Breeders' Cup glance: Totally Boss aims for Ky. Downs repeat
As the 2020 Breeders’ Cup approaches, “Win and You’re In” berths are up for grabs ahead of the Nov. 6-7 championships at Keeneland. This weekly series from Horse Racing Nation highlights upcoming Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, recaps recent stakes and shows how the fields for each division are shaping up.
Upcoming Challenge Series races
Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, Kentucky Downs, Saturday (Turf Sprint)
Totally Boss, winner of the 2019 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, is a tepid 9-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s 2020 renewal of the Grade 3, $700,000 event.
Trained by Rusty Arnold, Totally Boss took this race last year to clinch a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint berth, then ran 10th in November’s championship event. The 5-year-old has raced twice this season and was second at Keeneland on July 11 in the Shakertown Stakes (G2).
Grade 2 winner Stubbins, fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, is entered here at 6-1 odds for trainer Doug O’Neill. Graham Motion trainee Kanthaka (5-1) takes another shot at a “Win and You’re In” berth after running a close second June 20 in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.
Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, Saturday (Turf)
Ghaiyyath – No. 1 runner in the world, per the World Racehorse Rankings – takes his shot at another Group 1 win here in the Irish Champion Stakes. This summer, the Charlie Appleby trainee has already won the International Stakes (G1), Coronation Cup (G1) and Coral-Eclipse (G1).
2019 Irish Champion Stakes winner Magical will look to defend that title Saturday for trainer Aidan O’Brien. He was second to Ghaiyyath last out Aug. 19 in the International.
Matron Stakes, Leopardstown, Saturday (Filly and Mare Turf)
O’Brien’s Peaceful is set for another tangle against his son Donnacha O'Brien’s Fancy Blue on Saturday in the Matron (G1).
Peaceful took the One Thousand Guineas (G1) on June 13 before running third July 5 in the Prix de Diane (G1). Fancy Blue ran second to Peaceful in the One Thousand Guineas before beating that one in the Prix de Diane, then winning the Nassau Stakes (G1) on July 30.
Champions Juvenile Stakes, Leopardstown, Saturday (Juvenile Turf)
Cadillac, who ran second Aug. 22 in the Futurity Stakes (G2), aims to do one better here Saturday in the Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) for trainer Jessica Harrington.
Fernando Vichi won over this Leopardstown course July 23 for Donnacha O’Brien. Ger Lyons trains Ides of August, who was also a Leopardstown winner June 21.
Flying Five Stakes, Curragh, Sunday (Turf Sprint)
With Battaash bypassing the Flying Five Stakes (G1), Que Amoro is in prime position to clinch a Breeders’ Cup berth. Trained by Michael Dods, she was second to Battaash on Aug. 21 in another “Win and You’re In” race, the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).
Make a Challenge enters off two recent stakes wins, including Aug. 22 at the Curragh, for trainer Denis Hogan. Running for the barn of trainers Ed and Simon Crisford, A’Ali took the Curragh’s Sapphire Stakes (G2) on July 19.
Moyglare Stud Stakes, Curragh, Sunday (Juvenile Fillies Turf)
Trainer Ken Condon has fillies Teresa Mendoza and Thunder Beauty both ready to go Saturday for the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1).
Teresa Mendoza was second Aug. 28 over the same Curragh course in the Round Tower Stakes (G3). Thunder Beauty won at the Curragh on debut July 26.
Recent Challenge Series races
Pocahontas Stakes, Churchill Downs (Juvenile Fillies)
The first Juvenile Fillies bid of the 2020 season went to Girl Daddy, who improved to 2-for-2 when taking the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) on Sept. 3.
Under jockey Joe Talamo, Girl Daddy broke a step slow before taking up a position mid-pack. She mounted a three-wide rally to take the lead, then held off favorite Crazy Beautiful by two lengths.
“She’s shown some incredible talent for this stage of her career,” trainer Dale Romans said of Girl Daddy, who won on debut July 24 at Ellis Park. “It’s exciting having a filly developing this quickly. We’re thrilled to only have to take a short trip down the road to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Owner Albaugh Family Stables paid $500,000 last September for Girl Daddy, a 2-year-old Uncle Mo filly.
Iroquois Stakes, Churchill Downs (Juvenile)
Two days after Girl Daddy’s Pocahontas triumph, Albaugh and Romans made it a clean sweep of Churchill’s September 2-year-old stakes thanks to Sittin On Go.
Sent off Saturday as a 24-1 long shot, Sittin On Go raced far off the pace early on under jockey Corey Lanerie. He started his five-wide rally in upper stretch and flew on by Midnight Bourbon to take the Iroquois (G3).
“I was actually going to follow Dale’s other horse (Ultimate Badger), but I had so much horse, I went to the outside and let him come on,” Lanerie said. “Watching the races, it looked like the outside is the best place to be. I didn’t want any excuses for getting him stopped.”
Sittin On Go is a 2-year-old son of Brody’s Cause, another Albaugh-owned runner that Romans trained.
Challenge Series race winners
Classic
Authentic, Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park, July 18
Authentic’s win in the Haskell (G1) made him the first runner from the barn of trainer Bob Baffert — a 15-time Breeders’ Cup winner — to clinch a berth in the 2020 Championships. The Kentucky-bred Into Mischief colt then scored an even bigger victory Saturday when taking the 2020 Kentucky Derby in front-running fashion. Now 5-for-6 in his career, Authentic will remain at Churchill to train for the Preakness Stakes on Oct. 3. The 3-year-old is No. 4 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.
Ghaiyyath, International Stakes, York, Aug. 19
Ghaiyyath made it 3-for-3 during his 5-year-old season when leading at every call of the International (G1). Enable, Magical and Stradivarius are among rivals the Irish-bred son of Dubawi has defeated this season. Appleby said the Breeders’ Cup Turf would be Ghaiyyath’s most likely race if he traveled this fall to Keeneland.
Improbable, Whitney, Saratoga, Aug. 1
Improbable shipped East from Baffert’s California base for the Whitney (G1) and proved best in a field of five millionaires. The Kentucky-bred son of City Zip has now posted back-to-back top-flight wins, also taking the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on June 6 at Santa Anita. Improbable, No. 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, is working at Del Mar.
Maximum Security, Pacific Classic, Del Mar, Aug. 22
Maximum Security became the third Baffert trainee to clinch a Breeders’ Cup Classic berth when going gate-to-wire in the Pacific Classic (G1). The 4-year-old New Year’s Day colt has won six straight races, a streak that began last July in the Haskell (G1), and has 10 official wins in 12 starts. The Kentucky-bred sits at No. 1 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings and is working at Del Mar.
Mozu Ascot, February Stakes, Tokyo Racecourse, Feb. 23
A Kentucky-bred son of Frankel, 6-year-old Mozu Ascot is a two-time Group 1 winner in Japan, including his February victory. The Yoshito Yahagi trainee last finished sixth May 5 at Funabashi in the Kashiwa Kinen.
Tom’s d’Etat, Stephen Foster, Churchill Downs, June 27
7-year-old Tom’s d’Etat was a dominant winner of the Stephen Foster (G2) for trainer Al Stall Jr. but saw a four-race winning streak snapped Aug. 1 in the Whitney (G1). The Kentucky-bred Smart Strike horse went off favored at Saratoga but stumbled at the start and finished third to Improbable and By My Standards. Tom’s d’Etat is No. 3 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.
Dirt Mile
C Z Rocket, Pat O’Brien Stakes, Del Mar, Aug. 29
Former claimer C Z Rocket improved to 4-for-4 under trainer Peter Miller when winning the Pat O’Brien (G2). The Florida-bred 6-year-old previously ran for Stall. The Breeders’ Cup Sprint is also an option for the City Zip gelding.
Vekoma, Metropolitan Handicap, Belmont Park, July 4
One race after stamping a Breeders’ Cup Sprint “Win and You’re In” ticket by taking Belmont’s Carter Handicap (G1), Vekoma won the Met Mile (G1) to also earn a Dirt Mile berth. Trainer George Weaver and owners will have to choose which way to go with the 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Candy Ride colt. On Saturday, Vekoma turned in a work at Saratoga, his first timed move since the Met Mile.
Distaff
Fighting Mad, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Del Mar, Aug. 1
Fighting Mad entered her 4-year-old season with only five starts to her name but has become the West Coast’s hottest distaffer. After winning the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) on May 31 at Santa Anita, she backed up 9-5 favoritism in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1). The Kentucky-bred filly shares the same trainer (Baffert), owners/breeders (Gary and Mary West) and sire (New Year’s Day) as Maximum Security. She is working at Del Mar.
Midnight Bisou, Fleur de Lis, Churchill Downs, June 27
Midnight Bisou looked like her dominant self in the Fleur de Lis (G2), but then took an unexpected loss to Vexatious on Aug. 1 at Saratoga in the Personal Ensign (G1). Steve Asmussen trains the 5-year-old Midnight Lute mare, who was named Eclipse Award 2019 Champion Older Dirt Female. The Kentucky-bred has run twice in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, finishing third in 2018 and second in 2019. Midnight Bisou is working at Saratoga.
She’s a Julie, Ogden Phipps Stakes, Belmont Park, June 13
Asmussen trainee She’s a Julie became a two-time Grade 1 winner with her Ogden Phipps victory. The 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred Elusive Quality mare has followed that victory with two off-the-board finishes, including Friday at Churchill Downs in the La Troienne Stakes (G1).
Swiss Skydiver, Alabama, Saratoga, Aug. 15
Swiss Skydiver became the first 3-year-old to clinch a Breeders’ Cup Distaff berth with her Alabama (G1) triumph. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Daredevil has tallied four graded stakes victories this year for trainer Kenny McPeek, all of them coming at different tracks. She ran second to Shedaresthedevil on Friday at Churchill in the Kentucky Oaks.
Vexatious, Personal Ensign, Saratoga, Aug. 1
Never one to duck a challenge, Vexatious has made 15 of her 24 career starts in graded stakes. The 6-year-old Jack Sisterson trainee broke through with her biggest win Aug. 1 when beating Midnight Bisou to the wire in the Personal Ensign (G1). The Giant’s Causeway mare posted a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in that victory, the best number a female runner has tallied this season in a main track race going more than a mile. She finished a disappointing sixth in the La Troienne.
Filly and Mare Sprint
Serengeti Empress, Ballerina Stakes, Saratoga, Aug. 8
Tom Amoss trainee Serengeti Empress set blazing fractions, then dug in gamely to win the Ballerina (G1). The Kentucky-bred, 4-year-old Alternation filly is now a Grade 1 winner at both one and two turns, having also won the 2019 Kentucky Oaks. She put forth another big effort Saturday at Churchill in the Derby City Distaff (G1) but lost a head bob to Bell’s the One.
Filly and Mare Turf
Almond Eye, Victoria Mile, Tokyo Racecourse, May 17
Sakae Kunieda trains the Japanese-bred Almond Eye, a 5-year-old Lord Kanaloa mare. A Group 1 winner in both Japan and the United Arab Emirates, she was second last out at Tokyo on June 7 in the Yasuda Kinen (G1).
Love, Yorkshire Oaks, York, Aug. 20
Aidan O’Brien trainee Love scored her third consecutive Group 1 win in the Yorkshire Oaks. The Irish-bred, 3-year-old Galileo filly will now target the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 4 at ParisLongchamp.
Queen Supreme, Cartier Paddock Stakes, Kenilworth, Jan. 11
Irish-bred Queen Supreme is a 4-year-old Exceed and Excel filly trained by Mike de Kock, who American racing fans will remember as conditioner of 2015 Kentucky Derby contender Mubtaahij.
Juvenile
Sittin On Go, Iroquois Stakes, Churchill Downs, Sept. 5
Sittin On Go became the first 2-year-old to clinch a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile berth when upsetting the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at 24-1 odds for trainer Romans. The Kentucky-bred son of Brody’s Cause is 2-for-2, having also won on debut Aug. 16 at Ellis Park.
Juvenile Fillies
Girl Daddy, Pocahontas Stakes, Churchill Downs, Sept. 3
Uncle Mo filly Girl Daddy clinched the first Juvenile Fillies division “Win and You’re In” berth when taking the Pocahontas Stakes (G3). Romans trains the Kentucky-bred 2-year-old, who is unbeaten in two starts.
Juvenile Turf Sprint
Campanelle, Prix Morny, Deauville, Aug. 23
Campanelle improved to 3-for-3 so far in her career when taking the Prix Morny (G1) for trainer Wesley Ward. The 2-year-old Kodiac filly also won the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. She’s training in France and could work straight up to a start in the Breeders’ Cup, likely in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The Lir Jet, Norfolk Stakes, Ascot, June 19
The Lir Jet improved to 2-for-2 when winning the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. Since that victory, the 2-year-old has run second in a pair of stakes, including the Phoenix (G1) on Aug. 9 at Curragh. Michael Bell trains the Irish-bred Prince of Lir colt.
Mile
Circus Maximus, Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, June 16
Circus Maximus, a Galileo colt, won his 4-year-old bow in the Queen Anne (G1), marking the second Royal Ascot victory of his career. He has followed that victory up with by finishing second, third and third in a trio of Group 1 events. The Irish-bred Aidan O’Brien trainee ran fourth last November in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Gran Alegria, Yasuda Kinen, Tokyo Racecourse, June 7
Kazuo Fujisawa trains the 4-year-old filly Gran Alegria, a daughter of Deep Impact. The Yasuda Kinen marked a second Group 1 triumph in her native Japan.
Halladay, Fourstardave Handicap, Saratoga, Aug. 22
Trainer Todd Pletcher’s first “Win and You’re In” berth came courtesy of Halladay, who earned a Grade 1 breakthrough in the Fourstardave. The 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of War Front has won three of his last four races. He could target the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) on Oct. 3 at Keeneland, the same track hosting the Breeders’ Cup a month later.
Mohaather, Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, July 29
Four-year-old Mohaather unleashed a thrilling rally to take the Sussex Stakes (G1), a second straight triumph in group company. Marcus Tregoning trains the Great British-bred Showcasing colt.
Palace Pier, Prix Jacques le Marois, Deauville, Aug. 16
Kingman colt Palace Pier improved to 5-for-5 in his career when defeating Circus Maximus and others in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1). John Gosden trains the Great British-bred 3-year-old, who also won the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Raging Bull, Shoemaker Mile Stakes, Santa Anita Park, May 25
The French-bred Raging Bull secured the first “Win and You’re In” berth of the U.S. racing season with his Shoemaker Mile (G1) score. Chad Brown trains the 5-year-old Dark Angel gelding. Raging Bull was most recently fifth Aug. 22 in the Fourstardave at Saratoga, where he is currently training.
Vardy, L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, Kenilworth, Jan. 11
Vardy is a 5-year-old Var gelding bred in South Africa. Adam Marcus serves as trainer.
Sprint
Collusion Illusion, Bing Crosby Stakes, Del Mar, Aug. 2
Trainer Mark Glatt chose to keep the Twirling Candy colt Collusion Illusion on the West Coast facing older in the Bing Crosby (G1) rather than traveling East to run against fellow 3-year-olds in Saratoga’s H. Allen Jerkens (G1). That proved the right move, with the Florida-bred winning and improving to 5-for-6 lifetime. He is working at Del Mar and could target the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) on Sept. 27.
Vekoma, Carter Handicap, Belmont Park, June 6
Weaver trainee Vekoma made his Grade 1 breakthrough with a 7 1/4-length Carter victory. The 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Candy Ride colt also won a “Win and You’re In” race for the Dirt Mile division on July 4 when taking Belmont’s Metropolitan Handicap. He is working at Saratoga.
Turf
Channel Maker, Sword Dancer, Saratoga, Aug. 29
Channel Maker, a 6-year-old son of English Channel, wired the Sword Dancer (G1) to snap a 10-race winless streak. The Ontario-bred has now won Grade 1 events on the NYRA circuit in each of the last three seasons. Trainer Bill Mott said the $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park will likely serve as Channel Maker’s Breeders’ Cup prep. The gelding was 11th and 12th, respectively, in the 2018 and ’19 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Chrono Genesis, Takarazuka Kinen, Hanshin Racecourse, June 28
4-year-old Bago filly Chrono Genesis scored her second Group 1 victory in the Takarazuka Kinen. Takashi Saito trains the Japanese-bred runner.
Enable, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, July 25
Enable scored the first win of her 6-year-old campaign when taking the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) for a remarkable third time. She was first again Saturday at Kempton Park in the September Stakes (G3), a tune-up for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. The Great British-bred daughter of Nathaniel has now earned more than $14 million running for trainer Gosden. The 2018 Breeders’ Cup Turf champ didn’t attempt to defend her title last year.
Lord North, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot, June 17
Irish-bred 4-year-old Lord North won Royal Ascot’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes in his Group 1 debut. Gosden trains the Dubawi gelding, who was third Aug. 19 at York in the International Stakes (G1).
Nao Da Mais, Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini, San Isidro Racecourse, Dec. 14
Nao Da Mais is a four-time Group 1 winner in his native Brazil. The 4-year-old T.H. Approval colt last raced March 14 at San Isidro in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1), finishing seventh. Marina Bragante Lopez is the trainer.
Red King, Del Mar Handicap, Del Mar, Aug. 22
Phil D’Amato trainee Red King became a multiple graded stakes winner when upsetting 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up United to win the Del Mar Handicap (G2). The 6-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of English Channel also won the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3) earlier this summer at Santa Anita. He is working at Del Mar.
Turf Sprint
Battaash, Nunthorpe Stakes, York, Aug. 21
Six-year-old gelding Battaash defended his 2019 Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) score by taking the race’s 2020 running. Charlie Hills trains the Irish-bred son of Dark Angel, who has won five of his last six starts dating to last August.
Hello Youmzain, Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Ascot, June 20
Kevin Ryan trains Hello Youmzain, a 4-year-old son of Kodiac. The French-bred colt has run three times since his Diamond Jubilee (G1) score. Hello Youmzain most recently finished fifth Saturday at Haydock Park in the Betfair Sprint Cup (G1).
Oleksandra, Jaipur, Belmont Park, June 20
Six-year-old Animal Kingdom mare Oleksandra edged Kanthaka by a neck in the Jaipur (G1), marking her first top-level victory. Neil Drysdale trains the Australian-bred runner, who has raced in the U.S. since 2018.