ARCADIA, Calif. – California-based Stronghold will shorten to a mile and face older in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, trainer Phil D’Amato said Sunday at Santa Anita, a day after Stronghold finished second in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
“If he comes out of it well, we’re going to run him in the Dirt Mile,” D’Amato said. “It’s a race where they’re not going to go (1:13.80) and I think a mile, at this point in time, will hit him right between the eyes.”
Champion City of Troy, the leading European-based candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, turned in a key public gallop Friday on the Tapeta at Southwell, seeking to prepare him for his dirt debut and American racing conditions.
The Japanese shippers Crown Pride and Remake each won Group 3 races on dirt for the second consecutive year in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday to earn automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Both winners are trained by Koichi Shintana.
Crown Pride won the $1.07 million Korea Cup at 1 1/8 miles to earn a berth in the BC Dirt Mile. Remake won the $941,400 Korea Sprint at six furlongs to secure a berth in the BC Sprint.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Ryan Moore’s winning ride on Auguste Rodin in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita came with a hefty financial penalty.
On Sunday, Moore was fined $20,800 and suspended one day, on Nov. 12, for striking the colt seven times, once over the permitted limit.
The ruling was issued by Santa Anita stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Inspiral may have a Breeders’ Cup encore at Del Mar in 2024.
Inspiral capped a brilliant 2023 campaign with her third consecutive Grade 1 or Group 1 win with a remarkable rally in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
Inspiral was not off the track very long before owner Richard Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud of Britain said she will race as a 5-year-old next year. Cheveley Park is one of Britain’s most prominent farms.
ARCADIA, Calif. - White Abarrio, winner of Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, will race in 2024, with four of the richest and most prestigious races in the world on the wish list of his connections.
The four races that will be the focus of White Abarrio’s 5-year-old campaign include the $20 million Saudi Cup (Feb. 24), the $12 million Dubai World Cup (March 30), the Grade 1 Whitney (presumably Aug. 3) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Nov. 2).
ARCADIA, Calif. - Hard to Justify gave trainer Chad Brown a record sixth win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Friday, holding off a sustained threat to win by a half-length.
Hard to Justify, unbeaten in three starts, will have a wintertime rest with a return to racing likely in the spring at Gulfstream Park or Keeneland.
Judging from Brown’s first five winners in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, major things can be expected of Hard to Justify in coming years.
ARCADIA, Calif. — Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott put an exclamation mark on yet another memorable Breeders’ Cup weekend after Juddmonte’s Elite Power rallied to a 1 1/2-length triumph over archrival Gunite Saturday at Santa Anita in the $2 million Sprint. Elite Power’s successful defense of his title in the Sprint gave Mott his third win of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup following a victory earlier on the card with Cody’s Wish in the Dirt Mile and Just F Y I on Friday in the Juvenile Fillies.
ARCADIA, Calif. — Back in May, after Two Phil's ran a gallant second in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Larry Rivelli expected to be at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup.
An unfortunate injury following an easy win in the Ohio Derby sent Two Phil's to retirement, but Rivelli soldiered on, and Nobals gave the trainer his first Grade 1 victory after the 4-year-old gelding rallied to grab Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and upward at five furlongs.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Auguste Rodin was on the inside on the backstretch and turn of Saturday’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, one of the last positions jockey Ryan Moore envisioned in his pre-race analysis.
“Going to the rail, that was Plan F,” Moore said.
Staying inside, Moore had Auguste Rodin in a clear position turning into the stretch, allowing the colt to quickly challenge Up to the Mark, the 3-1 third choice.
Even though Auguste Rodin appeared well positioned, the scenario that put the colt in that position left trainer Aidan O’Brien nervous.
