J S Bach has not started since recording a sensational 8 1/2-length maiden win in his 3-year-old debut here at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 17, and his presence makes the ninth race, a first-level optional $12,500 claiming sprint restricted to Florida-breds, the most anticipated race on Friday’s program.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup is four weeks away, but trainer Keith Desormeaux still can’t stop thinking about last year’s Breeders’ Cup when his Texas Red rallied from last to win the $2 million Juvenile by 6 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita. Desormeaux could be in a position to attempt a repeat in the Juvenile with as many as two starters in the race.
Two horses that each had a troubled trip in his last start and one horse who hasn’t had a trip of any kind in nearly seven months head Friday’s $62,000 New York-bred allowance feature at Belmont Park.
Trainer Doug O’Neil is considering the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for both Jakaby Jade and Gomo.
The big question for anyone pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Oct. 31 is what the connections of division leader Private Zone ultimately decide to do over the next several weeks.
John Campbell has sat behind his share of top horses. In Doo Wop Hanover, who starts in Friday’s $138,500 Dayton Pacing Derby, he steers an improving 4-year-old pacer that has found his way in the older ranks.
The Shadwell Turf Mile, the traditional fall meet signature event, anchors a 10-race card Saturday at Keeneland that features five straight graded races. All but one, the First Lady, are Win and You’re In events toward the Breeders’ Cup.
The Singapore Turf Club announced this week that two Group 1, seven-figure international turf races that were fixtures on the May calendar have been discontinued.
Following a successful summer at Hastings, Wine Stock returns to Northlands Park where he will be gunning for his fifth straight win when he runs in a $35,000 optional-claiming race.
Friday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades at Keeneland could prove a key prep for the second straight year, particularly since the fillies running in it will have a race over the track if they move on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at meet’s end.
