Del Mar
Weather: CloudyTemp: 58°Track: Fast
By Mike Welsch
DEL MAR, Calif. – The first sightings of the New York-based Breeders’ Cup contenders along with the European contingent just out of quarantine highlighted training hours Monday at Del Mar, with the action on the racetrack taking place as a prelude to entries for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races being drawn in the paddock several hours later.
DEL MAR, Calif. – So much attention in the week leading up to the Breeders’ Cup is on how well the horses fare in their final workouts a week out from their race.
In that regard, little attention will be paid to American Sanctuary and Tough to Tame entering Friday’s $2 million Juvenile as trainer Chris Davis opted not to give either horse an official timed workout a week out from the race.
DEL MAR, Calif. – When Medina Spirit came back to the winner’s circle after capturing the Awesome Again Stakes last month at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert rushed to the track to pat the horse on the neck, and when speaking about him afterward, his voice caught.
“I get emotional talking about him because he gives his all,” Baffert said in a recent interview. “I love that about him. He’s tough. He’ll run hard.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Koala Princess has not raced since a win in the Ainsworth Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 12. If she prevails in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Koala Princess would win following the longest layoff in the 13-year history of the one-mile race.
In 2015, Catch a Glimpse won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 12, and won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland when the event was held one week earlier than this year.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar may not be finalized until scratch time on race morning, and will depend on decisions made by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and the powerful Coolmore syndicate, which owns all or part of five pre-entrants.
O’Brien has won the BC Turf a record six times, and has had a constant presence in the race since 2011. This year, O’Brien pre-entered Bolshoi Ballet, Broome, Japan, Love, and Mogul, all Grade 1 or Group 1 winners.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar was reduced by one on Monday morning when Mind Control, one of two horses expected to compete for trainer Todd Pletcher, was not entered after spiking a temperature, Pletcher said.
“It’s not ideal timing,” Pletcher said. “Very unfortunate.”
Mind Control won the Parx Dirt Mile in his last start.
Pletcher said that Mind Control could now be pointed to the Cigar Mile on Dec. 4 at Aqueduct. John Velazquez was scheduled to ride Mind Control in the Dirt Mile.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Ain’t Easy on Monday morning at Del Mar was not entered in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies when she failed to jog to the satisfaction of trainer Phil D’Amato, and her jockey, Joel Rosario, was quickly snapped up by trainer Steve Asmussen for race favorite Echo Zulu.
Ain’t Easy has won both her races, including the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in her last start. She had gone to the track for routine training on Monday after working on Saturday, but was jogged later and was “not 100 percent,” D’Amato said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Peter Miller, surveying the Del Mar racing ovals from the box seats in the grandstand, was up on his toes, like a boxer waiting with nervous energy for the fight to begin. Stopwatch in one hand, walkie-talkie in the other, he watched Mo Forza, with whom he hopes to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, make his way onto the grass course for his final Mile workout Sunday morning.
Oct. 31, 2021
Del Mar
Weather: Hazy
Temp: 61
Main Track: Fast
Turf: Firm
DEL MAR, Calif. - One day before having their names placed in the entry box, 19 potential starters for this year’s Breeders’ Cup turned in their final major preps for their respective races Sunday morning at Del Mar, with 13 going over the main track and six others working on the turf.
