Santa Anita: Broadway Empire, Holy Lute to pre-enter Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Three-year-olds Broadway Empire and Holy Lute will be pre-entered for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, run at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, their trainers said Tuesday.

Broadway Empire, trained by Robertino Diodoro, won the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sept. 29 for his third consecutive stakes win, Broadway Empire will make his first start against older horses in the BC Dirt Mile. He would be the first Breeders’ Cup starter for Diodoro and jockey Rico Walcott.

Broadway Empire has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $405,745. The current winning streak includes the Ky Alta Handicap and Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.

Following the Oklahoma Derby, Broadway Empire was shipped to Turf Paradise in Arizona, where Diodoro has a division. Diodoro said that Broadway Empire will work Saturday at Turf Paradise before being sent to Santa Anita.

“I can’t believe how well he is doing,” Diodoro said. “I’m excited to see what will happen.”

Holy Lute was a troubled third in the $514,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Downs last Saturday in his graded stakes debut. Trained by Jim Cassidy, Holy Lute was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by favored Power Broker in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby, despite being steadied in the stretch.

“I think he could have won,” Cassidy said.

Owned by Class Racing Stable, Holy Lute will make his debut against older horses in the BC Dirt Mile. He won the El Cajon Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar on Aug. 30.

Marcyjane goes for 3 in row

Marcyjane, who starts in Friday’s eighth race at Santa Anita, is a different filly since she returned to racing after a five-month layoff in July.

“She got a little sick, and it seemed like when we got her going she came around,” trainer Marty Jones said.

Marcyjane won the first two races of her comeback at Del Mar – a maiden race on July 25 and an optional claimer on Sept. 2. Those races were against California-breds. Marcyjane starts Friday in open company in an optional claimer for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Owned by her breeder, Joe Turner, Marcyjane has won 2 of 7 starts. She will be ridden by Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for the wins at Del Mar.

Jones said the ideal scenario for Marcyjane is for the 4-yar-old filly to have pace to follow. The race lacks a clear front-runner, although Atlantic Swing, Champagneandcaviar, and Demonsterous have shown early speed in the past.

“She should benefit from a little bit of pace,” Jones said. “If we can get her to relax, she has a nice kick.”

Champagneandcaviar won the Kent Handicap at Emerald Downs in July 2012 but was winless in three starts at that track earlier this year. A winner of 3 of 15 starts for Fleur De Lis Stable, Champagneandcaviar, 4, was sent to Southern California for turf racing, hoping that it can revive her career, trainer Gary Mandella said.

“She lost her form this year,” Mandella said. “We’re hoping that the grass will help her.”

Level Headed, trained by Tom Proctor, breaks from the rail. Level Headed won a maiden race at Betfair Hollywood Park last November. She was fifth in an allowance race at about five furlongs on turf at Arlington Park on Aug. 8, in her lone start this year.

The distance will suit The Only Key, a 7-year-old mare who has won 5 of 28 starts. She won an optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on turf here in April and was fourth, beaten three lengths, in the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap on April 20.