Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, Oct. 4

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet opens tomorrow 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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• HENLEY’S JOY, TRACKSMITH RENEW RIVALRY IN DIXIANA BOURBON
• CHELSEA CLOISTERS TOPS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR INDIAN SUMMER
• RUSHING FALL TOPS INVITEES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
• PERFECT WEATHER WILL SUIT HEART TO HEART IN SHADWELL TURF MILE
• DARLEY ALCIBIADES HOPEFUL REFLECT FOLLOWS FAMILIAR PATH FOR DESORMEAUX
• MISS SUNSET LOOKS TO PUNCH BREEDERS’ CUP TICKET IN THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
• UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES
• 2018 FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS
• KEENELAND FTP SITE INFORMATION

HENLEY’S JOY, TRACKSMITH RENEW RIVALRY IN DIXIANA BOURBON
Bloom Racing Stable’s Henley’s Joy and Calumet Farm’s Tracksmith, who finished a head apart in last month’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile going a mile, head a field of 14 plus one also-eligible entered Thursday for Sunday’s 28th running of the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon (G3) for 2-year-olds going
1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Slated as the eighth race on Sunday’s 10-race program with a 5:10 p.m. ET post time, the Dixiana Bourbon is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that offers its winner a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.
Trained by Mike Maker, Henley’s Joy is undefeated in his two career starts on the grass. Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the Kentucky Downs victory, will have the mount Sunday and break from post position three.
Joe Sharp trains Tracksmith, who won his turf debut at Ellis Park before his run at Kentucky Downs. Adam Beschizza has the mount and will break from post position 11.
Trainer Mark Casse has saddled the winner of the past three runnings of the Dixiana Bourbon. On Sunday, he will send out two starters with Gary Barber’s War of Will and John Oxley’s Blockbuster.
War of Will is winless in two starts but in his most recent effort finished second in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine Drayden Van Dyke will ride Sunday and break from post position one.
Blockbuster, winner of his only career start on Sept. 13 at Kentucky Downs, will be ridden by Julien Leparoux from post position six.

The field for the Dixiana Bourbon, with riders and weights from the inside, is: War of Will (Van Dyke, 118 pounds), Ice City Ghost (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120), Henley’s Joy (Gaffalione, 120), Concrete Rose (Jose Lezcano, 118), Forloveofcountry (Luis Saez, 118), Blockbuster (Leparoux, 118), Mr Wrench It (Albin Jimenez, 120), Salvator Mundi (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Shazier (Joe Bravo, 118), Current (Jose Ortiz, 118), Tracksmith (Beschizza, 118), More Than A. P. (Florent Geroux, 118), Mick’s Star (Corey Lanerie, 118) and Pradar (Jack Gilligan, 118). Also-eligible: Life Mission (Geroux, 118).

CHELSEA CLOISTERS TOPS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR INDIAN SUMMER
Hat Creek Racing’s Chelsea Cloisters heads a field of 12 2-year-olds and two also-eligibles entered Thursday for the inaugural running of the $200,000 Indian Summer at 5½ furlongs on the turf.
The Indian Summer, scheduled as the sixth race on Sunday’s 10-race program with a 4 p.m. ET post time, is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner to earn a fees-paid berth into the inaugural $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to be held Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.
A maiden winner at first asking here in the spring on dirt, the Wesley Ward-trained Chelsea Cloisters finished 11th in the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot and second in the Prix du Bois (G3) at Deauville. In her most recent start, also on turf, she was second in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga.
Jose Ortiz will ride Chelsea Cloisters and leave from post position one.

The field for the Indian Summer, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Chelsea Cloisters (Ortiz, 115 pounds), Strike Silver (Julien Leparoux, 118), Blame the Frog (Brian Hernandez Jr., 115), Nitrous (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Reward the Miracle (Jarred Journet, 118), Abaco Dream (Luis Saez, 115), The Sicarii (Jon Court, 118), Credit Swap (Albin Jimenez, 118), Hide the Demon (Corey Lanerie, 118), Next Dance (Adam Beschizza, 115), Mister Banjoman (Jareth Loveberry, 120), All About It (Eric Cancel, 118). Also-eligibles: Jo Jo Air (Julio Garcia, 115) and Bizzee Channel (Jose Valdivia Jr., 118).

RUSHING FALL TOPS INVITEES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
E Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ four-time graded stakes winner Rushing Fall headlines a roster of 10 3-year-old fillies invited to the 35th running of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Lane’s End, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass on Saturday, Oct. 13.
Already a winner of two stakes at Keeneland, the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) last fall and this spring’s Appalachian (G2), Rushing Fall came off a three-month layoff to win the Lake Placid (G2) by 2¾ lengths on Aug. 18 at Saratoga in her most recent start.
Trained by Chad Brown, who won the QE II in 2012 with Dayatthespa, Rushing Fall won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar.
Also invited is a newcomer to the Brown barn, Pollara (IRE), who is a Group 3 winner in France.
Two other Grade 1 winners are among the QE II invitees: Team Valor International’s Capla Temptress (IRE) and Benowitz Family Trust, Head of Plains Partners, Mark Mathiesen and Mathilde Powell’s Fatale Bere (FR).
Trained by Bill Mott, who won this race in 2014 with Crown Queen, Capla Temptress won the Natalma (G1) last year at Woodbine and most recently was seventh in the Sands Point (G2) at Belmont
Fatale Bere won the Del Mar Oaks (G1) Presented by The Jockey Club at 1 1/8 miles in her most recent start for trainer Leonard Powell. In April, she won the Providencia (G3) at Santa Anita, also at the QE II distance.
Scheduled to arrive at Keeneland Sunday from Europe for the race are Group 2 winners Mission Impassible (IRE) and Nyaleti (IRE).
Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al-Attiyah’s Mission Impassible is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. In June, she won the Prix de Sandringham (G2) at Chantilly and in her most recent start was fifth in the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville.
Owned by 3 Batterhams and a Reay, Nyaleti returns to the U.S. for the second time in two months. Nyaleti, trained by Mark Johnston, finished sixth in the Beverly D. (G1) at Arlington in August. Her biggest victory of 2018 came in the German One Thousand Guineas (G2) at Dusseldorf.
The remaining invitees are Beyond Blame, Daddy Is a Legend, Princess Warrior and Secret Message.
Entries for the QE II will be taken Wednesday.

PERFECT WEATHER WILL SUIT HEART TO HEART IN SHADWELL TURF MILE
Clear skies and comfortable temperatures forecast for Keeneland’s Oct. 5-7 opening weekend of the Fall Meet could be a perfect scenario for Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart in Saturday’s $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
Trainer Brian Lynch said Thursday morning that the 7-year-old son of English Channel does his best running on firm turf as he did in April with a victory in the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) here. Overall Heart to Heart has 15 wins in 37 starts and has earned more than $2 million. He was second in the Shadwell Turf Mile last year.
“I know he is happy to be back at Keeneland because he has great energy around the barn and looks great on the track,” Lynch said. “We graze him every afternoon. He loves to get out on the hill (with a handler) in front of our barn. It is a great spot to let a horse drop his head and eat some green grass.”
Lynch’s Keeneland contingent includes Amerman Racing’s Oscar Performance, who earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 for winning the Woodbine Mile (G1) on Sept. 15. Lynch said Oscar Performance and Heart to Heart will remain at Keeneland to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Mile before shipping to Churchill Downs around Oct. 30.
Lynch also noted that his former trainee Grand Arch, winner of the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile for Jim and Susan Hill, has adapted well to retirement and recently demonstrated his new skills at a horse show. Grand Arch closed his 29-race career at age eight with seven victories and a bankroll of nearly $2 million.
“I am thrilled to see he has a second career and is enjoying his new job,” Lynch said. “He is a beautiful horse and a gentleman, so I always hoped he could use that for a second career.”

DARLEY ALCIBIADES HOPEFUL REFLECT FOLLOWS
FAMILIAR PATH FOR DESORMEAUX
Impact Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables’ Reflect is traveling familiar roads for trainer Keith Desormeaux as she heads into Friday’s 67th running of the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
A debut winner in June at Santa Anita, Reflect finished fifth in the Sorrento (G2) at Del Mar in August before shipping to Saratoga for the Spinaway (G1) in which she finished sixth.
Preakness (G1) winner Exaggerator, also trained by Desormeaux, made his initial three starts at the same tracks in the same order as a 2-year-old in 2015 before coming to Keeneland, where he finished second in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and fourth in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Is Reflect following the Exaggerator model?
“It was more a matter of timing,” said Julie Clark, assistant to Desormeaux, who brought Reflect to Churchill Downs following the Spinaway.
“She won so early and then there was nowhere to go,” she said. “We gambled on the Spinaway having a small field, and it had its largest field (11 horses) in years and the Del Mar Debutante (G1) had one of its smallest (five). The gamble did not work out.”
The decision to come back to Kentucky was an easy one.
“The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup (at Churchill) and we already had two horses there for opening day of their September meet,” Clark said. “It made sense.”
To get to the $2 million Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Reflect will need a good showing in the Darley Alcibiades, which is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that awards the winner a fees-paid berth into the Juvenile Fillies.
“It was either this race or the Frizette (G1) at Belmont, but it made more sense to come here plus the two turns (as opposed to the one-turn Frizette),” Clark said. “She had a nice work here Saturday (5 furlongs in 1:00, the best of 33 at the distance). She did it easy and (jockey) James (Graham) didn’t think she was going that fast.”

MISS SUNSET LOOKS TO PUNCH BREEDERS’ CUP TICKET
IN THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
West Coast-based Miss Sunset, owned by Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz, is a nose away from perfection in two Keeneland starts. The California-bred daughter of Into Mischief, trained by Jeff Bonde, arrived at Keeneland Wednesday for her third run, a start in Saturday’s 38th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).
“It is nice and quiet here and she likes the surroundings,” Bonde said Thursday morning before sending Miss Sunset out for a jog on the main track.
Winner of the Raven Run (G2) during Keeneland’s 2017 Fall Meet, Miss Sunset was beaten a nose by Finley’sluckycharm in this spring’s Madison (G1) here. She finished second in her next start, the Desert Stormer (G3) in May at Santa Anita, and then did not run again until winning the CERF Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 3.
“The track at Santa Anita was a little firm and we decided to space her races out and have a fresh horse for later in the year,” Bonde said. “It has paid off. She is fresh and ready.”
In the Thoroughbred Club of America, Miss Sunset will be ridden by Mike Smith, who has won on her the past five times he has been aboard.
“They get along well,” Bonde said. “She is kind of quirky, but their attitude is the same. She likes to win and he likes to win.”
The TCA is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner getting a fees-paid berth into the
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.
Saturday’s result will determine whether Miss Sunset stays in Kentucky or returns to California.
“We are worn out thinking about it,” Bonde said with a laugh over that decision. “We will decide after the race.”

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

*$200,000 JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE-G2 (Entries taken Friday; race Wednesday, Oct. 10) – Concrete Rose (trainer Rusty Arnold), Fierce Scarlett (Chad Brown), Irish Willow (Dale Romans), Lightscameraaction (Kenny McPeek), My Gal Betty (Roger Attfield), Princesa Carolina (McPeek), Zalia (Brad Cox).
*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.”
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 about 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. Scheduled to appear along with current Keeneland jockeys are James Bruin, Mike Bryant, Jean Cruguet, Tony D’Amico, Carl Faulconer, Mike Manganello, Larry Melancon, Suzie and John Oldham, Shane Sellers, Mickey Solomone, Anthony Stephen, Bill Troilio, Kaoru Tsuchiya and Charlie Woods.

KEENELAND FTP SITE INFORMATION
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