Watchmaker: Found presents dilemma for Eclipse voters
A few more thoughts about last week’s Breeders’ Cup at beautiful Keeneland.
Mike WatchmakerNov 08, 2015
A few more thoughts about last week’s Breeders’ Cup at beautiful Keeneland.
Red Hot Diva left little doubt who was best Saturday night in the $50,850 My Sister Pearl Stakes at Charles Town, taking the lead a half-mile from home and drawing away to win by 7 1/2 lengths.
Daytona B dominated the Grade 1, $353,500 Challenge Championship in his first start since April on Saturday night, darting to a 1 3/4-length win in the richest of six stakes at Lone Star Park. The race was part of the $1 million Challenge Championships, a traveling program of major stakes that returned to the Dallas area track for the first time since 2006.
Closing out a vintage fall campaign was the 3-year-old Freaky Feet Pete flashing his finest in his finale with a 1:48 4/5 monster effort equaling the stakes mark in the American-National. A few races later it was Always B Miki breezing to a 1:49 1/5 victory. Kept out of action for most of the year while recuperating from major injuries, Always B Miki was very comfortable at the wire.
Code Warrior, a filly who won her career debut by seven lengths, pulled away from Algenon in the stretch as she defeated males in her second start, winning the $52,255 Golden Nugget Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Ride Hard Kowboy had no trouble validating his status as the 4-5 favorite as he dominated Saturday’s $35,000 Jeff and Jack Coady Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise.
It has taken nearly two years to get Full Ransom back to the form she displayed early in her career, but she certainly appears to be on the way up now after winning for the second time in her last three starts when she rallied to upset the $82,900 Kathryn Crosby Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.
The Keeneland November breeding stock sale slowed somewhat as it reached the midway point Saturday but still is on an upward trajectory overall thanks to a flying start earlier in the week.
Legal Laura returned to her roots to register the first stakes victory of her career, rallying to a 2 1/2-length win over My Miss Venezuela in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff Preview Stakes.
On paper, Spelling Again looked like the lone speed Saturday in the $200,000 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs, but when the gates opened for the one-mile race, the 4-year-old filly was quickly cleared by Keen Pauline.