Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:56

Keeneland sets handle, attendance marks for opening weekend

Barbara D. Livingston
Catch a Glimpse is 8 for 8 on turf, and looms the controlling speed in the Lake Placid at 1 1/8 miles.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With perfect weather and outstanding racing as catalysts, Keeneland established records for attendance and all-sources handle during the three days that opened the 17-day fall meet.

Total attendance for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was 66,437, surpassing the previous record of 62,454 set in 2006. All-sources handle for the three days was $34,038,462.

“Suffice it to say, an extraordinary start to the race meet,” said Bob Elliston, in his first meet as vice president of racing and sales for Keeneland.

Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:46

Despite loss, Tepin still on track for Breeders' Cup Mile

Kim Pratt
Tepin has had some success on wet turf courses in America.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tepin emerged from her upset loss in the First Lady here on Saturday in good shape and will begin training at Churchill Downs this week in an effort to get back to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita in peak condition, according to Norman Casse, son of and assistant to trainer Mark Casse.

“She’s good,” said Norman Casse. “We’ll take her back to the track sometime this week and get her back into her routine. We’ll probably fly her out to California as late as we can.”

Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:40

Miss Temple City in rarified company after Shadwell Turf Mile win

Coady Photography
Miss Temple City pays $17.40 for her win under Edgar Prado in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Matching what only Wise Dan had done was remarkable enough. But considering that she was a filly running against males when she swept the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile and the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile in the same year, her feat is downright extraordinary.

No wonder Graham Motion got so choked up after Miss Temple City held on to win the $1 million Shadwell on Saturday at Keeneland.

“She’s pretty special to me,” Motion told NBC Sports.

Mon, 10/10/2016 - 11:30

Attfield seeks first Canadian International win with Danish Dynaformer

Michael Burns
Roger Attfield hopes Danish Dynaformer can give the trainer his first Canadian International win.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two Grade 1 races headline a strong Sunday card at Woodbine, highlighted by the $1 million Canadian International.

Roger Attfield will send out the lone Woodbine-based and Canadian-bred horse in the field, Danish Dynaformer, in search of the trainer’s first victory in the International. Danish Dynaformer is among nine horses who were considered probable for the International as of Sunday; he exits a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf over “good” going here Sept. 17. Attfield said Danish Dynaformer is most effective on firm turf.

Mon, 10/10/2016 - 11:16

Up With the Birds targets Sycamore

Michael Burns
Nijinsky winner Up With the Birds will skip the Canadian International this year.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Up With the Birds ran second in last year’s Grade 1 Canadian International, but the 6-year-old is not among the probables for Sunday’s edition. Trainer Malcolm Pierce said Up With the Birds is being pointed toward the Grade 3, $100,000 Sycamore Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 20.

Sun, 10/09/2016 - 16:39

Baffert has two prime prospects for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Shigeki Kikkawa
Lord Nelson will be one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

ARCADIA, Calif.- In the morning and afternoon on Saturday, trainer Bob Baffert had his top hopes for the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on display at Santa Anita.

Drefong, winner of the King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, worked a half-mile in 46.80 seconds. In the afternoon, Lord Nelson won his third consecutive Grade 1 in the $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

Sun, 10/09/2016 - 16:32

D'Amato has multiple Breeders' Cup options with Vyjack, Obviously

Shigeki Kikkawa
Vyjack coul run in either the Breeders' Cup Mile or Dirt Mile.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The first- and third-place finishes by Vyjack and Obviously in Saturday’s $201,725 City of Hope Mile gives trainer Phil D’Amato a strong roster of candidates for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, or a chance to diversify his team in other Breeders’ Cup races.

Sunday, D’Amato said Vyjack and Obviously will be considered for the BC Mile, but that Vyjack is also a candidate for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 4, and Obviously may be pre-entered in the $1 million BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 5.

Sun, 10/09/2016 - 09:21

Keeneland sets fall single-day handle record

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A record all-sources handle for a fall program at Keeneland was established Saturday when $15,926,396 was bet on the 10-race card, surpassing the previous fall record of $14,135,204 set Oct. 6, 2007.

The handle figure does not threaten the all-time single-day record at Keeneland, which was set earlier this year when more than $21.7 million was bet on the Blue Grass Stakes card of April 9. In fact, at least the top 10 single-day records at Keeneland all have come at spring meets.

Sat, 10/08/2016 - 14:04

Made You Look breezes for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Made You Look wins the With Anticipation Stakes by two lengths Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Made You Look, the winner of the Grade 2 With Anticipation at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 48.96 seconds over the Belmont turf course Saturday in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Made You Look was on the inside of stablemate Rock Me Again, a 4-year-old filly. The pair shaded 23 seconds for the final quarter-mile, though Made You Look bobbled a time or two in the stretch.

Sat, 10/08/2016 - 13:56

Keen Ice targets Clark Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Keen Ice worked for the first time in five months Friday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though 2015 Travers winner Keen Ice finished third in his return to the races Friday at Belmont Park, trainer Todd Pletcher was satisfied enough with the result that the 4-year-old most likely will be pointed to the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.

Keen Ice, in his first start since running eighth in the Dubai World Cup in March, showed late interest in rallying to be third, beaten four lengths, by the loose-on-the-lead Wake Up in Malibu, who ran a mile in a very fast 1:33.27.