Pletcher Works Five Breeders' Cup Candidates

Trainer Todd Pletcher on Saturday worked five candidates for the Breeders’ Cup: Dame Dorothy (Filly & Mare Sprint-G1),Mshawish (Mile-G1), Red Rifle (Turf-G1), Stopchargingmaria (Distaff-G1) and Sweet Whiskey (Filly & Mare Sprint-G1).

Working separately around 6:30 a.m., Dame Dorothy, Red Rifle and Sweet Whiskey each breezed four furlongs in their first timed moves over the track.

Dame Dorothy, winner of the Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill in May, covered the distance in :49, with fractions of :25.80, :49 and out in 1:01.40 and 1:14.20.

Winner of Saratoga’s Bowling Green (G2) in August, Red Rifle went in :49 with fractions of :13, :25.60, :49 and out in 1:02and 1:14.80.

Sweet Whiskey, fifth in the Oct. 3 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) here, was timed in :48.20 with fractions of :12.80, :25, :48.20 and out in 1:01.40 and 1:14.40.

After the renovation break, Mshawish and Stopchargingmaria worked five furlongs.

Mshawish covered the distance in 1:00 with fractions of :35.80, 1:00 and out in 1:14.60.

In company with 2-year-old Uncle Vinny, Stopchargingmaria was timed in :59.60. Clockers caught her in :11.60, :23.40, :35.20, :59.60 and out in 1:13.

Pletcher was pleased with the efforts, saying, “All in all, I thought we had a good morning.”

WORK TAB

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) champion, Bobby’s Kitten, worked a half-mile on the main track in :49.40 for trainer Chad Brown. Also working for Brown was Dixiana Bourbon (G3) runner-up Camelot Kitten, who covered a half-mile in :49.60 in company with recent maiden winner Tweet Kitten. Camelot Kitten likely is headed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Oct. 30. …

Joseph W. Sutton’s Bradester, pointed to the $1 million Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Oct. 30, breezed for trainer Eddie Kenneally, covering five furlongs in :58.60 and out in 1:12.80. The time was the fastest of 22 at the distance. Bradester also worked at Keeneland Oct. 4 (four furlongs in :49.40) and Oct. 10 (five furlongs in :59).

Cara Marie, who finished fifth in the First Lady (G1) here Oct. 3, worked a half-mile in :48.40 for trainer Kellyn Gorder for a probable start in next Saturday’s $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3). …

At Churchill Downs, Albaugh Family Stable’s Brody’s Cause, winner of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) here Oct. 3, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Dale Romans. Brody’s Cause is headed for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31.

SPOTLIGHT ON KEENELAND SALES GRADUATES 
WHO BECAME BREEDERS’ CUP WINNERS: JOHANNESBURG

On Oct. 30-31, Keeneland for the first time will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which consists of 13 Grade 1 races worth $26 million in purses and awards. Through its world-famous sales, Keeneland has had a long connection to the Breeders’ Cup. A total of 82 Keeneland sales graduates have won 88 Breeders’ Cup races.

In the days leading up to this year’s Breeders’ Cup, prominent winners who sold at Keeneland will be profiled.

Johannesburg (2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile): After winning the first six races of his career in Ireland, England and France, the son of Hennessy-Myth, by Ogygian, took the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Belmont Park during the first major sporting event in New York City since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Trained by Aidan O’Brien for owners Michael Tabor and John Magnier, he was named North America’s champion 2-year-old colt and was a highweight in Ireland, England and France.

Johannesburg was bred in Kentucky by W.G. Lyster III and Jayeff “B” Stables. As a weanling, he was consigned to Keeneland’s 1999 November Breeding Stock Sale by Lyster’s Ashview Farm, agent, where he sold for $240,000 to Chestnut Valley Farm. Michael C. Byrne, agent, consigned Johannesburg to Keeneland’s 2000 September Yearling Sale and sold Demi O’Byrne, representing Tabor and Magnier.

A successful sire of international runners along with Grade 1 winner and North American-based stallion Scat Daddy, Johannesburg stands in Japan at JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido.

GALLOPING OUT

Trainer Kenny McPeek became the fourth trainer to reach 200 victories at Keeneland when Miss Cobblestone ($6.40) won Friday’s third race under Julien Leparoux. McPeek, who has won four meet titles here, trails only D. Wayne Lukas (286 wins), Bill Mott (267) and Rusty Arnold (253).

Trainer Jon Cowan recorded his first Keeneland victory when he sent out Ragnar Korthase’s All Day Alice ($6) to winFriday’s eighth race. Calvin Borel rode the 3-year-old Posse filly in the about seven-furlong allowance race, which they won by 1¼ lengths in 1:27.77.

Source: Keeneland Association