Part three of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the next four pre-entrants.
Mine That Bird shocked the world on the first Saturday in May with an improbable late running win in the Kentucky Derby. He had lost three straight before that, and he has dropped four starts since. Sustained runner is always at the mercy of the pace, and the 4-time synthetic winner finished last in the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He was 6th of 10 when last seen in the Goodwood, the final local prep …read more

No less than twelve horses have been pre-entered by Todd Pletcher for the upcoming 2-day Breeders’ Cup on Nov 6-7 at Santa Anita Park.
Included in the dozen is Quality Road, who traveled 5f in 1:00.52 at Belmont Park in preparation for the $5 million Classic. The flashy 3yo obviously has talent, but ten furlongs is pushing the envelope, and how will be handle the Pro-Ride surface?
Exciting Juvenile Turf prospect Interactif breezed 4f in :49.14 on Oct 26th. He looked good in winning the Bourbon at Keeneland on Oct 11th.
Pletcher sure is loaded with promising youngsters, and …read more

The Grade 1 Travers Stakes will not have filly sensation Rachel Alexandra, but it is looking like a solid field of eight for the $1 million showcase at Saratoga on August 29th.
Rachel Alexandra will wait for the Grade 1 Woodward at the same venue on September 5th, and she will face a new challenge against older males, but that is a story for another day.
Back to the Travers, and Derby and Belmont winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird will square off against Quality Road, Kensei, Warrior’s Reward, Our Edge, Hold Me Back, and Charitable Man.
Mine That …read more

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird had a slow five furlong drill at the Spa on August 17th, and a subsequent exam revealed an entrapped epiglottis. Minor surgery on Tuesday corrected the breathing issue, and he remains possible for the Travers (Aug 29th). He will head back to Saratoga later in the day on the 18th, and when he returns to normal training patterns remains to be seen.
It was a setback for the connections of the Derby winner, and his Travers status is day-to-day. The Chip Woolley trainee will not contest the mid-summer Derby unless 100%, and other options include the Pennsylvania …read more

The Grade 1 Travers will be run on August 29th, and it should the event of the summer.
Derby winner Mine That Bird, a flat 3rd in the West Virginia Derby last time, worked four furlongs in a solid :48.22 at Saratoga on August 10th. The drill was 7th best of 22, and he is expected to work two more times before the big dance.
Kensei, fresh off back-to-back graded wins in the Dwyer and Jim Dandy, is the now horse with a 2-for-2 record at the Spa. He breezed an easy four panels in :51 and …read more

Rachel Alexandra took down the boys again, and she did it easily in the Haskell (G1) over a sloppy track on August 2nd. Nothing that happened on Sunday was a surprise. Extended sprint specialist Munnings set a pressured pace, and he can run with anyone at shorter distances. I gave him a shot if able to relax on a easy lead, but he never got a breather and ended up a rock solid 3rd. Summer Bird got involved earlier than expected, but that was his only chance to win, and he outfinished Munnings …read more

Derby winner Mine That Bird runs in West Virginia, and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra takes on Belmont hero Summer Bird in the Haskell.
Mine That Bird makes his first post Triple Crown start at Mountaineer on Saturday, and he’s been training well for his return. A strong effort will propel him to the mid-summer Derby on August 29th.

The West Virginia Derby is not a cakewalk, and Big Drama is a serious prominent throughout threat. Others considered probable are Awesome Rhythm, Miner’s Escape, Monty’s Best, and Soul Warrior.
Also on Saturday, Saratoga plays host to Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the …read more

SoCal three-year-olds take center stage in the Grade 2 Swaps on July 18th, but they will have to go forward without Pioneerof The Nile , who recently retired with a leg injury.
Lexington (G2) winner Advice will ship in for Todd Pletcher, and the late runner figures to attract plenty of support at the windows. Fellow sustained runner and Lexington runner-up Conservative is also expected for Shug McGaughey.
The shippers will have their hands full with good looking Affirmed (G3) wire job winner Grazen . Also expected for the Swaps are Affirmed runner-up Misremembered , Quindici Man, Scorewithcater, Dover Street Art, and Massone.

Rachel …read more

Mine That Bird returned to the worktab with a solid four furlong move in :49 and change at Churchill on July 7th. He galloped out strongly and is on course for the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on August 1st. He will reunite with Mike Smith for at least his next few outings.

Rachel Alexandra had her first morning activity since her facile Mother Goose tally. Clockers caught the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro in an easy :50 and change over four panels. The work was recorded over the Oklahoma Training track at Saratoga, and her next start is undetermined.
Quality …read more

Calvin Borel abandoned Mine That Bird in favor of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. He was back aboard the Derby winner in the Belmont, but he may be jumping ship again.
He frequently rides for Ian Wilkes and may have a scheduling conflict if Warrior’s Reward fires a big shot in the Dwyer (G2) this weekend.
If everything goes according to plan, Warrior’s Reward is scheduled to run in the Jim Dandy (G2) on August 1st, the same day Mine That Bird competes in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby. How many chances will Chip Woolley give his …read more