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Sovereign Awards Derby & Auction Prices Santa Anita Derby Day Wood Memorial Day Kentucky Derby Contenders |
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 The Aidan O'Brien string "cavalry charge" through the stretch Wednesday morning. |
Horses and their connections at Del Mar for Thursday morning training experienced dense fog and temperatures in the mid 50s, similar to Wednesday morning. After training completed, United and Domestic Spending were scratched from the Turf due to injuries, but both are expected to return next season. The scratches mean Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) winner Bolshoi Ballet and the veteran Channel Maker draw in off the also-eligibles. In addition, morning line favorite Jack Christopher was scratched from the Juvenile due to a left shin issue.
Here are photos for 27 of the horses on the track Wednesday morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Art Collector (Classic) galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Neil Poznansky. Trainer Bill Mott said, "All's good. He galloped today and he's good. He was strong and full of himself." Owner Bruce Lunsford added, "I've been in the business 33 years and don't own a horse farm. "I am in it to
race and enjoy the experience. I would say it would clearly be the biggest win of my career if he
could win. I own the mare and siblings and I have a half-brother, so that's great. As far as the 10-furlong distance, I think Bill's pretty comfortable with him, since he's won three at 9 furlongs and a lot of others haven't run or won at 1 1/4 yet. It'll be an interesting race because of the pace."
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Essential Quality (Classic) galloped before the break. Trainer Brad Cox said, "Essential has never missed a beat. He ran a
big race in the Derby. His only defeat in his career and we could argue that he'd probably ran the best race that day, one of the better races, to end up fourth."
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Express Train (Classic) galloped his standard 1 1/2 miles this morning, with Amy Vasco aboard. "He likes this track a lot and he's doing well," trainer John Shirreffs said. "This race looks like there'll be a lot of speed. If so, ideally, I'd like to see him break running, then follow the leaders in the second flight of horses. He likes to be outside of horses. That was how he won the San Diego Handicap here this summer."
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Hot Rod Charlie (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Doug O'Neill said, "The goal is to keep him in training next year. We have a great group of owners and Gainesway is in, as well, so as long as he stays injury-free, we will have a chance to compete next year. Races like the Dubai World Cup and Saudi (Cup) could definitely be on the horizon, if things work out well."
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Knicks Go (Classic) was the last Classic horse on track, as has been the case all week. Trainer Brad Cox said, "Knicks Go had a little bit of a setback obviously. We felt like we may have rushed him a little bit with the Pegasus with the quick turnaround shipping halfway across the world or to the other side of the world for the Saudi Cup and then the Met Mile. But aside from those two bumps in the road, he's been ultra-consistent and proud of what he's accomplished."
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Max Player (Classic) galloped once around the track. "The horse has matured as expected pedigree wise, and he has stayed extremely sound," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "He's very good. And, I think things have lined up with where he is with the
draw (post nine), the way the racetrack's playing, and how he's doing right now. We expect him to show who he is Saturday."
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Medina Spirit (Classic) stretched his legs this morning with two trips around Del Mar's main track this morning as he winds down his preparation for the Classic. The sophomore colt, trained by Bob Baffert, is looking to collect his fifth stakes victory of the year in the 10f championship race.
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Stilleto Boy (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jose Sandoval. "We thought we would try him on grass," trainer Ed Moger Jr. said. "He ran good on it and he will probably run on it again at some point."
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Tripoli (Classic) galloped Thursday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.
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Blue Stripe (Distaff) visited the paddock and then jogged 2 1/2 miles under exercise rider Alex Jimenez.
"It is exciting to be back (in the Breeders' Cup)," trainer Marcelo Polanco said. "The filly is doing real good.
However, this is all about timing. Your horse has to be 100 percent. You can have the best horse,
but if something goes wrong...
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Horologist (Distaff) galloped 1 1/4 miles of the Del Mar main track Thursday morning. Owned by There's a Chance Stable,
Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms and David
Staudacher, the Grade 2 winner is a 30-1 longshot in the Distaff. "She's good," trainer Bill Mott said.
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Pingxiang (Dirt Mile) galloped before sunrise for trainer Hideyuki Mori.
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Audarya (Filly & Mare Turf) continues to impress in her training and physical appearance. Tom Fanshawe, assistant trainer to his father James said, "Unfortunately, my father hasn't been able to make it over but I'm thrilled to be here representing the team. Geoffrey De La Sayette who looks after Audarya and is her work rider is thrilled with her and we're very hopeful of a big run on Saturday."
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My Sister Nat (Filly & Mare Turf) galloped twice around. Owner Peter Brant said, "It's funny. In the United States everyone refers to her as the half sister of Sistercharlie. In Europe, everyone refers to her as the half sister of Sottsass."
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Commandperformance (Juvenile) galloped twice around for trainer Todd Pletcher. Pletcher said, "I thought he closed really well in (the Champagne) and was gaining on the winner at the wire and galloped out in front. I think he's a horse that is looking for two turns and more distance. He has had some very good breezes since then. I think we're on a forward trend and see if he can continue improving."
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Sequist (Juvenile Fillies) galloped twice around. Trainer Dallas Stewart said, "There are some fast horses in there and I would like to see a speed duel early, something like a :46 half-mile. It's a small field and she will probably be last early and the hope is she doesn't drop too far out of it. It's a $2 million race and it is something to dream about. After the Alcibiades, she was doing well, eating well and training well. She was doing all the things a horse trainer wants to see."
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California Angel (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped twice around. Trainer George Leonard said, "She can be sweet and sour. When she gets irritated with you she'll nip at you like, 'Get away from me.' But most of the time she's pretty sweet. She's all lady."
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Stolen Base (Juvenile Turf) galloped 1 1/2 miles for trainer Mike Maker.
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Hit the Road (Mile) galloped once around for trainer Dan Blacker.
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C Z Rocket (Sprint) schooled in the paddock for trainer Peter Miller.
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Dr. Schivel (Sprint) galloped once around and schooled in the paddock for trainer Mark Glatt.
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Following Sea (Sprint) galloped once around for trainer Todd Pletcher.
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Acclimate (Turf) schooled in the paddock for trainer Phil D'Amato.
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Teona (Turf) galloped once around the turf course under jockey David Egan. Trainer Roger Varian said, "That looked to go well. She's picked up nicely so I'm very happy with that. She seems to be in great shape. She'll have an easy time of it now before race day and I'm really looking forward to running her." Egan added, "I'm very excited to be at my first Breeders' Cup here in Del Mar. It's my first time on the West Coast of America. It's a great meeting to be part of. I'm really looking to get on board her on Saturday in what is a great opportunity for me."
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United (Turf) galloped before sunrise but was later scratched because of swelling on a suspensory. Trainer Richard Mandella reported, "He'd shown a little swelling over the past four or five days, so we scanned the leg as a precaution and the result was negative. Today, we gave him a good, strong gallop and the swelling returned. We scanned him again and it was clean. We're not going to take any chances with him. He's been going pretty steadily for the past two and a half years. The good news is that we'll just give him a rest and bring him back next year."
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Beer Can Man (Turf Sprint) schooled in the paddock for trainer Mark Glatt.
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The Critical Way (Turf Sprint) galloped once around for trainer Jose Delgado.
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