Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

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