Keeneland news: Sunday updates on Breeders' Cup-bound winners
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing and Madaket Stables’
Bowies Hero is scheduled to return to his home base at Santa Anita on Thursday, according to Josh Flores, assistant to trainer Phil D’Amato.
“He finally got a clean trip,” Flores said of Bowies Hero’s three-quarter length victory in Saturday’s $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) that earned the 5-year-old a spot in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. “He is good this morning. Ate up well, walked out of the stall fine and went back in for a nap.”
Diamond Oops, who finished second, could go to the Breeders’ Cup, said trainer and part-owner Patrick Biancone. “After they run a big race, they can either go up or they can go down,” Biancone said. “We will see. We may go to California, but part of the ownership is from Hong Kong and we could go to the race there (the Hong Kong Mile-G1 on Dec. 8). We can’t do both.”
Suedois, the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile winner who was beaten a nose for second in this year’s race, is headed back to Europe via Huntsville, Alabama, according to Matt Ennis, assistant to trainer David O’Meara. Suedois, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar in 2017, will not go this year’s World Championships, said Ennis, as the O’Meara barn will be represented by Breeders’ Cup Challenge winner Lord Glitters.
UNI EXITS RECORD-SETTING FIRST LADY
Robert LaPenta, Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners and Bethlehem Stables’ Uni came out of her course record-shattering performance in Saturday’s $400,000 First Lady (G1) in good order, according to Whit Beckman, assistant to trainer Chad Brown.
“That was pretty impressive,” Beckman said of Uni, who covered the mile on firm turf in 1:32.87 to easily eclipse the stakes and course record. Her time was nearly a second and a half quicker than the boys ran in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) an hour later.
“That was a topic of conversation last night at dinner,” Beckman said of running faster than the males. “That’s about a 7- or 8-length difference. Firm or soft, it doesn’t matter. She can run on any surface.”
Immediate plans for Uni have not been determined, Beckman said, adding that beaten favorite Rushing Fall, who finished fourth in the First Lady, also came out of the race fine. Saturday marked the first time Rushing Fall had lost in five Keeneland starts.
Runner-up Juliet Foxtrot is scheduled to rejoin trainer Brad Cox’s string at Churchill Downs Monday. Cox said he would talk with owner Juddmonte Farms on Monday to discuss future plans for the 4-year-old homebred.
MAXFIELD TO REMAIN AT KEENELAND FOLLOWING BREEDERS’ FUTURITY
Trainer Brendan Walsh was still basking in the glow Sunday morning of the 5½-length victory by Maxfield in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
“I think he galloped out a lot better than I did,” Walsh said with a laugh. “I’m paying for it this morning.”
The victory gave Walsh his first Grade 1 triumph and earned Maxfield a berth in the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to be run Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.
“He will probably stay here at Keeneland and then go out three or four days ahead of time,” Walsh said.
Walsh is no stranger to Santa Anita, having had success the past two times the Southern California track has hosted the World Championships. He saddled Cary Street and Scuba to victory in the Grade 2 Marathon on the undercards in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Favored Gouverneur Morris, who finished second to Maxfield, came out of the race fine. Trainer Todd Pletcher said via text that there are no firm plans for the colt pending discussion with ownership.
Roger Horgan, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, said Shadwell Stable’s Ajaaweed, fourth in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, will stay at Keeneland and maybe point for the $125,000-added Street Sense to be run at a mile at Churchill Downs on Oct. 27.
THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA WINNER SPICED PERFECTION
BACK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
Spiced Perfection, winner of Saturday’s Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), returned to trainer Peter Miller’s string at Churchill Downs after the race and is scheduled to fly to California on Thursday to begin preparations for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at 7 furlongs.
Spiced Perfection, who won the race in her first start since May 4, is cataloged to sell Nov. 6 at Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale as a racing or broodmare prospect. She is consigned by ELiTE, agent.
Miller said Spiced Perfection grabbed a front hoof when she stumbled at the break and still overcame that to post a head victory in the 6-furlong race. Spiced Perfection is owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch.
Stonestreet Stables’ Dawn the Destroyer rallied from last to get second and may stay at Keeneland a bit longer, according to Roger Horgan, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
“They are thinking Breeders’ Cup with the filly, and seven-eighths is right up her alley,” Horgan said. “Six furlongs was too short for her.”
Lael Stables’ Chalon, fourth as the favorite in the Thoroughbred Club of America, “was a little flat yesterday but good this morning and that’s the main thing,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said.
WOODFORD WINNER STUBBINS TO RETURN TO CALIFORNIA
McShane Racing’s Stubbins, winner of Saturday’s Woodford (G2), is scheduled to return to Southern California this week to rejoin trainer Doug O’Neill’s barn for a possible start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Nov. 2 going 5 furlongs.
“He’s good this morning and he looks like he never even ran,” said Jack Sisterson, who is overseeing his former employer’s horses here.
Stubbins rallied for a three-quarters of a length victory over Leinster in the 5½-furlong race.
“I didn’t think he would get caught. He just got outrun,” said Rusty Arnold, who trains Leinster for Amy Dunne. “He came out of the race fine and he will love the five-eighths (in the Breeders’ Cup).”
Breeze Easy’s Imprimis, who finished third as the favorite, is scheduled to return to trainer Joe Orseno’s base at Gulfstream Park. Orseno indicated after the race that the Breeders’ Cup remained a consideration.
Is Magnitude ready to prove he belongs with the best horses in American racing in 2026? The enigmatic...
Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat earned five victories, including a sweep of the day’s two stakes races, on...
Hit The Bid Racing Stable’s Fast Market closed out the turf racing season at Aqueduct with a victory...
Romantic Warrior returned triumphantly Sunday at Sha Tin. He sauntered to an emphatic victory in the HK$5.35 million...
Knightsbridge posted Saturday's highest Horse Racing Nation speed figure with a 134 at Aqueduct in the ninth race....