Breeders’ Cup Implications

By Robert Kieckhefer and Jude T. Feld

Curlin surged past pace-setting Wanderin Boy to win Saturday’s $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park, passing Cigar to become the all-time leading North American money winner with earnings of $10,246,800.

Next question: Will the world’s top-ranked horse defend his title as Breeders’ Cup Classic winner next month at Santa Anita?

“We’ll have to see whether Curlin likes the track,” owner Jess Jackson said by phone from California, referring to Santa Anita’s new artificial surface. “We’re not trying to avoid [Big Brown] and there is always the Clark Handicap (Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs) or the Japan Cup (Dec. 7) after that. So, we have to take them one at a time.”

Saturday, Curlin went about his business in a workmanlike fashion. With Robby Albarado aboard, the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike sat patiently off the pace until the field hit Belmont’s sweeping far turn. Then, without much urging, he picked it up, ranged up alongside the leader and hit the front as he straightened out into the stretch. Wanderin Boy battled on gamely over the sloppy, sealed track but Curlin prevailed by ¾ of a length, Albarado still riding comfortably.

The 1 1/4 mile took 2:01.93. Merchant Marine finished third.

Albarado said, “Curlin just ran his race again and gave me that big Curlin move on the turn. It was tremendous, and very emotional. The bar is set against him every time, but he exceeds our expectations every time he runs.”

Since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last fall at Monmouth Park, Curlin has won twice in Dubai, including the World Cup (G1) against a tough field, the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs and the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga. His only loss, a second-place finish to Red Rock on the turf in the Man o’War (G1), put an end to talk that he might travel to France to run in the Arc de Triomphe (G1) and renewed the potential for a showdown with Big Brown and others in this year’s Classic.

Curlin shipped to California Sunday and was bedded down at Santa Anita Sunday night.

A lot of folks think that Curlin isn’t at his best but I think they are crazy. I think Robby knows what he is sitting on and has been saving the best horse on the planet for a top performance the Classic.

Other weekend races with potential to impact the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1):

Well Armed was well prepared for Saturday’s $500,000 Goodwood (G1) at Santa Anita, stalking the pace before gaining the lead on the outside at the top of the stretch, then holding well to win by a length. Tiago rushed up from last to take second and Albertus Maximus also ran well late to take the show. Well Armed, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred gelding by Tiznow, ran the 9 furlongs on the new all-weather surface in 1:47.11. Aaron Gryder had the mount for trainer Eoin Harty.

“Aaron has done a hellacious job with him,” said Harty, who also trains Classic contender Colonel John. “Every time I work him, it’s always Aaron, and the fact that he’s relaxing so much is a credit to Aaron Gryder more than to my training. He was under a ride at the three-eighths pole. But he just showed me so much heart from the top of stretch home.”

Well Armed was third in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March, then returned in July to win the San Diego Handicap (G2). He was second by a neck to Go Between in the Pacific Classic (G1) last month.

If Colonel John tries Curlin in the Classic then Eoin might opt to run Well Armed in the Mile Dirt. Throwing this horse to the lions in the Classic would be a shame.

Fairbanks sat just off the pace in Saturday’s $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course, moved to the leaders on the turn and won by 2 3/4 lengths over Magna Graduate. Wayzata Bay was third. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Richard Migliore, Fairbanks, by Giant’s Causeway, ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.47.

Migliore said he took back with Fairbanks because otherwise he would have been pinned on the inside. “I didn’t want to be caught in a position where I was committed to being inside and in a duel,” he said.

Barry Irwin, head of the owning partnership Team Valor, said he will discuss with Pletcher and Migliore which Breeders’ Cup race to target for Fairbanks.

Fairbanks is a nice horse but not really true Breeders’ Cup material.

$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon

Delightful Kiss rallied from last of seven to win Saturday’s $200,000 All American Stakes at Golden Gate Fields by 1 length over the odds-on favorite, Awesome Gem. Saratoga’s Magic finished third. Delightful Kiss, ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by Pete Anderson, ran the 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:49.54.

The tough grey looked good winning at Turfway and showed that he retains his sharpness in the All American. Jockey Calvin Borel has a great rapport with this horse and they could be very salty in the Dirt Marathon.

$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1)

Since finishing third behind Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn this spring, Ginger Punch had posted four straight graded stakes wins. Saturday, she ran into a “new shooter” from the Godolphin stable, Cocoa Beach, and it was Cocoa Beach who came out on top. After letting Ginger Punch set the pace, Ramon Dominguez set Cocoa Beach down for the drive turning for home and prevailed by an exciting 1/2 length. Lemon Drop Mom had a box seat for the stretch run and finished third, 13 1/2 lengths farther back. Leah’s Secret completed the order of finish.

Cocoa Beach, a Chilean-bred filly by Doneraile Court, ran the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:49.50.

“She’s grown up a lot since she ran earlier in the year in Dubai,” said winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “She looked stronger than ever and she has learned a lot from her last race at Saratoga. She was really happy. The target now is the Breeders’ Cup.”

Ginger Punch’s trainer, Bobby Frankel, said the inside post position and the wet track doomed his charge.

“It was the 1-hole. She had no choice but to do what she did,” Frankel said. “I don’t think that is her favorite way of running. I don’t think the inside was the best part. I would have loved to have been on the outside.”

I wouldn’t get down on Ginger Punch because Frankel certainly has a point, but she hasn’t been running against fillies like Cocoa Beach. Obviously the sloppy racetrack promoted the Godolphin filly, but she is top-class and should improve again off this race.

Zenyatta remained undefeated and ended Hystericalady’s three-race winning streak with an off-the-pace, 3 1/2-lengths victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita. After racing last in a field of just four, jockey Mike Smith sent Zenyatta three-wide into the stretch and easily ran by the pace-setting Hystericalady, who held second, 1 length to the good of Santa Teresita. Super Freaky completed the order of finish. Zenyatta, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred filly by Street Cry, finished the 1 1/16 mile on the all-weather track in 1:40.30. Her eight straight wins now include six graded stakes.

“I just can’t describe her,” said winning rider Mike Smith. “She leaves me speechless. She just seems to be sent from heaven, man. She does things horses aren’t supposed to do. Those other mares picked it up. Not only did she pick it up, but she did it like, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ She pulled up and gathered herself up real quick.”

Added winning trainer John Shirreffs, “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to beat Hystericalady to the Breeders’ Cup. She’s an awfully tough filly. But my filly is awfully talented, and talent overcomes a lot of stuff.” Garrett Gomez, who rode Hystericalady, said, “She ran really well. She’s been running on dirt lately. This was her first race back on synthetic in a while. The trip over the racetrack should set her up for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Zenyatta is the Curlin of the fillies and mares – best on the planet. It would be a shocker to see her get beat.

$2 million Sentient Sprint (G1)

Black Seventeen caused an upset in Saturday’s $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, rallying from behind a hot pace duel to win by a head at odds of nearly 24-1. Fabulous Strike led most of the way and just missed hanging on. Kodiak Kowboy was third. Black Seventeen, a 4-year-old, Florida-bred colt by Is It True, got the 6 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:09.77 with Clinton Potts up for trainer Brian Koriner. The tactics were a reversal for Black Seventeen, who had routinely been making all the fractions in his previous races. The win was his fourth in 10 starts.

“He always tried hard for me,” said Potts. “I knew he would like the slop because he ran well on it last year at Calder. I certainly didn’t look up at the odds board. He was a longshot, but I was not disappointed at that.”

Koriner, saddling his first starter at Belmont, said he decided to ship to New York “Because they have a new synthetic surface [at Santa Anita] and I didn’t want to have to guess what it would be like.”

Black Seventeen is a nice little horse but this race wouldn’t have me rushing to the Breeders’ Cup. I’m sure the off track altered the result and the horse who just beat him at Del Mar, Delta Storm, ran his ass off to be fourth in the Ancient Title (G1) at Santa Anita.

Cost of Freedom, claimed for $50,000 two races back, rallied to the lead on the turn in Saturday’s $250,000 Ancient Title (G1) at Santa Anita and held on at the end to win by 1/2 length over the favorite, Street Boss. In Summation finished third. Idiot Proof, who won the Ancient Title last year before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup behind Midnight Lute, dueled among the leaders early on Saturday, then faded to finish next-last of six starters. Cost of Freedom, a 5-year-old Cee’s Tizzy gelding, won for the sixth time in 10 starts and now has three straight wins, dating back to the July 25 Del Mar event when trainer John Sadler claimed him from Carla Gaines. In his only other stakes try, Cost of Freedom was second in the restricted Tiznow last spring at Hollywood Park.

“It was a gutsy claim,” Sadler said, adding that owner Gary Barber “liked his race record. I was a little concerned that he hadn’t run that many times, but he was always very good. He was always right there. If you give him that spacing back – we had a lot of time between races – that helps your chances (for the Breeders’ Cup). I was worried about him bouncing. Obviously, we held him up.” He said the one month to the Breeders’ Cup “looks a little close at this point, but he should be fine.”

Trainer Bruce Headley is as sharp and wily as they come. I don’t think Street Boss was ever going to be all out in the Ancient Title, especially with it being his initial effort on Santa Anita’s new surface. Headley, who won the BC Sprint with Kona Gold, wants to win, “when the whole world is watching.”

Fatal Bullet shot away from a pace battle entering the turn in Saturday’s $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park and drew clear in the stretch run, winning by 7 3/4 lengths over Silver Sword. No Advantage rallied from the back of the pack to take third. Fatal Bullet, a Florida-bred Red Bullet gelding, ran the 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:08.03 with Eurico Da Silva up for trainer Reade Baker. In his last previous race, Fatal Bullet won the Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes over the artificial surface at Presque Isle Downs. Saturday’s victory gives him seven wins from 10 starts and seven wins for eight tries over the all-weather surfaces.

“I thought the competition at Presque Isle Downs may have been a little stiffer last time, but he sure ran fast today,” Baker said. “When you’re a little unsure of the circumstances that you’re in, I guess the best place to be is on the lead so you can’t get in any trouble. We’ll be at Breeders’ Cup next, God willing.”

It is pretty hard to tout a three-year-old coming off races at Presque Isle Downs and Turfway Park to win the Sentient Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) but Fatal Bullet was so visually impressive winning and he ran such a fast time that I think he could pull off the upset.

$3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)

Grand Couturier made it two straight Grade 1 victories with a dominating, 10 1/4-lengths thrashing of seven rivals in Saturday’s $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park. After racing in mid-pack, jockey Alan Garcia sent the 5-year-old, British-bred son of Grand Lodge around some traffic at the top of the stretch and he accelerated quickly and decisively. Interpatation also rallied to finish best of the rest and Summer Patriot was third. Grand Couturier ran the 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:34.84. In his last start at the same distance on “good” going, he won Saratoga’s Sword Dancer (G1) for his first victory since the same race a year earlier. He finished sixth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

“It was just incredible, the acceleration. He just exploded,” said winning trainer Robert Ribaudo.

Garcia said, “He really loved the soft course. I just asked him for run on the far turn and then he just took off. He’s gotten really good.”

Grand Couturier most likely won’t get soft turf at Santa Anita, so I would downgrade this performance if the turf is firm on Breeders’ Cup day.

Red Giant caught pace-setting Out of Control in the final yards to win Saturday’s $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial (G1) at Santa Anita by a head. Transduction Gold finished third and the favorite, Spring House, checked in fourth. Red Giant, a 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt, ran the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:57.16 with John Velazquez. Todd Pletcher is the trainer. Red Giant won last year’s Virginia Derby (G2) and was second in the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington. Since then, he had started only twice, the last being a victory in the Fourstardave (G2) at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

Pletcher assistant Mike McCarthy said, “I wasn’t concerned (about being that far back early), not with those kind of fast fractions. He was the class of the race. I imagine he’ll go on [to the Breeders’ Cup Turf] if he comes out of this race all right. I imagine that’s the plan . . . He’s a very easy horse to be around and a very easy horse to train. He almost trains himself.”

Red Giant is a nice horse but really a cut below the best. This year’s Hirsch came up very weak – more like a low-end Grade 2.

$2 million Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf (G1)

Dynaforce led all the way to a 4-lengths victory over odds-on favorite Mauralakana in Saturday’s $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) over the Belmont Park inner turf course. Communique was third, another neck back, with Jade Queen and Palmilla completing the order of finish. Dynaforce, a 5-year-old Dynaformer mare, had been racing in France for Andre Fabre until June. With Bill Mott in the U.S., she had run two seconds from three starts.

“It was an easy trip. She broke well and let me take the lead,” said winning rider Alan Garcia. “In the last strides, Dynaforce showed her stuff.”

Mauralakana’s jockey, Kent Desormeaux, blamed the yielding surface for ending his mare’s four-race winning streak. “The lack of pace and the soft going probably compromised my chances,” said Desormeaux. “I got past her (Dynaforce) and I was faster than the winner, but I couldn’t sustain the run. The ground caused that.”

These two likely will meet again at Santa Anita but I would expect Mauralakana to turn the tables on her rival, who was promoted by the soft turf.

Wait a While did just that in Saturday’s $400,000 Yellow (G1) at Santa Anita, tracking the pace until the second turn, then coming around the leaders into the stretch and taking charge. At the wire, the 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred daughter of Maria’s Mon won by 3/4 length over Vacare with Black Mamba third. Wait a While, with John Velazquez up for trainer Todd Pletcher, ran the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:59.16. She came into the race off a similar win in the Balston Spa Handicap (G2) at Saratoga in August. Two years ago, she won the Yellow Ribbon (G1) and followed that with a fourth-place finish at the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) behind Ouija Board.

“I kept on looking for Black Mamba, and by the time I saw her, it was too late, said Pletcher assistant Mike McCarthy. “It set up just like I thought it would. The filly just inside of us would show the way, and we were able to follow her around there. Our filly was able to pick it up and march on about her business.” He said much of the credit goes to Velazquez’ ability to get Wait a While to relax coming from the outside post position.

Wait a While is now three-for-three on the Santa Anita turf. I loved the fact that she rated so kindly. She’ll be on my ticket for the Breeders’ Cup pick six.

$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile

Tam Lin stalked the pace set by Forefathers in Sunday’s $250,000 Kelso Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park, went to the lead inside the furlong marker and got home first by 4 1/4 lengths. Stalingrad raced evenly to finish second and Operation Red Dawn was third. Tam Lin, a 5-year-old, British-bred gelding by Selkirk, ran the 1 mile on “soft” turf in 1:39.13. Javier Castellano took the mount for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin Stable.

This was a horribly weak field over soft turf so I wouldn’t expect much from this group the last weekend in October.

Hyperbaric won a charge to the wire in Sunday’s $200,000 Oak Tree Mile at Santa Anita, besting Tybait by a neck. Tropic Storm was third, another 3/4 length back and just 1/2 length in front of Global Hunter. Hyperbaric, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of Sky Classic, completed the 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.62. Garrett Gomez rode for trainer Julio Canani and picked up his 3,000th win. Asked if Hyperbaric will go on to the Breeders’ Cup, Canani said, “We’ll play it by ear. We’ll decide later.”

These too were second-class citizens, hence Canani’s reluctance to commit. He is a sharp handicapper who knows when to take a shot, so if Hyperbaric runs, he is probably live.

$1 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

Zanjero stalked the pace while saving ground through much of Saturday’s $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) at Turfway Park, then split horses entering the stretch, drew clear and won by 1 1/2 lengths over Extreme Supreme. Canela was third and the favorite, Honest Man, faded from the pace to finish fourth. Zanjero, a 4-year-old Cherokee Run colt, finished the 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:49.27 with Shaun Bridgmohan up for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“The race went just as I hoped it would,” said winning owner Ron Winchell. “He broke clean and was close to the pace. It looked like that’s where you wanted to be all day. He has a good late kick as long as he doesn’t use it too early. We’ll talk things over with Steve (about the Breeders’ Cup).”

Asmussen, from Belmont Park where he saddled Curlin, said of Zanjero, “That horse ran great. I did get to see it. Yes, he is going to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.”

Zanjero is a million-dollar earner who is capable of running big races on occasion. The BC Dirt Mile (G1) might set up nicely for his finishing kick. He is one of those horses who is hard to get excited about, but who can bite you in the ass if you leave him off your tickets.

$2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)

Street Hero hit the front in the shadow of the wire in Sunday’s $250,000 Norfolk Breeders’ Cup (G1) at Santa Anita, winning by 3/4 length over Midshipman. After that, a pair of noses separated Believe in Hope and Del Conte. Street Hero, a Kentucky-bred Street Cry colt, ran the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.12 with Alex Solis up for trainer Myung Cho.

Cho said, “Actually, I have five horses in training right now. Yesterday, Palacio de Amor was second in the Oak Leaf Stakes. But this one is a Grade 1 winner! I think I have to go [to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Street Hero]. If I don’t go, the rider’s going to kill me.”

Five horses on the wire in a dirt race usually means it wasn’t much of an event. The winner was breaking his maiden, and although he ran gamely and didn’t get the best of trips, it is hard to hop on Mr. Cho’s bandwagon for the big one.

$2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)

Stardom Bound is starting to make her name look like a good bet. After breaking her maiden last time out in the Del Mar Debutante, the Kentucky-bred Tapit miss followed with a typical, from-the-clouds victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. Running from next-last of 11, Stardom Bound rallied five-wide into the stretch and passed them all under a hand ride by Mike Smith. She won by 3 1/2 lengths over Palacio de Amor, with Oro Blanco third. The Christopher Paasch trainee ran the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.44 despite being kicked by an outrider pony while on the track Friday morning.

“What a difference 32, 33 hours make, from 8:30 yesterday morning and the incident that happened here in front of everyone, to winning this race,” Paasch said. “What a feeling. She was kicked on the inside of her right hind leg by an outrider’s pony after she galloped … We’re very happy now. She did everything well.”

What’s not to like about her? She just loops the field and mows ‘em down. Stardom Bound obviously has a ton of talent and is the best two-year-old filly on the West Coast. Racing luck is her biggest obstacle.

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