Sun, 10/31/2010 - 13:49

Awesome Feather cataloged for F-T November sale

Anybody who’d like the opportunity to own a Breeders’ Cup starter, perhaps even a Breeders’ Cup winner, may have the chance to do just that when Awesome Feather goes into the sales ring on Nov. 7, just two days after she participates in the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Awesome Feather is cataloged as a racing/broodmare prospect and as Hip No. 10 in the Fasig-Tipton sale.

Sun, 10/31/2010 - 13:22

Chamberlain Bridge back on track for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Barbara D. Livingston
Chamberlain Bridge jogs a mile Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After missing a scheduled breeze Saturday morning because of an abscess in his right-front foot, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hopeful Chamberlain Bridge returned to the racetrack Sunday morning, when he jogged a mile the “wrong” way, or clockwise.

The abscess, an infected puss pocket in the hoof, drained through a nail hole after Chamberlain Bridge’s shoe was removed Saturday, Calhoun said.

Sun, 10/31/2010 - 13:08

Europeans arrive for Breeders’ Cup

Reed Palmer Photography
Workforce arrives at Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday night.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Europeans have entered the building.

After three Godolphin-owned or associated horses arrived Saturday afternoon following a cush private charter flight, the other 19 Euros intended for Breeders’ Cup races next weekend came on five different Sallee horse vans, getting to the Churchill backstretch later Saturday night. Among the travelers, some of whom spent almost an entire day in transit, were two-time BC Mile winner Goldikova and Workforce, the Arc-winning favorite for the Turf.

Sun, 10/31/2010 - 11:53

Vineyard Haven, Gayego complete BC works in New York

ELMONT, N.Y. – Godolphin stablemates Vineyard Haven and Gayego both put in their final workouts Sunday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Working separately just after sunrise, Vineyard Haven went five furlongs in 1:01.41 shortly after Gayego went four furlongs in 48.80 seconds. Both works were done over the main track.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 15:53

Blind Luck bursting with energy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Blind Luck worked five furlongs in a minute at Hollywood Park on Saturday and it then seemed to take exercise rider Marco Ramirez another five furlongs to pull her up.

The nation’s leading 3-year-old filly, Blind Luck is bound for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs with recent workouts that have left trainer Jerry Hollendorfer more than satisfied.

“We’ve been blessed that she’s like that,” Hollendorfer said. “She finished really well.”

Hollendorfer timed Blind Luck in 1:00.66, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.25.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:54

Tony Dutrow confident his three Breeders' Cup-bound fillies will run well

By David GreningTen years after starting his only horse in the Breeders’ Cup series, trainer Tony Dutrow will return this week with three fillies who figure quite prominently in their respective races.

On Saturday at Delaware Park, Dutrow put the trio of Havre de Grace, Rightly So, and Joyful Victory through their final breezes for the Ladies’ Classic, Filly and Mare Sprint, and Juvenile Fillies, respectively. Afterwards, Dutrow expressed optimism that all three will run at least as well as Burning Roma did when he was beaten just two lengths in the 2000 Juvenile at Churchill.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:42

Big Drama sizzles in BC Sprint move

Big Drama had the track clockers at Calder raving after working four furlongs in 46.40 seconds and galloping out five-eighths in 58.40 over his home course with jockey Eibar Coa aboard on Saturday in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“He was unbelievable,” said Calder clocker Joe Savage. “The track was not that fast, there was a pretty strong headwind blowing up the stretch and he just did it easily.”

Both Coa and trainer David Fawkes were equally pleased with the move.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:38

Chamberlain Bridge misses work with minor injury

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chamberlain Bridge, one of the favorites for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, popped an abscess in his right front hoof Friday and had to miss a scheduled workout this weekend, although trainer Bret Calhoun is still optimistic the millionaire gelding can make the race Saturday.

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 14:36

Zenyatta given stiff final drill in company

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Mike Smith had Zenyatta’s saddle and reins in his hands, walking down the shedrow of trainer John Shirreffs’s stable at Hollywood Park when he stopped and watched the 6-year-old walk by on Saturday morning. He had just climbed off of the unbeaten winner of 19 races after a six-furlong workout in 1:11.80.

“Look at her – 1:11 and four,” Smith said. “I thought it was brilliant, better than last year before the Classic.”

Sat, 10/30/2010 - 13:02

New Normal, Grand Adventure breeze for BC at Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ont. - New Normal (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Grand Adventure (Turf Sprint), both trained by Mark Frostad, breezed five furlongs on Woodbine's main track in separate moves on Saturday morning and are scheduled to leave for Churchill Downs on Monday.

Exercise rider Billy O'Connor was aboard New Normal, who was timed in 1:02.20. Grand Adventure went in 1:01.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.20 under his regular rider Patrick Husbands.

"Both did it very well, and both are on course at this point," said Frostad.