Breeders' Cup
Thoroughbred Charities of America is auctioning off a 2021 Breeders' Cup Stretch Run box at Del Mar to benefit the Race to Give campaign. The box was donated to honor the memory of Dr. J. David Richardson, who passed away in September. The six-person box, 4G, is on Del Mar's third level, and was donated by Richardson's friend, Dr. James B. Threlkel. It is valid for Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6, and includes preferred parking passing for Friday and Saturday. Stretch run boxes are located before the wire....
Bob Baffert comes into Sunday's GII Zenyatta S. with a strong one-two punch in the form of Private Mission (Into Mischief) and the regally bred As Time Goes By (American Pharoah--Take Charge Lady). The winner of this event earns a spot in the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. A debut winner at this oval last October, Private Mission checked in fourth in Del Mar's Desi Arnaz S. a month later and was subsequently shelved. Making her belated sophomore bow in a June 12 optional claimer here, the...
Undefeated Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) looks to maintain her position at the top of her division as the headliner in Sunday's GI Frizette S. at Belmont, a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar next month. The bay earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod and a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for her impressive 5 1/2-length graduation on debut going 5 1/2 panels at Saratoga July 15. She became the first top-level scorer for her leading freshman sire next out when running the field...
LNJ Foxwoods' sends out a pair of homebreds from two different barns in Luck (Kitten's Joy) and Dogtag (War Front), both of whom have a good chance to secure a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf next month in Saturday's GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita. Luck kicked off her career in France for trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre, winning two of four starts going long on the synthetic, including an Apr. 1 allowance. Sixth in her final European start on turf May 8, she...
As springboard--or tripwire--before the ultimate Breeders' Cup showdown at Del Mar this November, Santa Anita's opening weekend sure ticks a lot of boxes. "Really happy with the job my staff did putting all these races together," said Santa Anita racing secretary, Chris Merz, on Thursday morning. "Stakes coordinator James Kasparoff did an outstanding job." In all, there are seven Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races. The three on Friday--the GI American Pharoah S., GII Chandelier S., and the Speakeasy S.--are geared around the sport's young blood. The Saturday and...
The Breeders' Cup today announced post times for the Nov. 5-6 World Championships at Del Mar. There will be 14 Breeders' Cup races and eight undercard races. The official race order and wagering menu for both days of the Championships will be announced Oct. 27. The 38th Breeders' Cup begins Nov. 5 with Future Stars Friday, featuring all five Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-olds. There will be five undercard races preceding the first Breeders' Cup race, with the first race post time at 11:55 a.m. PT. Friday's first Breeders' Cup...
'TDN Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) looks to stamp his ticket to the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile in Friday's GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita. Topping the OBS April sale at $1.5 million, the Speedway Stable colorbearer wired the field for an effortless 4 1/4-length graduation in his 5 1/2-panel unveiling at Del Mar Sept. 4, earning a gaudy 98 Beyer Speed Figure. His breeding indicates this extension to a route of ground should be no problem and with his rail draw, pilot Mike Smith is likely to...
Grace Adler (Curlin) looks to take her record to three-for-three and provide Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with his 12th victory in Santa Anita's GII Chandelier S. Friday, a "Win and You're in Event" for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November. A debut winner at Del Mar July 31, the $700,000 FTKSEL purchase already secured her spot in the gate for the World Championships with a dominant late-running score in the Sept. 5 GI Del Mar Debutante S., which she won by 11 1/4 lengths over Dance to...
Multiple Grade I winner and last year's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) will be offered this fall at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Hunter Valley Farm will consign the 4-year-old filly on behalf of owners Qatar Racing Limited, Flurry Racing Stables LLC, and Big Aut Farms. A graded stakes performer each year from two to four, Shedaresthedevil is a three-time Grade I winner and seven-time graded stakes winner of $2,291,458. Last year at three, she defeated the best of her generation to win the 146th Kentucky Oaks in the...
It was 35 years ago this weekend that Broad Brush bolted to the outside fence at the top of the stretch while on a clear lead in the Pennsylvania Derby, then amazingly re-rallied to claw back the lead for an improbable win. They've long since rebranded Philadelphia Park to Parx, added a racino, and been awarded an upgrade of that track's premier stakes from Grade II to Grade I. But history tends to repeat, and that same quirky spot at the quarter pole proved eerily enigmatic yet again on Saturday,...
If any ducks have been careless enough to stray at the Michael McCarthy barn at Santa Anita, they've been promptly herded back into row. The McCarthy office has a new lick of bright white paint and a navy accent wall to compliment the trainer's coat of arms. There's the fancy new desk--one of those good-for-the-back ergonomic types that moves to fit the owner and not the other way around--and a blazing new flatscreen high in one corner. Then there's the trainer himself, freshly shorn from an in-office trim--a precision 10-minute...
The Breeders' Cup has made arrangements with FedEx to charter two equine flights that will transport horses to California to compete in the 2021 World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. Both FedEx charters will be making direct trips to San Diego International Airport. The first charter flight will leave Newark International Airport Sunday, Oct. 31. The second charter will leave from Indianapolis International Airport Monday, Nov. 1. Each flight will carry up to a maximum of 33 horses. Breeders' Cup will pay the round-trip cost for all horses competing...