As European participation in the Breeders’ Cup Mile has grown tenuous in the last week, the importance of the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile on Saturday at Keeneland has increased commensurately.
The Ireland-based Tahiyra and the England-based Inspiral a few weeks ago looked like decent bets to show up at Santa Anita for the Mile and would’ve been among the shorter prices. Now, both horses might remain on the east side of the Atlantic.
Three Grade 1 stakes being run this weekend from coast-to-coast – the $300,000 American Pharoah at Santa Anita, the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, and the $400,000 Champagne at Belmont at Aqueduct – should bring the field for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 3 into clearer focus.
As usual in this division, two of the top cameramen are Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher, both of whom have several top contenders for the Juvenile, a race the two have combined to win eight times, seven over the last 15 years.
Practical Move returns to action Friday in an allowance at Santa Anita that has the potential to produce starters for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4.
Practical Move has won three graded stakes in his last three starts, his most recent the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. For his return, which comes at a mile, he’s logged a strong series of works. Trainer Tim Yakteen said Friday’s race will start to determine the path for Practical Move.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The role of Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite will solidify after the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland, but in the meantime there is no doubt about the identity of the hometown favorite.
Adare Manor scored her sixth Santa Anita victory last Sunday, wiring the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes in a virtual public workout over three rivals. It gets tougher for Adare Manor on Nov. 4 in the BC Distaff at Santa Anita.
The only virtual certainty in trying to forecast the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is that the race should have a full field – and that the picture for that starting gate should begin coming into focus following four stakes this coming weekend.
Mage, the Kentucky Derby winner, worked five furlongs in 1:03 on Sunday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky., the first step toward what his connections hope is a start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
The work was the first for Mage since his disappointing last-place finish in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
Shuwari is the solid early favorite to beat seven rivals and run her career mark to 3 for 3 in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket Racecourse.
The seven-furlong, straight-course Rockfel, for 2-year-old fillies, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and thus offers the winner automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and travel expenses to Santa Anita this fall.
One could imagine Shuwari making that long trip if she runs to expectations in the Rockfel.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- In the pantheon of horses he has ridden in his Hall of Fame career, jockey Javier Castellano ranks Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year, as the best. In Arcangelo, this year’s Belmont Stakes and Travers winner, Castellano sees the ability to achieve those heights.
“He’s climbing the ladder,” Castellano said.
No Nay Mets, winner of last Saturday’s Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs, gives trainer George Weaver a third candidate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, joining Royal Ascot winner Crimson Advocate and Amidst Waves.
“It’d be nice to have three live horses for three different categories instead of three live horses for the same race, but it’s better than having no live horses,” Weaver said Wednesday.
Arcangelo, the pro-tem leader of the 3-year-old division, worked a half-mile in 47.62 seconds Tuesday morning over Saratoga’s main track, his first breeze since his victory in the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 26.
It was the first of what is expected to be five breezes Arcangelo will have leading up to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
