All-sources wagering was a record $160.2 million at the 17-day Keeneland fall meet that ended Saturday, according to figures released by officials at the Lexington, Ky., track.
The new mark exceeds the previous track record of $158.6 million set at the 2013 spring meet. The record number was up 11 percent over the 2018 fall meet, when $144.3 million was bet, also on 17 dates.
There’s as much shuffling this weekend in the Breeders’ Cup Mile as in a Las Vegas card room.
Four horses among the 14 top pre-entries aren’t expected to participate in the race, opening the door for a quartet not originally selected to participate to get into the $2 million race.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by Higher Power and Seeking the Soul, both of whom were prepping for the Classic, 16 horses who are scheduled to compete in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita next Friday and Saturday turned in their final works here on spectacularly clear Saturday morning.
CYPRESS, Calif. – The multiple stakes winners Danuska’s My Girl and Vasilika had their final workouts for Breeders’ Cup races at Los Alamitos early Saturday.
Danuska’s My Girl, who will start in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on Saturday, worked three furlongs in 35 seconds from the gate in a solo workout.
Vasilika, a leading contender in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds, also on her own.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Bricks and Mortar will make his next start, the final start of his career, in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita next Saturday, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Saturday morning.
Breeders’ Cup Mile pre-entrant Line of Duty, who won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, was seriously injured and subsequently euthanized Saturday morning in England.
Godolphin, the colt’s owner, reported the news on its website while providing no details regarding how Line of Duty got hurt or the specific nature of his injury. Line of Duty, trained by Charlie Appleby, was a plucky son of Galileo who competed hard in every race, though he had been winless since the BC Juvenile Turf last November.
The field for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita lost two potential starters Friday when Alms and Precious Moments were declared from consideration.
Alms, undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Matron Stakes on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park, was found to have a fever on Friday morning, according to trainer Michael Stidham. Alms has been stabled in Maryland with Stidham.
“She had a 103 temperature,” Stidham said. “She won’t travel.”
Trainer Ron Moquett said a final decision has yet to be made on the starting status of Whitmore in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Whitmore, who has competed in each of the last two renewals of the Sprint, worked four furlongs in an easy 49.80 seconds on Friday at Churchill Downs.
