Aqueduct will mark Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Championships with five graded stakes races of its own, part of seven-race live program.Originally, the only two stakes at Aqueduct scheduled for Breeders' Cup day were the $150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIT) and the $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III). But since last weekend's stakes were washed out, the $100,000 Knickerbocker (gr. IIIT), $150,000 First Flight (gr. II) and the $150,000 Sport Page (gr. III) handicaps will also be run Saturday.
It appears that trainer Christophe Clement has the horse to beat in the 12-furlong Long Island for fillies and mares on turf with Royal Highness. The 4-year-old German filly made her U.S. debut last month against males in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) and was beaten less than five lengths by English Channel, one of the favorites in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Royal Highness ran for trainer Pascal Bary in the Turf Classic, but will now have Clement's name in the program as owner Monceaux Stable decided to leave her in the U.S.
"She's a very nice filly, but she hasn't won too often," Clement said of the filly's 2-for-10 record. "She's a typical stayer, so I'd say a mile and a half over good to soft ground would be ideal for her."
Clement said that Royal Highness has made a quick adjustment to racing in America after her career in France.
"She got used to everything very quickly," the trainer said. "She's worked well twice on the turf since the Turf Classic."
Augustin Stable's Latice is likely to be second choice in the Long Island wagering. She was the 4-5 favorite in this race last year and finished a disappointing fifth. Her only victory in six attempts this year came in an April allowance at Keeneland. Latice comes off a fifth-place finish behind Arravale in Woodbine's E.P. Taylor (gr. IT).
Arindel Farm's Safari Queen will take a little play in the Long Island, coming off a four-length loss to Karen's Caper in the one-mile Noble Damsel (gr. IIIT).The two starting highweights in the Knickerbocker come out of the John Schapiro Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Sept. 23. Fishy Advice, who is the 117-pound high weight, was defeated as the 4-5 favorite by Bastille in the Schapiro. Bastille will carry 116 pounds in the Knickerbocker, run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
In the Turnback the Alarm at nine furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares, Joseph Allen's Teammate will get some major class relief dropping into this grade III spot after six consecutive tries in grade I races. The 3-year-old A. P. Indy filly finished second to Pine Island in the Alabama and Gazelle before her distant fourth-place bid against Breeders' Cup Distaff favorite Fleet Indian in the Beldame at Belmont last month.
Sweet Symphony, the 2005 Alabama winner who is winless in six starts since, also drops in class after she was fifth in the Beldame.$150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIT), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/2 Miles (Turf)
PP. HORSE, TRAINER, JOCKEY, WGT.
1. Reform Act, Dermot Weld, Eibar Coa, 113
2. Wait It Out, Heriberto Cedano, Jean-Luc Samyn, 115
3. a-Hermance, John Pregman Jr., Rudy Rodriguez, 112
4. a-Mpenzi, John Pregman Jr., Joe Bravo, 112
5. Latice, Jonathan Sheppard, Eddie Martin Jr., 117
6. Royal Highness, Christophe Clement, Richard Migliore, 121
7. Cologne, Shug McGaughey, Jose Lezcano, 115
8. Safari Queen, Todd Pletcher, Chris DeCarlo 115
9. Isabel Away, Pat Kelly, Jose Espinoza, 112$150,000 First Flight Handicap (gr. IIT), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 7 furlongs
PP. HORSE, TRAINER, JOCKEY, WGT.
1. Carmandia, Richard Dutrow Jr., Chris DeCarlo, 114
2. Notimetoquit, Rene Araya, Jose Lezcano, 114
3. Great Intentions, Mike Hushion, Richard Migliore, 117
4. Win McCool, Bob Barbara, Joe Bravo, 114
5. Splendid Blended, Bill Mott, Eibar Coa, 118
6. Swap Fliparoo, Allen Jerkens, Jean-Luc Samyn, 114
7. Grecian Lover, Allen Jerkens, Channing Hill, 115$150,000 Sports Page Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III), 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. HORSE, TRAINER, JOCKEY, WGT.
1. Bishop Court Hill, Todd Pletcher, Chris DeCarlo, 117
2. Silver Wagon, Richard Dutrow Jr., Joe Bravo, 116
3. Afrashad, Saeed bin Suroor, Richard Migliore, 115
4. Sir Greeley, Jimmy Jerkens, Eibar Coa, 117
5. P. Kerney, Ben Feliciano Jr., Joe Rocco Jr., 114
6. Blazing Pursuit, Jimmy Toner, Jose Lezcano, 112
7. Kazoo, Richard Dutrow Jr., Rudy Rodriguez, 116$100,000 Turback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III), Fillies and Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. HORSE, TRAINER, JOCKEY, WGT.
1. Sweet Symphony, Bill Mott, Eibar Coa, 118
2. Marimba Rhythm, Bobby Frankel, Jose Lezcano, 115
3. Pleasant Chimes, Mark Hennig, Richard Migliore, 116
4. Miss Shop, Allen Jerkens, Raul Rojas, 114
5. Teammate, Allen Jerkens, Jean-Luc Samyn, 115
6. Dina, Jimmy Jerkens, Alan Garcia, 112
$100,000 Knickerbocker Handicap (gr. IIIT), 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
PP. HORSE, TRAINER, JOCKEY, WGT.
1. Fishy Advice, David Donk, Eibar Coa, 117
2. Proud Man, Richard Stoklosa, Eddie Martin Jr., 114
3. Tiganello, Todd Pletcher, Chris DeCarlo, 115
4. Giant Wrecker, Mark Hennig, Richard Migliore, 115
5. Drum Major, George Weaver, Joe Bravo, 115
6. Bastille, James Murphy, Joe Rocco Jr., 116
7. Islero Noir, Christophe Clement, Channing Hill, 114
8. Kurm, Bobby Frankel, Jean-Luc Samyn, 115
9. Woodlander, Tom Albertrani, Jose Lezcano, 114
10. Planets Aligned, Pat Kelly, Jose Espinoza, 112
Main Track Only
11. Win With Beck, Jimmy Jerkens, no rider, 116