Breeders' Cup Distaff

Dunbar Road (Quality Road) lays over a field of eight entered for Saturday's GII Delaware H. Last term's GI Alabama S. and GII Mother Goose S. heroine followed a third-place finish behind Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. with her lone career off-the-board finish, reporting home fifth behind that foe in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. Trained by Chad Brown, the Peter Brant colorbearer got right back on track with a visually impressive, come-from-behind victory while making her 4-year-old debut in the...

Champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) will face four overmatched rivals in her return to graded competition in Saturday's GII Ruffian S. at Belmont Park. After missing her entire 4-year-old season due to several different setbacks, the Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables colorbearer made her first start since capturing the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff a winning one, annexing an optional claimer in impressive fashion in the Churchill Downs slop May 16. Monomoy Girl, winner of the 2018 GI Kentucky Oaks, is a perfect three-for-three at the...

Headlined by three automatic qualifiers for the $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and three "Win and You're In" starting positions at York's Ebor Festival in Britain, the Breeders' Cup announced its August schedule of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races Wednesday. There will be 16 Breeders' Cup Challenge races in August, beginning Aug. 1 with two races at Saratoga Race Course and one at Del Mar. Saratoga will host the GI Whitney S., which will give the winner an automatic berth into Classic, as well as the GI Personal Ensign...

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley There was no word Sunday from the camp of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) regarding where their mare would run next and what the long-term goals are for the season. But we know this much: Midnight Bisou is outstanding, her connections took on males once, in the Saudi Cup, and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic is a lot bigger deal than the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Does that add up to her starting in the Classic? Fans of this sport can only hope that...

After finishing a valiant second to fellow champion Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29, Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) makes her first start back on U.S. soil in Saturday's GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs, a "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The dark bay dominated the distaff division last season, winning seven straight graded races, including the GI Apple Blossom H., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign S. The Eclipse winner suffered her only loss...

Four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) delivered a filly by War Front Wednesday night at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. "Beholder foaled a very nice War Front filly last night on the farm," confirmed Ned Toffey, General Manager at Spendthrift. "This filly is a good-sized, well-made foal, with a great shoulder and plenty of bone. She couldn't be doing any better. The delivery was very smooth and uneventful. It was another beautiful effort by Beholder." The dark bay filly was born at approximately 8:30 p.m. and "stood up within 20 minutes" according...

The comeback of Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) will enter a new phase next week when the Eclipse Award-winning mare returns to the racetrack. Trainer Brad Cox said Monomoy Girl will be sent shortly to his stable at the Fair Grounds on or about Jan. 15. Her appearance at the Fair Grounds will mark a major step forward for a horse that has not raced since winning the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 3, 2018. The connections had planned on running her in 2019, but a couple of relatively small problems...