Mon, 10/31/2022 - 16:21

Breeders' Cup: Saturday's nine BC races drawn; Flightline to start from post 4 in Classic

Barbara Livingston
Flightline has been installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Flightline drew post 4 and was installed as the 3-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight entered Monday for Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Flightline, to be ridden by Flavien Prat, drew outside of Life Is Good, who drew post 2 and was made the 6-1 third choice on the line of Nick Tammaro, who makes the morning line for Keeneland. Tammaro made Epicenter, the Travers winner, the 5-1 second choice. Epicenter drew post 6.

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 14:58

Breeders' Cup: Euros won't hit the track until Tuesday

Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Mishriff wins the Sheema Classic earlier this year at Meydan in Dubai.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 34 horses that shipped Saturday to Kentucky from England, France, and Ireland didn’t clear the United States Department of Agriculture quarantine in time to train Monday but are expected to take to the track Tuesday morning.  

Most of the action is expected to take place on Keeneland’s synthetic training track, which is located just down a hill from the clubhouse turn on the main track and just up the hill from the international quarantine barn on the west side of the group of barns being used this week to house Breeders’ Cup runners.  

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 13:50

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Wet track can't stop Asmussen or Catalano

Barbara Livingston
Steve Asmussen pushed back scheduled breezes two hours due to the wet track. Jackie’s Warrior went an easy three furlongs in 37.65.

KEENELAND
Monday, Oct. 31
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 62
Track: Muddy/good

LEXINGTON, KY. – The weather and the racetrack were a major part of the story Monday at Keeneland with Sunday rain leaving the main track muddy and sealed when opening for business at 6 a.m. before being back-raked and upgraded to good following the one and only renovation break.

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 12:56

Breeders' Cup Classic: Reed yet to come down from Derby high

Barbara D. Livingston
Rich Strike’s Kentucky Derby win is in stark contrast to some of the misfortune trainer Eric Reed has experienced.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Billy Donovan famously said that winning back-to-back NCAA basketball championships didn’t change his life one little bit. In fact, after coaching the University of Florida to those 2006-07 titles, “I was depressed,” he told Business Insider years later.

Eric Reed has yet to experience that paradox – and doesn’t think he ever will.

“I’m taking this feeling with me to the grave,” he said.

Indeed, six months after winning the 148th Kentucky Derby with 80-1 shot Rich Strike, Reed, 58, is still flying on a proverbial cloud.

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 12:06

Jack Christopher not entered for Breeders' Cup Sprint

Debra A. Roma
Jack Christopher works Saturday at Keeneland. Fearing a vet scratch, his connections decided against entering the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three-time Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher was not entered Monday for Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland owing to concerns from his connections that the horse would be scratched before race day by Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians based on how the horse moves in his training, according to trainer Chad Brown.

Mon, 10/31/2022 - 10:38

Letruska won't enter Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

Coady Photography
One of the meet highlights was Letruska’s Apple Blossom win.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Letruska, the 2021 Eclipse champion older female, was not entered Monday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and will be given some time off while her connections decide on her future, trainer Fausto Gutierrez said Monday.

“She needs a break after the last race,” Gutierrez said. “She probably needs to be a broodmare, but we’ll give it some time to think about it.”

Sun, 10/30/2022 - 19:03

Cabo Spirit tunes up for Hollywood Derby with Twilight Derby triumph

Benoit photo
Rhea Moon returned $14.60 in winning the Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Cabo Spirit won for the first time at 1 1/8 miles in his fourth attempt at the distance in Saturday’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf at Santa Anita.

The gelding, a three-time stakes winner, is scheduled to race at 1 1/8 miles on turf in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a $400,000 race at Del Mar on Dec. 3.

In 2023, trainer George Papaprodromou wants to test Cabo Spirit’s stamina on turf.

“I think he can run farther,” Papaprodromou said on Sunday.

Sun, 10/30/2022 - 13:33

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Only four potential starters work; three from Asmussen

Barbara D. Livingston
Breeders' Cup Classic contender Epicenter did a half-mile in 51.29 seconds at Keeneland on Sunday morning.

KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy 
Track: Fast 
Temp: 55

LEXINGTON, Ky. - After having more than 60 Breeders’ Cup contenders work at Keeneland over the past two mornings, the clocker’s tab was a light one, as expected, here Sunday. Only four potential Breeders’ Cup starters breezed during the morning, with three from the potent barn of trainer Steve Asmussen, who brings a strong hand to the table for the big event next weekend.

Sat, 10/29/2022 - 16:50

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Flightline, Life Is Good lead super work session

Barbara D. Livingston
Hot Rod Charlie breezed five furlongs at Keeneland on Saturday under Tyler Gaffalione.

KEENELAND
Weather: Clear 
Temp: 57  
Track: Fast 
Turf: Good

Fri, 10/28/2022 - 14:26

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Two-year-olds steal spotlight one week out

Barbara Livingston
Frizette winner Chocolate Gelato (right) and My Dear Girl winner Atomically work for Todd Pletcher on Friday morning at Keeneland. Both are being pointed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast
Turf: Good

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two year olds dominated Friday’s Breeders’ Cup work tab at Keeneland with their respective races now just a week away. The group was led by leading Juvenile Fillies contender WONDER WHEEL and a quartet of trainer Todd Pletcher juveniles breezing in sets immediately after both the first and second renovation breaks.