Tue, 10/29/2019 - 17:22

TimeformUS Analysis: Breeders' Cup Juvenile

The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
1 1/16 miles, dirt, 2-year-olds
Santa Anita, Race 9
Friday, Nov. 1, 4:03 p.m. PT

This Breeders’ Cup Juvenile shapes up as a classic duel between two standout colts, Dennis’ Moment and Eight Rings. The third major contender, Maxfield, would have added further intrigue, but he has been withdrawn due to a soundness issue.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 16:20

Arizona's best more than good enough in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Coady Photography
Peace Achieved was a neck winner in Sunday's Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland.

ARCADIA, California – Fourteen young horses with a short run to the first of two turns, plus the generally complicating factor of 2-year-olds growing, changing, progressing literally every day.

Seems like the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, to be run for the 13th time on Friday at Santa Anita, ought to be a caldron of chaos.

Maybe the best idea is to keep it simple.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 16:00

Breeders' Cup Juvenile would be signature win for the Albaugh Family Stable

Barbara D. Livingston
Dennis' Moment, named for Dennis Albaugh, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the BC Juvenile.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It was not Dennis Albaugh’s time in 2016. Perhaps it will be his moment in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

In 2016, the Albaugh-owned Not This Time fell a neck short to Classic Empire in the Juvenile at Santa Anita. Friday, Albaugh and his son-in-law Jason Loutsch, who race under the banner Albaugh Family Stable, are back at Santa Anita with Dennis’ Moment, who was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Juvenile.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 15:46

Even without his main man, Velazquez not lacking for top Breeders' Cup mounts

Justin N. Lane
John Velazquez has mounts in 11 of the 14 Breeders' Cup races.

ARCADIA, Calif. – For the better part of the last two decades, in the biggest events in horse racing, John Velazquez could typically be found on the back of a horse trained by Todd Pletcher.

The John Lennon-Paul McCartney of Thoroughbred racing, Velazquez and Pletcher have teamed to win 1,795 races. Among the 282 graded stakes they’ve won together are a Kentucky Derby, a Belmont Stakes, and four Breeders’ Cups. In the history of racing, no jockey has earned more purse money than Velazquez ($413 million); no trainer has earned more purse money than Pletcher ($382 million).

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 15:41

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Mitole, Omaha Beach take edge off

Barbara D. Livingston
Omaha Beach works three furlongs in 36.58 on Tuesday at Santa Anita.

SANTA ANITA
Weather: Clear 
Track: Fast 
Temp.: 45

ARCADIA, Calif. - The main track at Santa Anita was full to overflowing with Breeders’ Cup contenders on Tuesday morning, with nearly everybody now in town for the big event here Friday and Saturday.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 15:16

Sweet Melania faces tough group in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Sweet Melania will have to overcome post 12 in the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

ARCADIA, Calif. – It is highly doubtful Sweet Melania will win Friday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in the stylish manner she won the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9.

Sweet Melania was always near the front and stormed clear under jockey Jose Ortiz to win the Jessamine by 5 1/2 lengths.

“That was an authoritative win on the grass,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She really gave him that turn of foot.”

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 14:20

Eight Rings has home-field advantage in Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Barbara D. Livingston
Eight Rings is the only member of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile field to have a win at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the same way that Bill Belichick is annually expected to have his New England Patriots in contention for an NFL championship, trainer Bob Baffert is expected to have a contender for Thoroughbred racing’s most important events.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 14:10

Big ask for Donna Veloce in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Emily Shields
Donna Veloce's only race, a 9 1/4-length maiden win with a 91 Beyer Figure, might make her the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Never in the history of the Breeders’ Cup has a horse won a two-turn dirt race with just one prior start, but that’s exactly what Donna Veloce will try to do on Friday at Santa Anita in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, and she will garner plenty of support to pull it off.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 13:19

Maxfield will scratch from Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Barbara D. Livingston
Maxfield will miss Friday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile due to an unspecified issue with his right front leg.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Less than 24 hours after he was entered in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Maxfield was forced out of the race due to an unspecified issue with his right front leg, trainer Brendan Walsh said Tuesday.

Tue, 10/29/2019 - 13:03

Landeskog to be scratched from Breeders' Cup Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Landeskog, shown training at Santa Anita last Friday, did not come out of his workout the next day 100 percent, according to trainer Doug O'Neill.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Landeskog will be scratched from the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday, trainer Doug O'Neill said Tuesday morning.

"He's 95 percent. Not 100. We have to wait for another day," O'Neill said. "He's a cool horse with a bright future."

O'Neill said that Landeskog "cooled out a little funny" after his last work on Saturday. "He tied up, not bad," he said.