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Is Gio Ponti Still at the Top of His Class?

Jason Shandler looks at the Turf Division, dominated by Gio Ponti in 2009.

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Longshot Allegre Scratched Out of Turf

Eagle Oak Ranch and partners' 4-year-old Allegre, the 50-1 outsider, has been scratched from the Nov. 7 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita.

Euros Have Big Edge in Breeders' Cup Turf

Though three of the Euros top distance horses -- Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle, and Twice Over -- are being pointed to either the Classic (gr. I) or Dirt Mile (gr. I), they still hold the upper hand on the Americans for the Nov. 7 Turf.

Theatrical Pensioned From Stud Duty

Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced Oct. 13 that champion and leading sire Theatrical has been pensioned from stud duty.

Spring House Home Again in Del Mar Handicap

Spring House earned a repeat victory in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) when he came from far off the pace Aug. 30 to catch the outsider Sir Dave by an extremely short nose on the turf.

Turf Classic or C. Hirsch Next For Gio Ponti

Trainer Christophe Clement said Aug. 26 that Gio Ponti, winner of four consecutive grade I turf races, will race next in either the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) Oct. 3 at Belmont or the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (gr. IT) Oct. 11 at Santa Anita in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup World Championships in November.

English Channel Relocates to Lane's End

English Channel, the 2007 champion turf male, has been relocated to Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., for the 2010 season. Owned by Brad Kelley and James Scatuorchio, English Channel entered stud in 2008 and his first foals arrived this year.

Inside Track: Shake the Bank

In the fall of 2005, Shake the Bank, his name stitched across the front of Breeders' Cup hats, was best known as the rabbit for 2004 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Better Talk Now.

Male Turf Eclipse Award: Conduit

England's Triple Crown finale, the Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I), isn't considered a normal route to the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). But Michael Stoute hasn't ruled England's training ranks for years by playing it safe.

Conduit Sets Record in BC Turf

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.

South African De Kock Tries Luck in Cup

Mike de Kock, the internationally renowned trainer of Eagle Mountain, breaks new ground for the Breeders' Cup World Championships when he becomes the first South African to compete in the event. Eagle Mountain runs in the $3 million Emirates Airline Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 25.

Pro-Ride Surface Attracts Europeans

European trainers discussed the strengths of their Breeders' Cup contenders, the largest number from overseas since 1994. Several said they would not have made the trip if the main track had a dirt instead of a synthetic surface.

Aidan's Army Ready for Battle

Trainer Aidan O'Brien discussed the chances of his eight Breeders' Cup contenders, who were followed by a throng of media after their morning walks on the track.

Ribaudo Takes on Big Guys in BC Turf

Robert Ribaudo, the small-stable trainer of Grand Couturier, considers himself lucky in a sport of declining fortunes. One of his former owner got back into the racing game and now they have a solid contender in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

Soldier of Fortune Leads Turf Invasion

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.

Red Giant Out of Breeders' Cup, Retired

Red Giant will miss the Oct. 25 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) due to fever and has been retired.

Turf: Course Obstacles

Although they have dominated the $3-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at other venues, top European imports have not performed especially well when the Breeders' Cup has been held at Santa Anita, where they must contend with tighter turns, hard turf, and warm temperatures.

Marsh Side Stuns International Stars

Marsh Side emerged from the pack at the midpoint of Woodbine's long homestretch to post a 29-1 upset on the turf in the $2 million Pattison Canadian Invitational (Can-I) for Southern California trainer Neil Drysdale.

Grade II Winners Clash in Clement Hirsch

Multiple grade II winners Out of Control, Red Giant, and Spring House head a field of seven entered for the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (gr. IT) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 27.

Silver Tree Wins Thrilling Oceanport

Peter Vegso's 8-year-old homebred Silver Tree added another chapter to his remarkable career Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park when he split horses in deep stretch and prevailed by a neck over Giant Wrecker in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Red Giant Wins Fourstardave at the Wire

A nearly 10-month layoff did not seem to bother Peachtree Stable's Red Giant, as the 4-year-old colt powered down the stretch under John Velazquez and caught Stalingrad just before the wire to win the $150,000 Fourstardave (gr. IIT) by a neck Aug. 2 on the Saratoga turf.

Emirates Airline Has Revised BC Deal

Breeders' Cup and Emirates Airline have announced a renewal of their sponsorship agreement through which Emirates, an intercontinental airline based in the United Arab Emirates, will become title sponsor of the $3-million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Colonial '08 Meet Has 17 Stakes

Colonial Downs' 45-day summer meet will host 17 stakes worth $2.52 million, it announced Feb. 27.

Familiar Foes Meet in Col. Bradley

The turf event at Fair Grounds will test 10 older horses, five of which met each other last month.

Channeling Success

English Channel is a dream come true for a small, 13-mare Central Kentucky Thoroughbred nursery named Keene Ridge Farm. The 170-acre farm has not only produced a Breeders' Cup winner but may also have a turf champion.

Transduction Gold Taking a Big Step Up in Breeders' Cup Turf

Transduction Gold will face his stiffest competition ever in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

Mighty Dylan Thomas Ready to Tackle Arc/Breeders' Cup Turf Double

Dylan Thomas will be trying to become the first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (gr. I) winner to capture a Breeders' Cup World Championships race.

Better Talk Now: He's as Good as He Ever Was

Better Talk Now, who will make his fourth appearance Satuday in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), hasn't lost his competitive edge.

Dylan Thomas, English Channel Draw Side by Side in Turf

Star European turf horse Dylan Thomas and Jim Scatuorchio's English Channel will enter the starting gate next to each other as the first and second morning-line choices for the Oct. 27 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

O'Brien Likely to Have Pair of Breeders' Cup Starters

Aidan O'Brien, who has been a dominant force in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, likely will have only two starters in this year's event, but they will be a formidable pair. O'Brien will send out Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fra-I) winner Dylan Thomas in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and Excellent Art in the NetJets Mile (gr. IT).

Injury Sidelines Jambalaya

Jambalaya, who upset The Tin Man in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) and was headed to the $3-million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), will not race again this year because an acute bone bruise at the end of a cannon bone was discovered Sept. 18.

Shakespeare Gets Second Act, Headed to Grade I Company

In his first start since a 12th-place finish in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I), Shakespeare made a victorious return at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 2.

Grade I Winner Shakespeare Back in Training

Shakespeare, winner of the 2005 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) and Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT), is back in training under the supervision of Kiaran McLaughlin after spending more than a year on the sidelines.

Red Rocks Rolls to Capture John Deere Turf

Red Rocks, rated far off an honest pace, rallied boldly in the stretch under Frankie Dettori to win the $2,748,000 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) over fast-closing Better Talk Now.

Decision Delayed on Shirocco's Turf Status

A decision on whether Shirocco will attempt to defend his title in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) has been delayed "until the last possible moment," according to Paul Harley, racing manager to the 5-year-old's owner breeder Baron von Ullmann.

Shirocco Shines in BC Turf Blowout

The German-bred Shirocco opened up a big lead in the stretch of the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and held off a late rally by Ace to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Favored Azamour was a neck back in third making for an all-European trifecta in the 1 1/2-mile, $2.09 million race at Belmont Park.

Infection Sidelines Alkaased; Out of Turf

Alkaased, winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I), was scratched out of the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) due to an infection, according to trainer Luca Cumani.

Lameness Knocks Euro Star Motivator Out of Breeders' Cup Turf

The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships lost one of its European stars Saturday when Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner Motivator came up lame following a workout.

Motivator On Target for Breeders' Cup Turf

Newmarket trainer Michael Bell has told the English Press Association that Classic winner Motivator is on course for the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Belmont Park on Oct. 29.

Kitten's Joy to be Examined at Rood & Riddle; Will Miss Turf Classic

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy, last year's champion turf male, will be sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington on Sunday to have his left knee examined following two sub par workouts, and will be forced to miss the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT).

Racing's 'World Series' Recruits Tim Smith

Tim Smith, chief executive of the Friends of New York Racing and former commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, has been recruited to the World Series – the global racehorse championship – in an "advisory capacity".

Better Talk Now to Contest Hollywood Turf Cup

John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Better Talk Now will make his next start in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) on Dec. 4, trainer H. Graham Motion said Wednesday from Fair Hill, Md.

Better Talk Now Speaks Loudly in the Breeders' Cup Turf

Bushwood Stable's Better Talk Now stormed to the lead in mid-stretch and rolled on to an upset victory over favored Kitten's Joy in the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

Frankel High on Kitten's Joy

How good is Kitten's Joy? Rated at even money to win the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) on the morning line, he is the lowest-priced favorite for any of Saturday's World Champion races. Friday morning at Lone Star Park, the El Prado colt received a ringing endorsement from one of the top trainers in the world, Hall of Famer and multiple Eclipse Award winner Bobby Frankel.

Calm Canani Loaded with Contenders

Let others worry about track conditions and post positions. Trainer Julio Canani has adopted the "What, Me Worry" stance made famous by Alfred E. Neuman as the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships approach.

In the Gold Out of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Live Oak Plantation's In the Gold was withdrawn from Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) after developing a fever.

Kitten's Joy Even Money in Breeders' Cup Turf

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Joy was made the even-money favorite by Lone Star Park handicapper Rick Lee for Saturday's John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

Kitten's Joy Produced From Mare Who Overcame Adversity

John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) favorite Kitten's Joy probably got some of his competitive toughness from his dam, Kitten's First, who survived a serious injury to become a major producer even though the odds were stacked against her.

Decision Time Nears for Ouija Board

Three-year-old filly Ouija Board, the third place finisher in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), could face males in the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) rather than the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

Ramsey Thinking About Next Year's Arc for Kitten's Joy

Provided he is healthy, probable John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) favorite Kitten's Joy will race again next year, and one of his targets will be the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).