ARCADIA, Calif. - With six consecutive victories including a victory in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March on his resume, the Japanese-based and bred Ushba Tesoro comes into Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita with strong credentials.
Those credentials aren’t limited to just paper.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, was withdrawn from consideration for next Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by his connections on Sunday, according to a posting on trainer Gustavo Delgado’s twitter page.
“He presented a feverish state this morning and we have noticed symptoms of lost appetite,” the post stated. “Given the proximity to the race we feel that it is best for the horse to skip the Classic.
ARCADIA, Calif. — A series of withdrawals from the Breeders’ Cup Mile and BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 will allow Masteroffoxhounds to gain a berth in one of the fields. Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Saturday that a race is unlikely to be selected until Monday’s entry deadline.
“I’ll have to talk to the owners and let them decide where they want to take a shot,” D’Amato said.
Masteroffoxhounds gained a berth in the BC Turf after the Irish stakes winner Piz Badile was not flown to California this weekend, according to Breeders’ Cup officials.
ARCADIA, Calif. — Top European jockey Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Astronomer in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, trainer Simon Callaghan said on Saturday.
The decision was finalized after trainer Aidan O’Brien withdrew top contender Paddington from consideration. Paddington, the winner of four consecutive Group 1 races in Ireland and Britain earlier this year, has been retired to stud.
Santa Anita
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 56
Track: Fast
ARCADIA, Calif. - A very busy morning on the Breeders’ Cup front at Santa Anita ended on a sad note after GEAUX ROCKET RIDE suffered a significant leg injury while in the latter stages of a seven-furlong work for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
ARCADIA, Calif. — Before the significant injury suffered by Geaux Rocket Ride in a workout at Santa Anita late Saturday morning, five other potential Classic starters put in workouts at four different venues for the $6 million Classic to be run Nov. 4.
At Santa Anita, Clapton, the Lukas Classic winner, went a half-mile in 48.72 seconds while galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.22 and six furlongs in 1:13.50, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Geaux Rocket Ride, one of the leading contenders for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic here on Nov. 4, suffered a displaced condylar fracture to his right foreleg during a workout Saturday morning at Santa Anita.
Trainer Richard Mandella said the fracture broke through the skin and while there is no sesamoid fracture, the ligaments around it are stretched, making for a potentially difficult surgery to save the colt. Surgery is planned for Sunday at a clinic on the track property, Mandella said.
Just F Y I is set to make her two-turn debut in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita – just like nearly half of the 15 horses pre-entered in the race Monday.
The Juvenile Fillies, at 1 1/16 miles, also would be the first two-turn start for five others if they enter back Monday: Accommodate Eva, Esprit Enchante, Jody’s Pride, Omaha Girl, and Tamara.
The European 3-year-old stars Auguste Rodin and King of Steel and the brilliant 5-year-old Mostahdaf will make a difficult trio for Team USA to beat in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Auguste Rodin, winner of the English and Irish derbies in June and July, and Mostahdaf, who has won two of England’s leading races for older horses this year in an abbreviated campaign, will lead the betting in what is likely to be a maximum field of 14 in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles.
