Racing News

Captaintreacherous added to his list of accomplishments when he won the Breeders Crown on Oct. 19, but his work is not finished.

The 3-year-old colt pacer heads to Hoosier Park on Friday night to face a field of nine foes in the $252,000 Monument Circle. The race is part of a stakes-filled card that also includes the $286,500 Carl Erskine for 3-year-old trotters and the $223,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for older pacers.

Captaintreacherous, who has won 12 of 13 races this year and $1.87 million, is the 4-5 morning line favorite in the Monument Circle. He starts from post two for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Tony Alagna.

Two California-based distaffers seeking to dethrone championGroupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I)—Sweet Lulu andIsmene—posted their final workouts Oct. 27 atSanta Anita Park.

Steve Beneto's Sweet Lulu, trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, handily worked a half-mile in :49. The late-developing daughter of Mr. Greeley is the least experienced pre-entrant in the seven-furlong Sprint, with only five starts this year at age 3 after being unraced as a juvenile.

Joshua Tree, winless so far in 2013, captured the prestigious Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT)  (VIDEO) for a record third time with a patient ride from jockey Ryan Moore on a yielding turf course Oct. 27 atWoodbine.

Sitting in behind pacesetter Stormy Len at the fence in the $957,566 event, Joshua Tree shot through to grab the lead at the head of the stretch and opened up by about three lengths. Weakening late, he dug in for the final sixteenth of a mile to repel the onrushing Hyper by three-quarters of a length for a 13-2 upset in a field of 10.

Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Palace Malice breezed a half-mile over the training track Oct. 27, one of 15 horses that were put through their final drills in advance of the next weekend's two-day racing extravaganza. 

Clockers caught Dogwood Stable's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner in a :48.12 blow-out, second fastest of 64 at the distance on the training track. The 3-year-old son of Curlin  , trained by Todd Pletcher, is coming off a runner-up finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Sept. 28.

This was the third breeze for Palace Malice over the Belmont training track since the Gold Cup, in which he finished 6 3/4 lengths behind Ron the Greek. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is to ride Palace Malice in the Classic, replacing Mike Smith, who has taken the call on pre-race favoriteGame On Dude.

For the second straight week, Hyperion Hanover, deftly handled by Stephane Lareau, wore down favored B N Bad, driven by Bruce Ranger, in the final strides to capture Pompano Park’s $10,000 Winners Over Pace in 1:51.3.

The millionaire ageless wonder, now 10, settled cozily in the garden spot after B N Bad left sharply from his mid-pack (five) post and carded honest fractions of :27, :55 and 1:23.1.

Turning for home, Hyperion Hanover left the pocket and, ever so slowly, gnawed into B N Bad’s lead, nailing the win just two strides from the wire for his eighth win of the year in 23 starts. Hurrikane Scotty J, with Matt Romano in the bike, finished third while No Monkeys Allowed and driver Rick Plano teamed up for fourth. Oh My Joepa (Tom Sells) got the last nickel in the field of six.

Stanwyck, making her stakes debut off nearly a three-month layoff, captured the $200,000Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) at odds of 21-1 by a head over favored Centring Oct. 26 at Belmont Park (VIDEO) .

A Kentucky-bred homebred for Jerry and Ann Moss, 4-year-old Stanwyck is by Empire Maker out of the multiple stakes winner Set Them Free, by Stop the Music, and is a half sister to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner (gr. I) Giacomo   and dual grade I winnerTiago  . She was sent off as the longest shot on the board.

Uphill Stable's Clearly Now returned to his winning ways when he skillfully stalked the pace to score a 1 1/2-length triumph in the $200,000Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 26 atBelmont Park (VIDEO).

It was the first victory in seven months for the 3-year-old son of Horse Greeley  , who most recently captured the March 2 Swale Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Clearly Now has also placed in six stakes, including this year's Gallant Bob (gr. III), Bay Shore (gr. III), Woody Stephens (gr. II), and Holy Bull (gr. II).

Ten Breeders' Cup runners slated for the turf events, led by Obviously, worked on the grass atSanta Anita Park Oct. 26.

Obviously has been cross-entered in the Breeders' Cup Mile and Geico Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (both gr. IT). He toured six furlongs in 1:12, the best of four at the distance. Mike Mitchell trains the 5-year-old son of Choisir—Leala, by Montjeu, for owners Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino.

Mitchell has not yet announced which race he and the owners will choose for Obviously, who has first preference in the Mile. The sleek bay gelding finished third to ultimate Horse of the Year Wise Dan and Animal Kingdomin last year's Mile. 

Trainer Bill Mott said he was happy with the final works by Royal Delta andClose Hatches atBelmont Park Oct. 26 before they head to California for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).

Royal Delta zipped a half-mile in :46.52, the fastest of 38 at the distance, while Close Hatches worked the same distance separately in :46.71, the second-quickest on the work tab.

Two-time Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (gr. III) winner Sum of the Partsand Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) runner-upSmarty's Echo tuned up for their upcoming Breeders' Cup dates with breezes over theKeeneland Polytrack Oct. 26.

With jockey Leandro Goncalves up, Sum of the Parts worked a half-mile in :47 early in the morning, second swiftest of 44 at the distance. Keeneland clockers got Sum of the Parts with a :23 2/5 first quarter mile and a five-furlong gallop out of 1:00 3/5.

Top Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) contender Points Offthebench fractured his right front fetlock while working Oct. 26 on theSanta Anita Park main track and was euthanized.

The 4-year-old byBenchmark  —Mo Chuisle, by Free House, was trained by Tim Yakteen. He was being worked in company with the mare Rock and Glory at four furlongs and was ridden by jockey Mike Smith.

"He sustained a condylar fracture in his right front," Yakteen said. "You can't describe it—It's sad."

 Saratoga Snacks, owned by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, won the $250,000 Empire Classic on Saturday, the richest race of Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

The 11-race card, including seven stakes, was devoted to horses bred in New York. Saratoga Snacks, second in the Empire Classic last year, beat Bigger is Bettor by three-quarters of a length with Joel Rosario aboard. The 4-year-old trained by Gary Sciacca improved to 7 for 10 with the richest victory of his career. Saratoga Snacks paid $5 to win. The time was 1:48.79 for 1 1/8 miles.

 Sunday afternoon featured the first leg of the Jim Derue Memorial Trotting Series at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The series for young trotters had three divisions, each going for a purse of $7,500.

 Driver David Ingraham pieced together a masterful performance at Scarborough Downs on Sunday (Oct. 27), teaming four winners from the nine-race program, while securing his 6,500th career win in the process.

Thoroughbred racing action moves toAqueduct Racetrack Nov. 1, with opening weekend featuring the simulcast of the Breeders' Cup World Championships from Santa Anita Park and a trio of graded stakes races.

Racing fans can cheer on their favorite New York horses and watch and wager on all of the Breeders' Cup action Nov. 1-2. Admission to the Big A is free, with gates opening at 11 a.m. Aqueduct's first race post time on Friday and Saturday is 12:25 p.m.

In addition to the Breeders' Cup simulcast, Aqueduct offers live racing over the three-day opening weekend, highlighted by the $200,000 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 2 for 3-year-olds, and a pair of one-mile juvenile events Sunday: the $250,000 Nashua (gr. II) and the $250,000 Tempted (gr. III) for fillies.

It was generally a formful foray Saturday night, with Yonkers Raceway hosting eliminations for both the Messenger Stakes -- final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown -- and its companion event, Lady Maud Pace. Ten 3-year-olds -- eight colts and two geldings -- tried the Messenger, while 14 soph ladies went at in the Maud.

The first of two $40,000 elims for the 58th Messenger saw 1-2 choice Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingas) prevail first-over. Away third from post position No. 3, he stayed there as Lonewolf Currier (Brian Sears) took over from Ronny Bugatti (catch-driver David Miller).

Those three appeared in some tight early quarters (:28 quarter) before Lonewolf Currier made the lead. After a :56 half, Sunfire Blue Chip made his methodical move. He engaged the leader in and out of the 1:23.4 three-quarters, with Lonewolf Currier taking a length lead into the lane.

Southern Equine Stables' sophomore Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contenderMoreno, runner-up for trainer Eric Guillot in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), breezed a bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5 Oct. 26 at Santa Anita Park, fastest of 50 at the distance on the day.

Willis Horton's Will Take Charge, who beat Moreno in the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, also went a quick five furlongs in preparation for the Classic, coming in second fastest in :59 2/5. 

Dance With Fate, a $120,000 graduate of the OBS April Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training, will seek his first stakes victory for Sharon Aleshia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 2. 

Bought at OBS by Larry Zap and trainer Peter Eurton, Dance With Fate completed his serious preparations for the Juvenile with a five-furlong work in 1:01 3/5 at Santa Anita Park Oct. 26. Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who has ridden the Florida-bred son of Two Step Salsa   in all four of his career starts, was aboard for the drill.

Canadian trainer Ralph J. Biamonte won his 1,000th race, when he sent outCitius to victory in the eighth race at WoodbineOct. 25 (VIDEO).

Biamonte, 72, hails from Niagra Falls, Canada, and won his first race in 1985. Since then, he has captured stakes with 17 different horses on the Canadian circuit, including multiple black-type victorFeathers, who took the 2000 Bessarabian Handicap (Can-III) at Woodbine.

Reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan put in a strong gallop early the morning of Oct. 26 on the main track as theKeeneland phase of his preparations for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) nears completion.

With regular exercise rider Damien Rock up, Wise Dan came on the track shortly before 6:30 on the chilly morning, stood by the finish for about five minutes and then galloped 1 1/2 miles.

The story behind what went into Luck Be Withyou winning last Saturday's Breeders Crown is a testament to the dedication and commitment of an owner and a trainer waiting nearly 40 years for a win of this magnitude.

It was Monday, September 30 when Luck Be Withyou was racing in a conditioned event at Mohawk Racetrack off an impressive win in his Champlain division. Driven by Paul MacDonell, Luck Be Withyou finished fourth and was race timed in 1:54 -- full two seconds slower than his Champlain victory. To compound the issue, trainer Bill Cass wasn't at the track that night to check out his prized pupil. In fact, he wasn't even in the country.

"I was down at Lexington with Dr. John Hennessy early in the week, he was into go on Monday and then when he didn't race well here he had a lot of mucous in him," Cass told Trot Insider. "We scoped him right after the race and on a scale of 1 to 10 he was a 9."

Signaling readiness to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), two-time championRoyal Delta zipped a half-mile in :46.52 at Belmont Park the morning of Oct. 26.

The time for the breeze by the Besilu Stables runner was fastest of 38 working at that distance.

A 5-year-old daughter ofEmpire Maker trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Royal Delta leads the six-horse field expected to go to the post in the Nov. 1 Distaff at Santa Anita Park. Royal Delta won the race the past two years when run as the Ladies' Classic. The mare was honored with the Eclipse Award in each of those years.