BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY DRAWS OVERFLOW FIELD OF 15
Obviously NY Stable’s Canadian Ballet and the Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan’s Dubai Majesty headline a field of 15 fillies and mares entered Tuesday for the 13th running of the $100,000-added Buffalo Trace Franklin County to be run at 5 ½ furlongs on the Haggin Turf Course on Friday.
The Buffalo Trace Franklin County will go as the ninth race on the 10-race card with a 5:05 p.m. ET post time. First post time Friday is 1:05 p.m.
Canadian Ballet, trained by Linda Rice, and Dubai Majesty, trained by Bret Calhoun, ran first and third, respectively, in the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap going five furlongs at Philadelphia Park on September 26.
Canadian Ballet has a record of three wins and two seconds in five starts in 2009 with all of her starts coming on grass. Dubai Majesty has a 2009 record of two wins, one second and two thirds in seven starts, with her biggest victory coming on the dirt in the Winning Colors (G3) in May at Churchill Downs.
Stewart Elliott, who rode Canadian Ballet to victory in the Turf Amazon, has the call Friday. Dubai Majesty will be partnered by regular rider Jamie Theriot.
Robert Dewitt’s Taletobetold, who has run second in the Buffalo Trace the past two years to Sly Storm in 2008 and Stylish Wildcat in 2007, will try again Friday to give trainer Eddie Kenneally his first victory in the race. Taletobetold will break from post position 12 under Corey Lanerie.
The field for the Buffalo Trace Franklin County, from the hedge out, is as follows: Nadeshiko (Miguel Mena, 120 pounds), Libor Lady (Robby Albarado, 120), Candy Cane (Calvin Borel, 118), Dubai Majesty (Jamie Theriot, 120), Miss Red Delicious (Leandro Goncalves, 118), Canadian Ballet (Stewart Elliott, 120), Fastongrass (Alex Solis, 118), Just for Keeps (Julien Leparoux, 118), Nicks (Chris Emigh, 122), Mullins Beach (Eurico Da Silva, 120), Dee’s Rose (James Graham, 118) and Taletobetold (Corey Lanerie, 118). The also eligibles are Old Time Religion (Willie Martinez, 116), Simply Seattle (Aldo Canchano, 118) and Ocean Colors (Shaun Bridgmohan, 116).
BENNETT BUSY WHILE STABLED AT KEENELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME
Trainer Dale Bennett has forged a successful career while based at Tampa Bay Downs in the winter and at Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course the rest of the year. In October 2008, he sent My Best Pal Red from Hawthorne to Keeneland to win an allowance race and score the trainer’s first victory at the track. Now Bennett has a string of horses at Keeneland.
“We’ll see how we fit,” said Bennett, who has 25 horses here. “We’ll see if we can run with the big guys.”
Bennett’s stable will receive two tests in upcoming stakes at Keeneland. He entered Dyedra Kademoglou’s Dee’s Rose, winner of the Pink Ribbon Stakes at Arlington, in Friday’s $100,000-added Buffalo Trace Franklin County. He plans to enter Savoy Stable’s Conchacer, winner of Arlington’s Forward Pass Stakes, in Saturday’s $150,000 Perryville (presented by Budweiser Select) (G3).
On Tuesday, Conchacer breezed three furlongs in :36.40 with James Graham aboard. The 3-year-old Congaree colt was third behind Capt. Candyman Can in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in May and second to Proceed Bee in the Prairie Mile Stakes in June.
Meanwhile, Bennett is checking out every level of racing at Keeneland. On Sunday, he claimed two Florida-breds “and we’re going to look to claim as many as we can.”
“We’re basically trying to load up for Florida, looking for some horses that have a little bit of dirt form that will fit in Florida,” he added. “We like to come into the Tampa meet with our guns loaded.”
Bennett, 37, grew up around racehorses. His father is Gerald Bennett, who has trained such horses as Grade 1 winner and millionaire Beau Genius and sent out the 3,000th winner of his career in August at Presque Isle Downs.
Training on his own since 1998, the younger Bennett has 337 winners to date, including multiple 2009 stakes winner Public Speaker. Now at Keeneland, he is looking to add to that total.
“I love it here,” he said. “The atmosphere is nice; it’s nice and relaxing. There’s a lot of grass. It’s almost like a farm setting. The horses seem to do very well here. The competition’s very tough, but that’s to be expected. We thought we’d give it a try.”
POSSIBLE QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP FAVORITE GOZZIP GIRL SETTLES IN AT KEENELAND
Farnsworth Stables’ Gozzip Girl arrived at Keeneland on Monday for an anticipated start in Saturday’s 26th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the Haggin Turf Course.
“She ships well. She is very smart and level-headed,” said Dan Blacker, assistant to trainer Tom Albertrani, who accompanied Gozzip Girl to Keeneland. Blacker also was on the trip from New York to Hollywood Park, where the 3-year-old daughter Dynaformer won the American Oaks Invitational (G1) in July.
Albertrani is scheduled to arrive in Lexington on Friday night for Gozzip Girl’s second Keeneland appearance. Gozzip Girl ran second on the main track this spring behind Hooh Why in the Ashland (G1) and finished ahead of champion Stardom Bound.
Gozzip Girl has won five of seven starts on the grass. In addition to the American Oaks, she has posted stakes victories in the Coconut Grove, Herecomesthebride (G3) and Sands Point (G2).
Gozzip Girl has had three works at Belmont Park, the most recent a 1:00.24 five-furlong move on the main track last Thursday, since a nightmarish fourth-place finish in the Garden City (G1) as the 2-5 favorite on September 12 at Belmont.
“She broke from the rail that day and they slowed the pace down on her,” Blacker said. “She had to take up going into the first turn and then she clipped heels.”
NINE 3-YEAR-OLDS CONSIDERED PROBABLE STARTERS IN SUNDAY’S BRYAN STATION
Stakes winners El Crespo, Get Stormy and Strike Again are among nine sophomore colts considered as probable starters by Keeneland racing officials for Sunday’s 16th running of the $125,000 Bryan Station (G3) at a mile on the Haggin Turf Course.
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s El Crespo won the Grade 3 Palm Beach in March at Gulfstream Park and since has finished second in the Jefferson Cup (G2) at Churchill Downs in June. In his most recent start, he was runner-up in the Saranac (G3) at Saratoga.
Sullimar Stables’ Get Stormy, who arrived at Keeneland on Monday from Belmont Park, won the Lure Stakes at Saratoga in his most recent start on August 29. Pin Oak Stable’s Strike Again won the Tap The Admiral Stakes at Saratoga on August 3 and finished fifth behind Get Stormy in the Lure.
Other probables for the Bryan Station include Golden Mexico (IRE), Kinsella, Major Marvel, Mikoshi, Music City and Rescue Squad. Possibles for the race that will be drawn on Thursday are Bittel Road, Corredor Dela Isla, Here Comes Ben and Jacks Again.
Robert and Janice McNair’s Cowboy Cal won last year’s Bryan Station.
KEENELAND CELEBRATES MAKE-A-WISH DAY ON WEDNESDAY
Keeneland and nine Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms are once again partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the nation’s largest wish-granting charity, to host Make-A-Wish Day on Wednesday.
Nine Kentucky children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families will enjoy a VIP afternoon at Keeneland with activities including lunch and a behind-the-scenes tour of the track with the opportunity to meet jockeys. Each child will present the trophy for the race named for his/her sponsoring farm and will watch the race from the winner’s circle.
Participating farms are Ashford Stud, Wintergreen Stallion Station, Darley, Three Chimneys Farm, Gainesway, Vinery, Shadwell Farm, Lane’s End and Greystone Farm.
Founded in Phoenix in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 184,000 wishes through its 67 chapters across the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. The Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana Chapter, celebrating its 25th anniversary, has granted 7,800 wishes to date. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the chapter has regional offices in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis, and satellite offices in Lexington and Youngstown, Ohio.
WEDNESDAY HANDICAPPING CONTEST
On Wednesday, Keeneland and its partner Daily Racing Form will host a $2,500 Handicapping Contest on races 3-9. Entry fee is $10; the first 200 participants receive a free Daily Racing Form.
2009 KEENELAND FALL MEET LEADERS
(Stats Through Sunday, October 11)
Current Meet Leading Jockeys
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Robby Albarado 28 6 3 2 $524,886
Rajiv Maragh 15 5 5 1 $906,468
Julien Leparoux 27 3 3 5 $369,117
Kent Desormeaux 19 3 0 5 $510,708
Jamie Theriot 19 2 3 0 $146,682
James Graham 12 2 2 0 $ 82,028
Nine jockeys are tied with 1 win each.
Current Meet Leading Trainers
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Ken McPeek 17 3 0 5 $447,418
George Arnold II 5 2 3 0 $202,000
Jonathan Sheppard 6 2 0 2 $219,769
23 trainers are tied with 1 win each.