KEENELAND SALES REPRESENTED WELL BY BREEDERS’ CUP PRE-ENTRIES
A total of 57 horses that are graduates of Keeneland sales are among the pre-entries for the 26th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 6-7 at Santa Anita in California. Among them is Mr. Sidney, a son of A.P. Indy whom Circle E Racing purchased for $3.9 million at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Pre-entries were announced on Wednesday. A total of 166 horses, including 10 defending or former Breeders’ Cup champions, are among the pre-entries.
The Breeders’ Cup consists of 14 races with purses totaling $25.5 million. Racing fans can watch and wager on the event at Keeneland.
Pre-entered horses that are Keeneland sales graduates are:
November 6 Breeders’ Cup Races —
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1): Careless Jewel, Mushka
$2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1): Forever Together, Maram
$2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1):
Beautician, Bickersons, Champagne d’Oro, Connie and Michael, Devil May Care, Ms Vanenzza, Negligee
$1 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1): Allicansayis Wow, Seventh Street, Silver Swallow
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Dad’s Crazy, Jungle Tale, Potosina, Rose Catherine
$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon: Gangbuster, Nite Light
November 7 Breeders’ Cup Races —
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1): Gio Ponti, Quality Road, Zenyatta
$3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1): Allegre
$2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1): Court Vision, Justenuffhumor, Karelian, Mr. Sidney
$2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1): Capt. Candyman Can, Dancing in Silks, Gayego, Join in the Dance, Kodiak Kowboy, Zensational
$2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1): Dave in Dixie, Lookin At Lucky, Noble’s Promise
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1): Bullsbay, Ready’s Echo, Sweet Hearth
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2): Awesome Act, Becky’s Kitten, Codoy, Gallant Gent, King Ledley, Mint Chip, Summer Movie
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: Cherokee Heaven, Desert Code, Diamondrella (GB), El Gato Malo, Gotta Have Her, Lord Shanakill, Noble Court, Square Eddie, Tenga Cat, Yankee Injunuity
*Horses are listed in races in which they have first preference.
FAYETTE, BREEDERS' CUP LOOMING STAKES ACTION FOR MILLER
On a clear Thursday morning at Keeneland, trainer Darrin Miller grazed Dominican near his barn, and the chestnut gelding was a happy horse as he eagerly grabbed mouthfuls of grass. Dominican, who won the 2007 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, will make his final start of the year Saturday in the $150,000 Fayette (G2). Meanwhile, Miller is preparing for a trip to California to send out King Ledley in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) on November 7 at Santa Anita. Both Dominican and King Ledley are owned by Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton’s Silverton Hill LLC of Springfield, Kentucky.
Dominican, a 5-year-old gelding by El Corredor, finished second in last year’s Fayette. He enters this year’s race off a third-place finish in the Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) on September 12.
“He’s found himself in a tough spot,” said Miller about Dominican, whose nine rivals in the Fayette include Grade 1 winner Wicked Style; Grade 2 winners Parading and Tizfiz; Grade 3 winner Jade’s Revenge; and stakes winners Blame, Giant Oak, National Pride and Public Speaker. “Some of these Grade 3s aren’t as easy as you’d like. This is a little bit of a step up.”
Dominican has been a familiar presence in the Miller barn, where a more recent addition is King Ledley, a 2-year-old colt by Stormin Fever who will make his North American debut in the Breeders’ Cup. The Hamiltons purchased King Ledley privately in Ireland and raced him in the Goffs Million Sprint on September 27 at The Curragh “with the intent that if he ran well, he would come here for the Breeders’ Cup,” Miller said. King Ledley, who was third in the race, arrived at Keeneland during the first week of the fall meeting.
“I like him,” Miller said about King Ledley, whose dam, Mt. Kobla, is a full sister to Grade 1 winner and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hopeful Quality Road. The Kentucky-bred King Ledley is a $40,000 graduate of the 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
“I think his form is good and it should translate well in that spot,” Miller added. “He’s had to adjust a little bit, but he’s done well. I was real pleased with his last work and am looking forward to (the Breeders’ Cup).”
King Ledley, who has two works at Keeneland, is scheduled to leave Keeneland on Saturday morning, Miller said, and that he would travel to California on Monday. Rafael Bejarano will ride King Ledley in the Breeders’ Cup.
After the Fayette, Dominican will spend some time at the Hamiltons’ farm in Springfield, Kentucky, where their Driving Snow (GB) is recovering from an injury. Second in Keeneland’s Bourbon (G3) a year ago in his North American debut, Driving Snow won his next race, the Oliver Stakes at Indiana Downs, in July.
In 2008 in Ireland, Driving Snow broke his maiden over a field that included a first-time starter and likely Cartier Horse of the Year Sea The Stars. That race marked the only loss for Sea The Stars, who is now considered one of the best horses ever to race in Europe.
GALLOPING OUT
Lael Stables’ Lentenor, a 2-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro, arrived at Keeneland Thursday morning. The Dynaformer colt is scheduled to make his career debut on Saturday in the fifth race, a seven-furlong maiden special weight event on Polytrack. Julien Leparoux will ride Lentenor for trainer Michael Matz.
Apprentice jockey Ben Creed, a graduate of the North American Racing Academy (NARA), scored his first victory at Keeneland when he rode 16-1 longshot Bill Harv Rib to win the ninth and final race on Wednesday. Paul Krummen trains the 4-year-old Syncline gelding for owner Monica Krummen. NARA, which was founded by Racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, is based at The Thoroughbred Center. Creed, who began his career this year, is from Taylorsville, Kentucky.
SEE BLUE DAY AT KEENELAND ON FRIDAY
Keeneland’s signature green will take on shades of Kentucky Blue on Friday when the track hosts See Blue Day at the Races as part of the University of Kentucky’s homecoming festivities.
Keeneland will transform its North Terrace into See Blue Central, with UK fan activities which include photos with the Wildcat mascot and prize drawings for a deluxe UK and Keeneland gift basket and a flat-screen TV, courtesy of Barney Miller. The first 1,000 people to register will receive a See Blue T-shirt courtesy of Hands on Originals.
Two autograph signings held during the afternoon near the paddock will benefit UK DanceBlue. UK men’s basketball coach John Calipari will autograph copies of his new book, “Bounce Back,” from 1-2:30 p.m.
From 2:30-4 p.m. former UK quarterbacks Tim Couch, Jared Lorenzen and Dusty Bonner will sign See Blue hats. Fans may purchase the hats for $15.
Fans will receive free general admission with a UK student, alumni or faculty ID.
TRIFECTA OF KENTUCKIANS SUCCESSFUL IN WEDNESDAY’S HANDICAPPING CONTEST
Local handicapper James Hamilton used his last contest wager on longshot winner Bill Harv Rib and took home the top prize of $1,300 in Keeneland’s Wednesday Handicapping Contest, sponsored by Daily Racing Form Formulator. The Lexington resident finished with a final score of $79.40 on a relatively formful day of racing.
“I was right in there all day, “Hamilton said. “I really liked Bill Harv Rib in the last race and I knew if he won, I’d have a good chance. He did it for me.”
Georgetown resident Jason Duncan, a member of the NHC Tour, finished second, only $3.40 behind the winner. His $76 score earned him $600. Jeanne Gallenstein, from Walton finished third with a score of $75.40 and made $300. Kentuckians sweeping the top three spots. Cash prizes were paid to the top 10 finishers from the $2,680 purse.
“The bomber in the final race really changed the standings quite a bit,” said contest coordinator Jude Feld. “The aggressive players moved up and the conservative players lost their positions. It was probably the most hotly contested event we’ve had since instituting these contests during live racing.”
The final 10 berths in Keeneland’s Tournament of Champions were also awarded at the end of the day. Invitations for that event, to be held on Saturday, November 21, will be mailed to qualifiers on Friday.
2009 KEENELAND FALL MEET LEADERS
(Stats Through Wednesday, October 28)
Current Meet Leading Jockeys
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Robby Albarado 98 21 15 9 $1,064,337
Julien Leparoux 91 15 19 15 $859,331
Kent Desormeaux 61 11 4 16 $905,026
James Graham 79 9 8 4 $605,187
Jamie Theriot 65 7 5 1 $353,104
Jesus Castanon 65 6 4 3 $238,928
Rajiv Maragh 27 5 6 3 $966,855
Shaun Bridgmohan 59 5 5 5 $213,913
Jon Court 40 5 3 4 $135,417
E.T. Baird 27 5 2 5 $140,081
Leandro Goncalves 58 4 11 4 $371,488
Calvin Borel 75 4 3 11 $203,073
Current Meet Leading Trainers
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Ken McPeek 58 12 9 10 $826,802
Hugh Robertson 19 5 3 1 $123,913
Todd Pletcher 30 5 2 2 $324,743
George Arnold II 28 4 5 3 $306,548
Michael Maker 19 4 4 2 $124,226
Tom Proctor 24 4 3 3 $166,111
Dale Romans 23 3 4 4 $145,543
Eddie Kenneally 25 3 4 1 $121,719
Bill Mott 31 3 3 7 $510,245
Graham Motion 21 3 3 5 $280,251
Merrill Scherer 20 3 3 5 $100,307
Jonathan Sheppard 10 3 1 3 $325,085
W. Bret Calhoun 8 3 1 2 $133,137
Kiaran McLaughlin 7 3 0 1 $202,509
Current Meet Leading Owners
Name Wins
Ken & Sarah Ramsey 4
Augustin Stable (George Strawbridge Jr.) 3
Bonnie Heath Farm LLC (Bonnie Heath) 2
Darley Stable (Mohammed al Maktoum) 2
Glen Hill Farm (Leonard Lavin) 2
John Good 2
Homewrecker Stable LLC (Ron & Ricki Rashinski) 2
G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 2
IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone) 2
Koolmen Racing Stable LLC (Michael Harrison) 2
Ron McCauley 2
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc (Eugene Melnyk) 2
Silverton Hill LLC (Bonnie & Tommy Hamilton) 2
Wertheimer & Frere (Alain & Gerald Wertheimer) 2
WinStar Farm LLC (Bill Casner, et al) 2