Fri, 10/25/2013 - 15:16

Santa Anita notes: Breeders’ Cup adds pick six carryover provisions

Shigeki Kikkawa
Tiz the Truth is expected to be the heavy favorite in a one-mile dirt allowance race on Sunday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Saturday Breeders’ Cup program could produce a massive pick six carryover into the final day of the Santa Anita autumn meeting on Nov. 3, Breeders’ Cup officials told the California Horse Racing Board Thursday.

Breeders’ Cup Chief Operating Officer Bob Elliston told the board that an agreement has been reached between the Breeders’ Cup, Santa Anita, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California for the pick six to have a carryover provision from Saturday into a non-Breeders’ Cup day.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 14:49

Breeders' Cup: Diamond Bachelor to go in Juvenile instead of Juvenile Turf

Benoit & Associates
Diamond Bachelor wins the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Diamond Bachelor, a stakes winner on turf who has yet to race on any other surface, will make his dirt debut in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, his connections confirmed Friday.

Owner Kin Hui of Diamond 100 Racing Club, which owns a partial interest in the colt, and trainer Patrick Biancone announced their decision to run in the Juvenile as opposed to the Juvenile Turf following Diamond Bachelor’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.60 on Friday over Santa Anita’s main track.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 13:18

Churchill Downs: Rocco flourishes since becoming Kentucky regular

Barbara D. Livingston
Joe Rocco Jr.'s first winner came aboard the first mount of his career, Rainbow’s Raja, on Feb. 2, 1999, at Tampa Bay Downs.

It was slightly more than a year ago that Joe Rocco Jr. asked, “Why not?” His business on the East Coast was good, but not great, and trainer Michael Matz had asked him to come ride some horses for him at the 2012 Keeneland fall meet.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 13:06

Breeders' Cup Turf: Grandeur might skip race

Grandeur, pre-entered for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2, did not have an ideal journey from England this week, casting doubt on his participation in America’s richest turf race.

In a brief phone conversation Friday, trainer Jeremy Noseda did not go into detail about Grandeur’s condition. Grandeur arrived from England late Wednesday and remained in quarantine Friday morning.

“At this moment, we have a few issues,” Noseda said. “Time will tell where we are. I’m dealing with the Breeders’ Cup.”

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:45

Breeders' Cup Sprint: Moquett gets second chance with Gentlemen’s Bet

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
Gentlemen’s Bet earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for his allowance win Friday and might run in the Grade 3 Aristides on June 1.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ron Moquett’s first trip to the Breeders’ Cup came with a 160-1 outsider, Asher, in the 1999 Juvenile Fillies. He’ll like his chances a whole lot better when he comes back a second time next Saturday with Gentlemen’s Bet, one of the leading contenders in the Sprint.

Asher finished a well-beaten sixth behind Cash Run in the 1999 Juvenile Fillies while up against one of the strongest fields in the history of the event.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:33

Breeders' Cup Turf: Tale of a Champion takes shot

Benoit & Associates

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tale of a Champion was a surprise pre-entrant this week for the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 2. A five-furlong workout in the fog at Santa Anita on Monday was the deciding factor, trainer Kristin Mulhall said.

“He went five-eighths, and he came home the last quarter in 23 and change,” Mulhall said. “He wouldn’t pull up.”

Mulhall was aboard Tale of a Champion for the workout. She said it was not the first time this year that Tale of a Champion had a strong workout in advance of a stakes.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 15:21

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Caracortado back to old self

Barbara D. Livingston
Caracortado (left), shown at Santa Anita Park on Thursday, returned to the races in September after a layoff of almost 21 months.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup is always rich with good story lines, but few would top Caracortado if the 6-year-old gelding wins the Turf Sprint next Saturday at Santa Anita.

Produced by a giveaway mare following a free mating, Caracortado has overcome his latest hurdle, a serious injury to his right front hoof, to emerge as a contender for the $1 million Turf Sprint.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 11:29

Belmont Park: My Miss Aurelia scratched from Punkin Pie Stakes

Tom Keyser
Three-time Grade 1 winner My Miss Aurelia breezed five furlongs in 1:00.78 at Belmont Park on Monday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – My Miss Aurelia’s long-awaited return to the races has been delayed even longer.

My Miss Aurelia, the champion juvenile filly of 2011, was scratched from Thursday’s $100,000 Punkin Pie Stakes at Belmont Park after suffering an injury to her left front foot, known as “shedding a frog.” The frog is at the bottom of a horse’s foot and is akin to a shock absorber.

“She shed a frog on Monday; it’s significantly better but not enough to run,” trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday. “On to the Go For Wand.”

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 16:42

Keeneland: DRF Plus handicapping report for October 24, 2013

Race 1

Closer Looks >>

Race 2

SPOT PLAYS

QUITTIN TIME (#4, 8-1) should be well set-up here, as there are several confirmed speeds to her outside, and she'll be looking to close ground late; she's been awat since late August but her maiden win came off a similar fr

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 16:39

Santa Anita: DRF Plus handicapping report for October 24, 2013

Race 1

Closer Looks >>

Race 2

SPOT PLAYS

The $62.5k claim of GOLDEN ITIZ (#1, 6-5) two starts back served its purpose, which was to run in the G3 Longacres Mile. He finished third and earned $30k. Now he drops to $32k claiming as the fastest horse.