Keeneland notes: Little Mike breezes for Breeders' Cup Turf

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Little Mike had his first breeze since his win in the Sept. 28 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic when going an easy five furlongs in 1:03 on Saturday over a fast main track at Churchill Downs. Little Mike, along with three of his Dale Romans-trained stablemates, was booked on an equine charter flight Monday to Southern California, where they will resume preparations at Santa Anita for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup.

Little Mike won three Grade 1 turf races in 2012, ending with the BC Turf, before being soundly defeated in his first four starts this year. He was 7-1 in the Grade 1 Hirsch at Belmont Park when outgaming Big Blue Kitten for a nose victory.

“It’s like everybody is looking at him again with the same respect they had before he lost those races,” Romans said. “I’m happy for the horse.”

Little Mike, a 6-year-old gelding, actually breezed from the half-mile pole to the seven-furlong pole on the clubhouse turn, going out six furlongs in 1:16, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.

Little Mike will be joined on the Monday flight by Silver Max and a pair of Donegal Racing 2-year-olds, Smart Cover and Cleburne. The latter also worked Saturday at Churchill, getting five furlongs in 1:01 with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard.

The flight is the first of six BC-bound charters originating in Kentucky. The others are scheduled for Oct. 22 and Oct. 26-29.

On Fire Baby gets rest

On Fire Baby, winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in April, is getting the rest of the year off after being sent to the Eisaman equine center near Ocala, Fla., “for the next couple of months,” trainer Gary “Red Dog” Hartlage said.

On Fire Baby, a 4-year-old gray filly, finished last of 11 in the Oct. 6 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, marking a second straight subpar performance since she was hospitalized for about a week in June.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to bring her back in December at Oaklawn Park and get her started on a big 2014,” Hartlage said.

Hughes at the helm

The Todd Pletcher string sent to Kentucky this fall is being overseen by Byron Hughes, the 27-year-old son of Byron “Scooter” Hughes, the longtime Lexington-based trainer best known for his work with the standout turf horse Rahystrada.

With Pletcher elsewhere, the younger Hughes deputized for him when saddling his first Grade 1 starter Oct. 5 in the Breeders’ Futurity. Their horse, We Miss Artie, won at 9-1.

“It was amazing,” said Hughes, who began working for Pletcher last winter at Palm Meadows in south Florida. “There were a lot of nerves. I wanted everything to go just right, and it worked out well.”

◗ Wesley Ward has no qualms about running a filly against boys, particularly in the 2–year-old maiden ranks. Ward pulled one off again Friday at Keeneland when sending out a City Zip filly named Ruslana to a front-running, 4 1/4-length victory over nine males in a six-furlong Polytrack race. Of course, fans are well aware of Ward’s prowess, as Ruslana returned only $5.40 as the favorite.

◗ Shadwell Stable and trainer Dan Peitz had a notable winner here Thursday, when a first-time starter named Fawaarek rallied to win the last race, a one-mile turf event for maidens. Fawaarek, by Smart Strike, is out of Golden Apples, the 2002 Eclipse champion in the female turf division.

◗ An anonymous handicapper from Marietta, Ga., made an incredibly generous gift to the Make-A-Wish foundation after hitting the late pick four Thursday for $26,113. The day was dedicated to nine children and their families who attended the races on behalf of Make-A-Wish, the national organization that helps sick children see their dreams become reality.

◗ A memorial service for Paul “Unc” Blasi, a longtime outrider at Churchill and Turfway Park, will be held Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern in the backside chapel at Churchill. Blasi, 60, died last week after suffering a heart attack Sept. 29 in Arizona, the day after attending his daughter’s wedding. His survivors include nephews Scott Blasi, the longtime assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, and Greg Blasi, the lead outrider at Churchill.