The betting on the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 27 hinges on the participation of Sakhee, the winner of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris last Sunday.
Following the Arc, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said Sakhee was likely to start again in October, but declined to specify whether he would appear in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, England, on Oct. 20, or the Turf a week later.
COLUMBIA, Md. - On Sept. 29, the filly Xtra Heat ran the biggest Beyer of the year. At least, I think she ran the biggest Beyer.
The development of Xtra Heat has been a fascinating rags-to-riches story. A $5,000 purchase, modestly bred, trained by an out-of-the-limelight local Maryland trainer - Xtra Heat has now earned more than a million dollars.
Nobody could have predicted this just a few months ago, back in late spring, when she had the limited look of a nice speedy filly who could only dominate second or third-rate sprinters. Her quality was suspect.
This is the time of year when the 3-year-old crop gets the supreme test of its overall ability, by facing older horses. That is the hurdle Flute will try to clear on Saturday at Belmont Park, when she meets older stakes horses for the first time in the $750,000 Beldame Stakes.
One year ago, Tiznow was coming off a victory in the Super Derby and was preparing for the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap on just two weeks' rest. His trainer, Jay Robbins, was fretting constantly, concerned that the ambitious schedule he had mapped out for Tiznow would take a toll.
Robbins would have pulled the plug on his plan at the first sign of distress, but Tiznow never wavered. He won the Goodwood, then three weeks later captured the Breeders' Cup Classic, completing a late-season hat trick that propelled Tiznow to two Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year.
In the natural course of events, 2-year-olds are improving at this time of the year.
When it comes to You, trainer Bobby Frankel just doesn't see how that is possible. In her last start, You won the Grade 2 Adirondack, catching Cashier's Dream in the final jump to win by a neck. She covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.16 - a stakes record for the distance - and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 107.
After dominating the juveniles out West, Officer will take on what is left of a depleted East Coast 2-year-old division when he runs in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne at Belmont Park.
Officer, undefeated in four starts, is expected to face only four challengers in the Champagne, one of two Saturday preps leading up to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 27. At Keeneland, California-based 2-year-olds Kamsack and Siphonic head an expected eight-horse field for the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The heat turns up this weekend for several major
contenders for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Leading sprint hopefuls Kona Gold, Delaware Township, and Bet on Sunshine will have their final preps before the World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.
Last Saturday's Grade 1 Flower Bowl Handicap set the bar for the Filly and Mare Turf after Lailani, England's Legend, and Starine all ran well.
Lailani established herself as the early favorite by catching front-running England's Legend to win the Flower Bowl by three-quarters of a length under her new rider, Jerry Bailey. Starine was another three-quarter lengths back in third. The Flower Bowl was decided at the same distance (1 1/4 miles) and at the same track (Belmont) as this year's Filly and Mare Turf.
Last November, Brahms was not selected for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs when the race oversubscribed. The following day, as a consolation of sorts, Brahms won the River City Handicap over the Churchill course, sending a message that he was a turf miler to follow.
This year, trainer Elliott Walden is waiting for Brahms to live up to that reputation and prove he is worthy of a start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 27.
The test comes in Sunday's $500,000 Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile in Kentucky.
Less than a length separated Mutamam from an upset victory at 37-1 in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. This year, bettors can expect a fraction of that price on the 6-year-old English invader.
Last Sunday, Mutamam become the future-book favorite with one English bookmaker for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 27 with a victory in the Canadian International at Woodbine, his third stakes win in four starts this year.