Mandella savors victories

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Richard Mandella on Sunday was savoring his record-setting four victories in Saturday's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, and said he was inclined to give his runners a break before plotting their futures.

"I didn't do all this work myself," Mandella said at a press conference while singling out his staff, including assistant trainer Becky Witzman and his top exercise rider, Crystal Brown. "I have a great staff. I can't say how much I appreciate it."

He said Halfbridled and Action This Day, who won the Juvenile Fillies and Juvenile, would likely not race again until they turn 3. Plans are less certain for Johar, who earned a deadheat for victory in the Turf, and Pleasantly Perfect, who won the Classic. Both came out of their races in good shape, Mandella said, but both are older horses with Breeders' Cup victories on their resume, which makes them attractive stallion prospects.

The connections of every Breeders' Cup winner expressed satisfaction with the way their horses came out of their races. Several will race again, but others will be retired, including High Chaparral, who was a deadheat winner in the Turf. He goes to stud at Coolmore.

David Hofmans, who trains Distaff winner Adoration, said he had not mapped out a future race for that filly. Cajun Beat, who won the Sprint, returned Sunday morning to Kentucky, trainer Steven Margolis said.

Islington, the winner of the Filly and Mare Turf, will become a broodmare next year, but might make one final start this fall in Asia before being retired. Six Perfections, the winner of the Mile, will definitely race next year, according to Alan Cooper, the racing manager for the Niarchos family.