Handicapping

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Afleeting Lady jumps up in Turnback the Alarm

Exactly one week before her half-brother and stablemate Shackleford lines up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Afleeting Lady broke through with her first graded victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park. Owned by Alpha Delta Stables and Richard Santulli, the Dale Romans trainee stalked, pounced, and drew off with authority by 3 1/2 lengths.

Willcox Inn, juvenile duo post moves at Keeneland for BC engagements

Grade 2 hero Willcox Inn, pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, worked at Keeneland on Saturday for the second time since his runner-up finish to Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on October 6. With assistant Hilary Pridham aboard for trainer Mike Stidham, the colt worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in company with Every Way, a two-year-old City Zip filly who was third in the Grade 3 Mazarine at Woodbine on October 6.

Sum of the Parts, Global Power breeze for Amoss

Sum of the Parts, winner of the Grade 3 Phoenix on October 5 at Keeneland, capped his major preparations for a start in next Saturday's $1.5 million Breeders Cup Sprint by working a half-mile in :47 3/5 under jockey Julien Leparoux on Saturday morning at the Lexington, Kentucky, track.

On the Breeders' Cup worktab

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had Godolphin's Breeders' Cup foursome working a half-mile over the all-weather Tapeta at Greentree Training Center on Friday.

Baffert dismisses home-court edge; Bejarano with nine mounts so far

Bob Baffert, who has been headquartered at Santa Anita for more than two decades, can fall out of bed and be at the Breeders' Cup when it's run next Friday and Saturday. Ditto for his horses, who are only a furlong away from their barn to the starting gate, but that doesn't necessarily provide an edge over those who have to ship in from all parts of the globe.

Twin Spires form backdrop for Casse's Breeders' Cup quintet

Trainer Mark Casse had planned to work his two juvenile fillies pointing to the Breeders' Cup on Friday and the boys would work Saturday. The threat of rainy conditions Friday and Saturday caused Casse to call an audible and all five of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls breezed over the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning.

Richard's Kid among bevy of workers for Team O'Neill

With the clock inexorably ticking ever closer to the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita nine days hence, event participants went through their daily regimen without a hitch on a clear, crisp, sun-filled Thursday morning with the scenic San Gabriel Mountains providing their ever-present picturesque background.

Musical Romance drills at Calder before leaving for BC swan song

Approximately nine hours after working five furlongs over a sloppy track in :59 4/5 on Thursday, Pinnacle Racing Stables Inc. and Bill Kaplan's champion female sprinter Musical Romance departed Calder aboard a Brookledge van bound for Kentucky, the first-leg of a two-tiered journey to California where the mare will seek a title defense in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on November 3 in what is expected to be her final start.

'BCin3D' unveiled at L.A. Live

The Breeders' Cup, joined by Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Chairman Keith Brackpool, Breeders' Cup Ambassador Bo Derek and Hall of Fame jockeys Laffit Pincay Jr. and Gary Stevens, on Thursday unveiled "BCin3D" at a press conference at L.A. LIVE welcoming the Breeders' Cup back to Southern California.

'A Taste of the World' to showcase global cuisine

The Breeders' Cup, which takes place November 2-3 at Santa Anita Park, has become the culmination of the U.S. Thoroughbred-racing season, and attracts some of the best horses, trainers and owners from across the globe. This year, Breeders' Cup and Grey Goose Vodka will showcase a celebration of global cuisine to go along with the Thoroughbred action when hosting "A Taste of the World."

Algorithms to stand at Claiborne

Starlight Racing's undefeated Algorithms will enter stud at Claiborne Farm for 2013, according to farm representative Bernie Sams. The son of leading sire Bernardini will be syndicated and stand for a $7,500 fee.

Breeders' Cup names eight Ambassadors for inaugural program

Eight celebrity racing fans and owners are being honored as Breeders' Cup Ambassadors in the inaugural year of a program launched by the organization. The honor comes with rewards which allow the Ambassadors to enjoy horse racing all over the world, including concierge service, tickets and more. Additionally, they will serve as spokespersons for the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships and help promote the prestigious international event.

On the Breeders' Cup worktab

Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap hero Nonios (Pleasantly Perfect), runner-up in the Grade 1 Awesome Again (formerly Goodwood) and Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, clocked a bullet five furlongs in :59 4/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Wednesday. The dark bay sophomore has been pre-entered to both the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Classic, with a first preference to the Dirt Mile.

Breeders' Cup attracts 180 Pre-Entries for 2012 World Championships

Led by multiple Grade 1 winner Game On Dude, defending Ladies' Classic champion Royal Delta, dominating turf stars Wise Dan and  Point of Entry,  and 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, 180 horses, including eight defending or former Breeders' Cup Champions, have been pre-entered for the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Take Charge Indy returns in Fayette

Hoping to add his name to an honor roll of three-year-old winners of the Grade 2, $150,000 Fayette that includes Blame and Arch, Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy makes his return to the races Saturday in the closing day feature at Keeneland. The Pat Byrne trainee is the only sophomore in a field of 11 that will negotiate nine furlongs on Polytrack.

Breeders' Cup releases official race order

The Breeders' Cup has announced the final race order for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, November 2-3 at Santa Anita Park. While all of the Friday races will remain in the same order when announced earlier this month, there were three changes made to the Saturday program.

Speightstown colt brings $440,000 at Fasig-Tipton

A gray son of Speightstown provided some late fireworks near the conclusion of Tuesday's second session of Fasig-Tipton's October Yearling Sale at Newtown Paddocks near Lexington, Kentucky. Whipser Hill Farm was the winning bidder at $440,000 for the February 2 Kentucky-bred, who was offered as Hip No. 820 from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Hovdey and Tower added to Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor

Esteemed turf writers Jay Hovdey and the late Whitney Tower have been chosen as the National Museum of Racing's Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor recipients for 2012. The Roll of Honor was initiated by the Museum in 2010 in memory of Hirsch, a distinguished turf writer who died the previous year.

Breeders' Cup creates 'Text to Donate' for retired horses

In its continuing support of a national program for  retired racehorses, the Breeders' Cup announced Tuesday that it has created a "Text  to Donate" campaign, through Give by Cell, to allow fans to contribute to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

Stronach, BCCA to be honored for charity work

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will honor Frank Stronach with the TCA Leadership Award and Belmont Child Care Association with the TCA Industry Service Award at the 23rd Annual Select Stallion Season Auction to be held January 5, 2013 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Dettori turns freelance after amicable split with Godolphin

In a move that did not come unexpectedly, Godolphin announced Sunday that Frankie Dettori will no longer serve as a retained rider for the stable. The popular Italian, who had been Godolphin's premier rider for 18 years, will now become a highly sought-after freelancer. On that basis, Dettori will continue to accept mounts for Sheikh Mohammed's flagship operation.

Upperline makes history in Dowager

The veteran five-year-old mare Upperline made her finale for the Mike Stidham barn in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager Stakes, and seized the moment to make Keeneland history as well. The winner of the Grade 3 Bewitch here in April, Upperline became the first to sweep both of the track's 1 1/2-mile turf stakes for distaffers in the same season.

Awesome Feather, The Lumber Guy tune up at Belmont

Trainer Chad Brown sent out undefeated Awesome Feather on Sunday morning for her penultimate work prior to an expected start in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. The four-year-old Awesome of Course filly was caught by NYRA clockers in 1:12 1/5 for six furlongs over Belmont Park's fast main track, the only work at the distance.

Saratoga Snacks whets appetite for the future

Trainer Gary Sciacca expressed excitement Sunday morning about what the future might have in store for Saratoga Snacks, a three-year-old who on Saturday finished second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by five-year-old Lunar Victory, in the Empire Classic.

Gold Ship flirts with stakes record in Kikuka Sho

Gold Ship, sent off heavy favorite with the absence of archrival Deep Brillante, lived up to expectations with his second classic victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Kyoto. Trained by Naosuke Sugai and ridden by Hiroyuki Uchida, the gray son of Stay Gold covered about 1 7/8 miles on firm turf in 3:02.9, just missing the stakes record of 3:02.7 established by Song of Wind in 2006.

Bern Identity cruises in Jean Lafitte

Under jockey Paco Lopez, Bern Identity sat behind the early leaders before moving up four wide around the second turn. When Lopez gave him his cue he responded well by opening up a clear lead in the stretch and cruising home in front by three lengths while never feeling the whip. Finishing another four lengths behind Mylute in third was Mr. Bandini's Band. Bern Identity covered the distance over a fast track in 1:39 2/5.

Broken Dreams snuffs out Kindle in time in Sen. Maddy

Kindle, the 5-2 second choice, blasted right out of the gate in her turf debut. As she sizzled through fractions of :20 4/5 and :42 2/5, Kindle opened up a sizeable margin. Broken Dreams, who was shortening up off a trio of route races, stalked beneath Garrett Gomez, but the 3-1 third choice still had about five lengths to make up at the top of the stretch. The 2-1 favorite Byrama, who had been last early, had even more of a deficit to overcome.

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