A complete look at the major runners on the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships cards at Santa Anita Nov. 6-7.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Although she was back in her barn at Hollywood Park after her historic Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) win, Zenyatta was the hot topic the morning of Nov. 8 among those gathered at Clocker's Corner at Santa Anita, one day after they witnessed history.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
With limited training hours at Santa Anita on Breeders' Cup Day, Friday, Nov. 6, most of the major horses scheduled to run on Day 2 went to the track early under cool and partly cloudy skies.
Friday, November 06, 2009
On an otherwise routine morning, Lillie Langtry tosses rider and forces trainer to climb aboard.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
In what trainer Chip Woolley labeled "pretty much perfect," Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Santa Anita Nov. 2 in preparation for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Monday, November 02, 2009
Juddmonte Farms homebred Ventura will be defending her title in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, and she's ready to roll, according Garrette O'Rourke, who manages Juddmonte's nursery near Lexington.
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Breeders' Cup has released the official race order and wagering menu for the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Canadian champion and two-time grade I winner Kodiak Kowboy will be entered in the Nov. 7 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park even though his experience on synthetic tracks is limited and he has enjoyed his greatest success on dirt.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Chip Woolley Jr. sees the glass as half full for Mine That Bird in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) during Santa Anita Park's Oak Tree meeting Nov. 7.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Breeders' Cup announced Sept. 21 that an all Breeders' Cup Pick 6 wager will be offered on both days of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita Park. Breeders' Cup also released the tentative race schedule for the two days.
Monday, September 21, 2009
A story about Rachel Alexandra seems out of place in a column about the Breeders' Cup, but who cares. That's between Jess Jackson and the Breeders' Cup decision makers. Even though there will be no launching of the Rachel rocket on Nov. 7, it's still fun to "count down" to the imaginary blast off.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Deadline for the early discount of $100 off the $500 price for a Breeders' Cup foal nomination is midnight ET Aug. 1. As a part of a nominator stimulus plan announced April 7, the discount applies to all foals nominated electronically or "on-line" to the Breeders' Cup program for the 2009 foal crop if made on or before the Aug. 1 deadline.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Breeders' Cup and TVG announced July 16 a multi-year agreement renewing TVG as an official media partner of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. As part of the agreement, TVG will remain the exclusive marketing partner in the ADW category and become title sponsor of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Breeders' Cup announced July 1 that 10 individuals are on the ballot for the election of six positions to its board of directors.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
ABC/ESPN reports that television ratings for its Oct. 24-25 telecasts of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park rose slightly from 2007 figures. However, ratings remain far below those posted by NBC before ABC/ESPN took over the event in 2006.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Though champion Curlin may not have handled the synthetic racing surface as well as some of his European rivals did in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), Santa Anita Park's Pro-Ride racing surface performed safely during the two-day World Championships Oct. 24-25.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Jockey Jeremy Rose, back riding after a suspension for a whipping incident at Delaware Park in June, believes he's off to a good start.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Handle for the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships was up 5.5% over last year's event, according to preliminary data released Oct. 26.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
European challengers Raven's Pass and Henrythenavigator plus U.S. contender Tiago defeat fourth-placed Curlin. Despite a big move by Curlin at the top of the stretch that put him on the lead, Raven's Pass roared past him on the outside. Meanwhile, Henrythenavigator came along the rail to take second.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Conduit won the Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) in stakes record time. The Irish-bred son of Dalakhani ran the 1 1/2-mile race in 2:23.42. Eagle Mountain was second, and long-shot Dancing Forever was third.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Riding his fourth Breeders' Cup winner of the weekend, Garrett Gomez guided Midnight Lute to his second win in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park. The son of Real Quiet won the Sprint last year. The final time for six furlongs was 1:07.08.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
In an thrilling stretch duel, English-bred invader Donativum bested Irish rival Westphalia by a half length to capture the $1-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park Oct. 25.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Midshipman moved quickly to the lead going into the first turn of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). The son of Unbridled's Song stayed in front for the rest of the 1 1/16-mile race to win by over a length. Favorite Square Eddie finished second, and Street Hero finished third.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
European challenger Goldikova, undefeated in her previous three starts in French group races, won the Breeders' Cup Mile with a thrilling burst of speed in mid-stretch. Trainer Freddie Head becomes the first person to win a Breeders' Cup World Championship race as a jockey(Miesque, 1987-88) and now as a trainer.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Albertus Maximus powered past longshots Two Step Salsa and My Pal Charlie inside the final furlong to win the $1-million TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by 1 1/4 lengths over the late-closing Rebellion.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
After having some time to reflect upon how the first Breeders' Cup Ladies' Day turned out, Peter Land, chief marketing officer of Breeders' Cup Ltd. said it was a success on most fronts, though it's still early to claim total victory.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
It took hillside course specialist Desert Code, the longest shot on the board at odds of 36-1, to crack the inaugural $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Richard Pegum's Muhannak got a dream trip under jockey Patrick Smullen to win the inaugural Breeders' Cup Marathon in track-record time at Santa Anita Park Oct. 25, second day of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Despite being 10 lengths back with a half mile to go, Zenyatta gobbled ground easily to win the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I). She is now undefeated in nine career starts. Cocoa Beach was second with Music Note in third.
Friday, October 24, 2008
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Forever Together came with a furious rally in the center of the course and got up in the final strides to take the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) by three-quarters of a length Oct. 24 at Santa Anita Park.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Favorite Stardom Bound, with a bold move, quickly took command of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Dream Empress was second and Sky Diva third. The final time in the 1 1/16-mile race was 1:40.99.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Undefeated Maram got up to win the inaugural Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by a nose in the final strides over Heart Shaped. The $1 million contest was the second Breeders' Cup race on the Oct. 24 Ladies Day card of the two-day World Championships card at Santa Anita.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Ventura overtook favored Indian Blessing in the stretch Oct. 24 and drew off to win the $1-million Sentient Flight Group Filly & Mare Sprint, the first Breeders' Cup race on the two-day World Championships card at Santa Anita.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Todd Malley, Larry Higgs, Beau Smith, and Jason Inabinnett were given the RTCA's White Horse Award at Santa Anita Park Oct. 23. The four men risked their lives to lead 19 of their 40 horses from their stalls before their Vinton, La., barn was engulfed in flames.
Friday, October 24, 2008
A triumph by the powerhouse Mr. Nightlinger in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Oct. 25 would be tantamount to a Hollywood ending for a couple fond of naming their horses after movie characters.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Duesenberg guitar autographed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is one of the premier items to be auctioned to benefit Breeders' Cup Charities during the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Bob Baffert will send out a pair of Breeders' Cup champions this weekend in Midnight Lute and Indian Blessing, hoping to repeat his strong 2007 World Championships.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
National Turf Writers Assoc. hosts annual awards dinner; honors Chris McCarron, the late Luke Kruytbosch, and Turf writer Maryjean Wall.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Freddie Head knows all about winning the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). He did so twice -- as a jockey -- with the filly Miesque in 1987-88. Now he's trying to win a championship as a trainer with Goldikova.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Mauralakana's owner had expected his mare to be in a Southern Hemisphere breeding shed in October, not the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The 5-year-old mare is Robert Scarborough's first Breeders' Cup contender.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Health and safety procedures announced for two-day Breeders' Cup program.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Put together by Kelly Colliver, the 26-member strong Livin the Dream partnership group owns one horse in training. That horse is Dream Empress, who figures to be a strong contender for Friday's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Curlin, the heavy favorite at 7-5 in the Breeders' Cup Classic, drew post nine against 11 other rivals. The race will be run Oct. 25.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tepid 3-1 favorite Wait a While faces a tough field in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oct. 24. The 10-horse field includes seven other grade or group I winners.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Zenyatta drew post one in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) and was made the 3-5 morning-line favorite.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
European invader Sixties Icon, who has won three consecutive group III events in England, was installed as the 2-1 morning-line choice for the inaugural $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) winner Well Armed, trained by Eoin Harty for WinStar Farms, was installed the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run over the Pro-Ride artificial surface on the main World Championship card Oct. 25.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
As it often does, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) has produced the morning-line favorite for the the $3-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) as Aidan O'Brien's Irish raider Soldier of Fortune leads a packed field of 11 at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Cost of Freedom and Street Boss drew posts 1 and 2, respectively, for the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). The pair had finished one-two in the Sept. 27 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) over the same Pro-Ride synthetic surface they will be competing on in the Oct. 25 Sprint.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A wide-open field of 12, led by lukewarm morning-line favorite Laragh, was drawn for the inaugural $1-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008