It’s getting to the point now that I’m jumping out of my skin a bit. There are just 4 days left until “they’re off” in the Breeders Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. I’m leaving shortly and can’t wait to get there, Not sure how much I’ll be updating while I’m there but I promise you 2 things….1) I’ll have a break down of every race posted by no later than Thursday November 4th. Whether you are a fan or bettor or both, I’ll give as much information as possible for each race. Even though this is the Breeders Cup, I will give you what (or who) I believe are the top 4 or 5 horses in the race…..and 2) I’ll recap every race for both days when I return. If at all possible, I will post an update while there.
First, let me recap this past weekend.
In the Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday, 7 year old millionaire Bribon came from off the pace to win while completing 7 furlongs in 1:22.1. Jack on the Rocks established the early pace over Temecula Creek and favored Tahitian Warrior while running a slow 1st quarter-mile in :23 seconds and the half in :46. Jack on the Rocks led the field into the stretch but came under heavy pressure on the outside from a couple of rivals.
Bribon, who was closer to the pace than usual while fifth after a half-mile, charged four wide into the lane and for the lead past mid-stretch. He edged away late under steady handling.
“It seemed like nobody wanted to go to the lead,” jockey John Velazquez said. “For him to be that close without me asking him, I knew they were going slow. And that was good because I didn’t have to ask him until the quarter-pole. And sure enough, when I did, he went on. When he took the lead today, he was loping along. He’s very honest and he’ll give you everything he can.”
“He put himself into the race early, which I think made all the difference,” said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “Johnny was able to negotiate from the one hole into an outside trip.”
Jersey Town held on for second by a neck over the closing Half Metal Jacket, with favorite Tahitian Warrior another neck farther back in fourth. The winner carried top weight of 120 pounds and paid $6.90, $4.30, and $3.10. Jersey Town, coming off a third in the Kelso Handicap (gr. II) returned $8.40 and $5.10 and completed a $78.50 exacta. Half Metal Jacket was $3.30 to show.
Tahitian Warrior, in his American stakes debut for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, was followed by Wildcat Brief, Temecula Creek, Jack on the Rocks and Roaring Lion.
The Turn Back the Alarm Handicap 2 races prior was a thriller. Our Khrysty caught favored Funny Moon late and (literally) nosed out the win.
With Ramon Dominguez aboard for trainer Todd Beattie, Our Khrysty broke awkwardly, came from last after three-quarters, and four-wide off the second turn to pull even with Funny Moon and Alan Garcia in upper stretch. The two favorites locked up in a duel, with Our Khrysty finally pulling ahead in deep stretch to notch her first graded stakes victory.
“I felt like I had a lot of horse (in the stretch), but when I looked at Alan’s filly (Funny Moon), I said ‘Hmmm, it might not be as easy as I want it to be.’ His filly kept on fighting and at one point I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get up, but my filly was pretty determined to win,” jockey Ramon Dominguez said.
“She had a troublesome break, which cost her to an extent in the beginning,” Beattie said. ”But Ramon got her to settle in, made a nice ground-saving run around the turn, and then rode the hair off her coming for home. She obviously likes Belmont and the big turns, and runs well here. She’s been troublesome because of her unruliness, but Ramon and the big track have helped her plenty. She’s finally getting her ducks in order. We haven’t settled on a spot yet for her next start, but we like it up here.”
The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.21. Funny Moon was 4 3/4 lengths clear of third-place Way with Words. The winner paid $5.40, $2.70, and $2.20. The exacta (9-1) returned $11.40 and the trifecta (9-1-5) was $35.40.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships workouts at Churchill Downs Oct. 30.
The numbers in parenthesis represent how the work out stacks up against others who worked that distance. For example, the 2nd horse down is Atta Boy Roy, he went a ½ mile is :48.1 (5/36)….that means it was the 5th fastest workout out of 36 horses who worked that same distance that particular day. Also, be sure to read my personal notes at the very bottom.
Arch Support (Juvenile Fillies Turf) breezed six furlongs on firm turf in 1:18 3/5 (1/1) at CD. Splits :14 4/5, :27 2/5, :40 4/5, :54 1/5.
Atta Boy Roy (Sprint) breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5 (5/36) with Calvin Borel up. Splits :12, :24, :35 3/5, out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.
A. U. Miner (Marathon) breezed four furlongs in :48 3/5 (10/36), with splits of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36 2/5, and out five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 and six furlongs in 1:17.
Champagne d’Oro (Filly & Mare Sprint) breezed four furlongs in :47 2/5 (1/36). Splits :24 2/5, :35 2/5, out five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.
Due Date (Turf Sprint) breezed four furlongs on firm turf in :49 ( 1/5). Splits :12 4/5, :25 3/5, out five furlongs in 1:03 3/5.
First Dude (Classic) breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 (9/41) with Tammy Fox up. Splits were :11 4/5, :24, :36 1/5, :48 3/5, and out six furlongs in 1:15, seven furlongs in 1:29 1/5.
Hurricane Ike (Dirt Mile) breezed six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 (1/3) with Calvin Borel up. Splits :13, :25, :37, :48 4/5, out seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5.
Life At Ten (Ladies Classic) breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5 (5/36) in company with Colizeo, starting a length back and finishing a head back on the outside. Fractions were :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36, out five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 and six furlongs in 1:16 2/5.
Malibu Prayer (Ladies Classic) breezed four furlongs in :49 (16/36). First quarter in :25, out five furlongs in 1:02.
More Than Real (Juvenile Fillies Turf) breezed four furlongs on firm turf in :49 4/5 ( 2/5) in company with Pluck. First quarter in :26, out five furlongs in 1:04 1/5.
My Jen (Filly & Mare Sprint) breezed four furlongs in :48 3/5 (10/36). No splits available.
Paddy O’Prado (Classic) breezed five furlongs in 1:01 (8/41); splits :12 2/5, :24 2/5, 36 3/5, 49, out six furlongs in 1:14, out seven furlongs in 1:28 2/5.
Pluck (Juvenile Turf) breezed four furlongs on firm turf in :49 4/5 ( 2/5) in company with More Than Real. First quarter in :26, out five furlongs in 1:04 3/5.
Prince Will I Am (Marathon) breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 (20/36). No splits available.
Red Desire (Filly & Mare Turf) breezed five furlongs in 1:00 (2/41). Splits :12 4/5, 25, :36 1/5, :48, out six furlongs in 1:13 2/5.
R Heat Lightning (Juvenile Fillies) breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 (7/36), fractions of :12 2/5, :24, :36, out five furlongs in 1:01 3/5.
Seeking the Title (Ladies Classic) breezed four furlongs in :50 1/5 (26/36) with Calvin Borel up. Her splits were :12 4/5, :25 1/5, :37 3/5, out five furlongs in 1:04.
Smiling Tiger (Sprint) breezed five furlongs in :58 3/5 (1/41). He started eight or 10 lengths back of a McPeek set and a Hobby set, caught wide, and finished ahead, out six furlongs in 1:12.
Switch (Filly & Mare Sprint) breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 (9/41). Splits were :11 2/5 and 34 3/5, out six furlongs in 1:16 3/5.
Tell a Kelly (Juvenile Fillies) breezed six furlongs in 1:15 3/5 (3/3) with Calvin Borel up. Splits :12 4/5, :25 2/5, :37 3/5, :50, 1:02 3/5, out seven furlongs in 1:30 2/5.
Telling (Turf) breezed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 (12/41) in company with Silent Money.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships workouts at Churchill Downs Nov 1st.
Acting Happy (Ladies’ Classic), four furlongs, :49 (13/34). Splits were :11 4/5 and 24 1/5, galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.
Al Khali (Turf), five furlongs (turf, dogs up), 1:01 2/5 (3/4) with splits of :12, :24 4/5, and :38; gallop out time of 1:15 2/5 for six furlongs.
Banned (Juvenile Turf), five furlongs on (turf, dogs up), 1:02 3/5 (4/4). Splits were :12 1/5, :25 3/5, and 38 4/5; galloped out six furlongs in 1:18 3/5.
Blame (Classic) breezed four furlongs in :49 4/5 (24/34) with Garrett Gomez aboard. His splits were :13 1/5, :25 1/5, and :37 1/5, so he finished in :12 3/5. He was out five furlongs in 1:03 1/5.
California Flag (Turf Sprint), three furlongs (turf, dogs up), :36 2/5 (1/1). Splits were :13 2/5 and :24 4/5; galloped out four furlongs in :50 2/5.
Forever Together (Filly & Mare Turf), five furlongs (turf, dogs up), 1:01 (1/4). Splits were :12 1/5, 24 3/5, and :37 4/5; galloped out six furlongs in 1:17 1/5.
Informed Decision (Filly & Mare Sprint), four furlongs, :47 4/5 (2/34). Splits were:12 2/5 and :24 2/5; galloped out five furlongs furlongs in 1:02.
J. B.’s Thunder (Juvenile), four furlongs, :50 (27/34) in company with Heritage Hall (50 1/5). His splits were :12 3/5, :24 3/5 and :37 2/5, galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 1/5.
Proviso (Mile), four furlongs (turf, dogs up), :51 3/5 (1/1). Splits were :14 3/5, :28 1/5 and :39 4/5, so she finished in :11 4/5. Galloped out five furlongs in 1:05 and six furlongs in 1:19.
Riley Tucker (Sprint), four furlongs, :49 3/5 (18/34). Splits were :12 3/5, :25 1/5 and :37 2/5, galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.
Sidney‘s Candy (Mile), five furlongs (turf, dogs up), 1:01 (1/4). Splits were :12, :24 3/5, :37 3/5, and :49 2/5; galloped out six in 1:15 3/5.
Sweet August Moon (Filly & Mare Sprint) blew out three furlongs in :35 4/5 (1/8), galloped out four furlongs in :48 4/5.
Unrivaled Belle (Ladies’ Classic), four furlongs, :49 2/5 (17/34), galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:16.
Thiskyhasnolimit (Dirt Mile, four furlongs, :48 4/5 (10/34). Splits were :12 1/5, :24 1/5, and 36 1/5, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.
Warrior’s Reward (Sprint), four furlongs, :49 (13/34). Splits were :13 1/5, :25 4/5, and 37 1/5; galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.
Personal Notes:
**From what I hear Smiling Tiger had to do a little bobbing and weaving thru his work out ( to avoid some other horses who were drifting out ) but looked very strong down the stretch.
**Japanese filly Red Desire looks a picture of health and was just cruising around the racetrack in her workout. Kudos to the trainer, she looks to be coming up to this race perfectly.
**Quality Road’s workout (:48.1) the other day was with no urging whatsoever……scary.
**Haynesfield seems to really like this surface, he just “skips” over it.
**Zenyatta came back from her final work out of 1:11.4 for six furlongs in California and was looking around afterwards like….”ok, when are we going to start excercising?”….very scary
** Lookin At Lucky worked five furlongs on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track in :59 3/5 Oct. 31st. “He went really well,” said trainer Bob Baffert after the drill under regular rider Martin Garcia. “I wanted him to go in about a minute. It was perfect for him. Everything’s a go.”
Lookin' At Lucky...yet another big workout.
** J P’s Gusto, a multiple stakes winner who finished second in the Norfolk Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:13.