F&M Sprint / Turf Sprint – First Glimpse

Breeders' Cup Unveils 2015 Keeneland Logo | BloodHorse.com

The day is shaping up to be one of the best in the 32 years of Breeders’ Cup history. With over 200 pre-entered horses including 32 from overseas. The first ever Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland stands to make history. Trainer Chad Brown leads all trainers with 14 entries, and ownership entries belong to Coolmore Partnerships with 10 entries from their stables. – There are 13 (G-1) races on tap with purses totaling $26 million dollars. There will be four Breeders’ Cup races on Friday, and nine go to post on Saturday. – There are a staggering 44 runners who punched their dance card with the “win and you’re in” races, and all we have to do is hope for more glorious weather and this event will be one for the books.

 

Filly and Mare Sprint

 

Cavorting / Kiaran McLaughlin = The trainer is winning at a red-hot (57%) at Keeneland, and by all accounts this is where the races will be run. This daughter of Bernardini is ultra-tough and has to be respected. She is 1/1 going seven panels. This looks like her high water mark in distance, and her works have been very solid showing plenty in the tank not going out and blowing away the clock in the morning. Her tactical speed is her edge, and she’ll give them fits in Lexington.

 

 

Judy the Beauty / Wesley Ward = This daughter of Ghostzapper is 5/5 ITM at Keeneland, and 5/6 ITM going 7f. – I love that this is her second effort off the layoff and trainer Wesley Ward wins (26%) on this move. She loves, poly, turf, and dirt. This is one tough cookie, and you shouldn’t think of leaving her out. – She was trapped down along the rail, and I feel she got more out of this than we’ll ever know.

 

 

La Verdad / Linda Rice = This daughter of Yes It’s True is a perfect 5/5 with wins in 2015, and she is pure speed. She will set the pace, but my only question is will she get the last 1/2 furlong ? – The way the track has played all meet, if she gets loose they’ll have their work cutout for the rest of the field trying to reel her in.

 

Super Majesty / Jerry Hollendorfer = This lightly raced daughter of Super Saver is a nose short of being 4/4  with wins in 2015. She didn’t race at two, and this is a big step up in class. If she preforms half of her last effort she’ll be right with La Verdad and possibly take right over, or set-up the out of the clouds closers.

 

 

The Turf Sprint

 

Lady Shipman / Kathleen O’Connell = She is 9/9 ITM this year, and came up just a bit short last out in the Buffalo Trace at Keeneland. She was starting to get out down the lane after putting away the other speedsters, and Eddie Nunez couldn’t get her to change leads down the lane. – I think they’ll have all screws tightened down, and she’ll be tough to beat.

 

Ageless / Arnaud Delacour = She upset the chalk Lady Shipman diving to the rail and getting up over the rainy turf that pounded Lexington for Fall Stars. – She cut herself requiring stitches, and that took a few days away from training. If all systems go, she’ll come flying just like last time out.

 

Ready for Rye / Tom Albertrani = The last race was over the muddy / sealed track at Belmont, and this son of City Zip did his bidding. Javier Castellano had it in hand all the way, but I was hoping for a turf prep heading into this race.  She is 2/2 with wins on the turf, and 1/1 at the distance. We’ll just take this as a nice work and look optimistically that she’ll replicate that last effort.

 

Green Mask / Wesley Ward = This runner is looking for his first win in 2015, and is intriguing as a player. Cuts back to a blazing sprint, and the barn wins (26%) with turf sprinters. A beaten favorite at Kentucky Downs going 6 1/2f on the undulating turf course, and came up just a bit short. Works are solid, and Wesley Ward is going to be dangerous in here with multiple runners pre-entered.

 

Undrafted / Wesley Ward = A winner at Ascot two back, and tried two turns at Kentucky Downs last out. The Ward barn is one to be feared, and this runner owned by Wes Walker can get motoring late when called upon. He was a beaten chalk last out going long, and shortens back more to his liking. – Take a look at his race two back at Ascot and see for yourself.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVnOoNmlIBw