THIRTY-FOUR BREEDERS’ CUP PRE-ENTRIES PERFORMED AT KEENELAND IN THE FALL
A total of 33 horses that raced at Keeneland in October and/or had timed works at the track during the month are among the pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 6-7 at Santa Anita in California. A total of 166 horses, including 10 defending or former Breeders’ Cup champions, were pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup. Pre-entries were announced on Wednesday.
The 26th Breeders’ Cup consists of 14 races with purses totaling $25.5 million. Racing fans can watch and wager on the event at Keeneland.
Among the pre-entries with Keeneland experience is champion Forever Together, who will bid for her second consecutive victory in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Trained by Jonathan Sheppard for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, Forever Together was third in the First Lady (G1) on October 10.
Sheppard also trains Breeders’ Cup hopefuls and recent Keeneland stakes winners Informed Decision and Cloudy’s Knight. All three Sheppard horses are scheduled to work here on Sunday and leave for California on Monday.
Pre-entries that have raced and/or trained at Keeneland in October are:
November 6 races —
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1): Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Mushka and runner-up Proviso (GB).
$2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1): First Lady (G1) third-place finisher Forever Together.
$2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1): Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Negligee, runner-up She Be Wild and fifth-place finisher Beautician; maiden winner Connie and Michael.
$1 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1): Thoroughbred Club of America (G3) winner Informed Decision.
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: JPMorgan Chase Jessamine winner House of Grace, runner-up Smart Seattle and third-place finisher Hatheer; Darley Alcibiades fourth-place finisher Zilva.
$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon: Sycamore (G3) winner Cloudy’s Knight; Gangbuster (worked; won Fort Harrod in April).
November 7 races —
$2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1): Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) winner Court Vision, runner-up Karelian, third-place finisher Mr. Sidney and sixth-place finisher Justenuffhumor.
$2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1): Phoenix (G3) winner Fatal Bullet and runner-up Capt. Candyman Can.
$2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1): Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Noble’s Promise, runner-up Aikenite and fifth-place finisher Piscitelli; maiden winner Fist of Rage; Aspire (worked).
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2): Bourbon (G3) winner Interactif, runner-up Codoy and fourth-place finisher Raging Wit; maiden winner Mint Chip; King Ledley (worked).
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: First Lady (G1) winner Diamondrella (GB); Woodford (G3) winner Silver Timber; Canadian Ballet (worked).
*Horses are listed in races in which they have first preference.
BREEDERS’ CUP HORSES WORK FRIDAY
Four horses that are pre-entered in the November 6-7 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita worked at Keeneland on Friday morning.
Nancy Mazzoni’s She Be Wild, second in the Darley Alcibiades (G1) on October 9, turned in a bullet work when she breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20. The 2-year-old Offlee Wild filly, who is trained by Wayne Catalano, was pre-entered in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Trainer Rusty Arnold worked two Breeders’ Cup hopefuls for owner Green Lantern Stables LLC, Karelian and Mint Chip.
Karelian, a 7-year-old Bertrando gelding who was second to Court Vision in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) on October 10, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40. Karelian has first preference in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and second preference in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Mint Chip, a 2-year-old Johar gelding, won a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race at Keeneland on October 10 in his second career start. He breezed four furlongs on Friday in :48.60. Mint Chip has first preference in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) and second preference in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Piscitelli, who was fifth behind Noble’s Promise in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on October 10, breezed six furlongs in 1:17. Gregory Sacco trains the 2-year-old Victory Gallop colt for owner William C. Schettine. Piscitelli is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
GALLOPING OUT
The list of Keeneland sales graduates that were pre-entered in the November 6-7 Breeders’ Cup World Championships (and appeared in yesterday’s Keeneland Barn Notes) should have included Eskendereya. Pre-entered in the $1 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Eskendreya was a $250,000 product of the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. A total of 58 pre-entries are Keeneland sales graduates.
With two days remaining in the Keeneland fall meeting, Ken McPeek leads all trainers with 14 wins. Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Keeneland’s all-time leading trainer by wins, won a fall season record 22 races in 1989. McPeek’s current total is the highest for a trainer during the fall season since 1995, when Lukas sent out 17 winners.
Through Thursday, the 15th day of the 17-day Keeneland fall meeting covers, five horses already have made the most of the short season by racing twice and winning twice. Members of the group are Moon Town, Orchestrator, Dana’s Bell, Wisdom Walk and Cape San Blas. Saturday is the final day of the fall season.
CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AT KEENELAND ON SATURDAY
Keeneland will kick off Halloween on Saturday with a special Breakfast with the Works beginning at 7 a.m. Children are encouraged to wear costumes to the event, which will feature a special appearance by the Headless Horseman in the paddock at 8:45 a.m. The Headless Horseman also will appear on Keeneland’s main track following the third race (approximately 2:10 p.m.).
MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP AT KEENELAND
Make plans to enjoy the Breeders’ Cup World Championships simulcast at Keeneland on Friday and Saturday, November 6-7.
Dining reservations are available for Saturday in the Equestrian Room ($15 per person), Lexington and Kentucky Rooms ($120 for a table for four) and third-floor clubhouse ($30 per person). Reservations made be made by calling 859 288-4299.
Concession areas such as the Sports Barn, Cantina, Mezzanine Barn and Finish Line Room in Keeneland’s Grandstand will be open on Friday and Saturday. General admission and parking are free. Gates open at 10 a.m.; first Breeders’ Cup race is 1:45 p.m.
Advance wagering on the Breeders’ Cup will be available beginning at noon on Friday, November 6.
2009 KEENELAND FALL MEET LEADERS
(Stats Through Thursday, October 29)
Current Meet Leading Jockeys
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Robby Albarado 107 22 18 9 $1,095,123
Julien Leparoux 99 17 20 16 $929,437
Kent Desormeaux 64 12 4 16 $938,153
James Graham 79 9 8 4 $605,187
Jesus Castanon 71 7 5 4 $264,983
Jamie Theriot 65 7 5 1 $353,104
E.T. Baird 31 7 2 6 $185,001
Shaun Bridgmohan 65 6 7 6 $252,173
Rajiv Maragh 27 5 6 3 $966,855
Jon Court 43 5 4 4 $138,931
Leandro Goncalves 65 4 11 7 $381,527
Calvin Borel 81 4 3 12 $206,185
Current Meet Leading Trainers
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Ken McPeek 61 14 9 10 $865,256
Michael Maker 22 5 4 3 $147,575
Hugh Robertson 20 5 4 1 $131,113
Todd Pletcher 30 5 2 2 $324,743
George Arnold II 31 4 5 3 $309,570
Tom Proctor 27 4 4 3 $175,677
Dale Romans 24 3 4 5 $150,943
Eddie Kenneally 27 3 4 1 $123,349
Bill Mott 32 3 3 7 $510,412
Graham Motion 21 3 3 5 $280,251
Merrill Scherer 20 3 3 5 $100,307
Jonathan Sheppard 12 3 2 3 $328,405
W. Bret Calhoun 8 3 1 2 $133,137
Kiaran McLaughlin 7 3 0 1 $202,509
Current Meet Leading Owners
Name Wins
Ken & Sarah Ramsey 5
Augustin Stable (George Strawbridge Jr.) 3
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc (Eugene Melnyk) 3
Bonnie Heath Farm LLC (Bonnie Heath) 2
Darley Stable (Mohammed al Maktoum) 2
Glen Hill Farm (Leonard Lavin) 2
John Good 2
Homewrecker Stable LLC (Ron & Ricki Rashinski) 2
G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 2
IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone) 2
Koolmen Racing Stable LLC (Michael Harrison) 2
Ron McCauley 2
Silverton Hill LLC (Bonnie & Tommy Hamilton) 2
Wertheimer & Frere (Alain & Gerald Wertheimer) 2
WinStar Farm LLC (Bill Casner, et al) 2