Team Valor International could have two runners in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, if the well-known partnership decides to supplement the promising import Lucky Chappy to the Grade 1 race.
In his North American debut last Sunday in the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland, Lucky Chappy got away slowly and then lagged behind the field before closing strongly for third.
The bronchial dilator clenbuterol will be banned for use in Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos effective Friday, following a rash of positives earlier this year.
The decision to ban the medication was announced by the California Horse Racing Board during the summer. Rick Arthur, the racing board’s equine medical director, said there have been eight positives this year for an illegal form of clenbuterol believed to be imported from Mexico. That clenbuterol differs from the type approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in horses, which now will also be banned in California.
My Miss Aurelia’s smashing victory in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park on Oct. 8 catapulted the undefeated filly into the favorite’s role for a Breeders’ Cup race that runs true to form – favorites have won the Juvenile Fillies eight of the last nine years.
The total all-sources live handle of $16,626,450 at the 81-day 2011 Northlands Park meet that concluded Monday was down by 10.8 percent from the 2010 total, with three fewer racing days contributing to the drop from the $18,652,950 that was bet over 84 days last year.
The daily average of $205,264 was down by 7.5 percent compared with the $222,058 average in 2010. The ontrack total was $7,075,028, a 9 percent drop from last year’s total of $7,776,219. The daily ontrack average of $87,336 was off by 5.6 percent.
Although Havre de Grace is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic against males on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, her trainer, Larry Jones, said she most likely also will be entered in the Ladies’ Classic, to be run Nov. 4.
Jones, speaking at Keeneland after his arrival here Sunday, reiterated that the Classic is the preferred target for Havre de Grace for both he and owner Rick Porter. The decision to enter the Ladies’ Classic could not even be described as Plan B. It’s more like Plan Z. But Jones is keeping the option open, just in case.
Even though the Alcibiades at Keeneland was meant as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, last week’s race ended up producing at least two potential starters for the Grade 2, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A solid group of $40,000 claimers will square off in Friday’s sixth race at Woodbine, and Congor Bay should be favored in the six-furlong Polytrack sprint.
Congor Bay captured the 2009 San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita when trainer Mark Casse had a string there that winter. Casse lost him for $25,000 last April 16, when he was claimed by owner-trainer Steve Asmussen.
Al Stall Jr. says he is 50/50 on whether to run Cease in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
“Five hundred thousand is $500,000,” Stall said. “It’s either that, or give him a good breather for next year, when we’d be looking at $500,000-type races with him. I’ll train him the next two weeks and see how he does.”
Trainer Mike Puype reports from Southern California that Turbulent Descent, the solid favorite for the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint, continues to thrive in her breezes. Puype planned to work the 3-year-old filly again Thursday at Hollywood Park and maintain a schedule of every six days before departing for Kentucky.
Meanwhile, another 3-year-old, Strike the Moon, is more likely to go in the Oct. 22 Raven Run at Keeneland instead of the Filly and Mare Sprint, trainer Michael Trombetta said. A Saturday work on the Keeneland Polytrack will determine her status.
Churchill Downs has submitted a 2012 racing dates application that does not include the 4th of July holiday, which falls next year on a Wednesday.
The dates application, along with those of other racetracks in Kentucky, was approved on Tuesday by the racing dates committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The full commission is set to vote on the calendar on Oct. 24.
