ARCADIA, Calif. – The dominance of older horses such as California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic division is so profound that there won’t be a single 3-year-old in the Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.
In addition, there is the possibility that none of the winners of this year’s Triple Crown races will compete in this year’s Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita, and if that happens, this year’s Classic might have the smallest representation of 3-year-olds ever.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Mark Casse said he expects a decision to be made this weekend regarding the next race for Tepin, the 5-year-old mare whose 6-for-6 record and stakes wins in three countries this year has her in the running for Horse of the Year.
“She’s breezing Friday morning at Saratoga and will van down to Churchill on Sunday,” said Casse, whose son and assistant, Norman, has been overseeing the mare.
Runhappy showed brilliance last year at 3, when he defeated his elders in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
This year, the champion sprinter of 2015 is going down a different path.
Runhappy is being pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and his road to the race starts Saturday at Churchill Downs. Runhappy is set to make his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Ack Ack, a one-turn mile intended as his springboard to the Breeders’ Cup.
The Dirt Mile, which will be run around two turns, is Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Ack Ack isn’t the only race Saturday at Churchill Downs that could have an impact on the Breeders’ Cup.
The fourth running of the $175,000 Lukas Classic also could produce a starter or two for the Nov. 4-5 championships at Santa Anita, with the last two winners of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill – Noble Bird (2015) and Bradester (2016) – drawn alongside each other in posts 6 and 7 among nine older horses.
After beginning his 10-year-old season with two victories, Ben’s Cat has been beaten in his last four starts. His owner-breeder-trainer, King Leatherbury, has altered his normal schedule of races for Ben’s Cat and skipped the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Racing on Sept. 5.
Leatherbury, 83, is now pointing Ben’s Cat to the Maryland Million Sprint on dirt at Laurel Park on Oct. 22.
“I want to support Maryland Million Day, and I’ve got really no other place to run,” Leatherbury said. “It’s not on the turf, but at least it’s a little bit restricted.”
Haven’t been paying attention to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf division yet? No worries – plenty of time. In six of the eight editions of the Juvenile Turf, the winner had most recently started during the first two weeks of October, and the next two weeks will go a long way toward sorting out the prime players in this year’s race.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The stakes winners Om and Gold Rush Dancer worked Wednesday at Santa Anita in advance of stakes.
Om worked five furlongs in 1:01.20. A 4-year-old, Om is scheduled to start in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile on Oct. 8. Trainer Dan Hendricks is hoping the City of Hope Mile will lead to a start for Om in the Breeders’ Cup Mile here Nov. 5.
ARCADIA, Calif. – California Chrome was well into a routine gallop at Santa Anita on Wednesday morning when assistant trainer Alan Sherman reflected on the popular horse’s stride.
“He doesn’t have any wasted motion,” Sherman said. “His stride is so efficient.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Flavien Prat spent most of September on a small tour of North American racetracks, riding at Kentucky Downs, Woodbine, and Presque Isle Downs. Rafael Bejarano spent part of that time on vacation before returning to race riding last weekend at Parx and Remington Park.
On Friday, they will be back in familiar territory, riding at Santa Anita on opening day of the autumn meeting. There is an excellent chance that they will have each other to beat through the 23-day season, which ends Nov. 6.
This weekend is expected to result in the greatest shake-up on the list of contenders for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
Flintshire, the dominant runner in New York, and Postponed, the star in Europe this year, run on Saturday and Sunday. Flintshire will be a heavy favorite in Saturday’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. Postponed will have as many as 17 rivals in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Sunday.
