Indy Point joined the list of leading contenders for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with his comprehensive win in Sunday’s $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at the same track.
The win gave Indy Point’s backers a reason to forget his last-place finish as the favorite in the Arlington Million in August.
There are six Win and You’re In races leading up to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, and the first three winners are not going to take advantage of the fees-paid berth that goes with winning.
After Berkshire won the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday, his trainer Paul Cole said he probably wouldn’t run again until next year.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Royal Delta maintained her role as Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite, though her position is less secure than before a pair of Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park and Santa Anita.
In the Beldame at Belmont, Park, Royal Delta finished second to 3-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar. However, Princess of Sylmar is likely finished for the year and not expected to run in the Distaff.
In the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita, 3-year-old filly Beholder scored a decisive win over Authenticity and Joyful Victory to emerge as second choice for the Distaff.
Last Friday’s Eddie D Stakes could yield multiple starters for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. This should come as no surprise considering the Eddie D was run on Santa Anita’s unique about 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course, the same course this Turf Sprint will be decided on. Good downhill form has been a harbinger of success in past Turf Sprints run at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Nine months after he came out of retirement, jockey Gary Stevens had a season-best weekend at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday, winning four stakes, including Sunday’s $151,750 John Henry Turf Championship on Indy Point.
The wildly successful two days led the 50-year-old Hall of Famer to dream about more success in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams it would be like this,” he said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Mucho Macho Man became a Grade 1 winner in his 22nd start with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. The win left trainer Kathy Ritvo anxious to run the horse here Nov. 2 in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he will take on local handicap star Game On Dude in the race over 1 1/4 miles.
“He’s a nice horse, but mine is, too,” Ritvo said Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Though no decision has been made, Princess of Sylmar most likely will not run again this year but will be pointed to a 2014 campaign, her owner said Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Led by authoritative winner Ron the Greek, the top three finishers from Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park are expected to head west for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, their connections said Sunday.
Ron the Greek, who finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, also at Santa Anita, had gone winless in five consecutive starts prior to Saturday’s Gold Cup.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fort Larned passed his final test in preparation for a shot at a Breeders’ Cup repeat when leading throughout as a huge favorite Saturday night in the inaugural running of the $191,275 Homecoming Classic at Churchill Downs.
Fort Larned used his superior speed to open a lead of about six lengths down the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race before finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Windswept. The 5-year-old Fort Larned returned $2.60 to win after finishing in 1:48.58 over a fast track.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Mucho Macho Man might not be based in California, but he sure likes it here.
Second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Mucho Macho Man served notice that he will be formidable in that race again this year with an emphatic, 4 1/4-length victory Saturday in the Grade 1, $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Awesome Again offers a fees-paid berth to the $5 million BC Classic here Nov. 2 through the Win and You’re In program.
