ELMONT, N.Y. - After missing a workout last weekend, Complexity put himself back in the mix for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by working a half-mile in 48.85 seconds Sunday morning over the Belmont Park main track.
In his first work since winning the Grade 3 Kelso Handicap on Oct. 3, Complexity went his first quarter in 25.39 seconds, came home in 23.46 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.70.
Keeneland's all-sources handle at the fall meet that ended Saturday was down 7.5 percent from the comparable 2019 meet, according to figures released by the Lexington, Ky., track.
Run without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 17-day meet attracted $148,229,708 in handle, which is down from the $160,207,916 wagered last fall, when 17 cards also were run. Per-day handle this year averaged nearly $8.72 million.
ELMONT, N.Y. - After getting beat as the 3-5 favorite in the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup - both Grade 1 stakes at 1 1/4 miles - Tacitus will head to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 as most likely a double-digit priced longshot. Still, Bill Mott doesn’t see the point in leaving a healthy, sound horse who has finished in the top three in 10 career stakes in the barn.
Keeneland Association, the not-for-profit racing and sales company in Lexington, Ky., has named four new members to its Advisory Board of Directors, including two representatives of international racing and breeding operations.
The new members include Aisling Duignan, the bloodstock director for Coolmore America, a division of the Irish company that stands stallions in major breeding markets around the world; and Garrett O’Rourke, the general manager of Juddmonte Farm, the globe-spanning Thoroughbred operation owned by Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Del Mar will limit raceday attendance to licensed owners for the track’s autumn meeting that runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 29, similar to a plan that was in place for most of the summer meeting.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the general public cannot attend racing at Del Mar.
Licensed owners can attend workouts at Del Mar at any time, but must make reservations to attend racing through the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Reservations can be made by phoning the TOC at (626) 826-3782. Owners will not be permitted to bring non-licensed guests.
Tetragonal, second by a neck in the Surfer Girl Stakes on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita, is an intended starter in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 6 at Keeneland, if she can draw into what is likely to be a large field.
Trained by Richard Baltas for Slam Dunk Racing and Joey Platts, Tetragonal was seventh after a poor start in her American debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile on Sept. 6, and then finished well to end up close to the undefeated Madone in the Surfer Girl. Madone is a candidate for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jockey Martin Garcia is expected to be out about three months with a dislocated shoulder, a fractured collarbone, and other injuries suffered when his mount, I’ll Make It Coach, stumbled and dislodged him at the start of the third race last Sunday at Keeneland.
Garcia likely won’t ride until the 2021 Oaklawn Park meet starts Jan. 22, according to Darrell Haire, a longtime Jockeys’ Guild representative.
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Oleksandra, on a bit of a condensed schedule to make the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7, worked five furlongs in 1:00.98 on Friday morning over the Belmont Park main track. It was her fifth work in 21 days.
Under jockey Joel Rosario, Oleksandra started about two lengths behind a stablemate, joined him in upper stretch and finished on even terms through a final quarter of 23.76.
“She went very well,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “It’s a bit of a tall order, but right now she’s progressing well.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – Happy Saver, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, will not be pointed to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 and his connections instead will focus on a 2021 campaign, trainer Todd Pletcher said Friday.
Pletcher said a decision would be made next week whether to give Happy Saver a break or point to the $3 million Pegasus at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23, with a potential prep in the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream on Dec. 12.
MIAMI – All the rain that has inundated the South Florida area this past week has done more than just totally disrupt the turf racing schedule at Gulfstream Park West. It also has thrown a curve to the connections of a couple of prospective Breeders’ Cup contenders, Imprimis and Diamond Oops.
