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Kennedy Road Stakes Betty Grable Stakes Breeders Cup Wrap Up Breeders Cup Saturday Breeders Cupnbsp;Friday |
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 A floral horse at Del Mar on Thursday morning. |
Thursday morning training at Del Mar was conducted under clear skies with temperatures in the low 70's. The post position draw was conducted Monday afternoon, so check out all the entries, post positions, and morning line odds here. There was one timed work today on the turf for Jonquil (Mile). Scottish Lassie was scratched from the Distaff this morning as a precaution after she was a "little off" in her right front foot after training on Wednesday. Civil Liberty was scratched from the Juvenile by his trainer and Fee Blanche was scratched from the Filly and Mare Sprint by the vet.
Here are photos for 69 of the horses on the track Thursday morning. Click the small picture to see a larger version.
Baeza (Classic) galloped once around. Trainer John Shirreffs said, "There isn't a lot of speed in the race, we all know that. I think it will be curious to see who decides to be the speed, because speed is always dangerous in any dirt race. Whoever wants to go, [it's about] how much he wants to try to stretch the field. Everybody else are either closers or stalkers. This race is totally a riders' race, and I don't know that you can really handicap that easily. You know Chad's got the one horse (Contrary Thinking) that he wants to go and make a little pace for Sierra Leone, and we'll have Fierceness on the inside, and they want to get out of the gate – they don't want to have that horse stuck in again, so they'll want to get going. I see them past the gap trying to show a little bit of speed. Then, it's how everybody else falls into place."
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Forever Young (Classic) walked and schooled in the paddock. Stable representative Yukihiko Araki said, "He is in good shape after his fast work yesterday. I hope everything goes smoothly for the race on Saturday."
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Journalism (Classic) galloped 1 mile and visited the starting gate under exercise rider Marc Witkowski. Trainer Mike McCarthy said, "I think against the caliber of horses we're running against, I don't think you want to get yourself too far back. These horses just don't stop. We'll come up with a game plan. Obviously, we'll leave it up to Jose (Ortiz). Once the gates open, it's up to him. He was very tactical and the last couple races we've just gotten ourselves a little bit far out of it, whether it be the kickback, race shape, what have you. We'll just try to go ahead bounce out of there and put him in a stalking position."
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Nevada Beach (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Exercise rider Morgan Kervarrec said, "I backed him up to the wire and then went a mile and a half. He really feels great. He is such a good boy."
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Sierra Leone (Classic) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Chad Brown said, "He just went out there and galloped a mile and a half today and moved over this track very well. All of my horses seem to like the track."
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Clicquot (Distaff) galloped once around. Trainer Brendan Walsh said, "All is well. We schooled Gin Gin, Clicquot and (Goldikova Stakes morning-line favorite) Special Wan, all three of my Saturday horses, this morning around 10 o'clock."
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Dorth Vader (Distaff) galloped 1 3/8 miles and schooled in the paddock. Owner-breeder John Ropes said, "When she was a yearling in training, the question was, 'do we bring her to the 2-year-old sale?' Our trainer at the time, Gayle Woods, is a great 2-year-old trainer, and she said, 'I think this filly can really run. You need to send her to the track.' The rest was history. I'm very glad she said that. We've had a great journey and it's just starting. Dorth Vader is the best horse I've owned, and it's not often you get a horse to take you to both the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders' Cup."
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Dry Powder (Distaff) jogged 1 1/2 miles and visited the paddock. Trainer Chad Summers said, "She went with the pony and jogged as usual, went through the paddock, and now it's bubble wrap time. We try not to get too excited, the key is to stay as even-keeled as you can. There's a lot of ups and downs like a roller coaster, so we try to just stay level."
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Gin Gin (Distaff) galloped once around. Trainer Brendan Walsh said, "All is well. We schooled Gin Gin, Clicquot and (Goldikova Stakes morning-line favorite) Special Wan, all three of my Saturday horses, this morning around 10 o'clock."
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Gun Song (Distaff) galloped 1 1/4 mile under Gregory Benitez. Trainer Mark Hennig said, "It means a lot bringing a horse here for (owner Lee Lewis). He was one of my first owners when I went out on my own and Personal Hope (fourth in the 1993 Kentucky Derby) was one of the first horses in my barn. First and foremost we are friends. He has been buying some good horses, so hopefully we are on our way back."
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Regaled (Distaff) galloped 1 3/8 mile under Josue Rodriguez. Trainer Whit Beckman said, "When I first went out on my own, I would send some horses to Indiana and started riding (jockey Joe Ramos). Our percentage there was ridiculously good. I can call him and he will come right on over. He is as good as anybody. He has ridden Regaled three times. I would not trade him for anybody. He and I had our first Kentucky Derby together this spring and now our first Breeders' Cup. Hopefully we can continue to build on this."
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Sarawak Rim (Distaff) galloped 1 3/8 mile under Geovanny Vences. Vences said, "She's very smart and very quiet. She has adapted well (to this country) and likes the good weather here and is feeling good (on the track)."
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Scylla (Distaff) galloped about 1 1/2 miles and schooled in the paddock. Trainer Bill Mott said, "She is always there in her races. Everything has to work out for her, which they always have to do to win this race. She has one route race (third in the Spinster) under her belt, so, hopefully, she will adapt to the pace scenario and have a little more stamina because of the previous race. She has won at 1 1/8 before (2024 Fleur de Lis Stakes). It probably wasn't her best race because the speed figures did not look to be the best. She seemed happy today."
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Seismic Beauty (Distaff) galloped 1 3/8 mile. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "The form tells it all. She just needs to run that race back (won the Clement L. Hirsch going gate-to-wire by 1 1/2 lengths) and we will be good. If she doesn't, then we are in trouble."
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Amiloc (Turf) galloped once around. Jockey Rossa Ryan said, "Amiloc is well. The form of his last run in Ireland you'd hope was solid having finished second to Al Riffa who is favorite for the Melbourne Cup next week. We've got a good draw, he'll handle the ground which he showed at Royal Ascot and that form backed up well. He's in good form and beginning to grow into himself and he seems to be thriving since he's been in Del Mar. He's an easy ride, full of character, don't get me wrong. He prances around there like he owns the place. He's not the biggest in the world but fairly straightforward. He wouldn't be the greatest of work horses in the morning but does it on the track which is the main thing."
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El Cordobes (Turf) galloped twice around. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, "In the Joe Hirsch, I thought he wasn't necessarily unlucky, but I know he should have and could have finished second. In my mind, I could never see him beating Rebel's Romance and I told that to William when we talking about whether he was going to make the trip over to ride. Beating Nations Pride is one thing, but beating Rebel's Romance—I could never see that. Again, I wanted to run him just to see if he could run a sensible race behind Rebel's Romance. Doing that would put him in the mix of a race like the Breeders' Cup Turf."
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Goliath (Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, "I really couldn't be happier with Goliath, and I think I've got him back to his best for the first time this season. His run in Hong Kong at the start of the year jeopardized everything. He got so upset and he traveled over very badly, so it was a hard season for him. He looks fantastic now, though, and his work rider thinks he is back to his best. I just hope the vets let him run because of his stringhalt, but I could not be happier with the horse. Goliath's win last year in the King George (G1) was very special for my career. He's like our mascot in the team, he's very special. People are forgetting about him too quickly and I hope he can prove just how good he still is. He was so impressive in the King George and I think we have him back to that sort of level now."
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Minnie Hauk (Turf) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "She did everything right in the Arc. She has a little habit all the time, she used to wait a little bit and when she would go there, she wouldn't win by very far. We didn't know how good she was until she stepped up into an older race and that's what she did. She wasn't supposed to win the Arc this year and that's just the way it was. She came out of the Arc very well, so everyone seems very happy with her since. It was always a possibility that she would come here because she loves fast ground, she's quick, she stays and she's tactical, so the lads agreed to let her come. I'm looking forward to it. For us to have her here and to wait and see what she's going to do. It's great expectations and it's something really to look forward to."
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Rebel's Romance (Turf) galloped on turf under Marc Halford. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, "We are fully aware that there are going to be young legs in the race and Minnie Hauk being obviously the most respected out of all of them from what she's achieved at that level. That being said, those who want to sort of row against him, good luck to them. He's been there and he's done it and I can assure you that when he walks around the paddock, there will be no better specimen of a racehorse walking around there as far as his physique and what he's accomplished on the track. And when they go up against him on the track, they're going to know they've had a race. He won't go out there and lie down easily."
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Silawi (Turf) did an easy gallop on the turf that connections were pleased with.
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Wimbledon Hawkeye (Turf) galloped on the turf.
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Bedtime Story (Filly and Mare Turf) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "She's in good form, running in Group 1 races all year. She just got trapped back last time at Ascot in a slowly run race the last day. She came out of the race well. She's very genuine and wants to win, but things just haven't really worked for her, so we'll see on Saturday. We think fast ground and a bend track should suit her."
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Cathedral (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Kevin Phillipart de Foy said, "Cathedral came out of her last race in great shape. We were keen to step her up in trip after Newmarket, the extra 3 furlongs on fast ground should suit her very well. The filly traveled well and should be seen at her best on Saturday."
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Gezora (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said, "Gezora is a very straightforward filly. The Arc was a non-event for her, she was too far back. I've been happy with her out on the track this week. She looks good and if she gets a clear run, she should be very competitive. I think she might stay in the U.S. after the race."
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She Feels Pretty (Filly and Mare Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Cherie DeVaux said, "She's doing great and had a really nice gallop out there with lots of energy. I've only been fortunate enough to come here a few times and my career is young. Last year, we came here and won (the Mile) with More Than Looks, so it's a little different. The pressure is off – there's always pressure and stress, but not that added thought of, 'am I going to win the race?' She's going to run her race and try her hardest. To come in with a filly like this where no matter where she finishes, she'll put in her best run, that gives you all the confidence to go over there."
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Stellify (Filly and Mare Turf)
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Formidable Man (Mile)
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One Stripe (Mile) galloped once around. Trainer Graham Motion said, "You do feel a certain responsibility for the South Africans because it's a big deal for them. I do feel like we are representing them, and I know how important it is for them. It's been uplifting for our stable. It's a new experience in our stable to have these horses, and I love international racing. I picked a really difficult race for him to run in last time for his first North American start. He had to give weight to everybody, so he was really up against it. I think he's really come on since that race – he really needed the race. The timing was perfect, it just wasn't the ideal spot."
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Program Trading (Mile) galloped 1 1/2 miles. Trainer Chad Brown said, "If he can pick up his turn-of-foot by loving Del Mar—and if he drew cozy, which he drew pretty good (in post 5 of 13)—I thought he would be worth taking a shot here," Brown continued. "He's definitely back at the level of when he won the Turf Classic, but again, that was at a mile and an eighth, so we are hoping for the best here. He's definitely doing very, very well."
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Qirat (Mile) galloped once around. Jockey Rossa Ryan said, "Qirat needs to break well which he did this morning so will be interesting to see how he goes. If he gets on the front end, he's an aggressive galloper and they'll need to work hard to get by him, whether he's good enough to keep going, we'll see."
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The Lion in Winter (Mile) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "He has backed up two very good runs coming into this and they've been excellent in top-class mile races in Europe. He wasn't beaten far in either, so we think he's definitely on the way. He has a good draw."
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Big City Lights (Sprint)
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Mullikin (Sprint) galloped and visited the starting gate. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset said, "We refreshed him for two or three weeks and got him back to Keeneland. He loves Keeneland. Since then, he's been working lights out. Physically, he may be even better than last year. At first glance, there looks like a lot more speed than last year. Looks like there are horses even farther out than us that like to be forwardly placed. (Mullikin) can do about anything. Our main focus has to be making sure things go smoothly and getting him into the gate. I've said this before, I wish they could all be like him. He's straightforward and easy to be around. He knows the job. This is his last race. He's my first Grade 1 winner, so we're going to make sure we take care of him."
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Patriot Spirit (Sprint) galloped once around. Trainer Mike Campbell said, "I had the chance to go for the Vosburgh, and I said 'I've got to do it.' I saw the nominations and thought, 'I think we can win this thing!' He just galloped, and it was a pretty strong bunch of horses to win that easily against. That's what has led us to San Diego. We were trying to adapt him into a two-turn horse, and he was very successful at it and ran some terrific races, but I was always been searching for that sweet spot where his best distance is. He'll try and do well wherever you put him, as long as he's in comparable company. You'd have to be comatose not to be excited about being here. It's exciting, we are grateful to be here, and we've got a nice horse with a big chance. We're looking forward to it."
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Straight No Chaser (Sprint)
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Praying (Filly and Mare Sprint)
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Splendora (Filly and Mare Sprint)
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Tamara (Filly and Mare Sprint)
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Arizona Blaze (Turf Sprint) galloped on the turf. Jockey David Egan said, I'm incredibly proud to extend my contract with Amo Racing. There's a long-term vision to build something special and sustainable, and I'm honored to play my part in that journey. We've got a great team of people behind the scenes and a strong string of horses, so there's a real sense of excitement about what's to come."
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Invincible Papa (Turf Sprint) galloped once around. Trainer Daishi Ito said, "She's just the same as she is in Japan. Even after her work, she doesn't want to stop, she's full of energy. She's every bit as good as she was when she won the CBC Sho. She's very relaxed, actually, even more relaxed than when she's in Japan. Unlike in Japan, where many horses enter the track at the same time for training, Del Mar's schedule is more spread out, so the environment is much quieter."
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She's Quality (Turf Sprint) galloped once around and schooled in the starting gate. Trainer Jack Davison said, "This is a race I've been really looking forward to for She's Quality. It's nice fast ground, a 5-furlong sprint around a bend which should suit really well. She's had a busy schedule all year and has traveled plenty, she hasn't showed any signs of slowing down. She's got a great constitution, traveled over really well and seems to be in great form, exercising well on the track in the mornings and everyone is really happy with her so we're really excited about running in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. We rate this filly very highly and I expect her to be competitive on Saturday."
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Dr. Venkman (Dirt Mile)
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Chancer McPatrick (Dirt Mile) galloped 1 1/2 miles. "It's his final race and he's going off to (stud duties at) Spendthrift (Farm) after this, but I will say he's blooming right now," trainer Chad Brown explained. "He's been putting on weight, he's shining and he's been training as well as he's trained all year. With a horse like that, my approach is that he's got these 2-year-old numbers that were so good and was definitely the top juvenile on the east coast, and if he runs through those numbers, he's capable of having a good race."
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Nysos (Dirt Mile) galloped once around. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "I wish he was in the Classic. He is doing really good. He is a superstar, a real good horse. He was born that way. He was born with a lot of talent."
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Patriot Spirit (Dirt Mile)
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Will Take It (Dirt Mile)
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Brant (Juvenile) galloped 1 mile. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "He is looking good. Ted Noffey is a tough horse, and he is already proven around two turns and we are not. We are not going to know until they turn for home. I feel good about him going in."
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Mr. A.P. (Juvenile)
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Ted Noffey (Juvenile) galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Carlos Perez. Ned Toffey, general manager for owner Spendthrift Farm (the horse's namesake after a trade publication misspelled his name!) said, "He's done nothing wrong so far. He's done everything we've asked of him, and he's maybe even exceeded expectations. But it's the Breeders Cup. He's got some new challenges. His last start, he did have a long van ride, a new track and two turns and he handled all of those things well. I think that that bodes well for his ability to handle shipping out to Del Mar. He'll have another long ship, new scenery, new surface, and, probably most importantly, some new and very good competition. It doesn't get any easier, but certainly he has done everything right and hopefully we'll get lucky and that will continue."
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Bottle of Rouge (Juvenile Fillies) galloped under exercise rider Morgan Kervarrec, who said, "I backed her up a little bit and took her for a little stroll around. We did not want to do too much with her running tomorrow. She feels great; she really likes it here. I have been getting on her since day one. She was not easy at first, but she got better and she has really turned into a sweetheart." Owner Jill Baffert added, "I can't believe I own that one. I have had some real nice horses but never a young horse with all the hopes and dreams that come with that and the potential that may or may not come to fruition. I don't know who else I would want training my horses. In my opinion, Bob is the best trainer. It feels good to know that she will be ready to run."
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Meaning (Juvenile Fillies) galloped 1 mile under Luis Cacares. Trainer Mike McCarthy said, "We were looking forward to get her started here late this summer. Just had to wait on her a little bit, but able to get a race into her (at Los Alamitos) going 6 1/2 furlongs. Shipped across town, ran on a surface and a racetrack configuration that was foreign to her. I thought her performance that day was exemplary, and has come back and trained maybe a little bit better for this race than she did for her first race."
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Percy's Bar (Juvenile Fillies)
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Tommy Jo (Juvenile Fillies) galloped one mile under Hector Ramos. "Still, a very exciting filly and very excited about the opportunity to take her out to California," Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. "It's the same situation. She's got some really, really nice horses to contend with out there. It's the Breeders' Cup. It's not, not a place where you are likely to find a soft spot."
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Ardisia (Juvenile Turf)
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Brussels (Juvenile Turf) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "Christophe is riding Brussels, who wasn't beaten very far in his last two runs—the race last out at Newmarket he finished second to a good horse in a fast race."
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Caro Buono (Juvenile Turf)
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North Coast (Juvenile Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Joseph O'Brien said, I'm happy with how he has traveled and he usually has some good gate and tactical speed. In his last run, he got a little bit rank and there was a big headwind and fast pace and he got caught up in it. I'm happy to put a line through that one."
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Third Beer (Juvenile Turf)
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Turf Star (Juvenile Turf) galloped once around and schooled in the paddock. Trainer Graham Motion said, "He really is a flashy guy, and he's so laid back. He takes everything in stride. Even in the mornings, he kind of flops around there and is disinterested. He's a very cool horse. He's got a remarkable attitude. People have been noticing on the track, and they're not wrong – he is adorable."
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Brave Deb (Juvenile Fillies Turf)
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Celebrity Warrior (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "She's run well in both starts. We're taking a shot to see if she can maybe get lucky and get a good trip and improve a little bit. Didn't really anticipate that she would get in, originally. When we saw that the field was coming up a little shorter than it usually does, we were happy to take a chance with her."
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Ground Support (Juvenile Fillies Turf)
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Precise (Juvenile Fillies Turf)
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Switch in Love (Juvenile Fillies Turf) galloped once around. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said, "She's been in excellent shape, and we've been able to give her a solid amount of work. She has been eating well and fit, so now it's just a matter of keeping her temperament in check. She's been schooling in the parade ring every morning and is calm at the moment, but her mental state on race day will be crucial. We've drawn well in stall six that gives us a real chance to compete, so I just hope everything goes smoothly."
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Aspect Island (Juvenile Turf Sprint) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "She's unusual with what she's doing and it's going to be very tough on Friday, but she will get a lot of experience from this and hopefully she'll come back OK. We're just lucky that the lads love racing so much that the prestige of being here and winning their races and this is where they want to be. We appreciate them being that way because obviously racing and competing in these races is what we are hoping and like to do."
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Bobrovsky (Juvenile Turf Sprint)
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Havana Anna (Juvenile Turf Sprint) galloped once around. Trainer Donnacha O'Brien said, "I think the drop back to 5 furlongs will suit her, as will the sharp track as she's all speed. Realistically she's our best chance of the weekend. To run in a Breeders' Cup race they need gate speed, early pace, and handle fast ground and ultimately need to be very good horses to run in these races."
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Lennilu (Juvenile Turf Sprint)
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Military Code (Juvenile Turf Sprint)
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True Love (Juvenile Turf Sprint) jogged and cantered with the O'Brien string. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, True Love is definitely quick enough for the race, but we also saw no need to run her and Precise against one another (in the Juvenile Fillies Turf). She's come out of her run at Newmarket well and doing very well going into the race. She has proven herself a very fast Group 1 filly."
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Photos courtesy of Amber Chalfin of Downthestretchphotos.com.
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