Keeneland Barn Notes — Wednesday, Oct. 3
By Amy Owens —-
Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet opens Friday and concludes Saturday, Oct. 27, with racing
Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 pm. ET
except Saturday, Oct. 6, when the first race is 12:40 p.m.
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• MISS SUNSET HEADLINES FIELD OF 10 FOR SATURDAY’S THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
• DEFENDING CHAMPION BUCCHERO TOPS FIELD OF 12 FOR WOODFORD PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
• MIND CONTROL SETTLES IN FOR SATURDAY’S CLAIBORNE BREEDERS’ FUTURITY
• KEENELAND TO SIMULCAST SUNDAY’S ARC DE TRIOMPHE
• PROBABLE STARTERS FOR SUNDAY FALL STARS STAKES
• 2018 FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• KEENELAND FTP SITE INFORMATION FOR THE 2018 FALL MEET
MISS SUNSET HEADLINES FIELD OF 10
FOR SATURDAY’S THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz’s Miss Sunset, winner of the Raven Run (G2) and runner-up by a nose in the Madison (G1) in her two trips to Keeneland, tops a field of 10 fillies and mares for Saturday’s 38th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) going 6 furlongs on the main track.
The TCA will go as the seventh race on Saturday’s 11-race program with a 4:05 p.m. ET post time. First post time Saturday is 12:40 p.m.
The TCA is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Jeff Bonde, the multiple stakes-winning California-based filly came off a more than three-month layoff to win the CERF Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 3 in her most recent start.
Mike Smith will ride Miss Sunset and break from post position three.
Breaking next to Miss Sunset from post four is J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s two-time graded stakes winner Vertical Oak.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Vertical Oak took the Open Mind at Churchill Downs in her most recent start on Sept. 15. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount.
The field for the TCA, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Rich Mommy (Luis Saez, 120 pounds), Torrent (Corey Lanerie, 120), Miss Sunset (Smith, 120), Vertical Oak (Santana Jr., 120), Awestruck (Brian Hernandez Jr., 120), Happy Like a Fool (John Velazquez, 118), Golden Mischief (Florent Geroux, 120), Curlin’s Approval (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Chalon (Javier Castellano, 120) and Crazy Sweet (Jose Lezcano, 120).
DEFENDING CHAMPION BUCCHERO TOPS FIELD OF 12
FOR WOODFORD PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Bucchero will attempt to become the fourth horse to repeat in the $200,000 Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (G2) when he headlines a field of 12 for the 5½-furlong grass sprint.
The Woodford will go as the sixth race Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. ET post time.
Trained by Tim Glyshaw, Bucchero pulled off a 26-1 upset last year in the Woodford and followed that effort up with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in which he was beaten only a length.
Fifth in the Turf Monster (G3) at Parx in his most recent start, Bucchero will be ridden by Fernando De La Cruz and break from post position two.
The most recent horse to win the race in consecutive years was Silver Timber (2009-2010).
Two other Grade 2 Keeneland turf sprint winners are in the field: Live Oak Plantation’s Holding Gold and Wes Welker and Elizabeth Kumin’s Undrafted.
Trained by Mark Casse, Holding Gold will be making his first Keeneland start since winning the 2017 Shakertown (G2). Fourth in the Play the King (G2) at Woodbine in his most recent race, Holding Gold will break from post position five under John Velazquez.
Undrafted, the 2016 Shakertown winner trained by Wesley Ward, finished fourth in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3) in his most recent start. Julio Garcia has the mount and breaks from post position eight.
The field for the Woodford, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Done Deal (Chris Landeros, 120 pounds), Bucchero (De La Cruz, 120), Kid Perfect (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120), Extravagant Kid (Corey Lanerie, 122), Holding Gold (Velazquez, 122), Rocket Heat (Jose Lezcano, 120), Win Lion Win (James Graham, 120), Undrafted (Garcia, 120), Vici (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Will Call (Shaun Bridgmohan, 122), Angaston (Brian Hernandez Jr., 120) and Machismo (Albin Jimenez, 118).
MIND CONTROL SETTLES IN FOR SATURDAY’S
CLAIBORNE BREEDERS’ FUTURITY
Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables’ Hopeful (G1) winner Mind Control got his first feel of Keeneland’s racing surface Wednesday morning after the renovation break with a jog over the main track.
Mind Control arrived here Tuesday for a run in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile, $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.
Rick Sacco, brother of trainer Greg Sacco, is overseeing the colt’s preparation here.
“His son is a high school quarterback and has a game Friday night in New Jersey, so he will be flying in Saturday morning,” Rick Sacco said about his brother.
Mind Control began his career with a runner-up finish at Delaware Park going 5½ furlongs before breaking his maiden at Monmouth Park at 6 furlongs. Then came his victory in the 7-furlong Hopeful at Saratoga.
“He is a very smart horse, and you need that for a horse going to a fourth track in as many starts,” Sacco said. “We came here (instead of this weekend’s Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park) because we wanted to answer the two-turn question now.
“The Champagne is a one-turn mile with the long run down the backstretch. The timing is right now to try two turns. His daddy (Stay Thirsty) won the Travers (G1) and there is plenty of two-turn pedigree there.”
Mind Control, who worked a bullet five-eighths in :59.80 at Monmouth on Saturday, will be ridden by John Velazquez. He had the mount for the first time in the Hopeful.
Sacco is hoping for a better outcome Saturday than he had here in 2009 when the stable’s Piscitelli finished fifth in the Breeders’ Futurity.
“I was in the Grandstand, and he was dead last in a field of 14 when he passed me the first time,” Sacco said. “He wound up finishing fifth. Then he went to the Breeders’ Cup (at Santa Anita) and finished fourth (in the Juvenile) That was one reason we came here because the tracks (Keeneland and Santa Anita at the time) had the all-weather surfaces.”
Win or lose Saturday, Sacco said the plan is to return to Monmouth Park the next day. Should a Breeders’ Cup run be in the cards, Sacco said Mind Control would ship to Louisville 10 days before the World Championships and have one work over the track.
KEENELAND TO SIMULCAST SUNDAY’S ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Racing fans will be able to watch and wager on Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Keeneland and Red Mile.
Post time for the Arc is 10:05 a.m. ET.
Advance wagering on the Arc card will be available Saturday. Also available for advance wagering is a Belmont Park-Arc Pick Four that begins with the Arc.
On Sunday at Keeneland, self-serve wagering machines will be available at 8:30 a.m. on the first- and second-floor Grandstand.
PROBABLE STARTERS FOR SUNDAY FALL STARS STAKES
Here are the probable starters for Fall Stars Weekend stakes on Sunday as compiled by Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Allison DeLuca:
*$500,000 JUDDMONTE SPINSTER-G1 (Entries taken Thursday; race Sunday) – Blue Prize (ARG) (Ignacio Correas IV), Chocolate Martini (Tom Amoss), Eskimo Kisses (Kenny McPeek), Fuhriously Kissed (Anthony Quartarolo), Pacific Wind (Chad Brown), Sassy Sienna (Brad Cox), Skeptic (Rusty Arnold), Talk Veuve to Me (Rodolphe Brisset).
*$250,000 DIXIANA BOURBON-G3 (Entries taken Thursday; race Sunday) – All American Hero (Mark Casse), Blockbuster (Casse), Gins and Tins (Wesley Ward), Henley’s Joy (Mike Maker), Life Mission (Ben Colebrook), Mick’s Star (Tom Amoss), More Than A. P. (Chris Block), Mr Wrench It (Coty Davidson), Salvator Mundi (Kenny McPeek), Tracksmith (Joe Sharp).
*$200,000 INDIAN SUMMER (Entries taken Thursday; race Sunday) – Bizzee Channel (Larry Rivelli), Blame the Frog (Ben Colebrook), Chelsea Cloisters (Wesley Ward), Egoli (Ward), Mister Banjoman (Mac Robertson), Nitrous (Steve Asmussen), Perfect Answer (Coty Davidson), Shang Shang Shang (Ward), Strike Silver (Mark Casse).
*Breeders’ Cup Challenge race
2018 FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
Through Spring 2019
Keeneland Library exhibit “From the Vault: Historic Tracks.” This exhibit features 26 select images from the Library’s archive that showcase photographs from a variety of tracks from the early 20th century. Pioneering Turf photographers John C. Hemment and Charles Christian Cook are featured, with additional representation from Joel Clyne Meadors and Robert Lee McClure, among others. The Library is open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.
The online exhibit “Photo Treasures from the Keeneland Library” presents nearly 100 other historic images of U.S. racing facilities in its “Tracks Gallery.”
Thursday, Oct. 4
Tour Keeneland. Click here for more information about this tour and other Official Keeneland Tours.
Friday, Oct. 5
Tour Keeneland and new Owner’s Experience Tour. The Owner’s Experience Tour will make participants feel like racehorse owners. Before the first race, they will follow horses through the Saddling Paddock and Walking Ring then watch the race from the Winner’s Circle. Click here for more information these tours and other Official Keeneland Tours.
Darley Umbrella Giveaway. The first 3,000 fans 18 and older will receive a voucher to redeem for a Darley umbrella from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Christine A. Moore Millinery.
The Hill (weather permitting) – Keeneland’s designated tailgate lot offers fans a jumbo screen TV to watch live racing and football, wagering, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand. On opening Friday and all Saturdays in October, enjoy performances from the area’s favorite bluegrass bands from noon-4 p.m.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Christine A. Moore.
$200,000-guaranteed Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Sunrise Trackside. Thoroughbreds and their human connections begin the day well before sunrise. See what they’re up to during Sunrise Trackside, a free, family-friendly event with activities for all ages: Breakfast With the Works features breakfast for purchase and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.) while racehorses train on the main track; children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); free guided Keeneland tours (7:30-10 a.m.); and Paddock demonstration with Asbury University Mounted Police (9 a.m.).
The Hill (weather permitting). As Keeneland’s designated tailgate lot, The Hill offers fans a jumbo screen TV to watch live racing and football, wagering, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Christine A. Moore Millinery.
$350,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four Presented by TVG on races 7-10: Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), First Lady (G1), Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
$250,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five Presented by TVG on races 6-10: Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select, Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), First Lady (G1), Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
Sunday, Oct. 7
Keeneland’s new Owner’s Experience Tour will make participants feel like racehorse owners. Before the first race, they will follow horses through the Saddling Paddock and Walking Ring then watch the race from the Winner’s Circle. Click here for more information about this tour and other Official Keeneland Tours.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Christine A. Moore Millinery.
Jockey Autograph Signing. Meet jockeys competing during the Fall Meet, retired jockeys, Hall of Famers, history makers and Keeneland favorites and participate in an autograph signing to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
KEENELAND FTP SITE INFORMATION FOR THE 2018 FALL MEET
For the convenience of media covering Keeneland’s 2018 Fall Meet, which opens Friday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 27, Keeneland is posting select photos and video on its FTP site.
Photos will include finish and winner’s circle shots of stakes races, morning works of prominent horses, general scenics and special event photos.
Video clips of stakes races are uploaded daily. At the conclusion of each race day during the meet, a short highlight video also will be uploaded. Video of morning works of prominent horses also might be available.
Photos and video are available for editorial use only. Please credit as “Keeneland photo” or “Keeneland video.”
Please note: Access to Keeneland’s FTP site no longer requires a username or password.
Click here to access the FTP site.
Folder: 2018 Fall Race Meet