Breeders' Cup Worthy Performances
With the Triple Crown in the rear-view mirror, the dog days of summer will weed out the contenders from the pretenders in regards to the Breeders’ Cup. Major stakes races were run in California, Florida, New York and Toronto over the holiday weekend, many explosive performances were delivered, which if repeated this fall at Keeneland will land them in the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle.
Ready for Rye is a 3-year-old son of acclaimed turf sire, City Zip and made his grass debut a winning one last Saturday at Belmont Park in a 7-furlong allowance. Out of the turf sprinting mare, Embroidery, Ready for Rye went immediately to the front and never looked back. After getting the first half mile in 46.08, Ready on Rye ran his final 3 furlongs in 34.88 seconds, covering the 7 furlongs in 1:20.94. After being one of the top 3-year-old sprinters throughout the spring, the Tom Albertrani trainee has found a new home on the turf.
As Turf Sprint division leaders take turns beating one another, Ready for Rye is an obvious player to lay claim to the top spot. He has shown sizzling dirt speed, and the stamina to get the BC Turf Sprint distance of 5 ½ furlongs. Ready for Rye should be ready to face older horses again in races such as the Troy Stakes at Saratoga.
Super Majesty remained undefeated in 2 starts after dominating allowance foes by 15 ¼ lengths last Sunday at Los Alamitos. Off a step slow, the heavily-backed daughter of Super Saver quickly ranged up to rate from just off the pace. Turning for home Super Majesty kicked clear and made mince meat of her competition completing 6 furlongs in 1:08.26, just .08 seconds off the track record.
Next month, Super Majesty will attempt to be the second undefeated Jerry Hollendorfer trainee to win the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga (Sweet Lulu 2013). After her trip to upstate New York, look for Super Majesty to dominate an average crop of older female sprinters at the Breeders’ Cup.
As dominant as the first 2 performances were, Lady Eli was the most scintillating in winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. Racing well off the pace, the Duchess of Chad Brown’s barn stormed home to score by 2 ¾ lengths. While running her record to a perfect 6-for-6, Lady Eli stamped herself as one of the top American contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Her biggest competition may be older stablemate Stephanie’s Kitten, but as Lady Eli gains more experience, she will dethrone the Queen of the Brown barn. No plans have been made for Lady Eli’s next start, but wherever she shows up she will be heavily favored to keep her record unblemished.