LOUISVILLE, Ky. – From stumbling at the start to avoiding a fallen horse into the first turn, little seemed to be going right for Pluck early in Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Until Pluck got into stride on the final turn, that is. Then his ability offset his poor fortune, and he closed from last to win going away.
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF (G2)
1- Pluck
2- Soldat
3- Willcox Inn
Pluck rallies from last in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Beginning with Friday’s opening-day card at Aqueduct, horseplayers in Connecticut were able to wager on the races from New York Racing Association tracks at Foxwoods Resort Casino as a result of a new marketing deal between the two companies.
Previously, the Mohegan Sun Casino, approximately 10 miles away from Foxwoods, had exclusive rights to NYRA’s signal. NYRA is currently negotiating a new deal with Mohegan Sun.
“Foxwoods had never before had our signal,” said NYRA’s president and CEO, Charles Hayward. “We weren’t going to give [Mohegan Sun] an exclusive anymore.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Stewards met with jockeys Javier Castellano and Calvin Borel late Saturday morning for their parts in a roughly-contested Breeders’ Cup Marathon on Friday at Churchill Downs, and a fight that ensued between the two jockeys in the winner’s circle after the race.
An official ruling on at least the running of the Marathon will be publicly released on Sunday, with Castellano likely to face repercussions for his Marathon ride on Prince Will I Am, who was disqualified from second and placed 10th for causing interference on the final turn.
Superior Storm became a millionaire at Delta Downs on Friday night, when she held off Harlie’s Dream by a neck to win the $100,000 Magnolia in her first start since July.
The race was one of two stakes on the program at the Vinton, La., track. In the co-feature, the $100,000 Gold Cup, 1-2 favorite Star Guitar was also bidding to become a millionaire. But he fell short of the milestone when he finished fourth to dominant winner Snug. The races Friday were restricted to Louisiana-breds, and will produce starters for the Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds on Dec. 11.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When no rain fell at Churchill Downs this week – same as it’s been all fall here – the chance to see Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf evaporated. Many had speculated that the weeklong suggestions from the Workforce camp that the horse could be scratched were a ploy, but mid-morning Saturday the horse was declared out of the BC Turf by trainer Michael Stoute.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Longshot Typhoon Slew was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Saturday morning.
As of 9:45 a.m., Crown of Thorns was the only other horse scratched from one of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races, having been withdrawn from the Dirt Mile.
Trainer Mike Maker said Typhoon Slew trained well earlier in the day but was showing signs of lameness a couple hours later. He did not specify the nature of the injury.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Zenyatta is the heavy favorite in advance wagering and in will-pays for the two-day daily double wager combining the winners of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Friday and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
In advance betting for the Classic, and with $138,680 in the win pool, Zenyatta was 3-5, followed by Lookin At Lucky (9-2), Blame (8-1), and Quality Road (12-1).
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Unrivaled Belle, returning to the scene of her biggest victory this year, won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Friday night at Churchill Downs.
Unrivaled Belle ($17) held off Blind Luck, the Kentucky Oaks winner and 3-2 favorite, to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Blind Luck finished one length in front of third-place Havre de Grace. Unrivaled Belle sat fifth during the early going, then surged to the lead three furlongs from the wire.
