Classic Champion Thoroughbreds: October 2019

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes Racing Roundup

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us Friday to Santa Anita Park where DENNIS’ MOMENT has been tabbed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the 36^th running of the $2 million TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Post time is 7:03 p.m. ET.

Dennis’ Moment comes into this race for trainer Dale Romans off a win in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on September 14. Here’s the video and chart call:

DENNIS’ MOMENT stalked the pace early from the outside of foes, ranged up three wide nearing the lane, took over command once in the stretch, drew clear near the eighth pole while ridden out and was in hand during the final sixteenth.

Dennis’ Moment looked good in his first stakes start to win the Iroquois Stakes (G3) by 1¾ lengths and claim the number four spot on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

Tiznow, the sire of Dennis’ Moment, was a multiple graded-stakes winner and an outstanding router who compiled an 8-4-2 record in 15 starts with $6,427,830 in career earnings.

Tiznow did not race until he was three years old, making nine starts and compiling 5-3-0 record with $3,445,950 in earnings. His stakes wins include the Affirmed Handicap (G3), Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2), the Super Derby (G1) by six lengths and he finished the season with a win in the most 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) where he defeated the European champion Giant’s Causeway by a neck.

As a four-year-old, Tiznow was 3-1-2 in six starts and $2,981,880 in earnings with stakes wins in the San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2), the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and he successfully defended his title of champion in Breeders’ Cup Classic when he defeated the European invader and formidable winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Sakhee, by a nose.

As a stallion, his leading lifetime runners include: Well Armed, Tourist, Colonel John, Tizway, Morning Line, Tiz Miz Sue, Folklore, Bullsbay, Tough Tiz’s Sis, Gemologist, Da’ Tara and Strong Mandate.

Dennis’ Moment has an F Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

A long shot I like is ANNEAU D’OR (15-1) who comes into this race off an impressive maiden debut win on the turf at Golden Gate Fields. Here’s the video and chart call:

ANNEAU D’OR chased the pace while kept wide, rallied four wide on the second turn, pushed to the front in mid-stretch and drew off impressively.

Anneau d’Or stalked the pace and looked good pulling away in the stretch to win by an impressive eight lengths.

Medaglia d’Oro, the sire of Anneau d’Or, was a good middle-distance runner that compiled an 8-7-0 record in 17 starts with $5,754,720 in career earnings. Overall, he had seven wins and five second-place finishes in 14 route races.

Medaglia d’Oro finished second in his only start as a two year old but as a three year old he won the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) in route to the 2002 Derby where he finished in fourth place.

In the Preakness Stakes (G1), Medaglia d’Oro finished eighth but rebounded from that run to finish second in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He went on to complete his racing season as a three year old with wins in the nine-furlong Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and the 10-furlong Travers Stakes (G1).

As a four year old, Medaglia d’Oro won the nine-furlong Strub Stakes (G2), Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and Whitney Handicap (G1). In addition, he finished second in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

At the age of five, Medaglia d’Oro won the nine-furlong Donn Handicap (G1) and finished second in the 10-furlong Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1).

Anneau d’Or has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he has the breeding to win this race. He has room to improve in his second start of the season and another move forward makes him competitive in this race.

Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert sends EIGHT RINGS (2-1) to the starting gate with a 2-0-0 record in three starts including a win in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

EIGHT RINGS broke out a bit, had some speed outside a rival then came away into the backstretch, came a bit off the rail in the stretch then drifted in and drew clear under some strong urging.

Eight Rings took command from the start and was never threatened as he cruised to a six-length win in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1).

Empire Maker, the sire of Eight Rings, was a good, competitive runner that compiled a 4-3-1 record in eight starts with $1,985,800 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old his most notable race finish was third in the Remsen Stakes (G2).

At the age of three, Empire Maker won the Florida Derby (G1), Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). He finished second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Sham Stakes.

As a stallion, Empire Maker has sired numerous outstanding runners such as Royal Delta, Pioneerof the Nile, Grace Hall, Emollient, Bodemeister, Mushka, Acoma and In Lingerie to name a few.

Eight Rings has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to run a good race.

SCABBARD (8-1) comes into this race with a 1-2-0 record in three starts for trainer Eddie Kenneally including second-place finishes in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and Iroquois Stakes (G3). Here’s the video and chart call of the Iroquois:

SCABBARD raced back early along the inside, steadied near the half mile pole from the rail, shifted into the three path entering the lane, rallied down the lane and was gaining on a wrapped up winner.

Scabbard stalked the pace in mid-herd and gained ground in the stretch but could not catch the talented, determined Dennis’ Moment.

More Than Ready, the sire of Scabbard, was a multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 7-4-1 record in 17 starts with $1,026,229 in earnings. He won the WHAS-11 Stakes, Flash Stakes, Tremont Stakes (G3), Sanford Stakes (G2), Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in route to a fourth-place finish in the 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1).

At stud, More Than Ready made quite a mark with in Australia with his sons Phelan Ready and Sebring who were champion 2-year-colts with over $2 million in career earnings. Some of his best runners in America have been the turf-sprinter Regally Ready with over $1 million in career earnings and Pluck, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (G2) and Summer Stakes (G3) with $727,290 in career earnings, and Verrazano.

Scabbard Has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s a colt we profiled (Hip 802) at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Maxfield, 10, Brendan Walsh, $300,000

2. Tiz the Law, 10, Barclay Tagg, $275,000

3. Eight Rings, 10, Bob Baffert, $180,351

4. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans, $117,800

5. Green Light Go, 4, Jimmy Jerkens, $210,000

6. Gouverneur Morris, 4, Todd Pletcher, $100,000

7. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally, $78,000

8. American Theorem, 4, George Papaprodromou, $60,000

9. Big City Bob, 2, Jorge Duarte, Jr., $120,000

10. +Enforceable, 2, Mark Casse, $50,000

11. Storm the Court, 2, Peter Eurton, $36,351

12. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez, $19,000

13. Gozilla, 1, Steve Asmussen, $72,000

14. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes, $29,200

15. Ajaaweed, 1, Kiaran McLaughlin, $25,000

16. +Express Train, 1, John Shirreffs, $18,000

+ = Scabbard (Hip 802), Enforceable (Hip 76) and Express Train (Hip 1016) were colts we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Royal Donarch (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $115,813

2. Innisfree (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $72,204

3. Victor Ludorum, 10, Andre Fabre

4. Kameko, 4, Andrew Balding, $46,102

5. Alson (GER), 4, J.P. Carvalho, $35,171

6. Shekhem (IRE), 4, Dermot Weld, $24,068

7. Armory (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $208,593

8. Iberia (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $25,389

9. Gold Maze (GB), 2, Jessica Harrington, $12,034

10. Ecrivain (FR), 1, Carlos Laffon-Parias, $44,124

11. Year of the Tiger (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien $8,234

12. Camorra (IRE), 1, Ger Lyons, $3,610

Friday, October 4, 2019

Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Racing Roundup

The Road to the Kentucky Derby presents two marquee races this Saturday with the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse and the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Let’s look at the 106^th running of the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) where GOUVERNEUR MORRIS heads a herd of 10 runners as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Post time is 5:39 p.m. ET.

Gouverneur Morris comes into this race off maiden win at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GOUVERNEUR MORRIS bumped with a foe just after the start, chased the leading duo from third, went four then five wide early on the turn, ranged up closer in the sixth path passing the five-sixteenths, took over into upper stretch, dropped in while moving clear around the three-sixteenths and drew away under a mild hand ride to win handily.

Gouverneur Morris looked good in the slop winning his maiden debut by an impressive nine lengths.

Constitution, the sire of Gouverneur Morris, didn’t race until he was three years old but was a competitive runner that compiled a 4 -0-1 record in eight starts with $1,031,596 in career earnings.

Despite the late start, Constitution showed promise and was undefeated in three starts including a win the Florida Derby (G1). But a hairline fracture kept him out of the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1). He came back eight months later to close the season with a third-place finish in the Clark Handicap (G1).

At the age of four, Constitution was 1-0-0 in three starts with a win in the Donn Handicap (G1).

As a stallion, Constitution’s first runners are two years old in 2019. A couple of his runners on the Derby trail are By Your Side (6-1) who is also entered in this race and Tiz the Law who is running in the Champagne Stakes (G1).

Gouverneur Morris has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. While he has the breeding to be competitive, there are others I like better in this race.

AJAAWEED (3-1) comes into this race off a nice maiden win for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at Belmont Park. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

AJAAWEED gradually worked his way into the pocket proceeding along the backstretch, getting stationed there by mid-point, was patiently ridden keeping watch on the front runners, was forced to remain on hold caught in traffic behind a threesome during the final jumps of the run around the bend, angled to the outside, arrived at the three-sixteenths pole with a freshly created seam in path three for the asking, got cued up and eagerly dove onto it, emerged at the eighth pole as the new leader, one that was full of momentum, kicked clear under good handling.

Ajaaweed looked good breaking his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths. The final time of 1:36.44 is what I like to see young colts run on the Kentucky Derby Trail.

Curlin, the sire of Ajaaweed, was an outstanding racehorse that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career earnings.

Curlin did not start as a two-year-old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Other important stakes wins include the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy Handicap.

In seven crops as a stallion, Curlin has sired the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Palace Malice and the 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator. In addition, Curlin produced the classic-placed runners Good Magic (second, 2018 Kentucky Derby), Tenfold (third, 2018 Preakness), Ride On Curlin (second, 2014 Preakness), Keen Ice (third, 2015 Belmont) and Irish War Cry (second, 2017 Belmont).

Ajaaweed has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.

A long shot I like is ENFORCEABLE (15-1) who comes into this race with a 1-1-1 record in four starts for trainer Mark Casse. He broke his maiden on his last start running nine furlongs at Saratoga. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

ENFORCEABLE caught leaning to the outside as the field was sent off and running, took up position two wide in mid-pack during the initial stages, began to inch to the outside late on the first bend, eventually taking the three path for entrance onto the backstretch, kept watch on the pacesetter, began to close the gap after the third fraction had been finalized, was bearing down hard on MO AND GO as both headed onto the top of the lane, arrived at the three-sixteenths marker and challenged in earnest, fought its way past a resolute foe, that being the aforementioned one, inside the eighth pole, then edged away stride by stride.

I like the way that Enforceable dug in and fought his way to victory, breaking his maiden on the fourth start.

Tapit, the sire of Enforceable, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 3-0-0 record in six starts with $557,300 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Tapit was undefeated in two starts including a win in the Laurel Futurity (G3). Tapit was troubled by a lung infection for much of his three-year-old season but he did win the nine-furlong Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) in route to a ninth-place finish in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

At stud, Tapit has sired numerous graded stakes winners including the Belmont Stakes (G1) champions Tapwrit (2017), Creator (2016) and Tonalist (2014).

A full brother to Mohaymen and a half-brother to New Year’s Day, Enforceable is a colt (Hip 76) we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

MAXFIELD (12-1) comes into this race off a maiden debut win for trainer Brendan Walsh. Here’s the video and chart call:

MAXFIELD broke a tad slow at the start and raced back early on, swung into the sixth path in the turn, rallied down the lane and edged clear in the final stages.

I like the way Maxfield rallied from off the pace to get up and win his maiden debut by three quarters of a length.

Street Sense, the sire of Maxfield, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 6-4-2 record in 13 starts with $4,383,200 in career earnings.

As a two year old, Street Sense finished third in both the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G3) and the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He followed that with a win in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and was tabbed as the Eclipse Champion Two Year Old.

Street Sense won his season debut as a three year old in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) en route to a 2¼ length win over Hard Spun in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.

Maxfield has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. He has room to improve in his second start of the season and, perhaps, upset at a nice price.

Honorable mention goes to January Won (20-1), Life On the Road (12-1) and Tap It to Win (3-1).

January Won was a colt (Hip 88) we profiled at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July Kentucky Select Yearling Sale and he has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. Life On the Road was a colt (Hip 1775) we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Eight Rings, 10, Bob Baffert

2. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans,

3. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally

4. American Theorem, 4, George Papaprodromou

5. Storm the Court, 2, Peter Eurton

6. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez

7. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes

8. +Express Train, 1, John Shirreffs

+ = Express Train (Hip 1016) and Scabbard (Hip 802) were colts we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Champagne Stakes Racing Roundup

The Road to the Kentucky Derby presents two marquee races this Saturday beginning with the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse and wrapping up with the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Let’s look at the 147^th running of the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) where GREEN LIGHT GO heads a herd of seven runners as the 8-5 morning line favorite. Post time is 5:39 p.m. ET.

Undefeated in two starts, Green Light Go comes into this race for trainer Jimmy Jerkens off a win in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GREEN LIGHT GO settled nicely off the pace, moved closer outside the half-mile, drafted in the two path while full of run early on the turn, was given his cue while shifting thee wide at the five sixteenths, rallied outside into upper stretch, drifted in then brushed with TUGGLE while taking the lead at the three-sixteenths, shook clear after being put to a left-handed whip outside the sixteenth pole then was given two strikes before being eased up while much the best.

Green Light Go tracked the leaders to the stretch then took command to easily win his graded stakes debut by 3¾ lengths.

Hard Spun, the sire of Green Light Go, was undefeated in three starts as a two-year-old, including wins in the Port Penn Stakes and Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. As a three-year-old on the Derby trail, Hard spun was 2-0-0 in three starts including wins in the Le Comte Stakes (G3) and Lane’s End Stakes (G2).

Hard Spun went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby (G1), third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and rounded out his classic campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

As a stallion, Hard Spun’s best runner on the Kentucky Derby trail was Wicked Strong who finished fourth in the 2014 Derby. His other top runners include: Le Romain, Hard Aces, Hard Not to Like, Someries, Gatting, King’s Spun, Promising Run, Questing and Hardest Core.

Green Light Go has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race. He’s been training good and I look for him to continue to impress on Saturday.

TIZ THE LAW (5-2) is stepping up in class and comes into this race off a maiden win for trainer Barclay Tagg. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

TIZ THE LAW stalked the front runners toward the two path, was put to snug hold after inching up to them during the final strides of the run around the bend, angled into the path four for clearance spinning into the lane, chopped away the deficit to assume control, got steadied lugging in while switching leads in the vicinity of the eighth pole, continued to edge away from the second place finisher, then completed the final sixteenth wrapped up.

Tiz the Law looked, a bit green, but still looked good winning his maiden debut, impressively, by 4¼ lengths.

Constitution, the sire of Tiz the Law, didn’t race until he was three years old but was a competitive runner that compiled a 4 -0-1 record in eight starts with $1,031,596 in career earnings.

At the age of four, Constitution was 1-0-0 in three starts with a win in the Donn Handicap (G1).

As a stallion, Constitution’s first runners are two years old in 2019 and a couple of his best runners on the Derby trail are By Your Side who is also entered in this race and Gouverneur Morris who is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Tiz the Law has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race.

GOZILLA (6-1) comes into this race for trainer Steve Asmussen with a 1-0-1 record in two starts including a third-place finish in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at

Saratoga. Here’s the video and chart call:

GOZILLA got engaged with AMERICAN BUTTERLY shortly after the field had been sent on its way, participated in it from the two path, being the one of that twosome clinging to a slim advantage, was still holding it spinning into the lane in reserve, contrasting the drive the nemesis has just been put to, saw the rider go to work a sixteenth down the road, with BASIN having made its presence felt, proved no match, ventured onward losing ground to the aforementioned opponent, wound up getting necked for the place.

Gozilla ran a respectable race but faltered in the final yards to finish third 6¾ length off the victor, Basin.

Flatter, the sire of Gozilla, was a decent middle-distance horse who competed, mostly, in maiden and allowance races and in his only stakes start he finished third in the 8½-furlong Washington Park Handicap (G2). But in six starts, Flatter compiled a 4-0-1 record and was a winner from 7½-furlongs to 9-furlongs.

As a stallion, his leading runners include West Coast, Flat Out, Upstart, Kobe’s Back, Taris, Lucy’s Bob Boy, Tar Heel Mom and Apart to name a few.

Gozilla has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to be competitive in this race.

Honorable mention goes to Alpha Sixty Six (5-1) and Three Technique (7-2).

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019/2020 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Eight Rings, 10, Bob Baffert

2. Dennis’ Moment, 10, Dale Romans,

3. +Scabbard, 4, Eddie Kenneally

4. American Theorem, 4, George Papaprodromou

5. Storm the Court, 2, Peter Eurton

6. Lebda, 2, Claudio Gonzalez

7. Letmeno, 1, Ian Wilkes

8. +Express Train, 1, John Shirreffs

+ = Express Train (Hip 1016) and Scabbard (Hip 802) were colts we profiled at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.