With the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) on the 6 1/2-furlong downhill course at Santa Anita coming up in early November, plenty of connections with top turf sprinters see the wisdom in prepping on the unique course in the Eddie D. (gr. IIIT).
Texas Chrome's victory Sept. 25 in the grade III, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park may have punched his ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).
Two of racing's biggest stars—California Chrome and Beholder—will make their final starts before the Breeders' Cup on the Oct. 1 Santa Anita Park card as they take advantage of the opportunity to prep at the site of this year's World Championships.
Chris McCarron calls for a national uniform medication policy as the Honor Guest at the Thoroughbred Club of America's testimonial dinner Sept. 25 at Keeneland.
Connect was in fine fettle Sept. 25, the day after his Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) victory at Parx Racing and trainer Chad Brown said the Breeders' Cup will be considered along with several other races.
California Chrome, North America's all-time leading money earner, arrived by van at Santa Anita Park Sept. 25 to begin final preparations for the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1.
James McIngvale's champion sprint male Runhappy worked five furlongs in :58 1/5 Sept. 25 at Keeneland in preparation for his 2016 debut in Churchill Downs' Oct. 1 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III).
The champion filly toyed with fellow grade I winners Carina Mia and Cathryn Sophia Sept. 24 at Parx Racing, then built her win streak to 11 with a clear victory under a hand ride from Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Robert Masterson's brilliant mare Tepin, the reigning champion turf female, headlines the list of horses nominated to Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend Oct. 7-9, opening weekend of the Lexington track's fall meet.
With the slightest morning chill Southern California would allow in late September, Los Alamitos Race Course's resident star logged his final timed workout for the upcoming Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I).
The fields are shaping up for Belmont Park's first of two "Super Saturdays" cards Oct. 1, leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park.
After Beholder's last timed workout in preparation for the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I), just more than a week out from the Oct. 1 race, trainer Richard Mandella said she is ready to take on Stellar Wind in a rematch of champions.
Owner Joe Ragsdale reports his winner of the Sept. 19 Presque Isle Masters Stakes (gr. II), will likely make her next start in Keeneland's Thoroughbred Cup of America Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 8.
The homebred son of Kitten's Joy ran first for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, then was acquired by Calumet Farm at the end of his championship year and made three starts for that outfit in 2016. He will stand at Calumet.
Part of what Servis is counting on headed into in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) is the fact Songbird has yet to hook a rival who offers what his Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I)-winning charge, Cathryn Sophia, brings to the table.
Victor Espinoza, regular rider of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, said the 5-year-old California-bred has never been doing better as he prepares for a start in the Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
OwnerView seeks nominations for the New Owner of the Year Award to be presented at the Thoroughbred Owner Conference Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Trainer Wesley Ward believes his unbeaten juvenile filly Lady Aurelia just might run of the best race of her young career in the Connolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) Sept. 24 at Newmarket.
Live Oak Plantation's homebred maiden Victory to Victory struck from off a hot early pace and posted her first career win in the $250,000 Natalma Stakes, run as grade I event for the first time Sept. 18 at Woodbine.
Good Samaritan completed a strong last-to-first rally for a clear victory in the $200,000 Summer Stakes (Can-IIT) for 2-year-olds Sept. 18 at Woodbine.
Following an 8 3/4-length victory in the Iroquois Presented by TwinSpires.com (gr. III) at Churchill Downs Sept. 17, Not This Time will go straight to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5, according to trainer Dale Romans.
Fox Hill Farms' undefeated Songbird logged her final serious work at Santa Anita Park Sept. 18 before her Sept. 19 flight east, where she is scheduled to start in the Sept. 24 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing.
In her first start back from a victory at Royal Ascot in June, Tepin held off all challengers for about a half-length score in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (Can-IT) Sept. 17 at Woodbine.
In his first stakes start, Albaugh Family Stable homebred Not This Time rallied four wide in the far turn then drew off in the stretch to post about a six-length victory in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs.
Illinois-bred The Pizza Man proved his class Sept. 17 at Woodbine in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by HPIBet (Can-IT), edging Wake Forest and pacesetter World Approval in a blanket finish.
Record-setting Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Arrogate fired off a bullet half-mile drill Sept. 17 at Santa Anita Park, where champions Beholder and Stellar Wind also posted workouts.
The 4-year-old Broken Vow filly moved to Chad Brown this spring, made her first start Saturday for Lael Stables, and won her first race since taking the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT) back in October of 2014, 12 starts back.
Trainer Mark Casse has never before missed a race with the magnitude of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Can-I) when he has a contender with the status of champion Tepin, but he will today.
Exaggerator delivered a five-furlong move Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs in preparation for a planned start in the Sept. 24 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II). Meanwhile at San Luis Rey Downs, Nyquist also worked.
Los Al clockers caught California Chrome in splits of :25 3/5, :49 2/5, and 1:01 1/5 en route to his final time of 1:13 1/5 under regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney.
Frosted, winner of the 2016 Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes (both gr. I), is unlikely to have a race this fall and instead may run fresh in the Breeders' Cup in November, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told Belmont Park media officials.
While Red Lodge is the only stakes winner entered in the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (Can-IT) Sept. 18 on the Woodbine turf, the expected full field is dotted with juvenile fillies who flashed talent in their maiden wins.
Santa Anita unveiled its new turf course Sept.15. The autumn meet runs 23 days from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5, and includes the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
The spotlight is on our neighbors to the North this Saturday as Tepin returns in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Can-IT). The undisputed "Queen of the Turf" takes on seven older males in the Sept. 17 event, the last of four graded stakes on a 12-race card.
Settles in for Sept. 17 Woodbine Mile bid
Sprint male champion Runhappy continues to move toward his 2016 debut with a six-furlong work in 1:14 1/5 from the gate Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs. Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado flew in for the move.
Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds' Dacita will look to win her third straight race in her first trip to Canada Sept. 17 for the $300,000 Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) at Woodbine, but she'll have to deal with a local in top form.
Cash Is King's Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Cathryn Sophia continued preparations for Parx Racing's $1 million Cotillion (gr. I) Sept. 14 with a half-mile breeze over the Bensalem, Pa. oval.
Mark Casse holds his north of the border success up as one of the catalyst behind his career rebirth, and brings reigning champion turf female Tepin to his adopted hometrack for the first time to face seven male rivals in the eight-furlong test.
Could prep in Oct. 2 Miss Grillo
Flintshire and Lady Eli headed a sizable contingent of Chad Brown trainees breezing at Belmont Park Sept. 12.
Shaman Ghost, Mubtaahij, Effinex lead cast
Robert Masterson's Tepin put in her final work for the Sept. 17 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (gr. IT) Sept. 12, covering four furlongs in :49.71 on the turf training track at Saratoga Race Course.
"All I can say is he's the second-best marathon horse in the United States," said trainer Mike Maker, ceding the top position to five-time group/grade I winner Flintshire. "I think we just go right to the Breeders' Cup. He runs really well fresh."
California Chrome wasn't the only star on the work tab Sept. 10 in Southern California. Champions of 2015 Stellar Wind and Nyquist both put in drills for upcoming starts, as did 2016 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Arrogate.
Alice Springs could be Breeders' Cup-bound again via the Oct. 15 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) after winning the Sept. 10 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Ire-I) with a powerful rally under Ryan Moore.
Robert Masterson has never had a horse like Tepin, the superstar mare who will carry his colors in next Saturday’s $1 million Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile while seeking her eighth consecutive victory for trainer Mark Casse.
Travel proved no problem for French classic winner Almanzor, as he finished well to secure a three-quarter-length victory over top filly Found in a particularly strong edition of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) Sept. 10 at Leopardstown.
On his day, at his home track, and a bit out of his normal workout routine, California Chrome still gave trainer Art Sherman just what he wanted Sept. 10 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
After her second work since a second-place run in the TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I), trainer Richard Mandella is leaning toward running Spendthrift Farm's Beholder in the Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
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