LEXINGTON, Ky. – The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Keeneland suffered a major blow Thursday when Beholder, the race’s second choice, was withdrawn from the race after bleeding during her gallop that morning, trainer Richard Mandella said.
“Obviously, when you see that, you can’t put her under the stress of a race,” Mandella said.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Every elite athlete should do this poorly on their way down. Folks can say what they want about Edgar Prado in the twilight of his career, but the fact is that the 48-year-old jockey can still ride with the best.
“All I need is the horse,” said Prado.
In combating the perception that age is getting the best of him, Prado won four stakes at Keeneland this fall – the most of any jockey – including three for longtime client Graham Motion.
Lane’s End has acquired an interest in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile morning-line favorite Liam’s Map, who is campaigned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables.
By Unbridled’s Song, the 4-year-old Liam’s Map has won 5 of 7 career starts, including a 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5 at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he will be making his fourth start of the year in the Oct. 30 BC Dirt Mile.
Pick five, what pick five? The most probable winner of Breeders’ Cup 2015 runs in race on 3 Saturday at Keeneland, effectively transforming the early pick five into a pick four.
The handicapping challenge is finding the two winners before Songbird in the Juvenile Fillies, and the two after. It will not be easy. Songbird is the race-3 “free square” in the 50-cent wager on races 1-5, but the four other races are deep.
:: See Brad Free’s pick five play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets
Songbird (Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-84)
• Morning-line favorite has the advantage of already having been two turns while winning the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes. Remarkably, her 4 1/2-length margin of victory was the smallest of her career.
• Owns the field’s top career and last-out Beyer Speed Figure with a 90.
• Will have to cut across the rest of the field quickly to save ground from her outside post.
Cavorting (Last 3 Beyers: 100-93-100)
• A red-hot prospect ever since she won her debut in July 2014 at Belmont Park, this filly was assigned the far-outside post, which suits trainer Kiaran McLaughlin just fine: “There’s a long run down the backside to get position for the turn, and there’s plenty of leeway for the jock.”
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JUVENILE FILLIES
Steve Andersen: 1. Songbird 2. Rachel's Valentina 3. Land Over Sea 4. Dothraki Queen
Mike Beer: 1.Songbird 2. Bold Quality 3. Land Over Sea 4. Rachel's Valentina
Andrew Beyer: 1. Songbird 2. Land Over Sea 3. Nickname 4. Rachel's Valentina
Matt Bernier: 1. Songbird 2. Tap to It 3. Land Over Sea 4. Right There
Wedding Toast (Last 3 Beyers: 103-102-97)
• Godolphin homebred has been an absolute terror in one-turn routes at Belmont, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the 5-year-old mare is similarly able at other venues. “She was at a disadvantage when we started her off going short early in the year,” he said.
THRILLED (Last 3 Beyers: 78-73-72)
• Traded decisions with possible favorite Harmonize in a pair of matchups prior to a runner-up finish in the Miss Grillo, edging Harmonize by a nose in a maiden race Aug. 9 before running second, beaten four lengths by her, in the P.G. Johnson; perhaps poised to see an inside-pocket trip behind the speed.
