LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was just two weeks ago here at Keeneland that trainer Todd Pletcher won a single race with two horses as Pure Pauline and Grand Entrance dead-heated for win in a maiden race.
“I was hoping to save that for the Distaff,” Pletcher said. “I can’t imagine that happening again in a couple of weeks.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. – About 6 a.m. each day this week, Flightline has entered the Keeneland track to train, the engines of the first planes of the day ready to depart Blue Grass Airport, just south of the track, begin to rev up.
Juan Leyva, the exercise rider aboard Flightline, tells his supersonic colt “chill out. You don’t have to take off yet.”
Departure time for Flightline is roughly 5:40 p.m. Saturday, when he looks to cap a brief but brilliant season – perhaps career? – in the $6 million Classic at Keeneland.
Before Flavien Prat earlier this year moved his tack east from Southern California for opportunities in New York and Kentucky, he made sure to first talk with John Sadler, trainer of Flightline. Prat had ridden the colt in his first three starts, including an 11 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26, and didn’t want to lose the mount.
“I wasn’t going to leave if I couldn’t ride the horse,” Prat said.
Two Breeders’ Cup horses were scratched from their respective races on Thursday by regulatory veterinarians, according to the organization and the horse’s connections. The two horses were Informative, who was set to run in Saturday’s Dirt Mile, and Hot Peppers, who was set to run in the Filly and Mare Sprint the same day.
Informative, a 30-1 shot owned and trained by Uriah St. Lewis, was the most experienced horse in the Dirt Mile field, with 36 career starts.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – And Tell Me Nolies will be the only multiple graded stakes winner to walk into the starting gate ahead of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday at Keeneland, and yet the Arrogate filly wasn’t generating much buzz this week – at all.
“That’s just fine with me,” said Peter Miller, who trains And Tell Me Nolies for Vancouver real estate magnate Peter Redekop. “Respect doesn’t pay the bills.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Much has changed for Hollie Doyle since her first and only Breeders’ Cup mount two years ago at Keeneland, but even then, with Mightly Gurkha coming home a tame 11th in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, the ground had shifted beneath Doyle’s feet.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two years after it held a Breeders’ Cup without spectators, Keeneland is set to host as many as 45,000 fans on Saturday with an anticipation equal to if not greater than 2015, when 50,155 were in attendance here to watch Triple Crown winner American Pharoah cap off his career with a victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
KEENELAND
Weather: Foggy
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast
Turf: Good
LEXINGTON, KY. – Save for Breeders’ Cup Mile contender MALAVATH, all major prep work was done before the three tracks opened for business Thursday morning at Keeneland. The theme of the day was just keeping everyone safe and happy in the final hours leading up to Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Before delving into the field for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, let’s get a few things out of the way. This year’s Breeders’ Cup is being held at Keeneland, which means the $1 million Dirt Mile will be run around two turns and the race will end at the so-called “first” finish line. Look for the bright red lollipop at the sixteenth pole.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jackie’s Warrior has a résumé befitting his superstar status – with one notable exception. He’s never won a Breeders’ Cup race.
On Saturday at Keeneland, Jackie’s Warrior will be heavily favored to rectify that situation when he faces 10 rivals in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The competition includes defending BC Sprint champion Aloha West and the dangerous Kimari, the only filly in the field.
