Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which had been expected to be oversubscribed, came up just short of a full field when 13 horses were entered Tuesday, led by 9-2 morning-line favorite Master of Hounds.
Major Gain, the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner, was not entered after he ran a temperature Tuesday morning, said trainer Wayne Catalano.
The biggest surprise at the post position draw for this year’s Breeders’ Cup races came when Morning Line was entered in the $1 million Dirt Mile as opposed to the $5 million Classic.
The second-biggest surprise came when Mike Battaglia installed him as the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the race, which drew a field of 13. The 3-year-old Morning Line, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, drew post 10.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – She won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Mile from post 11, and Goldikova will be asked to overcome another wide draw, post 10, in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
With regular rider Olivier Peslier named, Goldikova was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite to succeed in a quest for an unprecedented third Breeders’ Cup victory. Goldikova was one of four European invaders entered in the Mile, along with Paco Boy, Delegator, and Beethoven.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Workforce drew post 6 and was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. The question for coming days is whether Workforce will actually contest the race or scratch and go home.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Everyday horseplayers in North America have become accustomed to lower wagering increments, but at major events such as the Kentucky Derby and Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup, some of those bets have not been available.
That will all change this weekend. Ten-cent superfectas, along with 50-cent trifectas, pick threes, and pick fours, will be sold on the Friday and Saturday Breeders’ Cup cards at Churchill Downs and at all participating wagering outlets.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Perhaps before the end of the year, and maybe in the next month, trainer Vladimir Cerin will record the 1,000th win of his career.
Through Tuesday, Cerin had 995 wins, a figure boosted by one last Sunday when Briecat pulled an upset in the Grade 2 Las Palmas Handicap for fillies and mares over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tell a Kelly disappointed those handicappers who made her the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf at Hollywood Park five weeks ago. Those willing to forgive her loss to Rigoletta in that race could make their money back and then some when she runs back in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Don’t go too far.
The conclusion of the five-week Oak Tree at Hollywood Park meeting on Sunday represented only the first half of the racing calendar at Hollywood Park this fall. The track opens its traditional autumn meeting on Thursday evening, with an eight-race program.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – School Girl gets some class relief in Thursday’s fifth race at Woodbine, and should be well backed in the $50,000 claimer for fillies and mares.
School Girl earned black type last November, when she wound up second in the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes at Turfway. After spending part of last winter at the Fair Grounds, she went to Keeneland, where she finished second for $32,000, in a sprint from which she was claimed by owner-trainer Steve Asmussen.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse will be at Churchill Downs on Friday, sending out Delightful Mary for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and will stay on to observe the festivities there on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Casse’s son and assistant, Norman, will be looking to keep the home fires burning on Saturday, with Tasty Temptation set to go postward in the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf Stakes for fillies and mares.
Tasty Temptation has not run since late August.
