated Breath by a neck on a yielding course.

Caracortado, idle since winning the Del Mar Mile in late August, continued to train toward a start in the Turf Sprint, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 at Santa Anita on Oct. 13.

“I’m not concerned about him going five-eighths of a mile,” trainer Mike Machowsky said. “He’s been a very versatile horse who’s won going a half-mile and at a mile and an eighth.”

Hoofit, an import from New Zealand, has won both of his U.S. starts on synthetic tracks, including the Grade 3 Phoenix. Although the Phoenix was a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the gelding has never run on dirt and is not nominated. Trainer Graham Motion indicated, however, that a supplement to the Turf Sprint is under consideration.

“It would be cutting back to five furlongs, but it’s something that I’m going to talk about” with the owner, he said.

Meanwhile, if you want to see the world’s top-rated turf sprinter in action Nov. 5, Black Caviar, who recently began her season with a repeat score in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield to remain perfect from 14 starts, is scheduled to defend her title in the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington that day.

“Maybe the world’s her oyster this racing season,” trainer Peter Moody said.

Ultimately, however, her first start outside of Australia will likely come at Royal Ascot next June.