Woodford Reserve, BC Mile goals for Divisidero next year
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Divisidero, the millionaire turf specialist owned by the Gunpowder Farms of Tom Keithley, has been turned out for an unspecified period but will rejoin trainer Buff Bradley’s stable at Fair Grounds over the winter to prepare for a 2018 campaign as a 6-year-old.
Keithley said the main goals for Divisidero will be two races at Churchill: the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in May and the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November.
“He’s run so well over the Churchill course, we want to try to make those races,” Keithley said. Divisidero has won three graded stakes on the Churchill turf, including the last two renewals of the Woodford Reserve.
Maker near 2,000 wins
Mike Maker is on pace to hit the 2,000-win milestone before the month is out – if not sooner. Maker began Friday with 1,995 winners in a career that began in earnest in 2003, after he resigned from his longtime position as assistant to D. Wayne Lukas. Through next Wednesday, Maker has 13 entries at Churchill and 12 more scattered among other tracks, including Aqueduct and Gulfstream West.
◗ When Cicatrix won by 7 1/4 lengths in her career debut Thursday, it marked a rare feat for trainer Ian Wilkes, who now has won with 16 of 469 first-time starters (3 percent). Cicatrix, a 2-year-old filly by the hot young sire Violence, earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure from the six-furlong race.
◗ Polar River, winner of the United Arab Emirates Oaks and runner-up to Lani in the UAE Derby in March 2016, finished fifth by nearly 16 lengths in her North American debut here Thursday, a one-mile allowance on dirt. The 4-year-old filly is now trained by Brendan Walsh after going off form early this year for former trainer Doug Watson.
◗ Horses and Hope, the statewide initiative to increase awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research, again will visit Churchill on Sunday with a variety of activities, including every starter in race 5 carrying pink saddletowels. Horses and Hope began touring Kentucky racetracks in 2008.