CALIFORNIA:

Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) scorched five furlongs in :57-3/5 on Jan 11th. Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby hopeful is expected to contest the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on Feb 7th.

Fleet filly Indyanne was unable to recover from a sesamoid injury which occurred in the La Brea on Dec 27th. It was hoped that she would be saved for broodmare duties, but she had to be put down on Jan 13th.

Carla Gaines trainee Point Encounter (Point Given), an impressive opening day debut winner at Santa Anita, suffered a soft tissue injury and is off the Kentucky Derby trail.

San Pasqual Hcp (G2) hero Cowboy Cal is expected to go next in the Feb 7th Strub.

Malibu (G1) winner Bob Black Jack is out until summer following an unspecified injury.

Square Eddie is expected to take on Robert Frankel’s impressive maiden winner Brother Keith in Saturday’s flat mile San Rafael, an early season Kentucky Derby prep.

Square Eddie works at Santa Anita

FLORIDA:

BC Classic participant Go Between (Bill Mott) died of heart failure following a workout on Jan. 13th. The late son of Point Given was always one of my fav horses and will be missed.

LOUISIANA:

Fair Grounds racing resumes on Thursday (1-15-09), so check back tomorrow for my daily news and notes from that venue.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Below are post positions, morning line odds, and notes for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run at ten furlongs over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on October 25, 2008.

Santa Anita Race 9: Grade 1 BC Classic, 3up, 10f

(1) Go Between (8-1) – Fresh synthetic specialist is training well for this. Garrett Gomez chose this one over Colonel John.

(2) Casino Drive (10-1) – Japanese runner is 3-3, and the $950k purchase is well-bred and has a world of potential.

(3) Tiago (15-1) – Mike Smith/John Shirreffs teamed up to win yesterday’s Ladies’ Classic with Zenyatta. He finished 2nd in the local prep for this.

(4) Duke of Marmalade (10-1) – Ten furlong overseas turf specialist has won 5 grade one races.

(5) Henrythenavigator (10-1) – Flat mile overseas turf specialist is Duke of Marmalade’s stablemate, and note that stable rider Murtagh chose to ride Duke in this event.

(6) Smooth Air (50-1) – Florida based 3yo has tactical speed but seems a cut below this group.

(7) Student Council (20-1) – Curlin’s stablemate is a grade one performer in his own right, and he is proven over synthetic footing.

(8) Raven’s Pass (6-1) – The 3rd and final overseas invader is similar to Henrythenavigator. He has had a long campaign.

(9) Curlin (7-5) – The defending Classic champ has not been as dominating in his recent races. He is training well for his first synthetic try.

(10) Fairbanks (10-1) – Was re-routed to this race when all of the pace defected. The one to catch.

(11) Colonel John (20-1) – My Derby top enjoys synthetic racing and won the Grade 1 Travers at this distance.

(12) Champs Elysees (20-1) – Marathon turf specialist was 3rd in the Big Cap in March. He adds blinkers for this.

To view my 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic selections and wagering strategies, click here.

To view my 2008 Breeders’ Cup Sprint selections and wagering strategies, click here.

Duke of Marmalade Photo Credit: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Curlin breezed four furlongs in :49.60 on October 20th, and his stablemate Student Council continues to impress in morning drills, this time getting a half-mile in :48.18 while full of run. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride the latter.

Pyro, the 3rd member of the Steve Asmussen express, worked a pedestrian 4f in :51.17. Julien Leparoux has picked up the mount.

In other Classic news, Mast Track developed a quarter crack on Monday and has been eliminated from Cup consideration. The Frankel trainee was expected to set the pace in the Classic.

Robert Frankel will be represented in the Classic by Champs Elysees, who worked 5f in :59.60 while equipped with blinkers. Alan Garcia has picked up the riding assignment.

Eoin Harty has elected to start Well Armed in the Dirt Mile, and he worked an effortless 4f in :46.91 with a strong gallop out in preparation for that event. He is yet another early/pressing type out of the Classic.

Harty’s Colonel John breezed 4f in :49.20 with a 1:01.84 gallop-out. He clearly enjoys synthetic footing and is an improving three-year-old. Edgar Prado will ride as Garrett Gomez chose Go Between as his mount for the Classic.

Todd Pletcher’s Fairbanks, pre-entered in the Marathon and Classic, may now opt for the latter race after the aforementioned speed defections.

Awesome Gem is expected to chose the Turf Mile over the Classic. I was perusing his pp’s earlier today and thought he was a better fit at a flat mile on the turf.

Go Between worked 4f in :48.20 at Churchill on Monday, and he is expected to arrive at Santa Anita on Tuesday.

Casino Drive cantered around the Hollywood oval on Monday, and note that the versatile sort will be all over an expected tepid early pace in the Classic.

Tiago jogged and galloped at Hollywood as well. Regular pilot Mike Smith strings along.

Calder shipper Smooth Air arrived at Santa Anita on Sunday, and he also jogged and galloped nine furlongs. Manoel Cruz will ride.

Duke of Marmalade (Johnny Murtagh), Henry the Navigator (Johnny V), and Raven’s Pass (Frankie Dettori) will arrive from Europe later in the day on Oct. 20th.

Photo Credit: Newscom

I have added a replay (youtube) of the 2008 Juddmonte International, featuring Duke of Marmalade (pictured above).

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Three-year-old Colonel John, last seen winning the Travers Stakes by a scant nose, breezed four furlongs in :46.80 over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on Oct. 8th. The entire sophomore division could be in trouble versus older company, but the Colonel, an improving son of Tiznow, clearly enjoys synthetic footing and should give a good account of himself.

Casino Drive has returned from Japan, and his unorthodox walking/galloping routine continues at Hollywood Park. He shipped to the states and nabbed the Peter Pan in May, but a stone bruise kept him from competing in the Belmont Stakes. He was expected to train up to the Classic, but in a late development, he will race in an optional claiming event at Santa Anita on Sunday.

In other Classic news, Garrett Gomez has decided to ride Pacific Classic winner Go Between for trainer Bill Mott. He abandons aforementioned Travers hero Colonel John (pictured above).

Curlin, fresh off a slow half mile drill at Santa Anita, will work in company between races on Monday (10-13-08), and that drill should determine his Classic status.

Duke of Marmalade, a five-time overseas Group 1 winner this year, and most recently 7th behind undefeated three-year-old filly sensation Zarkava in the Arc, is a possible Classic entrant. He seems best at ten furlongs, and his trainer Aidan O’Brien has Arc show finisher Soldier of Fortune for the Turf.

Photo courtesy of Newscom.

Below is a replay of the 2008 Peter Pan, courtesy of YouTube.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever