Fri, 11/01/2013 - 12:29

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: State veterinarian scratches Taptowne with foot bruise

Barbara D. Livingston
Taptowne would have given trainer Tim Glyshaw his first Breeders' Cup starter.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Taptowne, who would have given trainer Tim Glyshaw his first Breeders’ Cup starter, was ordered scratched by the state veterinarian’s office at Santa Anita early Friday from the BC Dirt Mile because of a bruised foot.

Owned by a four-partner group that runs under the stable name of Clovertowne Farm, Taptowne was 15-1 on the morning line after drawing post 1 for the Dirt Mile. The gray 5-year-old gelding, an earner of more than $550,000 from 28 starts, has ample speed and was expected to be part of the pace in the race.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 11:42

Woodbine cancels Friday card due to high winds

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Friday afternoon's Woodbine Thoroughbred card has been scrapped due to high winds and strong wind gusts.

“The wind gusts have compromised our ability to safely run today’s card,” said Steve Koch, Woodbine’s vice president of Thoroughbred racing.

Racing will resume Saturday with an excellent 11-race card, beginning at 12:50 p.m. Simulcast wagering is still available today.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 16:15

Breeders' Cup notes: Dance Card, Summer Applause shortening up

Barbara D. Livingston
Summer Applause is shortening up from 1 1/8 miles to seven furlongs for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Dance Card and Summer Applause, two of the challengers to Groupie Doll in the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, have raced primarily in longer races, and their presence represents an angle frequently favored by handicappers: route horses going short.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he hopes Dance Card breaks more alertly than in her return from a 10-month layoff in the Sept. 21 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park, where she finished third.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 16:04

Breeders' Cup: Asmussen staying at Santa Anita

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday that he plans to have a stable at Santa Anita this winter for the fourth consecutive season.

Asmussen said the number of runners and which horses will be sent will be determined in the coming weeks. He said he would send horses to California “if I think it’s the best thing for them.”

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 16:01

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Marketing Mix might make one December start

Shigeki Kikkawa
Marketing Mix might make a final career start in December after Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Marketing Mix, who starts in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita, will be retired at the end of this year, but a successful race Saturday could lead to another start in December.

Craig Bernick, president of Glen Hill Farm, said Thursday that the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Betfair Hollywood Park over 1 1/2 miles on turf Dec. 14 or two turf races in Hong Kong on Dec. 8 – the $2.8 million Hong Kong Cup over 1 1/4 miles or the $1.9 million Hong Kong Vase over 1 1/2 miles – are being considered for Marketing Mix.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 15:56

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Sweet Reason stretches legs

Tom Keyser
Sweet Reason is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Sweet Reason, the morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies who worked a slow mile Sunday, stretched her legs through the lane Thursday, going an easy quarter in 27.36 seconds from the top of the stretch to the wire.

Sweet Reason was on the track for an extended period Thursday as the equine ambulance was on the track when another horse, not running in the Breeders’ Cup, needed to be vanned off.

After visiting the starting gate, Sweet Reason stayed alongside a pony until horses were allowed to breeze.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 15:51

Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Diamond Bachelor blows out

Barbara D. Livingston
Diamond Bachelor, a 12-1 morning-line choice for the BC Juvenile, blew out a half-mile in 47.20 seconds Thursday.

Diamond Bachelor, who figures to be a pace factor in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, blew out a half-mile in 47.20 seconds Thursday over Santa Anita’s main track.

With jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, Diamond Bachelor zipped an opening quarter in 22.91 seconds before going a bit slower through the lane. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.37.

“That’s what we do with him – that’s how he likes to train,” trainer Patrick Biancone said.

The Juvenile will be Diamond Bachelor’s first start on dirt after making his first three starts on turf. He will break from post 12.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 15:46

Breeders' Cup Classic: O'Brien might have sleeper pick in Declaration of War

Barbara D. Livingston
Declaration of War, shown training at Santa Anita, will be racing on dirt for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Aidan O’Brien has started a horse in the Breeders’ Cup Classic 12 times, his best finishes being seconds with Giant’s Causesway in 2000 and Henrythenavigator in 2008, the latter on Santa Anita’s old all-weather main track. Many of those runners, like Duke of Marmalade and Black Minnaloushe, were no-hopers, and we have been conditioned to some extent to treat O’Brien’s dirt Classic attempts with skepticism.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 12:13

Breeders' Cup Classic: Ron the Greek to scratch due to quarter crack

Barbara D. Livingston
Ron the Greek, the winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup last out, will miss the Breeders' Cup Classic because of a quarter crack.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bill Mott wasn’t sure that Ron the Greek would be able to duplicate his eye-catching performance in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 28 in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

But he wanted the chance to find out if he could.

Unfortunately, Mott won’t get that chance, as on Thursday, he announced that Ron the Greek would be scratched from the Classic due to a quarter crack in his right front foot.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 11:44

Breeders' Cup Classic: Game On Dude's success continues to bring friends together

Barbara D. Livingston
The ownership group of Game On Dude, which includes former Major League Baseball manager Joe Torre, will be on hand Saturday to cheer on the Breeders' Cup Classic favorite.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Terry Lanni died a little more than two years ago, but every time Game On Dude runs, he’s still there. Lanni was one of the co-owners of Game On Dude, part of a four-member partnership that was put together by his longtime friend, Bernie Schiappa.