Keeneland: Groupie Doll’s TCA start emotional for Bradley

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The entire racing world won’t be on hand Saturday at Keeneland to watch Groupie Doll run in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, but Buff Bradley’s whole world will be.

“I’ve got like one client who said he would be watching from Vegas or somewhere,” said Bradley. “Otherwise, I think pretty much everybody we know will be there.”

For Bradley and his Kentucky-centric family, the momentousness and emotional impact of the event cannot be overstated. This will be the last time Groupie Doll will run in this racing-proud state under the familiar red, white, and blue silks of Bradley and his 82-year-old father, Fred, who bred the 5-year-old mare and owns her in partnership with Carl Hurst and Brent Burns. Groupie Doll is using the TCA as her final prep for the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita, after which she will be sold at auction a few days later at Keeneland.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way she’s training, and I love the post position, too,” said Bradley. “Hopefully we’re all set up for a happy day.”

Groupie Doll, with Rajiv Maragh to ride, will be heavily favored when starting from the outside post in a field of six fillies and mares in the 33rd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 TCA Stakes, a Win and You’re In event toward the Breeders’ Cup.

With 10 wins from 19 starts and more than $1.9 million in earnings, Groupie Doll will be shooting for a repeat victory over the Keeneland Polytrack in the six-furlong TCA – just like she repeated several weeks ago in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters in track-record fashion, and just like she’ll be trying to do in the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint. She swept that trio of races last year in being an overwhelming choice as the Eclipse Award winner in the division.

“We’ve had all this planned out ever since she walked off the track after the Breeders’ Cup last year,” said Bradley. “I couldn’t have wanted it to go much better than it has, at least to where we are right now with her. I keep telling everybody I feel like she’s just as good as she was last year, and I mean it. Let’s just hope I’m right.”

Chief threats among her five opponents Saturday are Purely Hot (post 2, Harry Vega) and Judy the Beauty (post 1, John Velazquez), the respective second- and third-place finishers in the Sept. 9 Masters, and Gypsy Robin (post 3, Garrett Gomez), a winner in all three previous starts over the Keeneland Poly.

Tanglewood Tale (post 4, Shaun Bridgmohan) and Livi Makenzie (post 5, Julien Leparoux) round out the lineup.

The TCA was first run in 1981, when Gold Treasure prevailed for trainer Jack Weipert. Excitable Lady won in 1982 and 1983 and is still the only horse to win the race twice. Three of the past four TCA winners – Informed Decision (2009), Dubai Majesty (2010), and Groupie Doll (2012) – won the Filly and Mare Sprint in their next start.

The TCA is the sixth of 10 Saturday races, with post time set for 3:45 p.m. Eastern.