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Sovereign Awards Derby & Auction Prices Santa Anita Derby Day Wood Memorial Day Kentucky Derby Contenders |
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 Essential Quality (Classic, right) and Pizza Bianca (Juvenile Fillies Turf, left) at the 1/16 pole with the fog shrouding the starting gate. |
Horses and their connections at Del Mar for Wednesday morning training experienced dense fog and temperatures in the mid 50s, the coldest morning this week so far. All horses have to be on the grounds by now so some entrants visited the racing surfaces and paddock for the first time today.
Here are photos for 60 of the horses on the track Wednesday morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Art Collector (Classic) galloped at 9am after schooling in the paddock while awaiting the loose horse to be caught. Trainer Bill Mott said, “We had an abbreviated gallop there, but he got a gallop in. There was a loose horse on the track. We know Knicks Go is going to bolt out of there and he’s right inside of us and Medina Spirit is outside, so we hope he is able to stalk, but you don’t know until the race unfolds. We have a good group of (Breeders’ Cup) horses who are doing really well. Whether they’re good enough or not, we’ll see that on Saturday.”
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Essential Quality (Classic) galloped under exercise rider Edvin Vargas. Trainer Brad Cox said, “I think it does set up well for (Essential Quality). I think Luis (Saez) obviously does knows him extremely well, and I'm putting him in a good position. That's the one great thing about Essential Quality. He's able to adjust to the pace and that’s, that what makes him so dangerous each and every run. We're probably getting a pace similar or maybe even hotter than it was in the Kentucky Derby."
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Express Train (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Amy Vasco. Trainer John Shirreffs said, “Victor and I have a close relationship and we decided that having a rider with all his experience in important races would be to our advantage. He’s won a lot of big ones and we have a great deal of confidence in him.”
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Hot Rod Charlie (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Co-owner William Strauss said, “His gallop this morning gave me goosebumps. We are feeling really well. It seems like the race should shape up well for him. There’s a lot of speed in the race and he’s very tactical. Flavien (Prat) has a lot of options with how to ride him. He can be forward or take him back and around horses. He has a very good mind and he’s really mature. We’ve got to get a good break, a good trip and hope the racing gods are smiling on us."
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Knicks Go (Classic) galloped under exercise rider Edvin Vargas. Trainer Brad Cox said, “It is very rare for a horse to do what Knicks Go can do. You don’t always see horses that are capable of running as quick as he can and clearing. And, he really accelerates in the turns.”
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Medina Spirit (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “I really can’t do anything about the draw. The break is always important, so that might help determine how the races shapes up. He likes this track and is training really well coming up to the race.”
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Tripoli (Classic) galloped Wednesday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard, and then schooled in the paddock in the afternoon. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.
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As Time Goes By (Distaff) who will get a new rider in Luis Saez, was also out for a morning gallop of a mile this morning. “Both of my fillies are training well, but I think As Time Goes By might prefer more distance, maybe a mile and one-quarter,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “This is a very tough race. It’s a deep field.”
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Clairiere (Distaff) galloped twice around. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, “She has trained lights out since she’s been out here in California. Obviously, we’re well aware of the quality of the field of this year’s Distaff, but Clairiere gives us a tremendous amount of confidence in her. We believe her best race to date will be this Saturday. It’s special it is to train a filly like her for Stonestreet. It means everything as far as why you do this. A millionaire, a Grade 1 winner and a daughter of Curlin after what he meant to us. And, then she’s out of the unbelievably brilliant race mare Cavorting trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. It’s just a great reason to be in horse racing.”
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Horologist (Distaff) galloped just over one mile of the Del Mar dirt track on Wednesday morning and, per trainer Bill Mott, has trained well for her formidable Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) test on Saturday. She enters off pace-setting runner-up effort in the Beldame Invitational (G2), a race she won last year prior to finishing ninth of 10 in the Distaff.
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Letruska (Distaff) galloped 1 1/2 miles Wednesday morning and schooled in the paddock with exercise rider Roger Horgan aboard. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez said, “I reconsidered very quickly and we moved again to the long distances. If we go a mile and a quarter, I think it is even better for her. The more distance, she has the chance to go a little bit more relaxed.”
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Malathaat (Distaff) galloped twice around. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, “It’s a collection of the best fillies and mares in the country. You’ve got some speed in there. You’ve got some closers. You’ve got some 3-year-old fillies, the best older mares. It’s what you’d expect to see in the Distaff. Hopefully, there is a good, honest pace to run at and we can let our filly do her thing. She is kind of ideally suited to be a stalker. She enjoys a target.”
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Private Mission (Distaff) will be facing older opponents for the first time. “I didn’t like her drawing the rail,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “She’s going to need to break well. I turned her out for a while after her only loss (last November). She’s such a royally bred filly and she should only get better with both age and racing distance.” She galloped once around the main oval this morning. "
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Royal Flag (Distaff) galloped once around. She is fresh off a dominant 4¼-length win in the Beldame Invitational and seeks her first Grade 1 victory. She will break from post two under Joel Rosario in the field of 11 and was assigned a morning line of 8-1. “She’s training very well and I like how she’s coming in,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Her Beldame was very good.”
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Shedaresthedevil (Distaff) had an easy gallop under exercise rider Edvin Vargas. “This is obviously a bigger, tougher race this time around than the last one, but she's training really well,” trainer Brad Cox said “And we've been waiting for this. I told someone earlier, we've been pointing for this race with her basically since the day after the Spinster last year. We decided to pull the plug on her, give her a break and campaign this year in an attempt to get her out here and have her peak in November. So far, that plan is working.”
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Eight Rings (Dirt Mile) galloped before sunrise for trainer Bob Baffert.
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Ginobili (Dirt Mile) was the last BC horse to arrive at Del Mar. He has done all his training at nearby San Luis Rey for trainer Richard Baltas, who explained, “He’s run two huge races off his conditioning there, so I don’t want to change a thing. Don’t call it superstition, though, it’s intelligence—and experience. He’s passed all the tests so far, winning at one mile, followed by the O’Brien at seven furlongs, and is coming into this race fresh. I’ve always thought a lot of this horse.” Ginobili completed his final preparations last Saturday with a 5f drill timed in 1:00 4/5.
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Jasper Prince (Dirt Mile) galloped twice around and schooled in the paddock.
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Restrainedvengence (Dirt Mile) galloped twice around for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
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Silver State (Dirt Mile) schooled in the paddock Wednesday afternoon, led by trainer Steve Asmussen.
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Snapper Sinclair (Dirt Mile) was on the track for his gallop before sunrise for trainer Steve Asmussen.
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Gamine (Filly & Mare Sprint) galloped once around. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “You know, I still get nervous every time she runs. There is just such high expectation for her every time. We were tempted to enter her in the ($2 million) Sprint. But I’d also like to try her long again, because she more released now. But, right now, our focus in Saturday’s race.”
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Dogtag (Filly & Mare Turf)
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Going to Vegas (Filly & Mare Turf) drew the rail as a 12-1 shot. Owner Phil Skelton said, “Our filly has a lot of speed and this draw simplifies the plan for us. With three turns, you don’t want to be wide on the turns.”
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Pocket Square (Filly & Mare Turf)
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American Sanctuary (Juvenile)
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Jack Christopher (Juvenile) galloped once around. Trainer Chad Brown said, “He drew inside and I didn’t really want to be there, but it is what it is and hopefully he breaks clean and gets out there. From there, we’ll leave it up to Jose to see if he just lets him roll along or we just play it by ear if someone is hellbent on having the lead.”
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Pinehurst (Juvenile) schooled in the paddock Wednesday afternoon. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "I wanted to bring Pinehurst into this race fresh after his Futurity win. The distance is the question with him."
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Echo Zulu (Juvenile Fillies) is the heavy 4-5 favorite. “What a great partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds and L & N Racing,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s great as far as people that enjoy the sport and now have a brilliant filly, who is three for three. She’s coming into the race in excellent shape. I think the filly’s training really well. She’s been nice and relaxed and we’re very excited for her on Friday.”
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Hidden Connection (Juvenile Fillies) visited the starting gate and then galloped a mile under exercise rider Janine Smith. “She was on my shortlist for the sale there in April,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She did not meet her reserve and then two months later I get a call from Hidden Brook saying they bought a filly and they were sending her to me. It was her. It was pretty evident early on that she had talent. She stood out in her training and when she started breezing, she really stepped up.”
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Tarabi (Juvenile Fillies) galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Juan Leyva. Trainer Cherie DeVaux said, “She didn’t really miss any time (after the Spinaway) as we kept her in light training, but we had to miss the Frizette or the Alcibiades. She is doing well and we are going to give it a shot."
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Cairo Memories (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped twice around. Trainer Bob Hess said, “Cairo is splendid, a wonderful, gifted filly and just a pleasure to be around. Unless the jock (Kent Desormeaux screws it up, I think we'll get the money.”
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Consumer Spending (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped before sunrise for trainer Chad Brown. Brown said, “She’s not in that top group of horses we’ve brought to this race in the past, but she’s done enough that I can’t keep her out. She’s an improving horse, she’s trained good, and her sire, More Than Ready, has had a tremendous Breeders’ Cup record. I just wish her numbers were a little faster to give me a little more hope she could land in the winner’s circle.”
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Dakota Gold (Juvenile Turf) galloped before sunrise for trainer Danny Gargan. Gargan said, “He has developed into a really nice 2-year-old. He is built well with good physical structure and has a pretty blaze. He is a very determined horse. We started to see that in some of his breezes. He made it look easy. He really wanted to outwork the horse he was with. He doesn’t get too riled up about anything. He does his job, and he likes to get out there to compete. He’s been a fun horse. He is great to be around. You can get up to him and pet him. He is laid back until he gets on the track and then he is really determined. He’s ready to run.”
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Grafton Street (Juvenile Turf) galloped twice around for trainer Mark Casse.
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Portfolio Company (Juvenile Turf) galloped 1 1/2 miles before sunrise for trainer Chad Brown who said, "I don't think he'll mind the cutback to a mile."
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Ready to Purrform (Juvenile Turf) galloped before sunrise for trainer Brad Cox.
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Stolen Base (Juvenile Turf) was sent out for a routine 1 1/2 mile gallop by trainer Mike Maker at 7am.
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Run Curtis Run (Juvenile Turf Sprint) was sent out for a routine 1 1/2 mile gallop by trainer Mike Maker at 7am.
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Thunder Love (Juvenile Turf Sprint) worked 4f on the turf in 50.4 seconds. Trainer George Boughey said, “Thunder Love is the first also-eligible for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, so at this stage looks like she’ll run in the Senator Ken Maddy where she’s drawn in gate six. She is fast away from the gate but will jump tomorrow morning just to sharpen her up and she’s taken it well. I’ve always thought firm ground around a bend is what she needs.”
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Blowout (Mile) galloped once around. Trainer Chad Brown said, “She’s going to be very forward and she doesn’t have to be on the lead. If there’s a horse that clearly wants that lead in the first turn, she’s fine with having a target. We will give her her own opportunity to win the race—she’s not in there to set a pace (for her stablemate) at all, but it’s nice to have two horses in there with complementary style, depending on what the pace winds up being.”
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Casa Creed (Mile) galloped once around. “We like him in this race, but we didn’t draw very good,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We just have to try to get inside, whether we go forward or backward to do that, because you can’t be wide here.”
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Got Stormy (Mile) makes her 3rd Breeders' Cup appearance, including a close second in the 2019 Mile.
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In Love (Mile) galloped once around for trainer Paulo Lobo.
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Ivar (Mile) went for his gallop before sunrise for trainer Paulo Lobo.
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Smooth Like Strait (Mile) galloped on the main track for trainer Mike McCarthy.
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Firenze Fire (Sprint) retires to stud in Japan after the Breeders' Cup.
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Following Sea (Sprint) galloped once around before sunrise for trainer Todd Pletcher.
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Jackie's Warrior (Sprint) schooled in the paddock between races Wednesday afternoon.
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Astronaut (Turf) galloped 2 miles before sunrise for trainer John Shirreffs.
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Gufo (Turf) galloped twice around before sunrise for trainer Christophe Clement.
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Rockemperor (Turf) enters the Turf off the best performance of his career when winning the aforementioned Joe Hirsch Turf Classic by two lengths. “That was a pleasant surprise,” trainer Chad Brown explained. “He was training well, but I’ll be honest, I was surprised with the way he won the race. This is a big step up in class and this is a different group of horses than the Hirsch, but his number was very good. He’s had fast numbers in the past and it’s not impossible for him to get a piece of it. I like his post, as well. If Javier can get him out of the gate and get a quiet spot following Domestic Spending, that would be ideal.”
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Teona (Turf) was the second overseas horse out on the main track before being followed by 14 international horses exercising on the turf track.
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Bombard (Turf Sprint) galloped before sunrise for trainer Richard Mandella.
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Charmaine's Mia (Turf Sprint) galloped once around for trainer Phil D'Amato.
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Lieutenant Dan (Turf Sprint) jogged and cantered on the main track for trainer Steve Miyadi.
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The Aidan O'Brien string on Wendesday morning. His group of seven horses were once again led by Broome (Turf) and followed up in the rear by Love (Turf). They did their usual routine trot and then split up into two groups to gallop. O’Brien’s possible four runners in the Turf, Bolshoi Ballet, Broome, Japan and Mogul worked together and behind them came Glounthaune (Juvenile Turf), Love and Mother Earth (Mile).
O’Brien said, “That was great, they’ve done a nice bit of work there. The lads seem very happy with them all and reports have been good with the way they traveled and how they’ve settled in. Obviously, we need a few horses to scratch to get a run with a few of them so we’ll have to see what happens over the coming days.”
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A loose horse created havoc around 8:45am. He was eventually caught despite his bridle being broken and trailing behind him and his saddle slipped over to his side.
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