With a chance to take control of the 2-year-old division, Strong Mandate was flat in the Grade 1 Champagne on Oct. 5 at Belmont, finishing a never-in-the-hunt seventh.
Not one to be deterred easily, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he will lead Strong Mandate to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita “with confidence” that the horse who dominated the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga on Labor Day will resurface.
ELMONT, N.Y. – In the spring of 2011, Mission Approved – who had been claimed in the spring of 2010 for $35,000 – returned from an 11-month layoff to upset defending turf champion Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Flintshire, the 3-year-old colt trained by Andre Fabre, went from being the future-book favorite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in late summer to finishing a quiet eighth in the big race on Oct. 6 at 12-1.
Blame soft turf for his decline in status and the disappointing performance.
Conditions will be different when Flintshire travels to California for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. The course is expected to be firm, and no rain is forecast for the next week in Southern California.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bajan, winner of last Sunday’s Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, is likely to miss the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Simon Callaghan said Wednesday.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Ronald and Jerry Frankel, Bajan was considered for the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, but instead will start a week later in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes over seven furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The projected pace scenario for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint changed dramatically this week with the news that the speedy Distinctiv Passion will not start despite credentials that include his recent third-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
Trainer Marty Wolfson has confirmed Gary Stevens as the new jockey for Starship Truffles, his Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint hopeful, while also saying he is “on the fence” as to whether to run My Pal Chrisy in the $1 million race Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
Wolfson said he believes Stevens “will fit Starship Truffles just great,” and added that the alternative race for My Pal Chrisy would be a Florida-bred race the weekend after the Breeders’ Cup. A $120,000 fee would have to be paid to get My Pal Chrisy to the starting gate.
Flat Out, who finished third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in his last start, could have a change of rider for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, according to his trainer, Bill Mott.
Junior Alvarado has ridden Flat Out in his last six starts, which includes two wins, in the Westchester and Suburban, both at Belmont Park. But Joel Rosario, who recently returned to action, is currently without a mount in the Classic, and has experience with Flat Out. They were third in last year’s Classic after capturing the 2012 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Authenticity has quietly slid into the Breeders’ Cup background.
Once considered potential second choice in the Distaff, Authenticity has dropped to fourth or fifth despite attributes that include runner-up finishes in three Grade 1’s and established form at Santa Anita. Her declining status is mostly due to a growing list of contenders.
“It’s such a deep field, with headliners such as Beholder, Royal Delta, and Princess of Sylmar,” said Todd Pletcher, Authenticity’s trainer. “She is kind of quietly under the radar.”
Secret Circle may have earned a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2 with an emphatic comeback win in an optional claimer Monday.
Unraced since finishing second to Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby in April 2012, Secret Circle won the six-furlong race by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:07.98.
“When they’re off that long, sometimes you forget how good they are,” trainer Bob Baffert said in the winner’s circle.
Game On Dude on Tuesday turned up the intensity of his preparation for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 when working a sharp six furlongs in company at Santa Anita.
Game On Dude was given an official time of 1:12.20 for six furlongs, and his trainer, Bob Baffert, had him going out seven furlongs in “1:25 and change.” He will have two more works prior to the Classic, in which he is expected to be favored.
“Everything went great,” Baffert said. “He was sharp. He’s on schedule.”
