Thu, 10/04/2012 - 14:27

Keeneland: Groupie Doll heavy favorite to win fourth straight in TCA Stakes

[bc_video_id:264653:]LEXINGTON, Ky. – The majority of racehorses have a problem of being too slow. For Groupie Doll and her trainer, Buff Bradley, the problem of being too fast popped up last Saturday when the star filly was having her final workout for the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes.

“She went a couple seconds faster than I wanted,” said Bradley, referring to a half-mile breeze in 46.20 seconds with John McKee aboard at Churchill Downs. “John said he did everything he could to slow her down. She just did it so easy, it really couldn’t be helped.”

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 14:16

Calder: Musical Romance using Mike Sherman as her Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint prep

Coady Photography
Trainer Bill Kaplan says the timing of the Mike Sherman is perfect for Musical Romance, who would have four weeks to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

MIAMI – Saturday’s $55,000 Mike Sherman Memorial Stakes was surely not designed as a Breeders’ Cup prep, but it could end up becoming just that for defending BC Filly and Mare Sprint champ Musical Romance, who is among the 10 females entered to go 6 1/2 furlongs in the overnight dash.

The Mike Sherman shares top billing on Saturday’s 12-race program at Calder with the $75,000 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. The two races do have one common denominator – the speedy filly Spectacular Sky, who was entered in both events by trainer Marty Wolfson.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 14:02

Fresno: Anytime Magic and My Best Bet get tested for distance in Charlie Palmer Futurity

Marcel Langevin/Vassar Photography
Anytime Magic has won two stakes, including the Lost in the Fog (above), but has never run farther than six furlongs.

Trainers Bob Hess and Billy Morey have similar concerns heading into Saturday’s Charlie Palmer Futurity, a $75,000 stakes race for 2-year-olds at one mile over dirt at the Big Fresno Fair.

The Hess-trained Anytime Magic and the Morey-trained My Best Bet are both legitimate contenders in the field of six, but, as with all their other rivals, Saturday’s race is the longest they’ve attempted during their brief careers.

Breeding suggests both Anytime Magic, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, and My Best Bet, who is by Best of the Rest, should be able to handle the distance.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 13:40

Woodbine: Spring Venture goes two turns on Polytrack in Mazarine Stakes

Michael Burns
Spring Venture will make her first start on the main track in Saturday’s Grade 3 Mazarine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spring Venture, Woodbine’s leading 2-year-old filly, will test her skills around two turns on the Polytrack on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $200,000 Mazarine Stakes.

Spring Venture won for fun when she debuted in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass Aug. 18. A month later, she was favored in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes, in which she closed from midpack to prevail while being geared down late by Patrick Husbands.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 13:17

Keeneland withdraws from Kentucky Equine Education Project

Keeneland has withdrawn from a racing industry lobbying group that has pushed for casino legislation for the past five years, the company confirmed on Thursday.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 13:13

Laurel: Ben’s Cat fighting weighty task in Maryland Million Turf Sprint

Alyssa Spakowski/Equi-Photo
Ben’s Cat, 4 for 4 on Laurel’s turf, is coming off the 12th stakes victory of his career, the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap at Parx.

The millionaire Ben’s Cat towers over his nine rivals on class in the $100,000 Maryland Millon Turf Sprint Handicap, a race he has won each of the past two years. But will he be toppled over by the weight he must concede?

The Turf Sprint is the leading race on the undercard of the 27th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million on Saturday at Laurel Park. The 11-race program devoted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions will offer a collective $1.05 million in purses.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 13:05

Laurel Park: Eighttofasttocatch targets repeat in Maryland Million Classic

Barbara D. Livingston
Eighttofasttocatch, with trainer Tim Keefe up, will be seeking a repeat victory in the Maryland Million Classic.

Eighttofasttocatch was hammered down to 4-5 favoritism when he scored in last fall’s Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park. He shouldn’t be anywhere near that price when he defends his title against five rivals in the $150,000 feature during the 27th Jim McKay Maryland Million, an 11-race card devoted to the offspring of Marland-based stallions.

Although he is winless since March and his three most recent races were lackluster efforts, Eighttofasttocatch may not be as vulnerable as he appears at first glance in the 1 1/8-mile Classic.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 12:59

Keeneland: Wise Dan brings exceptional speed and talent to Shadwell Turf Mile

Michael Burns
Wise Dan enters the Shadwell Turf Mile with a string of five triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The accolade “freak” is overused in racing, as any first-time starter winning by open lengths might be labeled as such.

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 12:45

Keeneland: Woodford has tough bunch assembled

Lynn Roberts/Hodges Photography
Chamberlain Bridge (right) wins the Bonapaw Stakes.

Though Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford is a rare Keeneland stakes race not designated as a Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup prep, it doesn’t show in the quality of horses entered in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race.

Five of the seven entries are stakes winners, led by Chamberlain Bridge, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, and Bridgetown, a multiple stakes winner who ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2009.

[KEENELAND: Get PPs, watch Saturday's full card live]

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 12:27

Keeneland Babies for Oct. 5, 2012

Welcome to Keeneland Babies!  I'll break down the statistics for every juvenile maiden contest at the meet.  In past years, I would list the stats for each horse before writing up my analysis, selections and wagering strategy. In order to streamline the content, this year's Keeneland Babies will showcase written analyses of each juvenile maiden race.  Each analysis will include relevant statistical information.  Following the analysis, top three selections and wagering strategy will be provided.  Selections and wagering strategy will be presented for non-maiden races.