Fri, 10/18/2019 - 16:20

Breeders' Cup will not allow Hollendorfer to run horses

Barbara D. Livingston
Jerry Hollendorfer trains Breeders' Cup candidates Vasilika and Danuska's My Girl.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will not be allowed to enter horses at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, the Breeders’ Cup announced on Friday, with the organization in a statement saying it would honor a house rule at Santa Anita that denies Hollendorfer being able to run horses at the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

The Breeders’ Cup will be held on Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita, a track owned by The Stronach Group, which since late June has barred Hollendorfer from racing and training at its facilities, including Golden Gate Fields.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 15:00

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Dennis' Moment stands out on busy morning

Coady Photography
Iroquois winner Dennis' Moment drilled five furlongs in 58.52 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Friday, Oct. 18   
Weather: Clear  
Temperature: 42  
Track: Fast  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If you like your weather cold and your horses fast, Churchill Downs was the place to be for tracking contenders on the Breeders’ Cup trail on Friday morning.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 14:10

Donna Veloce wows in work for BC Juvenile Fillies

Emily Shields
Donna Veloce, an impressive maiden winner on Sept. 28, will make only her second start in the Breeders' Cup.

ARCADIA, Calif. – A number of horses with designs on the Breeders’ Cup worked Friday morning at Santa Anita, including the exciting 2-year-old filly Donna Veloce, who effortlessly bested a workmate while traveling five furlongs in 1:00, the best time of 44 at the distance over a dull, fast track.

With Flavien Prat aboard, Donna Veloce broke off about three lengths behind her company, cruised past in upper stretch, and was 2 1/2 lengths to the good crossing the finish.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 13:56

Consensus led Omaha Beach's team to BC Dirt Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Richard Mandella plans to enter Omaha Beach in the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 2.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella said the decision to run Omaha Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile came after a conference call among he, owner Rick Porter, and representatives of Spendthrift Farm.

“It was a group effort,” Mandella said Friday morning. “The Mile looks like a nice way to develop him. It’s the next step.”

Omaha Beach is scheduled to go to stud at Spendthrift next year, but there is still time following the Breeders’ Cup for more races, culminating with the Pegasus World Cup in January.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 13:16

Channel Maker works for BC Turf, vans to Kentucky for California flight

Barbara D. Livingston
Channel Maker, shown finishing second in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, will be a longshot in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Channel Maker, runner-up in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, worked a half-mile in 50.40 seconds on Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track.

Channel Maker broke off just in front of a team trained by Danny Gargan that included Jim Dandy winner Tax. Channel Maker was kept in hand by his exercise rider while Tax outfinished his workmate Geta Lode of Lucky by two lengths.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 13:10

Our Country works on dirt but remains pointed to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Our Country wins a Saratoga maiden race by 5 3/4 lengths on Aug. 3.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After Our Country put forth an average work on dirt Friday morning at Belmont Park, his connections have opted to keep the horse on the grass and pre-enter him Monday for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 13:06

Vino Rosso finishes strong in Breeders' Cup Classic work

Barbara D. Livingston
Vino Rosso (No. 3) crossed the wire first in the Jockey Club Gold Cup but was disqualified and placed second.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Vino Rosso continues to train like a horse who will be a serious player in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 as he worked a solid five furlongs in 1:01.48 over the Belmont Park training track Friday morning.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 13:00

Green Light Go to be freshened in Ocala; Tiz the Law works for Kentucky Jockey Club

Barbara D. Livingston
Green Light Go will rejoin trainer Jimmy Jerkens' stable in Florida around the first of the year.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Green Light’s a no-go for the Breeders’ Cup.

Green Light Go, winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and runner-up to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, will not run in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Friday.

Instead, Green Light Go was to be shipped to Adena Springs in Ocala, Fla., on Saturday for a six-week freshening. He will rejoin Jerkens at Palm Meadows, a training center in Florida, around the first of the year.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 10:35

Smith to ride Yoshida in Breeders' Cup Classic

Barbara D. Livingston
Heart's Cry is the sire of Yoshida (above), a Grade 1 winner on both turf and dirt who stands at WinStar Farm. Yoshida's first crop are 2-year-olds this year.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The decision on Thursday to run Omaha Beach in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile meant that his jockey, Mike Smith, needed to find mounts in both the Classic and the Sprint on Nov. 2. One of those was immediately accomplished, and the irony is rich.

Smith picked up the mount on Yoshida for the Classic, essentially swapping mounts with Joel Rosario, who had ridden Yoshida in his last two starts but is replacing Smith on McKinzie for the $6 million Classic at Santa Anita.

Both Smith’s agent, Brad Pegram, and Bill Mott, the trainer of Yoshida, confirmed the news.

Thu, 10/17/2019 - 17:15

Omaha Beach confirmed for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Emily Shields
Omaha Beach is coming out of a victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 5.

Omaha Beach will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, owner Rick Porter confirmed on Thursday.

The multiple Grade 1 winner also had been under serious consideration for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on the same program. Santa Anita publicity reported the race decision Thursday, citing trainer Richard Mandella.

Omaha Beach is coming off a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 5, which was his first start since his Arkansas Derby victory in April at Oaklawn.