Breeders' Cup
A trio of Brad Cox-trained juveniles headed towards the 'Future Stars Friday' Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland Nov. 6, got in their final major moves at soggy Churchill Downs Friday morning. The first of the threesome at 9 a.m. was Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), who figures the second choice in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the strength of his 3 1/4-length victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3. The hombred son of Grade III-placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) worked five furlongs outside...
MG1SW Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) is in good form heading toward a start in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on Nov. 7. The 4-year-old filly who races in the colours of His Highness The Aga Khan is cross entered in both the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and the GI Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf. Christophe Soumillon has the ride. The chestnut has won all three starts this year beginning in the G3 Give Thanks S. at Cork on Aug. 8. She later added the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix...
As the Breeders' Cup draws nearer, legendary author, columnist, figuremaker and handicapper Andy Beyer joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland this week. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Beyer discussed the future of playing the horses, what his action looks like these days and the evolution of speed figures over the years. Asked about his early Breeders' Cup opinions, Beyer understandably said he's against the strong on hype, weak on numbers Princess Noor (Not This Time), who figures to be among the...
Andy Beyer, creator of the Beyer Speed Figure, joined this week's Writers' Room Podcast to talk about his history in the game, how his figures have evolved over the years and a few of his picks for the upcoming Breeders' Cup.
MGISW Bellafina (Quality Road--Akron Moon, by Malibu Moon) was pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint Monday, but was scratched Tuesday and is now retired after developing a minor issue in her Oct. 24 breeze at Keeneland (five furlongs in 1:00.60), according to owner Kaleem Shah. Shah noted that 'TDN Rising Star' Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo--Coin Broker {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) has been retired as well. Both mares will join Shah's broodmare band with Bellafina set to visit Uncle Mo and Donna Veloce booked to Justify. The news was...
Two years since Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) won the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and after a lost 2019, the 5-year-old mare is apparently doing so well that trainer Brad Cox said she is better now than she was in 2018 when she crossed the wire first in all seven of her races. That could mean a second Distaff win. Could it also mean that she will be back for a third try in 2021? Monomoy Girl has been entered in the Fasig-Tipton November sale and it was widely believed that she...
Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security (New Year's Day), GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), GI Belmont S. victor Tiz the Law (Constitution), Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who beat the boys in the GI Preakness S. and European star mare Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among the over 200 horses entered for the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held at Keeneland Race Course Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7. Maximum Security makes his first appearance at the Breeders' Cup and is one of an imposing trio in the $6-million...
The Breeders' Cup announced Tuesday details of a new brand awareness campaign to promote the 2020 World Championships, which will be held this year at Keeneland Nov. 6-7. The campaign, representing Breeders' Cup's largest-ever digital advertising initiative with a multi-million dollar digital and broadcast media buy, is entitled "A Breed Apart" and targets sports bettors, daily fantasy players, and casual fans. Launched earlier this month, the media plan projects an estimated 170+ million impressions throughout the five-week promotion period leading up to the Breeders' Cup with the campaign running across...
Aidan O'Brien has 12 Breeders' Cup trophies on his mantle, and he sends a typically strong team to Keeneland next week with numerous chances to bolster that number. Among the heavyweights are 2020 Group 1 winners Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will attempt to give their trainer a sixth win in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The 3-year-old Mogul earned his first top-level victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Sept. 13 with the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe second In Swoop...
Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), winner of the G1 Prix de Royallieu and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. this month, will bypass this year's Breeders' Cup with a 4-year-old campaign in mind. "She's not going to the Breeders' Cup--I don't think it would be fair," said trainer David Menuisier. "If the filly was four and it was her last ever race, maybe we would have rolled the dice, but in this instance I think it would be greed. I would be scared to ask too much...
Maker's Mark, the official bourbon of the Breeders' Cup, has produced a unique commemorative Breeders' Cup bottle with proceeds to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). The limited-edition bottle marks the second time this year Maker's Mark has partnered with Keeneland, which will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 6-7. The earlier commemorative bottle released by Maker's Mark before Keeneland's Summer Meet in July sold out with those proceeds also benefiting PDJF. "This gorgeous Maker's Mark bottle is a wonderful way for our fans to celebrate the Breeders'...
Trainer Bob Baffert's arsenal was on full display Saturday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for their respective Breeders' Cup engagements at Keeneland Nov. 6 and 7. Heading the charge was GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), who breezed seven furlongs in 1:24.40 (XBTV video) in advance of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. In his latest start, the colt finished a neck behind winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the Oct. 3 GI Preakness S. Undefeated TDN Rising Star Princess Noor (Not This Time) breezed six furlongs in a bullet...