ELMONT, N.Y. – Twilight Eclipse is being pointed to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf for the fourth straight year.
Twilight Eclipse was third behind Main Sequence and Flintshire in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf, the most recent one held at Santa Anita, which is the site of this year’s event. Last year, Twilight Eclipse finished eighth in the Turf, run over a Keeneland course with plenty of give in the ground.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Entries for Saturday’s Empire Showcase Day program, an 11-race card of all New York-bred races, will be drawn on Wednesday. Two familiar names, Moonlight Song and Notacatbutallama, will not be among those entered this year because both have been retired.
Moonlight Song, a 9-year-old gelding who won the 2014 Hudson Stakes on Showcase Day, came out of his last work with an issue, according to trainer Charlton Baker.
ELMONT, N.Y. – As Rudy Rodriguez has worked his way to the top of the trainer standings this fall at Belmont Park, one thing has become evident: He has a talented and diverse group of 2-year-old fillies.
Four of Rodriguez’s meet-leading 22 victories this fall have come with juvenile fillies, including Arella Rockstar, who captured Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Matron Stakes as a 12-1 longshot. Arella Rockstar’s victory was part of a 4-for-4 afternoon for Rodriguez, who opened up a 22-19 lead over Chad Brown in the Belmont fall trainer standings.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Nyquist worked six furlongs in company Monday at Santa Anita, where time is running out for the Kentucky Derby winner to regain top form.
Nyquist won his first eight starts but has lost all three since the Derby. He finished sixth last out. Despite uncertain form, the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 remains the goal. After the Monday work, it was fair to wonder if Nyquist still has it.
“To me, it’s there,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “We have faith it’s there. But after three losses in a row, we’re looking for his competitive spirits again.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Noholdingback Bear returned to the Woodbine work tab Saturday, recording his first published work since winning the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 24.
Next for Noholdingback Bear is a trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5. Trainer Michael De Paulo said Saturday’s work, a four-furlong breeze in 48.20 seconds on the dirt training track, went well.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dragon’s Cry upset the heavily favored Signature Spring to earn his first stakes victory in the Bull Page Stakes on Oct. 10 and now appears likely for Woodbine’s $150,000 Clarendon Stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds over six furlongs on Tapeta on Nov. 5.
“I would think that would be the next move,” trainer Robert Tiller said.
Dragon’s Cry has won back-to-back races and was a runner-up in his Aug. 20 career debut. Tiller said it appears that Dragon’s Cry has come out of the Bull Page in good order.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Caren recorded her third straight win and her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes over a mile on turf last time out Sept. 24. She will seek her fourth straight in Sunday’s $150,000 Carotene Stakes.
The Carotene is for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies and covers 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor turf course.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lucy N Ethel will put her unbeaten record on the line Saturday as part of a terrific field of 3-year-old fillies in the richest race this week at Keeneland, the $250,000 Raven Run at seven furlongs.
Lucy N Ethel will be making her first start since being transferred by owners J A G Racing and Jettany Thoroughbred Corp. into the care of Tom Amoss about three weeks ago. The dark bay filly has had two breezes at Keeneland.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For now, Time and Motion will remain under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf following her stirring victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
Trainer Jimmy Toner said Monday from New York that he is “torn” about whether to proceed to Santa Anita for the Nov. 5 Filly and Mare Turf with Time and Motion, who prevailed in a tight three-way photo over Harmonize and Hawksmoor in the QE II.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Gormley began October by winning his stakes debut in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. Through the rest of the month, trainer John Shirreffs has planned workouts to prepare the colt for a variety of circumstances that could occur in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here on Nov. 5.
