Keeneland hosts two days of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Win and You’re in live covered horse racing this weekend, headlines are Saturday’s $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1T) and $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Sunday, at 5 p.m. ET both days on CNBC. Keeneland will also be the host of the 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championship on November 4-5 presented on NBC Sports.
The Saturday and Sunday coverage on CNBC marks the final two shows in the “Series Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In – presented by American Best Racing” on NBC, Peacock and CNBC from several avenues. North America’s most iconic racing. The full TV series schedule can be accessed here, and the NBC Sports program schedule can be found here.
NBC Sports will be hosted by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, disabled Matt Bernier, and reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck.
Godolphin’s 4-year-old Santin leads a 12-horse school with 4 horses also featured in the Coolmore Turf Mile, giving the winner a free stop in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) worth 2 millions of dollars. Coached by Brendan Walsh, Santin has won two Tier 1 stakes this year, attending the Old Forester Turf Classic in May at Churchill Downs and after finishing sixth in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June, returned to win the Arlington Million at Churchill on August 13. Tyler Gaffalione has a mount, coming up from 7th. The Casa Creed coached by Bill Mott received invitation to participate in two World Championship races this year. Owned by LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC, Casa Creed got a free berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) when he caught the 6-Furlong Jaipur Stakes ( G1) at Belmont Park in June and then won the Fourstardave 1-mile Handicap (G1) in Saratoga on August 13 and earned an automatic starting spot in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile. Casa Creed will be played by Luis Saez from track nine.
From California, 5-year-old Cannon Thoroughbreds’ Smooth Like Strait led the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile last year in Del Mar until a lengthy final before being overtaken by Modern Games (IRE) and finishing in second place. after half way. Coached by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait came in second behind Santin in Arlington Million. John Velazquez rides Smooth Like Straight from the second post.
Returning from Ireland with his greatest win being the Order of Australia (IRE) trained by Aidan O’Brien, who was off the roster also qualified ahead of FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in 2020 at Keeneland and won it by one neck at a rate of 73-1. Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Anne-Marie O’Brien, the Order of Australia captured this year’s Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in Ireland on July 17. Christophe Soumillon has mounts, break from card three.
A race against the Coolmore Turf Mile, A Win and You’re In berth in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) will win $600,000 Keeneland Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for Children 2 years old. A full pitch of 14 plus two highly rated players was included, leading 3-1 tomorrow morning favorites Forte. Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte won a Share of Hope (G1) in Saratoga on September 5, beating the house in the mud for a 3-way win at the hands of Irad Ortiz Jr., who kept the mount, breaking cards post seven.
Two-time Eclipse Award-winning coach Brad Cox won the Breeders ‘Futurity and TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2020 with Quality Necessary, one of five horses to catch both races. On Saturday, Cox sent the impressive first winner Loggins to Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing and Winners Win . On September 17 at Churchill Downs, Loggins won the special maiden weight of 6 ½ feathers by extending 8 ½ in length. Florent Geroux has the mount, breaking from the second post.
Sunday’s $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster for the mares at 1 1/8 mile, giving the winner a free start in the valuable Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) 2 million dollars. St. George Stable’s Letruska won the Spinster last year before a disappointing 10th place finish in the Distaff at Del Mar. However, she had a great season with six wins, four of which were 1st place points, lifting her to the older Dusty Eclipse Female Award. Coached by Fausto Gutierrez, 6-year-old Letruska has two wins in four starts this year, including the Apple Blossom Level 1 in April at Oaklawn Park. Letruska will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from Lesson 3.
Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat, coached by Todd Pletcher, won last year’s Ashland Central Banks at Keeneland (G1), Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1) to take her to the 3 championship age. This year, the daughter of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, Curlin won the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at the Keeneland Spring Meeting, and most recently 1st Personal Ensign Stakes in Saratoga on August 27. John Velazquez will ride the Malathaat, breaking from post one.
Bourbon (G2) stake worth $350,000, for 2-year-olds on the pitch, ahead of the Wheel. The winner receives an invitation to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup (G1) Junior Field. Areas 12 and four are also progenitors led by Breeze Easy and John Oxley’s Boppy O.
Coached by Mark Casse, Boppy O started twice in mud races before making his grass debut at With Anticipation Stakes (G3) in Saratoga on August 31, winning it with a score. 23-1. Bolt d’Oro’s Florida hybrid will be ridden by Dylan Davis from post Friday.
Reckoning Force, owned by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel and Magnolia Racing Syndicate, and coached by Brendan Walsh, broke his maiden streak in the fourth start, winning the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes were listing on September 14. Joel Rosario will ride, breaking post three. The Steve Asmussen-trained Gigante is also a winner. Owned by Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing, Gigante has 6 ¾ wins at the Colonial Downs of the Black Breeding Coalition. Vincent Cheminaud mounted Gigante, starting with lesson nine.
As part of the benefits, Breeders’ Cup will pay entry fees to all Challenge Series winners to start in the World Championship. Breeders’ Cup will also provide $10,000 in travel allowance to all starters based outside of Kentucky to compete in the World Championships.
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