ARCADIA, Calif. – The workout for Iotapa on Monday at Santa Anita was planned as a simple six-furlong drill to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. It turned out to be more demanding than intended.
Trainer John Sadler gave Iotapa a target in the six-furlong workout soon before 8 a.m. Pacific. Sadler instructed exercise rider Jelani Grant to break off Iotapa three lengths behind stablemate Rocked Twice, and then motor clear late.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Rajiv Maragh, who suffered a broken arm in a spill during the running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 27, confirmed Monday that he would not make it back in time to ride the Breeders’ Cup.
Maragh had been told by doctors that there was a possibility he could make it back to ride as early as next weekend, but Maragh said Monday that would be too soon.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The addition to the Breeders’ Cup Classic of V. E. Day, withdrawals of Noble Moon and Tapiture, and penultimate works from Bayern, Footbridge, Majestic Harbor, Cigar Street, and Tonalist capped a flurry of activity in the 24 hours leading up to the pre-entry deadline on Monday for the Nov. 1 Classic.
As of Monday morning, as all Breeders’ Cup pre-entries were being taken, at least 10 horses were known candidates for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 1.
In alphabetical order, those pre-entries for the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint are Artemis Agrotera, Judy the Beauty, Leigh Court, Little Alexis, Living the Life, Midnight Lucky, Southern Honey, Stonetastic, Sweet Reason, and Top Kisser.
The weekend defection of Alcibiades winner Peace and War from the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies brings the probable field to nine as pre-entries were being taken Monday.
Trainer Olly Young posted on the website of his Robins Farm training facility that he had been informed by Kentucky trainer Kellyn Gorder that Peace and War had a “a very slight tear of the tiny XYZ ligament at the base of her fetlock” and would miss the race.
Although Sunday’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine wasn’t a Win and You’re In race for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, it essentially served as one for Just The Judge.
Off since a third-place finish in the Beverly D. Stakes on Aug. 16 at Arlington, she needed what her connections felt was a good race to run her back on less than two weeks’ rest in the Breeders’ Cup. And she delivered, winning the E.P. Taylor by a half-length, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, and overcoming a poor start.
Main Sequence may be a sharper horse in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita than he was winning the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.
“If anything, he seems like he’s progressed from his races,” trainer Graham Motion said on Sunday.
European-based horses have won the last two editions of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and it has been confirmed that Qualify and Osaila will make the trip from Great Britain to run in the one-mile race on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita.
Qualify, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is coming off a three-length win in the Group 3 CL and MF Weld Park Stakes on Sept. 28 at The Curragh. In a change of tactics, jockey Joseph O’Brien eased her back to last during the early stages of the seven-furlong race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario—The favored English filly Just The Judge came on strongly in the lane and held off Odeliz late to take Sunday’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes, the supporting feature on Canadian International Day at Woodbine.
Just The Judge ($5.20) was prepping for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and her connections indicated that she appears to be on target for that Nov. 1 engagement at Santa Anita.
Belmont Park: Main track: Fast Training track: Fast Turf: Good
Weather: Clear Temperature: 53
ELMONT, N.Y. .- There might have been a chill in the air, but the action was hot and heavy out on the racetrack Sunday at Belmont Park, with more than 30 potential Breeders’ Cup starters working over the main track, training track, and turf, much of the important business taking place simultaneously over all three venues during a hectic hour between 8:45 and 9:45 a.m.
