Wed, 10/21/2015 - 13:21

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Cavorting looking to buck history

Barbara D. Livingston
Cavorting will try to become the first 3-year-old to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There weren’t many surprises when pre-entries were released Wednesday for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, which shapes up as one of the more fascinating races on Breeders’ Cup weekend.

Cavorting, Stonetastic, La Verdad, Taris, and Judy the Beauty form a core of favorites in a deep cast that also includes such accomplished fillies as Artemis Agrotera, Dame Dorothy, and Merry Meadow. In all, 15 were pre-entered in a seven-furlong race limited to 14 starters.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 12:56

It’s Americans vs. Euros in Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Stephanie’s Kitten earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with her victory in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Park.

The stage is set for a European-American throwdown Oct. 31 in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland. Of the 20 pre-entries, led by Win and You’re In challenge winners Stephanie’s Kitten, Watsdachances, Photo Call, and Legatissimo, there is a close split of European- and American-based runners, with the Americans outnumbering the Europeans 11-9.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 12:36

Laurel shows off new look on Maryland Million Day

Jim Dunleavy
There are hundreds of new flat-screen Tvs at Laurel Park for simulcast players.

It has been a year of change in Maryland racing, and the results were clear to see last Saturday at Laurel Park.

Maryland Million Day is one of the most popular days on the calendar, but a year ago, Laurel was showing its age. The facility had been neglected and looked dingy and out of date.

Fast forward 12 months, and the first floor, where most people congregate, is almost unrecognizable. There is new flooring, fresh paint, and the bar areas have been remodeled. The food court actually looks appetizing.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 12:28

Breeders’ Cup Classic: Effinex looking sharp

Barbara D. Livingston
Effinex will try for his third stakes win going 1 1/4 miles this year in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Effinex will be a longshot in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, but on Wednesday, there were a couple of developments that might make one take a second glance at the New York-bred multiple graded stakes winner.

First, Effinex worked a solid five furlongs in 1:00.93 over a rather dull Belmont Park training track. He worked in company with 2014 Travers winner V. E. Day. Kelvin Pahal, Effinex’s exercise rider, had to wait on V. E. Day at one point in the stretch.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 12:02

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Full field certain following 27 pre-entries

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Conquesto Daddy (inside), shown working on Oct. 14 at Keeneland in company with Sky Fire, is one of 27 pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 30 at the Lexington, Ky., track.

A staggering 27 horses – the most of any Breeders’ Cup race – were pre-entered for the Juvenile Turf, ensuring a full field when Breeders’ Cup Friday gets underway next week at Keeneland. Seven of those 27 made their most recent start outside North America, giving them extra credibility in a race that has been dominated by Europeans since its inception.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 11:56

Liam’s Map favored in Dirt Mile

Barbara D. Livingston
Liam's Map is lised as the early 6-5 favorite for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by DRF handicapper Brad Free.

Despite the imposing presence of Liam’s Map, an oversubscribed field of 16 pre-entered the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run Friday, Oct. 30, at Keeneland.

Liam’s Map, the Woodward Stakes winner who has recorded Beyer Speed Figures of 112 or better in three of his last four starts, was pegged as the 6-5 favorite by Daily Racing Form linemaker Brad Free. Red Vine (5-1) and Wicked Strong (6-1) are the only others at single-digit odds.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 11:46

Breeders’ Cup Turf: Postponed will not run

Four-Footed Fotos
The Pizza Man is one of the top U.S. hopes in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The list of pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31 was hours from being officially announced on Wednesday when the European Group 1 winner Postponed was withdrawn from consideration. Postponed, the winner of the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in July, had a workout in Newmarket, England, on Wednesday but did not scope well afterward.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 11:26

Santa Anita turf course to get a freshening

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita’s turf course will undergo a refurbishment following Sunday’s final day of the autumn meeting, with the course showing wear and tear and an increase in divots and kickback compared to previous seasons.

Track president Keith Brackpool said the grass will be cut short on Monday to allow for regrowth and reseeding before the start of the winter-spring meeting Dec. 26. Brackpool acknowledged in an interview over the weekend that the course has not been in ideal shape since the autumn meeting began Sept. 26.

Wed, 10/21/2015 - 08:04

Mandella optimistic Beholder still on target for Breeders’ Cup Classic

Benoit & Associates
Beholder wins the Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 at Del Mar.

Trainer Richard Mandella expressed continued optimism that champion Beholder's elevated temperature a day after arriving in Kentucky was due to shipping stress and that there is not a more serious problem precluding her competition in next week’s Breeders' Cup Classic.

The mare was to walk the shed row on Wednesday morning while having additional blood work and lung scans done. Assuming those come back clean, Mandella would then devise a training schedule for the mare’s final Classic preparations.

Tue, 10/20/2015 - 14:28

Betting up at Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet

Average daily handle at the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands all-turf meet is up 14 percent through the first six cards of the meet.

Through last Saturday's sixth card of the meet, the track is averaging $1,249,995 in total handle. The first six cards of last year’s meet, through Oct. 17, averaged $1,099,303.

At this point in the meet, both this year and last, three cards were canceled due to weather or course conditions.

Field size is averaging 9.67 horses per race this year, up from 8.5 starters during the same period last year.