Countdown to the Breeders Cup World Championships Newsletter

Transcription

1 August 16, 2017 Contact: Jim Gluckson, Breeders Cup Countdown to the Breeders Cup World Championships Newsletter Advisory: This is the first of nine weekly news releases focusing on the horses and races leading to the 34 th Breeders Cup World Championships on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4 at Del Mar. For more information, please visit The Breeders Cup will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN. You can follow all the contenders activity leading up to the Breeders Cup with Equibase s free Road to the Breeders Cup Virtual Stable notification service. Arrogate Looks to Reassert Dominance in Win and You re In TVG Pacific Classic Defending Breeders Cup Classic (G1) winner ARROGATE will look to rebound from a stunning defeat and confirm his status as the definitive favorite for this year s race when he starts as the even-money favorite against seven rivals in Saturday s $1 million Win and You re In TVG Pacific Classic (GI), with a guaranteed starting berth into the Classic up for grabs. The Pacific Classic headlines a stellar card that also includes the Win and You re In Del Mar Handicap (GII), which will award an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders Cup Turf (G1), as well as the Del Mar Oaks (GI). This Saturday s Pacific Classic, which will air live on NBCSN from 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET as a part of the Breeders Cup Challenge Series Win and You re In Presented by Lane s End Farm and America s Best Racing telecast, takes on added significance, as it will be run over the same track and distance that this year s Breeders Cup Classic. That puts the 1¼-mile race as that much more of a pivotal start for Juddmonte Farm s Arrogate, as he had by far the worst effort of his brilliant career when fourth as the 1/9 favorite in the local prep, the July 22 TVG San Diego Handicap(GII). The 4-year-old son of 1995 Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled s Song is the top ranked horse in Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2017, off successive wins in the Travers (GI) at Saratoga and Classic at Santa Anita to end 2016, and then the inaugural Pegasus World Cup (GI) at Gulfstream Park in January and Dubai World Cup (GI) in March. Arrogate is 7-for-9 lifetime for trainer Bob Baffert but will start with some semblance of vulnerability off such a stunning defeat.

2 Arrogate, the gray by Unbridled s Song was assigned Post 8 at a special Draw Party Tuesday evening at the popular Brigantine restaurant on the high ground overlooking the seaside oval and once again will be handled by his Hall of Fame partner, Mike Smith. The mile and a quarter crucible, which will reward its winner with a prize of $600,000, will go off at approximately 5:40 p.m. as the 8th race on an 11-race card. The Juddmonte Farms colt was installment as the even-money favorite by Del Mar linemaker Russ Hudak, is as substantially longer price than the 1-5 morning line he started with in the TVG San Diego Handicap here July 22. He s also likely to finish quite a bit longer than the 1-20 odds he broke from the gate with in that mile and one-sixteenth test. The real question, though, is will he make up for a case of what subsequently proved to be disappointment of the highest order? Going into the San Diego, Arrogate had a record of seven wins from eight starts with a bankroll that registered over $17-million, more than any other North American horse in history. But in the San Diego he managed to -- in the words of his Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert -- lay an egg. The husky 4-year-old never got in gear that afternoon and finished a disappointing fourth. But his connections feel he has put that no go behind him and is back to his old self after a series of steady works since. He ll pack 124 pounds as will all runners in the race with the exception of the 3- year-old Sorry Erik, who gets 118 trying to show the racing world that he s back and that his Horse of the World crown still fits nicely on his classy head. Set to take him on are the colt who beat him in the TVG San Diego, Hronis Racing s Accelerate, along with another Hronis runner, Hard Aces; R3 Racing, Calara Farms and ERJ Racing s Curlin Road, Reddam Racing s Donworth, Tachycardia Stables and Twilight Racing s Royal Albert Hall, Big Chief Racing s Sorry Erik and Speedway Stable s Collected. The last-named runner, a galloping winner of the Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita in his last start, also hails from the Bob Baffert barn. Here s the field for the TVG Pacific Classic in post-position order with riders and morning line odds: Post Position Horse/Jockey Morning Line Odds 1 ROYAL ALBERT HALL (GB) 30-1 Corey Nakatani 2 COLLECTED Martin Garcia 5/2 3 ACCELERATE Victor Espinoza SORRY ERIK Kent Desormeaux HARD ACES Santiago Gonzalez DONWORTH Mario Gutierrez CURLIN ROAD Flavien Prat ARROGATE Mike Smith Even

3 The Pacific Classic is the fifth of seven automatic qualifiers for this year s Breeders Cup Classic, with just Santa Anita s Awesome Again (GI) September 30 and Belmont Park s Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) October 7 remaining. The Win and You re In action kicked off in February, when Gold Dream (JPN) won the February Stakes (GI) at Tokyo Racecourse. The stateside schedule commenced in June, when Gun Runner won the Stephen Foster (GI) at Churchill Downs, and later the Whitney (GI) at Saratoga August 5. The 3-year-olds took center stage in between, with GIRVIN winning the Haskell (GI) at Monmouth Park July 30. Del Mar Handicap to Offer Turf Bid on Classic Undercard An automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders Cup Turf will be on the line in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (GII), which serves as a credible supporting act to the Pacific Classic. Run at 1 3/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante turf course, the Del Mar Handicap figures to be led by Michael House s HUNT (IRE), and Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing s ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR, the 1-2 finishers in the Eddie Read (GII) over the course July 22. The former, a 5-year-old son of Dark Angel (IRE) trained by Phil D Amato, won his first career graded stakes in a slight upset over the latter, a 6-year-old son of Game Plan, the defending Del Mar Handicap winner who has been a mainstay atop the local long distance turf division the last few years for trainer Peter Eurton. Red Baron s Barn s multiple graded stakes winner ITSINTHEPOST (FR) is also expected for the Del Mar Handicap, as is BIG JOHN B, FLAMBOYANT (FR), HARD ACES, HE WILL, INORDINATE, MONSTER BEA, PRIME ATTRACTION, and UP WITH THE BIRDS. Alabama Kicks Off Big Stretch at Saratoga A loaded summer stakes schedule continues this weekend at Saratoga in Upstate New York, when the $600,000 Alabama (GI) will be run. The demanding 1 ¼-mile test for 3-year-old will feature a rematch between Adele Dilschneider s homebred ELATE and Gary Barber s SALTY, the 2-3 finishers in the local Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) July 23. The former, a daughter of Medaglia d Oro, may finally be turning the corner after hinting at big promise for trainer Bill Mott, while the latter, a daughter of Quality Road, won the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in April for trainer Mark Casse and has been a gem of consistency in the division all year. The Alabama is the clam before the storm that is Travers Day, August 26, when six grade I stakes will be run, including four Breeders Cup Win and You re In races, on a card that is highlighted by the historic 1¼-mile Travers, which should go a long way in helping to define a very muddled race for the 3-year-old championship. The Travers is shaping up as arguably the deepest, most competitive 3-year-old race of the year, with Kentucky Derby winner ALWAYS DREAMING looking to secure a stranglehold on the division, while Win and You re In Haskell (GI) winner GIRVIN and GOOD SAMARITAN, who upset Always Dreaming and Preakness winner CLOUD COMPUTING in the local prep, the Jim Dandy (GII), also expected. The Travers may anchor the card, but the quartet of grade I Challenge races will be showcases of their own, with dual-champion SONGBIRD, who won the Hands Winery Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland and just missed in las year s Longines Distaff at Santa Anita the only loss of her career headlining the action when she starts as a short-priced favorite in the Win and You re In Personal Ensign, which will offer an automatic berth into this year s Distaff. The Ballerina (Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), Priority One Jets Forego (Las Vegas Dirt Mile) and Sword Dancer (Longines Turf) all figure to attract all-star fields with Breeders Cup berths waiting in the balance. News and Notes Alice Springs Returns to Training, Eyes Breeders Cup Mile

4 Coolmore s ALICE SPRINGS (IRE), a two-time Breeders Cup veteran, is back on the mend and has her sights set on a third trip to racing s biggest weekend. Trainer Aidan O Brien indicated the 4-year-old daughter of Galileo (IRE) exited her second-place finish in her seasonal debut in the Gladness (GIII) at Naas April 9 with a minor injury but has resumed training and will be pointed to this year s Breeders Cup Mile at Del Mar. Alice Springs is on the way back, said O Brien. I would like to get her ready for the Breeders Cup, and get a run in beforehand. Alice Springs was second in the 2015 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland and 10 th in last year s Mile at Santa Anita. She s 5-for-17 lifetime, with 2016 wins in a trio of group I s; the Falmouth and Sun Chariot at Newmarket and Matron at Leopardstown. COUNTOWN TO THE BREEDERS CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS A listing of the upcoming major stakes races this weekend: BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC August 19 $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (GI) at Del Mar. Run at 1 ¼ miles for 3yos & up. August 19 $150,000 Canadian Derby (GIII) at Northlands Park. Run at 1 3/8 miles for 3yos. LONGINES BREEDERS CUP DISTAFF August 19 $600,000 Alabama (GI) at Saratoga. Run at 1 ¼ miles for 3yo fillies. BREEDERS CUP MILE August 19 $175,000 Play the King (GII) at Woodbine. Run at seven furlongs on the turf for 3yos & up. August 20 $200,000 Del Mar Mile (GII) at Del Mar. Run at 1-mile on the turf for 3yos & up. LONGINES BREEDERS CUP TURF August 19 $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (GII) at Del Mar. Run at 1 3/8 miles on the turf for 3yos & up. August 20 - $175,000 Sky Classic (GII) at Woodbine. Run at 1 ¼ miles on the turf for 3yos & up. BREEDERS CUP FILLY & MARE TURF August 19 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (GI) at Del Mar. Run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3yo fillies. August 19 - $300,000 Lake Placid (GII) at Saratoga. Run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3yo fillies. August 19 $100,000 Violet (GIII) at Monmouth Park. Run at 1-mile on the turf for fillies & mares. August 20 $262,821 Darley Prix Jean Romanet (GI) at Deauville. Run at 1 ¼ miles on the turf for fillies & mares. BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE TURF

5 August 20 $367,949 Darley Prix Morny (GI) at Deauville. Run at six furlongs on the turf for 2yos. MAJOR STAKES RECAP August A review of the major global races in the corresponding Breeders Cup divisions from last week. jockeys names are in parenthesis in each recap. The top Breeders Cup Points' leaders and Breeders Cup Challenge winners by division are listed at the end of each section. Breeders Cup Point earners are limited to horses who finish first, second or third in Graded Stakes races. Horses based outside of the U.S., who have not won a Breeders Cup Challenge race, are selected into World Championships races by the Breeders Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel at the Pre-Entry stage, Oct. 23. Juvenile standings will begin in September. An asterisk in the points section denotes a foreign contender. A complete Breeders Cup Points list is available at: $756,618 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois, 3yos & up, 1-mile (turf) BREEDERS CUP CHALLENGE RACE Deauville 1 AL WUKAIR (IRE), 2 INNS OF COURT (IRE), 3 THUNDER SNOW (IRE) Head, neck, 1 ¼ TRAIS FLUORS (GB), TAAREEF, GOLD LUCK (FR) Owner: Al Shaqab Racing; Trainer: Andre Fabre; Jockey: Frankie Dettori. 1:38.51 (soft) Countdown to the Breeders Cup Mile Al Shaqab Racing s AL WUKAIR (IRE) (Frankie Dettori) stepped up and scored his first career Group I win when he took Deauville s $756,618 Win and You re In Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois by a head over INNS OF COURT (IRE) and earned an automatic starting berth into the Breeders Cup Mile in the process. Andre Fabre trainer the winner, a 3-year-old son of Dream Ahead who had only a group III win in the Prix Djebel at Maisons- Laffitte in April to his credit before heading to Deauville. Al Wukair entered the Marois off a second-place finish in the Prix Messidor (GIII) at Maisons-Laffitte July 16 and has now won 4-of-6 lifetime starts. Fabre mentioned the Queen Elizabeth II (GI) at Ascot October 21 as Al Wukair s major target this fall. Godolphin s heavily favored THUNDER SNOW (IRE), who was pulled up in the Kentucky Derby but entered off a win in Chantilly s Prix Jean Prat (GI), was a head back in third for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and is also likely for the Queen Elizabeth. Video: Prix Jacques Le Marois $500,000 Fourstardave (GI), 3yos & up, 1-mile (turf) Saratoga 1 WORLD APPROVAL 2 TIME TEST (GB), 3 BALLAGH ROCKS 2 ¼, 1, 5 ½ DISCO PARTNER, SASSY LITTLE LILA, AMERICAN PATRIOT Owner: Live Oak Plantation; Trainer: Mark Casse; Jockey: Manny Franco. 1:37.65 (yielding)

6 Countdown to the Breeders Cup Mile Live Oak Plantation s WORLD APPROVAL (Manny Franco) relished the yielding ground while posting a 2 ¼-length win over TIME TEST (GB) in Saratoga s $500,000 Fourstardave (GI). The 5-year-old son of Northern Afleet won for the third time in four starts this year, and added to a campaign that has also seen wins in the Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in April and Dixie (GII) at Pimlico in May. World Approval entered off a fifth-place finish in the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan (GI) at Belmont Park June 10 and clearly liked the cutback, which has Casse thinking big for the rest of the season. Maybe the Woodbine Mile is a possibility, but I haven t really thought about it, Casse said. Long-term, our goal was the Breeders Cup (Mile), but we re just happy to have this. The Woodbine Mile, run September 16, is a Win and You re In for this year s Breeders Cup Mile. Video: Fourstardave Breeders Cup Mile Breeders Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders Points Horse Trainer Owner BCC Winner Bal a Bali Richard Mandella Calumet Farm 16 World Approval Mark E. Casse Live Oak Plantation 14 Time Test (GB) Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms, Inc. 4 Deauville (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Fitri Hay, Derrick Smith, 0 Home of The Brave (IRE) Hugo Palmer Godolphin Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor 0 Lancaster Bomber Aidan P. O'Brien Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith 0 Ribchester (IRE) Richard A. Fahey Godolphin 0 Suedois (FR) David O'Meara George Turner $1 million Arlington Million (GI), 3yos & up, 1 ¼ miles (turf) BREEDERS CUP CHALLENGE RACE Arlington Park 1 BEACH PATROL, 2 FANCIFUL ANGEL (IRE), 3 DEAUVILLE (IRE) Head, neck, head ENTERPRISING, ASCEND, OAK BROOK, DIVISIDERO, OSCAR NOMINATED, KASAQUI (ARG), MEKHTAAL (GB), GHOST HUNTER, THE PIZZA MAN Owner: James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners & Head of Plains Partners; Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Joel Rosario. 2:02.39 (firm) Countdown to the Longines Breeders Cup Turf James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners and Head of Plains Partners BEACH PATROL (Joes Rosario) earned an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders Cup Turf with a thrilling head victory over FANCIFUL ANGEL (IRE) in the $1 million Win and You re In Arlington Million (GI). Chad Brown trained the winner, a 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid who returned to Arlington a year after winning the Secretariat (GI) last year on the Million undercard. Beach Patrol, who won for the first time in five starts this year, is now 4-for-15 lifetime and has co-owner Covello thinking the longer distance in the Turf is a distinct possibility. I think he can get the mile and a half, said Covello. He strides out at a mile and a quarter and galloped out well, and he stayed on well at 1 3/8 miles at Monmouth (when third in the United Nations (GI) July 1). He ll go to the race as long as he s healthy, but I think it s going to depend if we can get a break like in the Million, where we have a horse to

7 sit off of. Coolmore s solidly favored DEAUVILLE (IRE) got a dream run up the rail but couldn t get to the top pair while running third in the Million for the second year in a row for trainer Aidan O Brien. Video: Arlington Million $400,000 Secretariat (GI), 3yos, 1 ¼ miles (turf) Arlington Park 1 OSCAR PERFORMANCE, 2 TAJ MAHAL (IRE), 3 ALFANDEM (FR) 2 ½, 1 ½, ¾ SONIC BOOM, GORGEOUS KITTEN, PERMIAN (IRE) Owner: Ammerman Racing; Trainer: Brian Lynch; Jockey: Jose Ortiz. 2:01.79 (firm) Countdown to the Longines Breeders Cup Turf Reigning Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf winner OSCAR PERFORMANCE (Jose Ortiz) kept rolling with an easy 2 ½-length win over TAJ MAHAL (IRE) in Arlington Park s $400,000 Secretariat (GI). The 3-year-old son of Kitten s Joy won his third straight, to go with wins in the Pennine Ridge (GIII) at Belmont in June and Belmont Derby (GI) July 8. Oscar Performance, who ended his juvenile campaign with a win in the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in November, has now won 6-of-9 lifetime starts and, now that he s won twice in a row at 1 ¼ miles, has Lynch thinking even longer later this fall. "I'd say the Joe Hirsch is on the radar and I think if we were to speculate what race we would go in the Breeders' Cup, it would be the mile and a half on the turf," Lynch said. "He's shown that he can go long now and he can quicken when he needs to, so I think the Turf will be where we end up." The Win and You re In Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (GI) will be run September 30 at Belmont Park and offer an automatic starting berth into this year s Longines Breeders Cup Turf. Video: Secretariat Stakes $250,000 American St. Leger (GIII), 3yos & up, 1 11/16 miles (turf) Arlington Park 1 POSTULATION, 2 TAGHLEEB, 3 KEYSTONEFORVICTORY 2 ¼, 1 ½, 4 ¾ TOBIAS, BULLARDS ALLEY, ALPHA WARRIOR, APPLICATOR, CREWMAN Owner: Runnymede Racing; Trainer: Eddie Graham; Jockey: Jorge Vargas. 2:49.45 (firm) Countdown to the Longines Breeders Cup Turf Runnymede Racing s POSTULATION (Jorge Vargas) got the jump on TAGHLEEB and posted a 2 ¼-length win in Arlington Park s $250,000 American St. Leger (GIII). Eddie Graham trained the winner, a 5-year-old son of Harlan s Holiday who entered off a 6-length win in Delaware Park s Cape Henlopen July 8. Postulation is now 5-for-16 and could be a longshot candidate for the Longines Breeders Cup Turf, as Graham started former Arlington Million winner Hardest Core in the race in Video: American St. Leger Longines Breeders Cup Turf Breeders Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders Points Horse Trainer Owner BCC Winner Beach Patrol Chad C. Brown James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners, Head of Plains Partners LLC BCC Winner Enable (GB) John H.M. Gosden Juddmonte Farms Limited BCC Winner Satono Crown (JPN) Noriyuki Hori Hajime Satomi BCC Winner Voador Magee (BRZ) Luis Esteves Stud Eternamente Rio 24 Oscar Performance Brian A. Lynch Amerman Racing, LLC

8 * Highland Reel (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith * Queen's Trust (GB) Sir Michael R. Cheveley Park Stud Ltd. Stoute * So Mi Dar (GB) John H.M. Gosden Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber * Ulysses (IRE) Sir Michael R. Flaxman Holdings Limited Stoute * Winter (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor $600,000 Beverly D. (GI), fillies & mares, 1 3/16 miles (turf) BREEDERS CUP CHALLENGE RACE Arlington Park 1 DACITA (CHI), 2 (DH) DONA BRUJA (ARG), 2 (DH) GRAND JETE (GB) Half, 1 ¼, 1 ¼ RAINHA DA BATERIA, KITTEN S ROAR, SARANDIA (GER), HAWKSMOOR (IRE), RAIN GODDESS (IRE), ZIPESSA, PRADO S SWEET RIDE Owner: Sheep Pond Partners & Bradley Thoroughbreds; Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Irad Ortiz. 1:54.93 (firm) Countdown to the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds DACITA (CHI) (Joel Rosario) earned an automatic starting berth into the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf with a half-length win over DONA BRUJA (ARG) and GRANDE JETE (GB), who deadheated for second, in Arlington Park s $600,000 Win and You re In Beverly D. (GI). The 6-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy won her second grade I in America, to go with the Diana (GI) at Saratoga last year. Dacita, who was a multiple group I winner in her native Chile when trained Juan Silva Gajardo, was purchased privately and sent to trainer Chad Brown in 2015 and has been one of the more consistent performers in the filly and mare turfs ranks since. She s now won 10-for-19 starts and has co-owner Sol Kumin hoping she can better her ninth-place performance in the 2015 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland. This filly is something special, the way she finished we knew she had it in her, Kumin said. Thanks to Mr. Brown. We ll have to regroup and talk to Chad with the Breeders Cup being the goal. Video: Beverly D. Stakes Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf Breeders Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders Points Horse Trainer Owner BCC Winner Birdie Gold Juan Suarez Stud Couet BCC Winner Dacita (CHI) Chad C. Brown Sheep Pond Partners, Bradley Thoroughbreds 26 Lady Eli Chad C. Brown Sheep Pond Partners 24 Dickinson Kiaran P. Godolphin Racing LLC McLaughlin 14 New Money Honey Chad C. Brown efive Racing Thoroughbreds 14 Quidura (GB) H. Graham Motion Gestut Fahrhof * Alice Springs (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith * Nezwaah (GB) Roger Varian Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum * Queen's Trust (GB) Sir Michael R. Stoute Cheveley Park Stud Ltd.

9 * Rhododendron (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith * Roly Poly Aidan P. O'Brien Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith * Senga Pascal F. Bary Flaxman Holdings Limited * Unforgetable Filly (GB) Hugo Palmer Dr. Ali Ridha * Winter (IRE) Aidan P. O'Brien Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor $201,045 Best Pal (GII), 2yos, six and a half furlongs Del Mar 1 RUN AWAY, 2 DIA DE PAGO, 3 FLEETWOOD 3 ½, 2 ½, 3 MASTER RULER, ARAWAK, SERENGETI, ARMOUR PLATE, AN OCALA TEN Owner: Kaleem Shah; Trainer: Simon Callaghan; Jockey: Flavien Prat. 1:17.91 (fast) Countdown to the Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Juvenile Kaleem Shah s RUN AWAY (Flavien Prat) remained undefeated in three starts with a powerful 3 ½-length win over DIA DE PAGO in Del Mar s $201,045 Best Pal (GII). Simon Callaghan trained the winner, a 2-year-old son of Run Away and Hide who was odds-on while winning his debut at Santa Anita in May and its Juvenile on July 3. Run Away, who was a pricey $325,000 purchase out of the Barretts 2-year-old in training sale in March, has already gone a long way in paying dividends and figures a leading contender for the Del Mar Futurity (GI) September 4. Favored SERENGETI, who entered off an 11-length maiden win June 25 at Santa Anita, disappointed while finishing a well-beaten sixth for trainer Bob Baffert. Video: Best Pal Stakes $200,000 Saratoga Special (GII), 2yos, six and a half furlongs Saratoga 1 COPPER BULLET, 2 HOLLYWOOD STAR, 3 TEMPESTAD 4, 2, neck BAL HARBOUR, CREA S BKLYN LAW, DIAMOND OOPS, MO DIDDLEY, BARRY LEE, VINO Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds & Willis Horton; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Irad Ortiz. 1:16.45 (fast) Countdown to the Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Juvenile Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton s COPPER BULLET (Irad Ortiz) ran off to an impressive 4-length win over HOLLYWOOD STAR in the $200,000 Saratoga Special (GII). The son of More Than Ready was a troubled second in Churchill Downs Bashford Manor (GIII) in his last start June 30 for trainer Steve Asmussen but had no such issues while earning his first stakes victory and moving his lifetime mark to 2-for-4. Copper Bullet was a $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September sale in 2016 and figures to take some beating off this effort should he come back for Saratoga s Hopeful (GI) September 4. Sagamore Farm s heavily favored BARRY LEE dueled early then retreated readily while finishing eighth for trainer Horacio DePaz. Video: Saratoga Special $200,000 Adirondack (GII), 2yo fillies, six and a half furlongs Saratoga

10 1 PURE SILVER, 2 SOUTHAMPTON WAY, 3 WALL OF COMPASSION 9 ½, 1, 3 ¾ STAINLESS, SLY ROXY, LIMITED VIEW, PROPORTIONALITY, DI MARIA Owner: Twin Creeks Racing Stable; Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: John Velazquez. 1:17.22 (fast) Countdown to the 14 Hands Winery Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Twin Creeks Racing Stable s homebred PURE SILVER (John Velazquez) left little doubt who the best 2-year-old filly on the grounds is with an eye-catching 9 ½-length win over SOUTHAMPTON WAY in Saratoga s $200,000 Adirondack (GII). Todd Pletcher trained the winner, a New York-bred daughter of Mission Impazible who has yet to be behind a horse at any call in her three races, but reached a new level while testing open company for the first time. Pure Silver broke her maiden at Belmont Park in June and then won their Lynbrook July 16, and looks like a short-priced favorite for the local September 2 Spinaway (GI), which is a Win and You re In for the 14 Hands Winery Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Video: Adirondack Stakes $200,000 Longacres Mile (GIII), 3yos & up, 1-mile Emerald Downs 1 GOLD RUSH DANCER, 2 MACH ONE RULES, 3 DEDICATED TO YOU 4 ¾, head, 1 ¾ BARKLEY, POINT PIPER, STRYKER PHD, SEATTLE SERENADE, PAPA FRANK, CHIEF OF STAFF, BISTRAYA, TOGRAMMASHOUSEWEGO, BLACK SONA Owner: John Parker; Trainer: Van Belvoir; Jockey: Evin Roman. 1:33.85 (fast) Countdown to the Las Vegas Breeders Cup Dirt Mile John Parker s GOLD RUSH DANCER (Evin Roman) dueled early and pulled clear late to score a dominant 4 ¾-length win over MACH ONE RULES in Emerald Downs $200,000 Longacres Mile (GIII). The 4-year-old son of Private Gold won his first career graded stakes for trainer Van Belvoir and scored his first win in over a year since taking Del Mar s Real Good Deal in July Gold Rush Dancer is now 6-for-18 lifetime and could be a candidate for the Las Vegas Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. Video: Longacres Mile Las Vegas Dirt Mile Breeders Cup Challenge (BCC) winners and Points Leaders Points Horse Trainer Owner BCC Winner Mor Spirit Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 16 Awesome Slew Mark E. Casse Live Oak Plantation 16 Battle of Midway Jerry Hollendorfer Don Alberto Stable, WinStar Farm, LLC 16 Practical Joke Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables Inc, William H. Lawrence 16 Sharp Azteca Jorge Navarro Gelfenstein Farm 13 Accelerate John W. Sadler Hronis Racing LLC 10 Danzing Candy Bob Baffert Halo Farms, Jim Bashor, Diane Bashor 4 Donworth Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing, LLC

11 $100,000 Rancho Bernardo (GIII), fillies & mares, six and a half furlongs Del Mar 1 SKYE DIAMONDS, 2 CONSTELLATION, 3 BENDABLE 1 ¼, 3 ¼, 1 MUNNY SPUNT, ROCKPORT BABE Owner: Tom Acker, John Lindo, Bloom Racing & Allen Racing; Trainer: Bill Spawr; Jockey: Tiago Pereira. 1:15.95 (fast) Countdown to the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Tom Acker, John Lindo, Bloom Racing and Allen Racing s SKYE DIAMONDS (Tiago Pereira) confirmed her status as California s top filly and mare dirt sprinter with a sharp 1 ¼-length win over CONSTELLATION in Del Mar s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo (GIII). Bill Spawr trained the winner, a 4-year-old daughter of First Dude who has done big things since being claimed for $40,000 in August Skye Diamonds has won 7-of-9 starts in Spawr s care, including the Great Lady M (GII) at Los Alamitos Race Course in her last start July 8. She s now 9-for-16 lifetime and Spawr indicated she ll likely train up to the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Video: Rancho Bernardo Stakes Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Breeders Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners & Points Leaders Points Horse Trainer Owner BCC Winner Curlin's Approval Martin D. Wolfson Bridlewood Farm; Happy Alter 26 Paulassilverlining Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms, Inc. 24 Finest City Ian Kruljac Seltzer Thoroughbreds LLC 14 American Gal Simon Callaghan Kaleem Shah, Inc. 14 By the Moon Michelle Nevin Samantha Siegel 14 Constellation Jerry Hollendorfer LNJ Foxwoods 12 Finley'sluckycharm W. Bret Calhoun Carl R. Moore Management 12 Skye Diamonds William Spawr Tom Acker, Allen Racing LLC, Bloom Racing Stable LLC 2 Champagne Room Peter A. Eurton Ciaglia Racing LLC $262,821 Keeneland Phoenix (GI), 2yos, seven furlongs The Curragh 1 SIOUX NATION, 2 BECKFORD (GB), 3 ACTRESS (IRE) Half, 1 ½, half U S NAVY FLAG, FROZEN ANGEL (IRE), ROMANISED (IRE), DECLARATIONOFPEACE, HELVETIAN (GB) Owner: Coolmore; Trainer: Aidan O Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore. 1:11.72 (good) Countdown to the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Coolmore s SIOUX NATION (Ryan Moore) won his first career Group I with a half-length win over BECKFORD (GB) in The Curragh s $262,821 Keeneland Phoenix. The 2-year-old son of Scat Daddy has had a busy freshman campaign for trainer Aidan O Brien, as he s run six times, which includes a win in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot (GII) in his last start June 22. Overall, Sioux Nation has won three times and will likely be pointed to either the local Vincent O Brien National (GI) September 10 or the Middle Park at Newmarket (GI) September 30.

12 Video: Keeneland Phoenix Stakes About Breeders Cup The Breeders Cup administers the Breeders Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing s year-end Championships. The Breeders Cup also administers the Breeders Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2017 Breeders Cup World Championships, consisting of 13 Grade I races with purses and awards totaling more than $28 million, will be held November 3-4 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. The Breeders Cup culminates with the $6 million Breeders Cup Classic, which was rated No. 1 in the world in the final 2016 Longines World s Best Horse Race rankings. Breeders Cup press releases appear on the Breeders Cup Web site, You can also follow the Breeders Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. -30-