A little more than three weeks removed from the Breeders’ Cup, and I’ve got Breeders’ Cup on the brain. It’s inevitable, going to Keeneland, seeing the facilities, and imagining what is to come.
I have to give Miss Temple City one more shot to beat Sentiero Italia in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
Trainer Chad Brown saddles Strong Incentive (#6, ML 6-1) in Thursday's eighth race at Belmont Park, a six-furlong allowance on the inner turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Brown is winning at a 40 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from route to sprint, for a return on investment of $3.59. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Aurora's Kid (#4, ML 6-1) returns in Thursday's seventh race at Keeneland, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance. It will be his first start since finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths in an allowance Sept. 7 at Delaware Park. The first- and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Free: Santa Anita Horses to Watch for week of Oct. 5
Trainer Brian Lynch saddles Malibu Charlie (#4, ML 5-2) in Wednesday's first race at Belmont Park, a seven-furlong claiming race on turf. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Lynch is winning at a 27 percent clip in claiming races, for a return on investment of $2.47. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Litfin: Belmont Park Horses to Watch for week of Oct. 5
Ron Gierkink's horses to watch at Woodbine for the week of Oct. 5.
Trip Notes for October 3-4: Kelso, JC Gold Cup, Shadwell, Eddie D, and more by Michael Hammersly.
There was a lot of hand wringing Saturday – and Friday, too – over the impact weather had on the conditions for the big Breeders’ Cup preps at Belmont and Keeneland. More than a few said if the weather isn’t similarly wet and dreary on Breeders’ Cup Weekend at Keeneland – which we hope it isn’t, of course – then all of these preps may not have taught us anything.
