Breeders' Cup
Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who was a close second in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when last seen, is in good order ahead of the 2021 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Trainer Dermot Weld is pleased with High Highness The Aga Khan's homebred's preparation and she leaves for California on Oct. 29 in a bid to defend her Turf title. "The Arc took a fair bit out of her, but she's an amazing animal with a wonderful constitution and huge determination,"...
Bob Neumeier, whose career as a sportscaster included a long stint with NBC's horse racing team, died Saturday. He was 70. In 2014, Neumeier, known as "Neumy," suffered a stroke and had battled health ailments ever since. Boston radio host Tony Massarotti reported that Neumeier died from heart disease/congestive heart failure. A graduate of Syracuse University, Neumeier broke into broadcasting 1975 as the radio play-by-play man for the Hartford Whalers. In 1981, he was hired by WBZ-TV in Boston, where his duties included working as the weekend sports anchor. He...
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown worked multiple Breeders' Cup contenders on a crisp and overcast Saturday morning at Belmont Park. Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Champagne S. winner Jack Christopher (Munnings) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.85 (4/18) in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The move was completed in company with GI Frizette S. runner-up Gerrymander (Into Mischief), who is possible for the one-mile $150,000 Tempted S. Nov. 5 at Belmont. "He's trained brilliant since day one and he continues to do...
Several Breeders' Cup-bound horses breezed in New York Friday at both Belmont and Saratoga in preparation for the World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. A few of those hailed from the Todd Pletcher barn, including GII Vosburgh S. hero Following Sea (Runhappy), who covered a half-mile in :49.73 on the Belmont training track. "I liked it," Pletcher said of the breeze. "It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren't looking to do a whole...
Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who upset Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille in September but bypassed the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on account of the ground, will be cross-entered in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the GI Turf at Del Mar, said trainer Roger Varian. "It's always been the plan to take Teona to the Breeders' Cup since we defected from the Arc," the trainer said. "She'll be entered in the Fillies and Mares, but she'll also have...
Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), the globetrotting winner of this year's G1 Juddmonte International, G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Saudi Cup, will put a pause on his travels and miss the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Trainer John Gosden told Daily Racing Form that the world's joint highest-rated horse needed "a little bit of a rest" after finishing fourth in last weekend's G1 Champion S. at Ascot. "You need to be 100% happy that you're doing the right thing," Gosden told that publication. "He's been a pretty busy boy." The...
One day after Coolmore released its star-studded Ashford Stud stallion roster and fees for the 2022 breeding season, Coolmore's nomination sales head Adrian Wallace joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Wallace talked about his upbringing in the Irish racing and breeding world, the surging Munnings and Caravaggio and early returns on Triple Crown winner Justify. Asked about Munnings, whose stud fee has jumped all the way from $40,000 to $85,000 in recent years, Wallace...
Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will bypass an expected start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 and will instead point for the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs 20 days later. The story was originally reported by the Daily Racing Form. "He has such a good record at Churchill. We're going to skip California with him altogether," trainer Brendan Walsh told the DRF. "It's very important for him to win a Grade I this year. This probably gives him his best chance to get a Grade I at...
Three-time Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will still race next at Del Mar's Breeders' Cup meeting in early November, as long as he remains well. The John and Thady Gosden trainee, who won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club last term, ran fourth in the G1 Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 16. He kicked off his season with a victory in the $20-million Saudi Cup on dirt in February and added Meydan's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic back on turf at the end of March. Third in...
New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford will never forget the excitement she felt watching the 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic as 16-1 shot Mushka (Empire Maker) kept passing one horse afer another in the stretch to close for second. As a horse taking part in the first ever New Vocations Breeders' Cup Pledge program, Mushka's performance meant a $36,000 donation from owner Betty Moran. It was a lifeline for a growing charity dedicated to finding second homes for the sport's retirees. "I'll never forget how excited we were,"...
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) has been named the Official Aftercare Partner of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. It is also an Official Charity of the Breeders' Cup along with aftercare partner California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). On Breeders' Cup Saturday, the TAA will present its namesake race, the GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S.--formerly the Marathon S. It has also partnered with TVG to be part of the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Future Stars Friday. "We...
Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) tuned up for a tilt at the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a six-furlong drill in 1:14.00 (4/6) at Santa Anita Saturday. "We were happy," trainer Doug O'Neill said of the work. "He cooled out good. If all goes well and he stays injury-free, we're two works away. He'll have one at Santa Anita and one at Del Mar." Third in the GI Kentucky Derby and second in the GI Belmont S., Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified from a first-place finish in the GI...