Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Enjoy Samhain, as the Wheel Turns










Hunt Scratched From Breeders' Cup Mile; Divisidero In

Hunt, the 30 to 1 Irish entry, has spiked a temperature and is out of Saturday's Mile (turf) race.  Now Divisidero will race  to fill the field at 14 entries.  Hunt had drawn post position 9; now, post positions 10 through 14 will more over one space, and Divisidero will break from gate number 14...

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Halloween Preview Photos











Two Other Stakes Races on Both Breeders' Cup Days

The big news races at Churchill Downs are the 14 Breeders' Cup races on 2 and 3 November - but there are two other Stakes races being run on the days of the Breeders' Cup races, as well as the regular meat-and-potatoes races that occur daily at any track during a racing meet.  I won't give a run-down of the usual races, but the four Stakes races each have a horse entered that qualified for the Breeders' Cup wait list.  - And I hold the Marathon Stakes close to my heart; it was once a part of the Breeders Cup, but no longer is.  (And I love old-fashioned long distance races - remember, original thoroughbred racing took place over a distance of 5 miles and were run in heats, all on the same day.  These days, we breed for quickness over short distances - but I adore long-distance runners....)
   On Friday, 2 November, Louder Than Bombs will race in the Street Sense Stakes, and Toast of New York will run in the Marathon Stakes (Grade II).
             
     Street Sense Stakes        2 year olds        1 mile (8 furlongs)     $100,000
          Post time:  2:36          Weight:  122 pounds           (All colts; #6 is a gelding)
 1.    Distant Shore (MD)              10 to 1
 2.    Improbable (KY)                   5 to 2
 3.    Trophy Chaser (KY)              3 to 1
 4.    Unionizer (FL)                       8 to 1
 5.    Moonster (KY)                       8 to 1
 6.    Reward the Miracle (FL)      15 to 1
 7.    Manny Wah (KY)                  6 to 1
 8.    Louder Than Bombs              8 to 1
 9.    Marquee Prince                      6 to 1

    Marathon Stakes       3 and up               1 3/4 miles (14 furlongs)    $200,000
          Post Time:   6:43            Weight:   122 pounds        (All entries bred in KY)
 1.    Term of Art   4, c                  20 to 1
 2.    Dabster        4, c                    9 to 2
 3.    Imperative    8, g                  30 to 1
 4.    Finglas    4, g                       20 to 1
 5.    Senior Investment   4, c       20 to 1
 6.    War Story    6, g                    4 to 1
 7.    Big Dollar Bill    4, g            5 to 1
 8.    Honorable Duty   6, g           4 to 1
 9.    Toast of New York   7, g       9 to 2
10.   Rocketry    4, c                      7 to 2

   On Saturday, 3 November, Dak Attack will race in the Cherokee Run Stakes, and Bixby Lou will run in the Chilukki Stakes (Grade II).

       Cherokee Run Stakes        3 year old colts       7 furlongs      $200,000
             Post time:   11:15             (2 geldings; # 4 and # 8.   All bred in KY, except #3 NY, #11 MD)
 1.    Cool Bobby                   118           12 to 1
 2.    Honorable Treasure       118           12 to 1
 3.    Audible                         122            2 to 1
 4.    Smart Remark               118            20 to 1
 5.    Cowboy Creed              118            30 to 1
 6.    Mr Freeze                      120           12 to 1
 7.    Principe Guilherme       118           12 to 1
 8.    Kowboy Karma             118           10 to 1
 9.    Dak Attack                    118           12 to 1
10.   Aveenu Makainu            118           15 to 1
11.   Still Having Fun            120            4 to 1
12.   Super Sol                       118            4 to 1

     Chilukki Stakes        3 and up (fillies and mares)        1 mile      $200,000
           Post time:   6:22          Weight:   121 pounds      (All are KY-bred)
 1.    Moonlit Garden            4               7 to 2
 2.    Awestruck                     4               4 to 1
 3.    Shenandoah Queen       6               7 to 2
 4.    Bixby Lou                     4               20 to 1
 5.    Student Body                4               15 to 1  
 6.    Divine Miss Grey         4                9 to 5
 7.    Berned                          4                8 to 1
 8.    Pricedtoperfection        5                20 to 1

Monday, October 29, 2018

Breeders' Cup 2018 Post Positions and Morning Line Betting Odds

2 November  -  Future Stars Friday
Five Juvenile Races


   Juvenile Sprint Turf
 1.    Strike Silver                   4 to 1
 2.    Soldier's Call (GB)        9 to 2
 3.    Well Done Fox (GB)     12 to 1
 4.    Stillwater Cove              20 to 1 
 5.    Bulletin                          10 to 1
 6.    Moonlight Romance      12 to 1
 7.    Shang Shang Shang       5 to 1
 8.    Sergei Prokofiev (Ont)   6 to 1
 9.    Chelsea Cloisters           8 to 1
10.   So Perfect                      12 to 1
11.   Queen of Bermuda (IRE)   20 to 1
12,   Pocket Dynamo             20 to 1

   Juvenile Filly Turf
 1.    Concrete Rose                6 to 1
 2.    The Mackem Bullett (IRE)   15 to 1
 3.    Lily's Candle (FR)         8 to 1
 4.    Just Wonderful               6 to 1
 5.    La Pelosa (IRE)             15 to 1
 6.    Newspaperofrecord (IRE)   2 to 1
 7.    Stellar Agent                 30 to 1
 8.    Belle Laura                    20 to 1
 9.    Varenka                         20 to 1
10.   Pahket                           12 to 1
11.   Lady Prancealot (IRE)   30 to 1
12.   Summering                   15 to 1
13.   My Gal Betty                20 to 1
14.   East (GB)                      20 to 1

  Juvenile Filly
 1.    Reflect                          15 to 1
 2.    Serengeti Empress        7 to 2
 3.    Vibrance                       10 to 1
 4.    Restless Rider               9 to 2
 5.    Cassies Dreamer          30 to 1
 6.    Baby Nina                    30 to 1
 7.    Jaywalk                         7 to 2
 8.    Sippican Harbor           12 to 1
 9.    Splashy Kisses             20 to 1
10.   Bellafina                       2 to 1

   Juvenile Colt Turf
 1.    Arthur Kitt (GB)            20 to 1
 2.    Uncle Benny                  15 to 1
 3.    Much Better                   10 to 1
 4.    Forty Under                    5 to 1
 5.    Line of Duty (IRE)        10 to 1
 6.    Henley's Joy                   8 to 1
 7.    Somelikehotbrown        12 to 1
 8.    Opry                              15 to 1
 9.    The Black Album (FR)   30 to 1
10.   War of Will                    12 to 1
11.   King of Speed                8 to 1
12.   Current                           5 to 1
13.   Marie's Diamond (IRE)   20 to 1
14.   Anthony Van Dyck (IRE)   4 to 1

  Juvenile Colt
 1.    Dueling                           20 to 1
 2.    Mr. Money                      30 to 1
 3.    Derby Date                      30 to 1
 4.    Tight Ten                         30 to 1
 5.    Well Defined                   20 to 1
 6.    Complexity                      5 to 2
 7.    Mind Control                  20 to1
 8.    Standard Deviation         12 to 1
 9.    Game Winner                  8 to 5
10.   Knicks Go                       30 to 1
11.   Code of Honor                 5 to 1
12.   Gunmetal Gray               10 to 1
13.   Topper T                         30 to 1
14.   Signalman                       20 to 1


3 November  -  9 races

  Filly and Mare Sprint
 1.    Selcourt                            4 to 1
 2.    Miss Sunset                      15 to 1
 3.    Happy Like a Fool           20 to 1
 4.    Kirby's Penny                   30 to 1
 5.    Golden Mischief              10 to 1
 6.    Chalon                              15 to 1
 7.    Skye Diamonds                10 to 1
 8.    Mia Mischief                    15 to 1
 9.    Stormy Embrace               20 to 1
10.   Highway Star                   20 to 1
11.   Finley'sluckycharm          10 to 1
12.   Anonymity                        15 to 1
13.   Marley's Freedom             8 to 5
14.   Shamrock Rose                20 to 1

   Turf Sprint
 1.    Ruby Notion                    20 to 1
 2.    Bucchero                         10 to 1
 3.    Hembree                          20 to 1
 4.    Vision Perfect                  15 to 1
 5.    Disco Partner                   7 to 2
 6.    Rainbow Heir                  12 to 1
 7.    Lost Treasure (IRE)         20 to 1
 8.    Chanteline                        15 to 1
 9.    Stormy Liberal                  4 to 1
10.   Havana Grey (GB)           20 to 1
11.   World of Trouble              6 to 1
12.   Richard's Boy                   12 to 1
13.   Will Call                           20 to 1
14.   Conquest Tsunami            6 to 1

  Dirt Mile
 1.    City of Light                     5 to 2
 2.    Trigger Warning               20 to 1
 3.    Isotherm                           20 to 1
 4.    Seven Trumpets                6 to 1
 5.    Awesome Slew                 15 to 1
 6.    Seeking the Soul               5 to 1
 7.    Firenze Fire                       6 to 1
 8.    Bravazo                             20 to 1
 9.    Giant Expectations           15 to 1      
10.   Catalina Cruiser                8 to 5

   Filly and Mare Turf
 1.    Fourstar Crook                  5 to 1
 2.    Thais (FR)                         20 to 1
 3.    Wild Illusion (GB)             7 to 2
 4.    Paved                                 20 to 1
 5.    Princess Yaiza (IRE)         30 to 1
 6.    Sistercharlie (IRE)             3 to 1
 7.    Smart Choice (ARG)        30 to 1
 8.    Fuhriously Kissed             30 to 1
 9.    A Raving Beauty (GER)   10 to 1
10.   Magic Wand (IRE)             5 to 1
11.   Mom's On Strike                2 to 1
12.   Santa Monica (GB)           15 to 1
13.   Athena (IRE)                     15 to 1
14.   Eziyra (IRE)                      15 to 1

  Sprint
 1.    Whitmore                            6 to 1
 2.    Promises Fulfilled               6 to 1
 3.    B Squared                           20 to 1
 4.    Warrior's Club                    15 to 1
 5.    Imperial Hint                      9 to 5
 6.    Always Sunshine               20 to 1
 7.    Distinctive B                      12 to 1
 8.    Limousine Liberal              6 to 1
 9.    Roy H                                 5 to 2

   Mile (Turf)
 1.    One Master (GB)                12 to 1
 2.    Next Shares                        10 to 1
 3.    Happily (IRE)                     15 to 1
 4.    Polydream (IRE)                 5 to 1
 5.    Oscar Performance              6 to 1
 6.    Almanaar (GB)                   12 to 1
 7.    Expert Eye (GB)                 8 to 1
 8.    I Can Fly (GB)                   10 to 1
 9.    Hunt (IRE)                         30 to 1
10.   Catapult                               6 to 1
11.   Lightning Spear (GB)         20 to 1
12.   Analyze It                            6 to 1
13.   Gustav Klimt (IRE)            10 to 1
14.   Mustashry (GB)                  15 to 1

  Distaff
 1.    Champagne Problems          12 to 1
 2.    Abel Tasman                         7 to 2
 3.    La Force (GER)                   20 to 1
 4.    Mopotism                            30 to 1
 5.    Wonder Gadot                     15 to 1
 6.    Verve's Tale                         30 to 1
 7.    Midnight Bisou                    6 to 1
 8.    Vale Dori (ARG)                 12 to 1
 9.    Wow Cat (CHI)                    8 to 1
10.   Blue Prize (ARG)                6 to 1
11.   Monomoy Girl                     2 to 1

   Turf  
 1.    Talismatic (GB)                   12 to 1
 2.    Enable (GB)                         -even-
 3.    Channel Maker                    12 to 1
 4.    Robert Bruce (CHI)             10 to 1
 5.    Magical (IRE)                      10 to 1
 6.    Arklow                                 30 to 1
 7.    Glorious Empire (IRE)        12 to 1
 8.    Liam the Charmer                30 to 1
 9.    Quarteto de Cordas (BRZ)   30 to 1
10.   Hi Happy (ARG)                  20 to 1
11.   Sadler's Joy                           20 to 1
12.   Waldgeist (GB)                      9 to 2
13.   Hunting Horn (IRE)             30 to 1

  Classic
 1.    Thunder Snow (IRE)           12 to1
 2.    Roaring Lion                       20 to 1
 3.    Catholic Boy                        8 to 1
 4.    Gunnevera                           20 to 1
 5.    Lone Sailor                          30 to 1
 6.    McKinzie                             6 to 1
 7.    West Coast                           5 to 1
 8.    Pavel                                   20 to 1
 9.    Mendelssohn                       12 to 1
10.   Yoshida (JPN)                     10 to 1
11.   Mind Your Biscuits              6 to 1
12.   Axelrod                               30 to 1
13.   Discreet Lover                    20 to 1
14.   Accelerate                            5 to 2



Photos of My Favorite Racing Mares of the Past

Zenyatta

Genuine Risk

Winning Colors with 1992 filly bu Mr. Prospector

Beholder

Ruffian

Personal Ensign

Bayakoa

Goldikova

Lady's Secret

X Y Jet Out of Breeders' Cup Sprint; Post Positions Draw This Afternoon

The grey gelding, X Y Jet, has had three surgeries on his left knee in the past, and he had swelling in that knee this morning.  He is now scratched from the Breeders' Cup Sprint, which opens the way for B Squared to run in the full field of 14. 
   The Rood and Riddle Post Positions Draw will be a gala affair, with tickets available to the public this year.  It will begin at 4 p.m. (EDT), and is scheduled to end at 9 o'clock.  Trainers and owners have to decide which race they want to run their horse in well before 4, if their horse has qualified for multiple races - and several are entered in two or three.  It will be interesting to see who runs in what race.
   Tomorrow, I'll list the post positions for all of the 14  Breeders' Cup races that will be run on 2 and 3 November, as well as the two other graded stakes races from both days - so 18 race postings tomorrow....  (My fingers will be tired!)

Contenders in the $6 Million Classic - Breeders' Cup 2018

Here are the current contenders for the Classic  - the 14 entries are shown alphabetically, all are ages 3 and up, with the five on the wait list at the end , and this year all entries are males...


Accelerate, 5, chestnut, bred in Kentucky
by Lookin At Lucky, out of Issues

Axelrod, 3, bay, bred in Florida
by Warrior's Reward, out of Volatile Vickie

Catholic Boy, 3, bay ridgling, bred in Kentucky
by More Than Ready, out of Song of Bernadette

City of Light, 4, bay, bred in Kentucky
by Quality Road, out of Paris Notion

Discreet Lover, 5, bay, bred in Florida
by Repent, out of Discreet Chat

Lone Sailor, 3, bay, bred in Kentucky
by Majestic Warrior, out of Ambitious

McKinzie, 3, bay, bred in Kentucky
by Street Sense, out of Runway Model

Mendelssohn, 3, bay, bred in Kentucky 
by Scat Daddy, out of Leslie's Lady

Mind Your Biscuits, 5, chestnut, bred in New York
by Posse, out of Jazzmane

Pavel, 4, grey/roan, bred in Kentucky
by Creative Cause, out of Mons Venus

Roaring Lion, 3, grey, bred in Kentucky
by Kitten's Joy, out of Vionnet

Thunder Snow (IRE), 4, bay
by Helmet (AUS), out of Eastern Joy (GB)

West Coast, 4, bay, bred in Kentucky
by Flatter, out of Caressing

Yoshida (JPN), 4, bay
by Heart's Cry (JPN), out of Hilda's Passion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bravazo, 3, dark bay, bred in Kentucky
by Awesome Again, out of Tiz o'Gold

Gunnevera, 3, chestnut, bred in Kentucky
by Dialed In, out of Unbridled Rage

Seeking the Soul, 5, bay, bred in Kentucky
by Perfect Soul (IRE), out of Seeking the Title

Collected, 5, chestnut, bred in Kentucky
by City Zip, out of Helena Bay (GB)

Toast of New York, 7, bay gelding, bred in Kentucky
by Thewayyouare, out of Claire Soleil

Contenders in the Turf - Breeders' Cup 2018

Here are the current contenders for the Turf  - the entries are shown alphabetically, all are ages 3 and up with the one wait list entry at the end ...

Arklow, 4, bay colt, bred in Kentucky
by Arch, out of Unbridled Empire

Channel Maker, 4, chestnut gelding, bred in Ontario
by English Channel, out of In Return

Crystal Ocean (GB), 4, bay colt
by Sea The Stars (IRE), out of Crystal Star (GB)

Enable (GB), 4, bay filly
by Nathaniel (GB), out of Concentric (GB)

Glorious Empire (IRE), 7, brown gelding
by Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), out of Humble And Proud (IRE)

Hi Happy (ARG), 6, chestnut stallion
by Pure Prize, out of Historia (ARG)

Hunting Horn (IRE), 3, bay colt
by Camelot (GB), out of Mora Bai  (IRE)

Magical (IRE), 3, bay filly
by Galileo (IRE), out of Halfway To heaven (IRE)

Quarteto de Cordas (BRZ), 4, dark bay colt - in lead at right
by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), out of New Hampshire (BRZ)

Roaring Lion, 3, grey/roan colt, bred in Kentucky
by Kitten's Joy, out of Vionnet

Robert Bruce (CHI), 4, dark bay colt
by Fast Company (IRE), out of Lady Pelusa (ARG)

Sadler's Joy, 5, chestnut stallion, bred in Kentucky
by Kitten's Joy, out of Dynaire

Talismatic (GB), 5, bay stallion
by Medaglia d'Oro, out of Magic Mission (GB)

Waldgeist (GB), 4, chestnut colt
by Galileo (IRE), out of Waldlerche (GB)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liam the Charmer, 5, bay gelding, bred in Kentucky
by Smart Strike, out of Charm the Giant (IRE)