Keeneland proves to be solid prep spot for Breeders' Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The results of the Breeders’ Cup last weekend at Santa Anita were met with delight by officials at Keeneland, the Lexington, Ky., track where the championships will be held for the first time next Oct. 30-31.

Three of the 13 Breeders’ Cup winners – Dayatthespa, Work All Week, and Take Charge Brandi – ran their final prep races at Keeneland, while a fourth, Judy the Beauty, trained toward the Breeders’ Cup exclusively at Keeneland.

In addition, a number of other horses who trained or raced this fall at Keeneland performed very well in the Breeders’ Cup. Many of these were in action in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, in which the top six finishers all fit the criteria: Judy the Beauty, Better Lucky, Thank You Marylou, Stonetastic, Leigh Court, and Southern Honey.

The fall meet in October was the first for Keeneland since the reversion to dirt for its main surface after eight years of Polytrack. Next fall, the track will host its final round of key preps Oct. 2-4, four weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, and these latest results at Santa Anita clearly bode well for how those races will take shape.

On a related note, Keeneland had many of its key personnel on hand at Santa Anita as it begins its preparations for 2015, including Bill Thomason, Rogers Beasley, Amy Gregory, G.D. Hieronymus, and Mike Wolken.

One ominous portent for next year: The high temperature in Lexington last Saturday did not reach 50.