Sun, 11/07/2010 - 09:51

Caleb's Posse solidifies status as favorite for Springboard Mile

Caleb’s Posse established himself as the early favorite for next month’s $250,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds at Remington Park when he pulled away to a 5 1/2-length win over Grant Jack in the $100,000 Clever Trevor on Saturday. It was another 4 ¾ lengths back in third to Chipshot.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 22:12

Live Breeders' Cup analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Zenyatta and Mike Smith (left) come up just short against Blame and Garrett Gomez.

Final thoughts: Crist: "That was a terrific horse race. Blame was courageous in victory and Zenyatta was excellent in defeat. Blame earned the Horse of the Year title on the track, but Zenyatta lost nothing but her undefeated record. Between the Classic finish, Goldikova's victory and Uncle Mo's emergence as the sport's newest star, this was quite a Breeders' Cup." Read More >>

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 21:40

Breeders' Cup betting handle up 13 percent

Total commingled handle on the Friday and Saturday cards at Churchill Downs featuring the 14 races of the Breeders’ Cup increased 13 percent at a time when betting levels are dropping precipitously at many tracks across the country, according to figures provided by the Breeders’ Cup late on Saturday.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 20:30

Comma to the Top runs off with Real Quiet

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The former maiden claimer Comma to the Top won his first stakes in Saturday’s $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park, the gelding’s first start beyond seven furlongs.

Ridden aggressively by jockey Corey Nakatani, Comma to the Top ($10.20) led throughout the Real Quiet over 1 1/16 miles, setting a quick early pace and drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:43.56.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 20:07

Smith feels the pain of Zenyatta's loss

Alysse Jacobs
"It hurts more than I can explain just because it was my fault," said Smith. "She should have won."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mike Smith jumped off Zenyatta following Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, dirt in his face, tears in his eyes. He was used to the former. He had never experienced the latter.

After getting accolades for more than two years for his rides aboard Zenyatta - through 16 of the mare’s 19 straight victories including two Breeders’ Cup triumphs - Smith blamed himself for that streak coming to an end by a head to Blame in Saturday’s $5 million Classic at Churchill Downs.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 19:17

Blame denies Zenyatta in Breeders' Cup Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There is no joy in Louisville. Mighty Zenyatta got beat in her last at bat.

The storybook finish did not include a photo. Zenyatta, seeking her 20th victory without a defeat, came up just short of catching Blame in a dramatic running of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs, falling short by a head after closing furiously from far back.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 18:37

Dangerous Midge upsets in Breeders' Cup Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Dangerous Midge, with Frankie Dettori up, takes the lead en route to victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dangerous Midge had at the top of his résumé one lonely Group 3 win as he came to Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup Turf. But his trainer, Brian Meehan, had long considered the 4-year-old top-class material, and Dangerous Midge rewarded Meehan's confidence with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf.

Meehan knew what it would take to win: He trained Red Rocks to victory the last time the BC Turf was held at Churchill Downs, in 2006.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 18:09

Full Moon Blues upsets Tempted

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Full Moon Blues scores a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Longshot stakes winners weren’t restricted to the Breeders’ Cup as Full Moon Blues ($25) showed by leading all the way in the Grade 3, $100,000 Tempted Stakes, the first of three stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 17:57

Goldikova takes third BC Mile in a row

Barbara D. Livingston
Goldikova, with Olivier Peslier up, wins the Breeders' Cup Mile for the third year in a row.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Christophe Clement had just lost the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Gio Ponti had finished second in the Classic in 2009, and now he had been second-best in the 2010 Mile. But Christophe Clement was smiling. Everyone at Churchill Downs seemed to be smiling. Smiles, goosebumps – the products of a Goldikova masterpiece.

“She’s a freak,” Clement said. “She’s the best miler we’ve seen in a long, long time.”

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 17:52

Dakota Phone up at wire in Dirt Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Dakota Phone (left) gets by Morning Line at the wire to win the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Any lingering disappointment trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may have felt after Blind Luck lost Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic was eradicated when his longshot Dakota Phone powered down the center of the Churchill Downs stretch to run down Morning Line and win the $1 million Dirt Mile by a head.

“Our horse yesterday gave her best, and she didn’t just quite get there,” said Hollendorfer, referring to Blind Luck. “We were happy to win this though to make up for it a little bit.”