Zenyatta, Goldikova hunt BC history

Led by the sensational mares Zenyatta and Goldikova, both of whom will be seeking unprecedented third victories in the Breeders' Cup, a total of 184 horses were announced on Wednesday as the pre-entries for the 27th Breeders' Cup, a 14-race, $26 million extravaganza to be held Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Goldikova wins 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park.

Horsephotos.comGoldikova will go after a record third-straight Breeders' Cup Mile victory.

Zenyatta, who won the Classic last year and the Ladies' Classic in 2008, and Goldikova, a two-time winner of the Mile on turf, are among six previous Breeders' Cup winners pre-entered in the 14 races. The others are 2009 winners Midday (Filly and Mare Turf), Informed Decision (Filly and Mare Sprint), and California Flag (Turf Sprint), and Forever Together, who won the Filly and Mare Turf in 2008.

Blind Luck, this year's winner of the Kentucky Oaks, has been pre-entered in the Ladies' Classic, and Mine That Bird, the upset winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby, is in the Dirt Mile.

In addition to Goldikova, the most prominent international entrant is Workforce, the winner of the Arc de Triomphe, who will race in the Turf.

Though officially announced on Wednesday, pre-entries had to be submitted by Monday, and the 184 pre-entries were announced on Tuesday as a record. On Monday, horses could be put into two races. Eighteen horses were so designated, bringing the total number of entries in the 14 races to 202. Most prominent among those cross-entered is Gio Ponti, who was placed in both the Classic and the Mile, with the Classic being listed as his first choice.

Gio Ponti, a double Eclipse Award winner last year following a second-place finish in the Classic and a turf victory in the Arlington Million, has never raced on natural dirt, so the Classic would mark his first start on that surface in a career that thus far has numbered 22 races. The Classic was run on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita the previous two years.

Final entries are due next Tuesday, and post positions will be drawn.

Of the 14 races, six received more pre-entries than can actually start. In those cases, the field is determined first by horses who have captured respective Win and You're In races during the year, then by points earned in graded stakes races, and finally by an international committee of racing officials, which fills out the remaining slots and puts the overflow horses on an also-eligible list, in order of preference.

In the Classic, for instance, 16 horses were pre-entered, but only 14 will be allowed to run. No more than 14 are expected to seek starting berths in the race at entry time next Tuesday, though, because both Crown of Thorns and Dakota Phone are expected to go in the race currently designated as their first choice, the Dirt Mile.

Other races that oversubscribed are the Filly and Mare Sprint (22 pre-entries), Juvenile Fillies Turf (18), Turf Sprint (18), Dirt Mile (15), and Juvenile Turf (19).

In races that are still oversubscribed at the final entry stage, two also-eligibles will be drawn and listed on the program in the case of late scratches.

The Classic will anchor the second day of competition. Preceding it that day will be, in order, the Juvenile Turf, Sprint, Turf Sprint, Juvenile, Mile, Dirt Mile, and Turf. On Nov. 5, the Ladies' Classic will be the last of six Breeders' Cup races, following, in order, the Marathon, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Filly and Mare Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, and Filly and Mare Turf.

The 1 1/4-mile Classic, at $5 million the richest Breeders' Cup race, has an outstanding field featuring the leading contenders for Horse of the Year, including Zenyatta, older stars Blame, Quality Road, and Haynesfield, and Lookin at Lucky, last year's male 2-year-old champion and this year's top 3-year-old male following victories in the Preakness and Haskell. International spice is provided by Japanese invader Espoir City. And while the connections of Gio Ponti mull over which race to go in, another grass standout, Paddy O'Prado, will go in the Classic, his chances boosted by a third-place finish over this surface in the Kentucky Derby six months ago.

Paddy O'Prado also was pre-entered in the Turf, and Morning Line also was pre-entered in the Dirt Mile, but the connections of both horses have said the Classic, their first choice at the pre-entry stage, is their intention.

If Gio Ponti goes in the Classic, he will need a new rider, because his regular rider, Ramon Dominguez, rides Haynesfield in that race.

The Classic field, including riders, is Blame (Garrett Gomez), Espoir City (Tetsuzo Sato), Etched (Alan Garcia), First Dude (Robby Albarado), Fly Down (Julien Leparoux), Haynesfield (Dominguez), Lookin at Lucky (Martin Garcia), Morning Line (Javier Castellano), Musket Man (Eibar Coa), Paddy O'Prado (Kent Desormeaux), Pleasant Prince (Joel Rosario), Quality Road (John Velazquez), and Zenyatta (Mike Smith). There is no rider yet for Gio Ponti. And both Crown of Thorns and Dakota Phone are expected to defect for the Dirt Mile.

This will be the seventh Breeders' Cup held at Churchill Downs, which will also play host to the event in 2011.

Zenyatta: The Star Attraction of the 2010 Breeders' Cup

By Sports Network

The Sports Network

No American-bred horse has ever won 20 consecutive races, let alone retire undefeated. Zenyatta has a chance to accomplish both feats with a second straight victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The queen of California has ventured outside her home state on two occasions - both times racing at Oaklawn Park in the Apple Blossom Handicap. Ironically, those two wins were her most impressive in terms of margin of victory, taking this year's version by 4 1/4 lengths and the '08 race by 4 1/2 lengths.

Zenyatta has raced against the boys once before, in the '09 Breeders' Cup Classic, and many observers argue it was her crowning achievement as she knocked off Gio Ponti with a powerful stretch drive while running her final quarter-mile in a brisk 23 1/5 seconds. It was her first and only race at 1 1/4-miles - until this Saturday when she has a much tougher task ahead of her against the likes of Quality Road, Blame, Lookin At Lucky and, once again, Gio Ponti.

Even though the field is 10 times better, each of those horses mentioned above have their question marks. The first three have never won at 10 furlongs, while Gio Ponti's three 1 1/4-mile wins all have come on the turf.

The pace should be a fast one with the likes of First Dude, Morning Line, Etched and Haynesfield keeping Quality Road honest on the front end. Lookin At Lucky should get a dream trip but the three-year-old might not be good enough to beat this type of field.

If any horse is to hold off the late charging Zenyatta, the odds are it will be either Gio Ponti or Blame.

Gio Ponti began the '10 season slowly losing his first three races, but the five-year-old has won two of his last three, with the lone defeat coming in the Arlington Million to Debussy. The only knock on the Christophe Clement- trained turfer is the lack of a race on traditional dirt. However, that will only drive up his odds.

Blame has lost just once since 2009 and that was a second-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a race Haynesfield had all his own way on the lead. Jockey Garrett Gomez didn't abuse Blame through the stretch in his first try at 1 1/4-miles so an improved effort is expected. Don't forget, he has won three of four lifetime starts at Churchill Downs, including the Stephen Foster Handicap back in June.

The Morning Line: Zenyatta Has Already Won

By BENNETT LIEBMAN

Bennett Liebman is the executive director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and a member of the board of directors of the New York Racing Association.

Unlike her actual come-from-behind racing style, Zenyatta, in the media race for the Breeders’ Cup, looks like a wire-to-wire winner. The “Mare and the Myth” stories keep on a comin’. Certainly, that’s the way CBS’ “60 Minutes” sees it, as they believe that Zenyatta is the “greatest filly in horse racing history” and ask the question whether Zenyatta is the “best racehorse ever?” She is “the most splendid creature we’ve ever seen” according to the actual broadcast. Jay Hovdey for the Daily Racing Form provides a critique of the broadcast.

CBS is not alone in its praise of Zenyatta. “All systems are go,” according to USA Today, and the Louisville Courier-Journal answers all your Zenyatta questions. Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal finds that “fixing Zenyatta’s position in the racing firmament is no easy task.” He quotes trainer Shug McGaughey who says, “I don’t know if she’s the greatest of all times, but she has got the greatest record of all time.” The Daily Racing Form even reports on Zenyatta’s strolls around Hollywood Park on Sunday.

A more humorous look at the Cup is provided by Nic Doggett’s Breeders’ Cup likes and dislikes in Sky Sports. He is looking forward to Americans getting excited about Zenyatta’s dance moves “if by dance moves you mean a horse scratching at the floor like a combination of a goose-stepping Basil Fawlty and my dog trying to bury its outdoor dealings.” He also complains about the “the spoiling of Zenyatta. Extended, weepy, pointless over-sentimental media coverage coupled with months of anticipation will surely result in the mother of all boil-over’s and a huge anticlimax.”

There is a Breeders’ Cup beyond Zenyatta, and it is beginning to receive more coverage. Todd Pletcher’s Todd Squad is featured in the Thoroughbred Times, the New York Post, Los Angeles Daily news group, and the Blood-Horse. Trainer Pletcher seems particularly high on Quality Road stating in the Lexington Herald –Leader, “”I thought he worked as well as he’s ever worked this morning,” The New York Post says that Pletcher “believes he has the horse to beat.”

Other contenders for the Classic are featured. Lookin at Lucky and Japan’s Espoir City worked at Hollywood Park, and jockey Garrett Gomez writes that he truly believes that Blame is “the horse with the best chance to beat Zenyatta.”

Both the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader have stories on Goldikova. Both Goldikova and Workforce – the likely favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Turf – arrived in Louisville on Saturday.

In an interesting development, the top BritishK rider Richard Hughes may not make it to the Breeders’ Cup. He trails Paul Hanagan by three wins in the UK rider standings, and the British flat racing season ends on Saturday. He may give up his two Cup mounts, including Paco Boy in the Mile, to try to win the rider’s title.

If you want to take an early look at handicapping information for the Cup races, please take a look at the Daily Racing Form site with its listing of Cup contenders.

The Melbourne Cup is run on Tuesday in Australia, which means that post time is actually this evening at midnight Eastern time. Past performances are here (Go to page 36). Internet radio coverage can be found through the Australian Broadcasting Company. Right now, So You Think is a huge favorite. Maluckyday has become the second choice, and he and So You Think are among the eight horses in the race that raced on Saturday.

US puts its faith in power of Zenyatta as superstar horse seeks Breeders' Cup victory at Churchill Downs

By Marcus Townend

Racing Correspondent

Last updated at 10:21 PM on 31st October 2010

There is no chance of the enormity of the responsibility resting on his slim but muscular shoulders escaping Mike Smith.

Even for one of the most successful jockeys in the world, with close to 5,000 career wins and virtually every major prize on his record, partnering Zenyatta in Saturday’s £5million Breeders’ Cup Classic is special.

Millions of Americans, poised to give President Barack Obama a bloody nose in the mid-term elections, are praying Zenyatta creates history at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

Unbeaten in 19 races, twice a winner at the Breeders’ Cup meeting already and shooting for a second successive victory in the Classic, Zenyatta is a 21st-century

rarity — a racehorse with the fan club of a popstar.

Named in Oprah Winfrey’s top 20 Power List of ‘women’ for 2010, over 30 million tuned into a feature on her on CBS’s 60 Minutes last night , while banner-waving

Zen-Maniacs will dominate a 75,000 crowd at Churchill Downs.

Smith, 45, said: ‘This is more pressure than any of the Derbys, Belmonts and Preaknesses I have ever ridden in. This is by far the most exciting ride I’ve ever had.

‘Any rider would feel the same. Not only going for back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Classics but to try to go undefeated 20-for-20 is just incredible.

‘I’d be lying if I said all the interest did not add to the pressure. Every little girl and boy and woman and man in the United States right now is counting on her. It’s a lot but it is a good position to be in and I’m going to embrace it. If the good Lord is willing and it is meant to be, we’ll get there.’

It was at Santa Anita, California, 12 months ago that Zenyatta became the first mare to win the Classic, delivering a withering, field-splitting finish under Smith’s daring, exaggerated hold-up tactics. It was a surge which felt as dramatic as it looked.

Smith recalled: ‘It was like an out-of-body experience, to tell you the truth. I almost felt like I was in the grandstand, watching her run and cheering for her.

‘It was pretty amazing. It was something I’d never felt before. And I’ve never seen a grandstand rattle like that — when I came back it was shaking.’

The feeling may have been unreal but the truth of the matter for the jockey born close to Roswell, New Mexico — the site of one of the most famous UFO incidents in 1947 — is that the win confirmed Zenyatta was genuine quality, not merely a number-crunching track bully. There have been no regrets at the decision to postpone her retirement for a year, especially from Smith.

A further five Grade One wins may not have been so dramatic but Smith is confident the 7-2 favourite will take the switch from her synthetic-surface form in California to the Churchill Downs dirt in her devouring stride.

Smith, whose 1991 Irish 2000 Guineas win on Fourstars Allstar still makes him the only US-based jockey to win a European Classic, said: ‘She is definitely much stronger than last year. Her victories are not flamboyant becauseit is her style. She just gets the job done.

‘She has run twice on dirt and produced two of her greatest margins of victory. She also trained at Churchill last year but did not run because of the weather. She seemed to be training amazingly over there. I’m hoping that meant something.

‘There should be a greater pace in the race and Churchill has a longer stretch than we do here in California. Both should be to her advantage.

‘If she handles the dirt kick-back well, she should run dynamite. She is really training well right now.’

Smith, partner with fellow jockey Alex Solis in a vineyard producing a wine called Jinetes (Spanish for jockeys), will crack open a few bottles if he secures the two Breeders’ Cup meeting wins to equal Jerry Bailey’s record of 15.

He rates his chance on juvenile colt Jaycito and partners the fourtime Grade One winner Proviso against Goldikova in the Mile. But the focus is on one mare and Smith knows it.

‘I’ve been blessed in my career to have been around some big situations,’ he said, ‘but not quite as big as this.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-1325371/US-puts-faith-power-Zenyatta-superstar-horse-seeks-Breeders-Cup-victory-Churchill-Downs.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz145DdfXk6

Forever Together Preps for Second F&M Turf

Updated: Monday, November 1, 2010 8:53 PM
Posted: Monday, November 1, 2010 5:11 PM

Forever Together, winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), is back in the race in which she finished third last year.

The 6-year-old daughter of Belong to Me   --Constant Companion, by Relaunch, trained by Jonathan Sheppard for Augustin Stable drilled five furlongs on turf in 1:01 at Churchill Downs Nov. 1 in preparation for the Nov. 5 race sponsored by Emirates Airline.

"It looked like she went well," said the mare’s Hall of Fame trainer.

Forever Together, who has won or placed in 21 of 25 starts en route to earning $2.9 million, will be ridden by mid-Atlantic-based jockey Rosie Napravnik.

Forever Together is winless in her last eight starts since taking the Diana (gr. IT) at Saratoga in 2009.

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Haskin's BC Report: What's All the Fuss?

Updated: Sunday, October 31, 2010 4:59 PM
Posted: Sunday, October 31, 2010 3:06 PM

The way some people are talking, you would think the connections of Paddy O'Prado and Gio Ponti are suffering from dirt on the brain.

Paddy O’Prado is already committed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), while Gio Ponti was pre-entered with a first preference for the Classic, a race in which he finished second last year on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface. The connections of Gio Ponti are still debating in which direction to go, and while all indications were that the Classic was the race they were leaning toward, the word now is that the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) still is very much in the picture. Most feel this is a no-brainer and that Gio Ponti belongs in the Mile. Because of the indecision, we will direct this more toward Paddy O’Prado for the time being.

The records show both horses are grass horses, and the majority of people feel they should run in their respective grass races – the Emirates Airline Turf (gr. IT) for Paddy O’Prado and the TVG Mile (gr. IT) for Gio Ponti.

From a handicapping standpoint that may seem the logical course of action. But the owners of both horses apparently have their own agendas and are looking for a lot more than winning another grass race, even if it is a Breeders’ Cup event. Gio Ponti is who he is, a top-class grass and synthetic horse at a mile to 1 ¼ miles, and a victory in the BC Mile, while a great way to end his career, will not enhance his reputation and value as a potential stallion nearly as much as a Classic victory. And owner Castleton Lyons places a great deal of emphasis on stallion reputation, so their indecision is understandable.

Paddy O’Prado has developed into a brilliant turf horse, but has not won going farther than 1 ¼ miles, and has only beaten 3-year-olds. But he did finish third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), despite a horrendous trip.

It’s not as if running Gio Ponti and Paddy O’Prado in the grass races are gimmes and the owners are throwing away million-dollar purses. Gio Ponti still would have to beat one of the greatest milers in history, Goldikova, and several other top-class horses, including Paco Boy. Paddy O’ Prado still would have to defeat Workforce, winner of the English Derby (Eng-I) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), as well as a very talented horse in Behkabad at a distance at which he is unproven, having been caught in the stretch by Winchester in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) in his last start. Debussy, who is not considered quite in the class of those two, still managed to knock off Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), an indicator of just how good the Europeans are.

So what better time to shoot for the moon and explore the unknown? Another factor is that a victory by Gio Ponti in the Classic could at the very least put him in consideration for Horse of the Year. He’s already been the turf champion, so that’s nothing new. A victory by Paddy O’Prado could very well earn him an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old.

You may ask at this point, how are they going to beat all these top-class horses in the Classic. We don’t know that they can. But then again, with Gio Ponti’s dirt breeding and style of running, and with Paddy O’Prado’s breeding and his big effort in the Derby, we don’t know that they can’t.

Gio Ponti’s trainer, Christophe Clement, remained faithful to his grass training by giving the colt his final Breeders’ Cup prep on the grass. So there certainly is no urgency to see how he’ll handle the dirt in the morning.

The bottom line is that it’s called gambling, and that’s what the owners of Paddy O’Prado are willing to do for the chance at history and for their horse to be remembered far longer than if he had won the Turf. If Paddy is a bust in the Classic, he has all of next year to establish himself as the best grass horse in the country. And the BC Turf isn’t going anywhere. Simply put, there is a lot of upside and little downside. The same can be said for Gio Ponti if his connections decide to go that route. The decision is more difficult for them, because everyone wants their horse to go out a winner, and a victory over Goldikova would be quite a swan song.

If they do opt for the Classic, there is no need for criticism. It’s their horse and their decision, and the Classic is an enticing lure. Did anyone criticize Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore when they chose to run Giant's Causeway   in the Classic instead of the Mile, where he would have been an overwhelming favorite (the favorite that year was War Chant   at 7-2)? His gutsy effort against Tiznow   no doubt had to help establish his reputation as a stallion, and he wound up becoming one of the leading sires in the world, topping the North American sire’s list in 2009.

Jerry Crawford, head of Donegal racing, is a sharp guy, and is well aware of Paddy’s grass prowess and certainly can understand why many people feel his horse should be in the Turf.  But for now, he and his partners are in the sport to have fun and enjoy their horse, as they did when Paddy gave them the thrill of finishing third in the Kentucky Derby. The horse’s stud value is something they can think about next year. Win or lose, the decision to step out of the box and strive for greatness is to be commended.

They felt even better about their decision after Paddy O’Prado breezed a sharp five furlongs in 1:01 Oct. 30, coming home his final quarter in :24 2/5 before galloping out an other eighth in a strong :13 flat. He then pulled up seven panels in 1:28 2/5.

Briefly catching up on a few works over the past two days: Smiling Tiger turned in an eye-catching work, drilling five furlongs in :58 4/5 after an eventful trip, having to dodge and circle several other workers. But the work that left the biggest impression was the five-furlong drill in :59 3/5 by Japanese filly Red Desire, who is coming up to the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) in excellent shape. She looks to be sitting on a monster effort. She worked in hand and was gliding over the surface, running straight and true.

On Oct. 31, Quality Road had an excellent sharpener, working a half-mile in :48 3/5 in company with Aikenite, and he did it all on his own under no urging. Haynesfield also looked good, breezing a half in :50 1/5 and appeared to handle the track beautifully.

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Godolphin Horses Work for BC at Belmont

Updated: Monday, November 1, 2010 1:33 PM
Posted: Sunday, October 31, 2010 3:26 PM

Godolphin Racing will have a strong hand in the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 5-6 as the operation’s Girolamo, Sara Louise, Gayego, and Vineyard Haven are bound for Louisville after breezing at Belmont Park this weekend.
Godolphin’s contenders for the BC Dirt Mile (gr. I), Vineyard Haven and Gayego, turned in separate breezes Oct. 31.
Gayego, who in his most recent start defeated the Oct. 30 Greenbrier Fayette (gr. II) winner Successful Dan in the Presque Isle Mile Sept. 10, breezed four furlongs in :48.88.
“He finished up great and galloped out good, and he’s another one we’re real happy with,” said Godolphin assistant trainer Rick Mettee. “That Presque Isle race looks pretty good now that Successful Dan has come back and won two starts. The one-turn mile should be perfect for him.”
Vineyard Haven, most recently third in the Forego (gr. I) at Saratoga Sept. 24, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5
“He went in 1:01 2/5 and went out in 1:13 4/5,” said Mettee. “Hopefully he can get an outside draw. Like Gayego, he seems to like being outside horses a little more. You just have to hope that with a big field and a one-turn mile they both get good draws and aren’t tucked down along the inside because that field is loaded with horses like Tizway, Crown of Thorns, and Here Comes Ben.”
Sentient Jet BC Sprint (gr. I) entrant Girolamo earned a bullet work Oct. 30 for his 1:00.06 five-furlong breeze, his third official workout since winning the Vosburgh (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 2.
“Girolamo went really well – he went especially well yesterday,” said Mettee. “After a big race like the Vosburgh, you never know how they’ll handle it, but he seems to have thrived since then.”
Sara Louise, who will be making her second start of 2010 when she competes in the Emirates Airline BC Filly & Mare Sprint, turned in a :47.67 four-furlong breeze in the second quickest of 23 moves at the distance Oct. 30.
“She went back to the track today and trotted, and we’re real happy with the way she’s coming up to the race,” said Mettee. “We’d like to have another race in her, but we didn’t have that luxury. At least we got a race into her, and she’s healthy, sound, and fresh. She’s run at Churchill before, and seven furlongs should be a good distance for her.”
Mettee said all four horses will depart Belmont by van Nov. 1, arrive at Churchill Downs Nov. 2, and will take to the track Nov. 3.
“All of them have shipped before and Belmont is such a good place to prepare a horse,” said Mettee of the decision to have Godolphin’s Breeders’ Cup contenders make their final breezes at in New York. “We’re away from all the hustle and bustle of things and we’re not huge believers in needing a race or a work over the track. Sometimes shipping is good for horses; it gets them up on their toes.”

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