A marathon Breeders’ Cup post position draw produced precious little liveliness Monday afternoon at Churchill Downs, but a short, excited cry came from a table of Frenchmen when Goldikova was assigned post 1 for the BC Mile.
“That’s what we were hoping for,” Regis Barbedette, the traveling head lad overseeing Goldikova until trainer Freddie Head arrives Tuesday, said afterward. “I just spoke to Freddie Head, and he was applauding us. We said we had nothing to do with it!”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Uncle Mo and Goldikova have a chance to win a Breeders' Cup race for the second year in a row this weekend. Old news. Uncle Mo won the 2010 Juvenile like the second coming, and Goldikova has won the last three Miles. Less recognized this week are three other horses who can repeat in a BC race. They include Eldaafer, who is after his second Marathon, and Chamberlain Bridge, seeking back-to-back wins in the Turf Sprint, and Big Drama, going for a second straight Sprint.
Friday, November 4, 2011 Get PPs »Odds and comments by Brad Free. Horses listed in order of handicapper's preference. |
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A showdown for the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly could be on the line Friday at Churchill Downs in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, which drew a field of 10 on Monday, with the three 3-year-olds in the race the first three choices despite facing their elders.
Turn-back runners such as Precisionist, Gulch, and Cherokee Run have captured the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in its lengthy history, but three runnings of the $1 million BC Turf Sprint have yielded no such winners. Mike Machowsky would like to start a new tradition when he sends his standout California-bred Caracortado out of longer races as a major threat Saturday in the five-furlong Turf Sprint.
The partners in Team Valor International rejoiced last year when Pluck rallied to capture the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The ownership group will have two shots at a repeat this year, with Lucky Chappy and State of Play assigned posts 12 and 14, respectively, in a capacity field of 14 in the $1 million race.
Drawing a post position near the rail in a one-turn race might not meet with everyone’s approval, but trainer Mike Puype was very happy that Turbulent Descent was assigned post 3 as the solid favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Friday.
“That’s what she got when she broke her maiden” in her career debut last fall, Pupye said. “I’ve got no problem with the 3-hole at all. She’s the kind of horse who wants to get right to the rail and get to running. We’re good.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Havre de Grace, in her final work in preparation for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, was timed by Daily Racing Form going five furlongs in 1:01.79 on Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
Jockey Gabriel Saez was aboard for the work, which took place immediately after the mid-morning renovation break, but regular rider Ramon Dominguez will be aboard for the Classic.
“It was like her last work at Delaware before we went to New York,”
Saez said, referring to the Beldame Stakes. “She worked about the same.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- After several days of deliberation on the part of trainer Nick Zito, Jackson Bend was entered Monday morning in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint rather than in the Dirt Mile, which was his first preference when pre-entered five days earlier.
