ARCADIA, Calif. – Dullahan and Little Mike will start in Saturday’s $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, a change that trainer Dale Romans announced Monday after discussing options with the owners of both horses Sunday.
Little Mike, best known for winning the Arlington Million in August, will make his second start over 1 1/2 miles on turf in the BC Turf. He was fifth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on a yielding turf course at Belmont Park on Sept. 29 in his first start at the distance.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Royal Delta, as expected, will be entered Monday in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, trainer Bill Mott said Monday morning from Belmont Park.
Royal Delta won the Ladies' Classic last year at Churchill Downs. She had been cross-entered in the Classic, but Mott always had said the Ladies' Classic was the target, and neither he nor owner Benjamin Leon changed their mind at the last second.
The Ladies' Classic is Friday, the Classic Saturday, both at Santa Anita.
Three flights carrying 16 horses based in England, Ireland, and France arrived without incident on Saturday at Santa Anita.
The first group in, traveling on a private charter, included the horses associated with the ruling family of Dubai. Next came a plane with other horses from England and Ireland, and finally the four horses, all fillies, that traveled from France.
[BREEDERS' CUP PPs: Visit DRF's official BC Handicapping Center]
ARCADIA, Calif. - Facing the toughest field of his career, Slim Shadey will have a definitive role in Saturday’s $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. He is expected to set the pace, attempting to stretch his speed to 1 1/2 miles for the first time.
“I’m sure we’ll be close to the leaders, if we’re not on the lead,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.
[BREEDERS' CUP PPs: Visit DRF's official BC Handicapping Center]
Temperature 65 Sunny Main Track Fast/Turf Firm
ARCADIA, Calif .- The weather was Chamber of Commerce beautiful Sunday morning at Santa Anita, a perfect complement to the beehive of Breeders’ Cup workout activity that featured a number of impressive breezes, topped by an eye-catcher of a move from Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite Game On Dude.
[BREEDERS' CUP WORKOUTS: Full DRF coverage, Mike Welsch video reports]
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bourbon Bay, the winner of six turf stakes at Santa Anita in his career, will miss Saturday’s $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, trainer Neil Drysdale said on Sunday.
“We’re going to skip it,” Drysdale said. “We didn’t think he worked satisfactorily.”
Saturday at Santa Anita, Bourbon Bay worked six furlongs on turf in 1:13.40. Drysdale said that as a substitute for the BC Turf that Bourbon Bay will be considered for the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The longest shot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic field posted the day’s fastest half-mile workout Sunday at Santa Anita.
Class Included blazed in 47 seconds under Joe Steiner, fastest of 65 works at the distance. Afterward, trainer Jim Penney and assistant Kay Cooper confirmed the Emerald Downs-based filly will enter the $2 million Ladies’ Classic rather than the Filly and Mare Sprint.
[BREEDERS' CUP WORKOUTS: Full DRF coverage, Mike Welsch video reports]
ARCADIA, Calif. – Game On Dude, the likely favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, completed his serious training for the race with an eye-catching workout on Sunday morning at Santa Anita, a day when his trainer, Bob Baffert, put seven other BC runners through the final drills.
“Today I had a really good day,” Baffert said.
Four other Classic candidates worked around the country – Flat Out, Ron the Greek, and To Honor and Serve at Belmont Park, and Fort Larned at Churchill Downs.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Kentucky-based Groupie Doll, early favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday, needed very little time to settle in at Santa Anita.
Winner of four consecutive stakes, Groupie Doll arrived Saturday and by nightfall was “bucking and playing in her stall” according to owner-trainer Buff Bradley’s traveling team.
As much as Carla Gaines knows about equine pedigrees, she might know more about white Labrador retrievers – or at least the specific bloodlines of her constant companion, a lovable dog named King Louie II.
“Are you kidding me?” she asked after watching her BC Dirt Mile longshot, John Scott, breeze early Saturday in preparation of the most demanding task of his life. “Of course I do.”
