To watch Bob Baffert train American Pharoah since the Travers has been like watching the high-wire act in the movie “The Walk,” for Baffert has had to know when to back off and when to push in order to get American Pharoah to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Southern California-based trainers Gary Mandella and his father, Richard Mandella, will have horses at the same Breeders’ Cup for the third time in their careers this month at Keeneland. Gary Mandella, 43, has a leading contender for the $1 million Turf Sprint in No Silent, while Richard Mandella, 64, has one of the top choices in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in champion Beholder. Both races are Oct. 31.
Postponed’s career on the racetrack has been brilliant in recent months in England and France. Off the track, Postponed has been a subject of surprising headlines.
A total of 14 elimination races will be contested on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 16/17) to determine the entrants of seven Breeders Crown finals to be contested on Saturday October 24 at Woodbine Racetrack. Four divisions did not require eliminations and will head directly to the final.
Trainer Rodolfo Romero has been suspended 90 days and fined $2,500 by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission after a search of his barn at Delaware Park turned up eight hypodermic needles, according to state regulators and a ruling against the trainer.
With Work All Week and Rock Fall out, Private Zone now figures to be the clear-cut favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with the sensational 3-year-old Runhappy likely to be the public’s second choice.
With a $1 million race for 2-year-olds on the immediate horizon and a $45 million hotel expansion project underway, Delta Downs in Vinton, La., is riding a wave of momentum heading into its 86-date meet that opens Friday night.
A major player at the Kentucky horse sales, Mandy Pope will seek her first Grade 1 win as an owner at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup.
Trainer Paul Holthus saddles Locust Bayou (#9, ML 6-1) in Wednesday's eighth race at Indiana Grand, a 7 1/2-furlong allowance on turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Holthus is winning at a 37 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from route to sprint, for a return on investment of $2.93. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
With just over two weeks to go until the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, only one thing seems certain: Some will be left on the outside looking in.
