The Polytrack was fast as always. The two turf races were transferred to the synthetic surface. The two 6f races favored speed. Stalkers best in the three 7f races carded. Patient runners best in the five route races on the afternoon.

Hat trick for Rajiv Maragh. Albarado also pulled off the hat trick, and he booted home a pair for trainer Ken McPeek.

Grade 3 Phoenix: Synthetic lover Fatal Bullet, the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup sprint runner-up, probably punched his ticket to Santa Anita with a game prominent throughout half-length tally. He looms a pace factor on Cup day. In contrast, 3yo gelding Capt. Candyman Can was facing older for the first time, and his lone synthetic try prior to this was a troubled 6th in a flat mile juvenile stakes event. He came flying late to just miss and deserves to head to SoCal. Ez Dreamer ran well in his synthetic bow as well.

Please enjoy this YouTube Trakus Railcast(TM) video, a 3-D animated replay that shows photo-realistic views of the race, based on the actual tracking data.

Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades: Negligee proved her synthetic prowess in Canada, and she shipped to the US for new trainer John Terranova and promptly threw her hat into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies ring with a rallying win through traffic. She Be Wild tasted defeat for the first time while clearly 2nd best. Amen Hallelujah was a wide prominent throughout threat and gamely held the show. Top three probably going to the West Coast for another tilt on Nov 6th.

Keeneland Preview – Oct 10th

No less than five graded races on tap as FallStars weekend continues on Saturday. All have Breeders’ Cup implications, and below is a preview…

Grade 3 Woodford: In this prep for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Mr. Nightlinger is the 2-1 morning line fav, but he has lost 5 of his last 6 starts, including a poor effort in last year’s Cup.

Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America: Prep for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. All eyes will be on heavy 3-5 fav Informed Decision, who is 5 for 5 on synthetic ground and 3 for 3 at Keeneland.

Thoroughbred Club of America favorite Informed Decision

Grade 1 First Lady: This could be a big day for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. He has the aforementioned Informed Decision, and Forever Together is the defending champ of this event. Note that the latter also won the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity: An overflow field of sixteen 2yo’s are looking to move on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a strong showing here. Two-time graded winner Backtalk is the tepid 4-1 favorite in this wide open route.

Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile: An interested battle between Justenuffhumor, who is 6 for 6 on the turf, and Mr. Sidney, who sports a 4 for 4 record at a flat mile. A strong effort will earn a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

BC Filly & Mare Sprint

Ventura ($7.60) made a powerful wide move to sweep past Baffert fav Indian Blessing en route to a good looking tally to kick off the Friday Cup festivities. The Robert Frankel trainee won by four lengths and completed the seven panels in 1:19.90. Zaftig came off a layoff to finish a fine 3rd.

BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

Laragh set the pace throughout, but Maram and Heart Shaped flew down the lane and were tough to separate at the finish. Maram got the bob and paid $24.20 for Lezcano/Chad Brown. Fellow longshot Heart Shaped, an overseas invader trained by Aidan O’Brien, was the unlucky loser. The aforementioned Laragh was another length back in 3rd. Saucey Evening (4th) and Consequence (6th) experienced some stretch traffic. The winner ran a flat mile in 1:35.15.

BC Juvenile Fillies

Stardom Bound locked up the Juvenile Filly title with a strong off the pace victory over Kent D/McPeek Kentucky shipper Dream Empress. Congrats to trainer Chris Paasch and jockey Mike Smith. Stardom Bound won by 1-1/2 lengths and paid $5.20. She stopped the timer in 1:40.99. Below is a YouTube replay of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

BC Filly & Mare Turf

Forever Together outsprinted longshot Sealy Hill and fav Wait A While to get up by 3/4 of a length for Leparoux/Sheppard. The winner packs an impressive stretch kick and paid $11.80 for her efforts. My 17-1 top choice Visit got a dream inside stretch run but was outfinished by the top three, and Robert Frankel will take over the training duties. Watch for her to make some noise in this division. The winner ran ten furlongs over firm turf in 2:01.58.

BC Ladies’ Classic

In a recurring theme on Friday, Zenyatta stormed from last to keep her perfect record intact for Mike Smike/John Shirreffs. She made her case for Horse of the Year, and now it is Curlin’s turn tomorrow. Godolphin’s Cocoa Beach ran a winning race but had to settle for the place behind the talented winner. Music Note, also owned by Godolphin, finished 3rd. The winner completed her nine Pro-Ride furlongs in 1:46.85 and paid $3.00.

Zenyatta Photo Credit: Newscom

Below is a YouTube replay of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, featuring the undefeated Zenyatta.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Forever Together powerfully mowed down Precious Kitten in Friday’s other BC prep, the flat mile First Lady for grassy fillies and mares. Below is the replay, courtesy of YouTube.

Now, let’s glance at Saturday’s Cup preps…

Grade 3 Phoenix – six furlongs (polytrack)

Six of the 12 entrants are multiple synthetic winners, not including 2-1 fav Talent Search. Plenty of pace in the paper race could set things up for an off the pace type. Carnacks Choice is the lone local winner, and he is 2-2 in Keeneland synthetic sprints.

The $150k Woodford – 5.5 furlongs (turf)
This is not a graded affair, but it could produce a few starters for the new BC Turf sprint at 6.5f over Santa Anita’s downhill course. Smart Enough is a classy turf sprinter with 10 wins in 16 starts, and the fresh gelding is only making his 2nd start this year.

Grade 1 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity – 8.5 furlongs (polytrack)

Wide open two-year-old route has attracted 11 horses, with Todd Pletcher’s Advice the tepid 7-2 fav. Ken McPeek won the filly edition of this race on Friday. He does not have one in here, but his winning turf/synthetic angle is present with Bill Mott’s Pioneerof the Nile.

Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile – 8 furlongs (turf)
Shakis drew the rail and is the 7-2 fav, but all of his US wins have come at 9 furlongs, and he might come up a tad short at a sharp flat mile. Thorn Song is probably the one to catch, and classy Woodbine shipper Rahy’s Attorney must work out a trip from the outside post.

Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America – six furlongs (polytrack)
Sugar Swirl is the 3-1 favorite, and she does own a synthetic win, but she did lose this race last year and could get overbet. Indyanne will attempt a wire job from the rail, and Wild Gams is the defending champ.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

It was a great day of racing on Saturday. Johnny V pulled off the hat trick, and Edgar Prado booted home a pair of upset winners on the 11-race card…

Race 2: $1.7 million Pletcher firster Munnings bested green Zito FTS Just A Coincidence in this juvenile MSW event. 6f in 1:09.84.

Race 3: Shug blueblood Baronial (Kingmambo-Personal Ensign) finally graduated on the weeds. He is slowly improving and beat a decent field, including promising Mott firster Intercoastal.

Race 7: Forever Together came from last to upset the Diana (G1) for Jonathan Sheppard. Mott’s Dynaforce ended up a clear 2nd.

Race 8: Even with the scratch of Bustin Stones, there was enough pace to set up Abraaj, and he won going away from presser First Defence. 6f in 1:10.23.

Race 8: Ginger Punch won the weak Go For Wand (G1) as expected. Copper State gave a game chase but settled for runner-up honors. 9f in 1:53.43.

Race 9: Commentator pulled off a sharp wire job to win the Whitney (G1) for the 2nd time in his career. Congrats to Nick Zito and company. Student Council rallied to finish well clear of Grasshopper and Notional. 9f in 1:50.23.

July 27th Saratoga preview

Another 11-race card on tap for Sunday, and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy is my racingonthenet free selection of the day.

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