Just five weeks from now until the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland on November 4 and 5, and many of the biggest names in horse racing will take part in their final prep races over the next few weekends. . More than 40 graded stakes, the majority of which have championship implications over the weekend, are set to take place from sea to sea, including 21 ‘Win and You’re In’ events. offers the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to Bluegrass.
Santa Anita passed one of four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on Saturday, the GI Awesome Again S., a race used by the future champion Urge (Look at luck) as a springboard to the success of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic back in 2018. Bob Baffert offers half of the eight starters as he seeks eight extensions and a third in a row. Fee is led by Country Grammer (Tonalist), whose two most important wins so far are more than 10 trophies – the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita and the G1 Dubai World Cup – but he proved effective enough on this 1/8 trip, with 2 -2-0 from four starts. The 5-year-old, an 11-time millionaire thanks to two big performances in the desert this winter, looks set to recover from his runner-up efforts behind opposition. Royal Ship (Brz) (Boatman) at GII San Diego H. July 30 and when ending in area code 213 behind ‘Rising star TDN’ Flight route (Tapit) in GI TVG Pacific Classic September 3.
Meanwhile, in the East Sea – where the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Ian is expected late Friday-‘Rising Star’ Life is good (Into Mischief) spin for his Breeders’ Cup entry as the favorite in the five-man field for GI Woodward S.
Fourth place ahead of Country Grammer after failing to see 10 ‘hard’ coats of the G1 Dubai World Cup, the 4-year-old hasn’t stood out since, with big wins in the GII John A. Nerud S.– talking about Breeders’ Cup – and last time GI Whitney S. in Saratoga.
“He is an incredibly talented horse,” says trainer Todd Pletcher, whose Woodward Award winners include Attorney Ron, Quality Sugar and GI Breeders ‘Cup Dirt Mile Wins Map of Liam. “We just always hope that everything goes according to plan. That never surprised me, but what was remarkable was how consistent he was every day he was there. Every breeze is impressive and that’s just what we expect from him. “
The third installment of the Classic preps takes place at Churchill Downs, where the most competitive in the three fields leads in GII Lukas Classic S. A high score of 8-5 on the morning line is hard to beat. Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), but he’ll be worked on it by last year’s Woodward winner and the recent GII Charles Town Classic repeater Art collector (Bernardini), GI Met Mile and Whitney runner-up Happy Saver (Super Savings) and Rich Strike (Keen Ice), who will become the first GI Kentucky Derby winner to succeed under the Twin Spiers since Silver Charm won GII Clark H. 1998 a year after wearing the rose.
Lukas Classic was added to NBC’s coverage of Saturday’s premise.
Dirt Mile Berth Up for Grabs In Ack Ack…
Godolphin’s Speaker corner (Street Sense) has a track and is an even-money favorite for the one-mile-long GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs, with a ride to the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile awaiting the winner.
In the first four months of this year, this thoroughbred looks like it could develop into one of the top horses in training, coming through three races with a 4 1/2-way finish. beautifully long in GI Carter H. at the Aqueduct in April, good for 114 Beyer. It’s been anything but simple sailing ever since. Best supported in the match against Flightline at GI Hill ‘n’ Dale Met Mile on June 11, he faded into third place after setting early pace and also had the misfortune to face Life Is Good in the Nerud, finished as distant runner-up. With Cody’s wish (Curlin) represented Godolphin in the GI Forego S. in Saratoga on the same afternoon, Speaker’s Corner was moved to Del Mar for GII Pat O’Brien S. on August 27 and was never likely, relegated. down to fourth place behind Laurel River (Naughty City).
By Juddmonte Handsome (Into Mischief), this year’s GIII Oaklawn Mile winner with a two-time configuration and GIII Matt Winn S. winner of this track last year, and relegated. Not processed yet (Nyquist) – perfect for three attempts at a mile, albeit against the lighter side – can make life difficult on the beloved railroad.
Teenagers share the spotlight at BAQ…
The Belmont meet at Big A serves as the host for other ‘Win and You’re In’ tests in the afternoon – GI Champagne S. for 2-year-olds single-track and GII Miss Grillo S. for juveniles.
Despite his relative inexperience, Verification in progress (Evenly) will take a lot of time when entering a joint stock company for the first time. September Keeneland purchase of $775,000, half-brother to Midnight Bisou champion May (Midnight Lute) ran to 3-4 in the opening match of Travers Day at Saratoga, scored by extending 1 3/4 in length, and looks to have trained since debut.
Coach Brad Cox is yet to decide on a Champagne winner and believes his charge will stand out in Saturday’s run.
“I’d like to get closer, but he’s not necessarily in the lead,” Cox said. “He has enough natural speed to go a mile that he will blend in. He is a beautiful horse. Based on his pedigree and looks, I think he would prefer the pitch.”
Couple ‘TDN’s Rising Stars’ to make their presence well known. Gulfport (Uncle Mo), its male won Champagne in 2010 en route to winning the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Eclipse Awards, crossed over a dozen lengths in the July 4 Bashford Manor S. and has since returned runner-up in GII Saratoga Special S. and GI Hopeful S. New York-hybrid Andiamo a Firenze (Sightstown). with a smooth success in Funny Cide S. August 26 in the same steamy foot conditions he might encounter on Saturday.
‘Rising Star’ Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) looks set to remain perfect in three starts at Miss Grillo, a race that is likely to test the field’s collective ability to handle a bit of a cut in the ground depending on the heart. Ian’s status.
“She’s the perfect fit for the position,” said coach Horacio De Paz. “She won twice and covered the long distance, so distance is not an issue. Hopefully the weather gets along well and we don’t get a lot of rain, but even if we do, she’s a turf horse with a bit of dedication. Everything is very positive for her. She overcomes everything.”
School six also includes Free look (Tapit), the third scene at the end of Be Your Best on July 31 premiered ahead of peak scores on September 4. Charming Angel (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) won the Saratoga sprint debut for the always-dangerous Jorge Abreu Cage on August 4 and suffered a crushing defeat in the Untapable S. September 13 match in Kentucky Downs.
‘Kingdom’ is back at SA Sprint Championship…
In 2019, Hall of Fame coach Richard Mandella brought Omaha Beach (War front) pushed back his layoff in April and a missed opportunity in the Kentucky GI Derby to score an impressive goal in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship S., then the I. Conditional looked for a second lightning strike. times on Saturdays when you’re so talented Forbidden Kingdom (American pharoah) got him back into action much expected.
With a $300,000 purchase from Fasig-Tipton’s Selected 2020 Showcase, the chestnut son of the talented Just Louise (Five Star Day) hooked up GII San Vicente S. on January 29 of the track this and proved he could handle two rounds with a massive win in GII San Felipe S. March 5. ‘Rising Star’ Taiba (Gunman) and has not been seen since.
“Richard is a great caretaker and he has given him so much time and let him get back to the horse we know he is,” Spendthrift’s Ned Toffey to TDN’s Steve Sherack recently for the APB series. “We know him fast. We know he’s talented. It’s just been a nasty year. “
Forbidden Kingdom faces a school that includes Missile CZ (City Zip), who won this race in 2020 and finished third when defending his title last year; and progress Kid Corleone (Shackleford), who first tried the rated company.
Elsewhere on Saturday…
The final two stages of the Florida Stallion Stakes – In Reality S. and My Dear Girl S. are set for Gulfstream Park; a 5-stake program at Laurel Park that includes Selima S. and Laurel Futurity for 2-year-olds; and Tyler tribe (Sharp Azteca) tries to make it through five fifths before a Breeders’ Cup appearance can be made in Iowa Cradle S. at Prairie Meadows.
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