Sat, 11/02/2019 - 17:19

Iridessa outfinishes Vasilika to take BC Filly and Mare Turf

Debra A. Roma
Irish shipper Iridessa (left) was a neck winner over Vasilika in Saturday's BC Filly and Mare Turf.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Eight years after becoming the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race, Joseph O’Brien became the youngest trainer to accomplish that feat when his Iridessa outfinished Vasilika by a neck to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

O’Brien was 18 years old when he guided St. Nicholas Abbey to victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf for his father, the trainer Aidan O'Brien. He is now 26, one year younger than Craig Dollase was when he saddled Reraise to win the 1998 Sprint.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 16:35

Spun to Run scores front-running upset victory in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile; Omaha Beach second

Emily Shields
Spun to Run and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. were never seriously threatened in the BC Dirt Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bob Donaldson and his wife, Sue, often spent their first dates back at age 14 jumping the fence at Garden State Park to catch the last couple races. Juan Carlos Guerrero came to the United States from Mexico, also at age 14, and went right to work at the racetrack.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, they understandably celebrated like teenagers when Spun to Run, a colt the Donaldsons own and Guerrero trains, scored a front-running win over favored Omaha Beach in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 16:04

Belvoir Bay wires field to give Miller third straight win in BC Turf Sprint

Debra A. Roma
Belvoir Bay led throughout en route to a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's BC Turf Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Belvoir Bay, a mare who was lost in Southern California after the terrible fire that descended upon the San Luis Rey Downs training center two years ago, found her way to the winner’s circle Saturday at Santa Anita after going wire to wire in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 15:41

Breeders' Cup 2019 Special Double will-pays

Here are the three Breeders’ Cup Special Double will-pays from Friday into Saturday ($1 payoffs):

Juv. Fillies to Distaff (R10) (pool, $97,768)

BRITISH IDIOM (4) to:

1-Paradise Woods, $49.90

2-Ollie’s Candy, 62.90

3-Street Band, 59.50

4-Midnight Bisou, 7.50

5-Dunbar Road, 25.80

6-Wow Cat, 82.10

7-Secret Spice, 78.70

8-La Force, 406.00

9-Serengeti Empress, 62.90

10-Mo See Cal, 367.10

11-Blue Prize, 36.60

 

Juv. Turf to Turf (R11) (pool, $94,713)

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 15:23

Covfefe opens up, then holds off Bellafina to win Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

Justin N. Lane
Covfefe pulls away from Spiced Perfection nearing the stretch of the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif. – She’d already become known for her speed and brilliance. On Saturday, the classy filly known as Covfefe also showed her versatility and grit in digging deep to win the 13th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 14:08

Bolo a late scratch from Breeders' Cup Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Bolo, shown in a Monday photo, was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Mile on Saturday morning.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolo was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Mile about 10:30 a.m. Pacific on Saturday morning because of an illness, trainer Carla Gaines said.

Gaines, via text message, said bloodwork done on Bolo indicated the horse had some sort of infection. Gaines said Bolo “had mucus and coughing” and that the decision to scratch was difficult but that Bolo’s camp was “doing what is best for the horse.”

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 13:21

Structor confirms turf ability with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf win, and now will take talents to dirt

Barbara D. Livingston
Structor wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday at Santa Anita, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Structor came out of his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win on Friday in good physical condition and will ship from California to Florida to begin gearing up for a 3-year-old campaign expected to include a move from turf to dirt.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 13:06

Eurton thinking Kentucky Derby for Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court

Emily Shields
Storm the Court after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita. He won't run any more this year, said trainer Peter Eurton.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Storm the Court, the upset winner of Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, will be freshened up and pointed to a 3-year-old campaign that his connections hope ultimately gets him to the Kentucky Derby in May.

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 12:08

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive pointing for Royal Ascot

Barbara D. Livingston
Four Wheel Drive broke sharply under Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and never looked, winning by three-quarters of a length over Chimney Rock (left).

ARCADIA, Calif. – Four Wheel Drive, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita, will be pointed to the Group 1 Commonwealth at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Wesley Ward said early Saturday.

Four Wheel Drive already was back in his stall at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., after an overnight flight.

“He and the two fillies are all back home,” said Ward, referring to Kimari, who was fourth, and Cambria, who was ninth. “They left on an airplane at 1 a.m.”

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 11:07

Suedois scratched from Breeders' Cup Mile with foot infection

Debra A. Roma
Suedois trains over the Del Mar turf on Nov. 2, 2017.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Suedois was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday morning because of a foot problem. Trainer David O’Meara said Suedois had developed a minor infection in his hoof that would prevent him from competing.

“There’s nothing much to it at all,” O’Meara said. “If the race had been tomorrow, he’d have been fine. It was just a question of timing.”