ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement still has no clue why Hard Not to Like ran so poorly in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita, and he isn’t sure where to run her next.
He was happy enough with her half-mile breeze on turf Sunday at Belmont Park to still leave open the option for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Honor Code, third in the Grade 2 Kelso on Oct. 3, was back on the work tab Monday, drilling five furlongs in 1:00.56 over the Belmont Park main track. Honor Code is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Trainer Shug McGaughey had the work begin at the three-furlong pole – in the middle of the far turn – and go to the 1 1/4-mile pole. Belmont clockers had Honor Code in splits of 25 seconds and 48.60 and caught him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.27 and seven furlongs in 1:26.17.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Hushion is known to be conservative by nature, but when it comes to Artemis Agrotera he’s shedding that label in a big way.
Though Artemis Agrotera has not raced this year, Hushion is pointing her to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, and he isn’t doing it on a whim.
“I just think she’s one of the top talented female sprinters in the country,” Hushion said Monday at Belmont Park. “If I could get her fit enough and racy enough, why not? I really think she has a legitimate shot.”
MIAMI – Trainer David Fawkes said Sheer Drama will have her final work for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Gulfstream Park West. Fawkes did not work Sheer Drama last weekend after having sent her out to breeze five furlongs on each of the last three Sundays dating to Sept. 20.
“She’s doing great, so I’m just going to two-minute lick her this week, probably on Thursday, with her final work for the Breeders’ Cup scheduled for the 21st,” said Fawkes.
Sheer Drama is listed as the 3-1 favorite by Daily Racing Form linemaker Brad Free for the Distaff.
MIAMI – Gulfstream management has hit a home run with its innovative rolling super high five wager that began on opening day of the Gulfstream Park West meeting. The super high five requires bettors to select the first five finishers of a race in exact order. If nobody correctly selects the first five finishers, the majority of the pool carries over to the next event. The carryovers continue, race to race, throughout the card.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The three fillies trainer Jerry Hollendorfer started Sept. 5 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante all won stakes at the Santa Anita autumn meeting. They may have greater success on the regional and national scenes in the coming weeks.
On Saturday, Stays in Vegas, fifth in the Debutante, won the $101,500 Surfer Girl Stakes on turf. On Sunday, Surfside Tiara, seventh of 10 in the Debutante, won the $74,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. And on Sept. 26, Debutante winner Songbird won the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes.
MIAMI – Tyler Gaffalione wasted little time proving that he doesn’t need a five-pound allowance to continue winning races. The newly turned journeyman won the first race he rode without his apprentice allowance, Sunday’s opener aboard Storm Swept, and before the day was out, he added three more victories to erase any doubts that he’ll have difficulty adjusting to life without the bug.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A consultation with attending veterinarian Robert Hunt was planned for early this week to determine whether Ageless can resume training soon enough to make the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, trainer Arnaud Delacour said Monday.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Salama didn’t win her North American debut Saturday, but trainer Charlie LoPresti was pleased nonetheless with how the 3-year-old filly performed when closing stoutly to be second behind Lavender Chrissie in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer at Keeneland. Salama earned a 79 Beyer Speed Figure and will run next as a longshot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“That’s just what we were setting her up for,” said LoPresti.
In June, Salama won a Win and You’re In race in Peru, where she had raced eight times before being sent to LoPresti at Keeneland this summer.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Noted racing-surface specialist Mick Peterson was scheduled to return to Keeneland early this week to reassess the safety of the main track in the wake of four fatal equine breakdowns during the meet as the Breeders’ Cup approaches.
