ARCADIA, Calif. – He’s back in the Breeders’ Cup – obviously.
Obviously, an 8-year-old gelding, is set to become just the fifth horse to make five Breeders’ Cup starts when he races in the Turf Sprint on Saturday. And this is no vanity entry. Obviously has won only once in four starts this year, but that win was a strong one, in the Poker at Belmont, and his defeats, two seconds and a third, all were admirable performances.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – When trainer Kevin Attard and owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman claimed Calgary Cat for $25,000 in November 2013, they weren’t thinking they would one day get to run him in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Attard said the Breeders’ Cup still wasn’t in their plans at the beginning of October, but the 2014 Canadian champion sprinter made a strong statement when he won the Grade 2, $307,800 Nearctic Stakes here on Oct. 16.
ARCADIA, California – Bill Mott was dead lame Sunday morning, but the two horses he worked for the Breeders’ Cup, Carina Mia and Tourist, looked much better.
Tourist, who will be making his third Breeders’ Cup Mile start, worked a half-mile on dirt in 47.89 seconds, out five furlongs in 1:00.56, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. Carina Mia, who figures to be among the favorites in the Filly and Mare Sprint, went the same distance in 47.91, out five furlongs in 1:00.74.
ARCADIA, Calif. – California Chrome on Sunday had the kind of trip traveling from Los Alamitos to Santa Anita that those closest to him hope he has in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.
“No traffic. Zipped right over,” said assistant trainer Alan Sherman, who accompanied California Chrome on the 32-mile journey late Sunday morning.
SANTA ANITA
Track: Fast
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 67
ARCADIA, Calf. - A relatively quiet Sunday at Santa Anita, where only seven potential Breeders’ Cup starters worked, all pretty much in maintenance mode with less than a week to go before the main event.
The main track was tight and fast with cloudy skies prevailing throughout the morning.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Coasted, a Labor Day weekend stakes winner at Saratoga, will have Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard for the first time in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Friday.
Trainer Leah Gyarmati said the decision was finalized on Sunday. Jose Lezcano had been riding Coasted, who is by Tizway.
“I consider that to be a huge improvement,” Gyarmati said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – They’re getting the band back together.
Shortly after Dortmund had his final work Sunday morning for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Friday at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert said that jockey Martin Garcia – who has been working Dortmund in recent weeks – would be reunited with Dortmund in the Dirt Mile.
That is one of three mounts Baffert is giving to Garcia in the Breeders’ Cup after a thawing in the icy relationship they had had since April. Garcia will also ride Drefong in the Sprint, and Enchanting Lady in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
ARCADIA, Calif. – On paper, Gloryzapper probably wasn’t supposed to make the early lead at Santa Anita in the Oct. 9 LA Woman Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong race that the 4-year-old filly wound up winning to stamp her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Gloryzapper was exiting the John Mabee, a 1 1/8-mile turf race.
“She’s a jack of all trades, I’m telling you,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Gloryzapper for the partnership of Hebert Bloodstock, Richard Leggio, and Peter Peluso. “She’s got a lot of versatility.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – The favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff were home early after training in the dark Sunday morning at Santa Anita. All were back in their stalls before sunrise.
“The early bird gets the worm,” Songbird trainer Jerry Hollendorfer joked Sunday at 5 a.m. “I like those old sayings.”
Hollendorfer also likes what he sees from Songbird, likely to open as an 8-5 favorite on the Daily Racing Form odds line after post positions are drawn Monday. A field of eight is expected.
