ELMONT, N.Y. - Numerous Times, the Canadian turf star, is the only older horse with an unbeaten record on Saturday's Breeders' Cup program at Belmont Park.
Numerous Times has won six races in six starts, but has prepared for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Mile with little fanfare in the U.S.
The Mile will be Numerous Times's first start away from Woodbine, near Toronto, Ontario, and his second start in a stakes, coming seven weeks after he won the Grade 1 Atto Mile against a strong field.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Farm and lawn equipment manufacturer John Deere will be the sponsor of the Breeders' Cup Turf at the World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 27, the NTRA announced Monday.
John Deere signed on as an official supplier to the NTRA in June 1999, an agreement that allows certain NTRA members who participate in the marketing organization's group purchasing program to receive discounts and other special considerations on John Deere merchandise.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The Breeders' Cup turf races have always had a strong European flavor, but this year's Filly and Mare Turf has an even stronger Euro-flavor than usual. Eight of the 12 starters began their careers across the Atlantic, including a quartet of 3-year-old fillies who were not scheduled to arrive in the U.S. until Tuesday.
ELMONT, N.Y . - The first time Starrer came to Belmont Park, she went head over heels. For her next acrobatic trick, trainer David Hofmans would like to see her split horses and head straight to the winner's circle following Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff.
ELMONT, N.Y. - On Saturday, trainer Craig Dollase will try to join Jenine Sahadi as the only trainers to have won two Breeders' Cup Sprints with two different horses.
Sahadi accomplished the feat with Lit de Justice at Woodbine in 1996 and the following year with Elmhurst at Hollywood Park.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The warming trend continued on Monday, as did a light fog which partially shrouded workers through most of the early training session.
It was the busiest morning yet for Breeders' Cup hopefuls, 17 of whom worked over the main track, the majority of that activity coming within a hectic 15-minute span shortly after the renovation break.
Work of the day
Gander: five furlongs in 59.42
Once again a difficult choice had to be made with Delaware Township finishing a very, very close second.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The biggest favorite on the eight-race World Thoroughbred Championships card is expected to be Officer, Bob Baffert's undefeated 2-year-old colt who will be the odds-on choice in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Officer had his final pre-Breeders' Cup workout Monday morning at Santa Anita, where he worked five furlongs in :59.1 while under a tight hold much of the way under exercise rider Dana Barnes. He changed leads at the top of the stretch, and galloped out strongly past the wire in a sharp overall showing.
ELMONT, N.Y. - All year long trainer Nick Zito has been looking forward to the arrival of the World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park for one rather important reason: Home field advantage.
A smile would fill his face as he pondered the edge that comes from having a race like the $4 Breeders' Cup Classic contested on a track that his top handicap horse, Albert the Great, absolutely loves.
So now, with the Classic less than a week away, why isn't Nick Zito smiling like a cheshire cat?
ELMONT, N.Y. - Spain served notice Sunday morning that she does not intend to relinquish the crown quietly.
Winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, Spain turned in a sharp five-furlong work in 1:00.40 that has put visions of a encore in the mind of trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
"Spain went very well today," Lukas said. "She was completely on top of her game. I don't think she can look any better physically than she does right now."