Trainer Dale Romans and the Albaugh Family Stable already have one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in Brody’s Cause, who was a good-looking winner of last Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
But Romans and the Albaughs have another 2-year-old they like just as much, if not more, in Unbridled Outlaw, and are hopeful that he too can get into the Juvenile field.
An American-based winner of the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31 will produce a longshot payoff.
European-based runners are expected to dominate the betting in the richest turf race in the United States. As of Wednesday, Golden Horn, the winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris last Sunday, was the consensus 4-5 favorite in future-book betting with British bookmakers.
Flintshire, the runner-up in the Arc and second in the 2014 BC Turf at Santa Anita, was the clear second choice at 5-2.
After briefly toying with the notion of running Private Zone in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, his connections have now all but decided on running the four-time Grade 1 winner in the Sprint, in which he is expected to be favored over Rock Fall and Runhappy.
Rene Douglas, the racing manager for Private Zone, said Wednesday that the decision is a tough one because he believes his horse would be very formidable in both spots. But in the end, the larger purse for the Sprint and Private Zone’s history of success in one-turn races helped Douglas make the final decision.
The $100,000 Surfer Girl at Santa Anita on Saturday is the last major North American prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and should help identify at least one serious contender for the one-mile race at Keeneland on Oct. 30.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint is being run over 5 1/2 furlongs for the first time, and few horses have accomplished more at the distance this year than Lady Shipman. She will be seeking her fifth consecutive stakes win at the trip Friday, when she starts in the $100,000 Franklin County at Keeneland. The race will be Lady Shipman’s final prep for the Grade 1, $1 million BC Turf Sprint over the same course Oct. 31.
Rachel’s Valentina is one of several top contenders for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31, along with Songbird and Tap to It. But she’d be odds-on if the Juvenile Fillies went to the most popular, rather than the swiftest.
As the second foal out of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, Rachel’s Valentina had a legion of fans before she ever stepped onto a racetrack. That she’s talented is almost a bonus.
Just a month before the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland – the final Win and You’re In automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – Airoforce, Camelot Kitten, and Siding Spring were all unraced maidens.
The colts swept the trifecta in the Bourbon last Sunday, establishing themselves as top prospects for the Juvenile Turf, contested over the same course Oct. 30. They are now poised to reward their connections’ patience in a major way.
The $500,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic is one of the most anticipated races of the year at Charles Town, and you certainly don’t want to miss Saturday night’s edition. After all, Russell Road, who will be starting in the race for the seventh straight year, is now 9. How many more years can he possibly hold his form?
As usual, he will face Lucy’s Bob Boy, who will be making his fourth consecutive Breeders’ Classic start.
Victor Carrasco, the leading rider at the Laurel Park summer meet and the Pimlico spring meet, began getting on horses Monday at Laurel Park for the first time since being injured in a spill at Delaware Park on Aug. 25.
Carrasco broke several bones in his right hand when his mount clipped heels and fell.
Carrasco, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider of 2013, is represented by agent Tom Stift.
“I’m feeling good,” Carrasco said Monday. “I got on two horses for Rodney Jenkins this morning.”
Carrasco is named to ride Saturday at Laurel Park.
Laurel Park has a nice-looking card on Friday. Seven of the 10 races have at least 10 horses, and the feature is an optional-claiming race for 2-year-olds at a one-turn mile.
Super high fives will roll all day. There is a $770 carryover into race 1.
The feature has first-level allowance conditions and a $50,000 claiming option. Eight of the dozen 2-year-olds enter off a win at either Laurel, Saratoga, Monmouth Park, Delaware Park, Arlington Park, or Canterbury Park.
