Keeneland Barn Notes — Thursday, Oct. 19

By Amy Owens —-

PLETCHER BREEZES DOZEN BREEDERS’ CUP HOPEFULS
THURSDAY WORK TAB
BEATTIE HOPES SIMPLY STATED FOLLOWS IN TARIS’ LEXUS RAVEN RUN HOOFPRINTS
GALLOPING OUT
WEEK 3 SPECIAL EVENTS
FALL MEET LEADERS

PLETCHER BREEZES DOZEN BREEDERS’ CUP HOPEFULS

Trainer Todd Pletcher has assembled his potential Breeders’ Cup arsenal at Keeneland, where a dozen of his hopefuls for the World Championships Nov. 3 and 4 at Santa Anita worked over the fast main track Thursday morning.

Heading the dozen was Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) hopeful Bright Future, who arrived here this week from Saratoga. He worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.40. Also working 5 furlongs for a possible Breeders’ Cup start was Charge It, who covered the distance in 1:01.20.

“We originally were going to work all of our Saturday (Nov. 4) horses tomorrow but with rain in the forecast for tomorrow, we moved it up a day,” Pletcher said. “It was a good morning, and I was pleased with all the works. They did what we wanted them to.”

Among the dozen workers were three Grade 1 winners from Fall Stars Weekend.

Coolmore Turf Mile winner Up to the Mark breezed a half-mile in :50.20 in company with 2022 Coolmore Turf Mile winner Annapolis; Darley Alcibiades winner Candied worked a half-mile in :49; and Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity winner Locked worked a half-mile in :48.20.

The remainder of the Pletcher brigade each worked half-miles: Agate Road (:49.60), Fierceness (:48.40), Life Talk (:49), Life’s an Audible (:50), Noted (:49.60) and Scalable (:49.60).

Pletcher plans to give his runners one more work here next Thursday or Friday and then ship to Santa Anita on Oct. 28.

THURSDAY WORK TAB

Thoroughbred Club of American (G2) winner Yuugiri worked a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Rodolphe Brisset in preparation for a possible start in the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. … Trademark, a candidate for Keeneland’s Hagyard Fayette (G2) on Oct. 28, worked a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Vicki Oliver. Another Hagyard Fayette nominee working this morning was Pennsylvania Derby (G1) runner-up Dreamlike, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

BEATTIE HOPES SIMPLY STATED FOLLOWS
IN TARIS’ LEXUS RAVEN RUN HOOFPRINTS

In 2014, trainer Todd Beattie brought an allowance-winning filly to Keeneland off a victory over the all-weather track at Presque Isle Downs. Her name was Taris. She was Beattie’s first Keeneland starter, and did she ever make an impression in the Lexus Raven Run (G2).

Sent off at odds of 7-1, Taris won by 9 lengths and set a track record of 1:21.32 for the 7 furlongs. The track record stood for six years until Gamine posted a 1:20.20 in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).

Did Beattie think Taris would make such a splash?

“Sure did,” Beattie said Thursday morning. “I had a lot of confidence in her, and everything was going so right. She had had some issues, and we gave her time and she was doing really well. I believed in her so much.”

Beattie arrived here Wednesday with another filly for this year’s Lexus Raven Run. Like Taris, Simply Stated comes to Keeneland off an allowance victory over the all-weather surface at Presque Isle Downs.

“I have only had Simply Stated for one race, and I am getting to know her,” said Beattie, who trains the filly for Commonwealth New Era Racing. “I’ve had her for less than 60 days, and this is a big step.”

A winner of five of seven races, Simply Stated never has raced farther than 6 furlongs.

“I like the added distance for her,” Beattie said. “I would not be shocked if she’s better going seven-eighths or longer.”

UPCOMING STAKES PROBABLES

$300,000 Bank of America Valley View (G3), 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf) (Entries taken Friday; race Friday, Oct. 27) – Bling (trainer Vicki Oliver), Bolivie (IRE) (Brendan Walsh), Eternal Silence (Jessice Harrington), Get Twisted (Anna Navarrete), Heavenly Sunday (Brad Cox), Junipermarshmallow (Todd Pletcher), Mo Bills (Mike Stidham), Sacred Wish (George Weaver), Safeen (Eddie Kenneally), Secret Money (Walsh), Spierling Beag (IRE) (Graham Motion), Surge Capacity (Chad Brown), Sweetlou’sgotaces (Motion), Yesternight (Lindsay Schultz). Possibles: Dolce Sopresa (Josie Carroll), Playlist (Wesley Ward).

$200,000 Myrtlewood, 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs (Entries taken Friday; race Friday, Oct. 27) – Fibber (Bret Calhoun), Field Lass (Rusty Arnold), Hot Beach (Brian Lynch), Let Them Watch (Mike Maker), Ms. Tart (Todd Beattie), Youalmosthadme (Cox).

$350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2), 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 28) – Dash Attack (Kenny McPeek), Gasoline (Pletcher), Il Miracolo (Antonio Sano), King Fury (McPeek), Speed Bias (Ron Moquett), Trademark (Oliver), Twilight Blue (Joe Sharp). Possibles: Best Actor (Cox), Defunded (Bob Baffert), Giant Game (Dale Romans), War Campaign (Phil Sims), Whelen Springs (Schultz).

$300,000 Bryan Station (G3), 3-year-olds, 1 mile (turf) (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 28) – Dude N Colorado (GB) (Pletcher), Gigante (Steve Asmussen), Mo Stash (Oliver), Santorini (Rodolphe Brisset), Talk of the Nation (Shug McGaughey). Possible: Woodcock Flight (IRE) (Michael Puhich).

$200,000 Bowman Mill, 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs (Entries taken Saturday; race Saturday, Oct. 28) – Glengarry (Doug Anderson), Patriot Spirit (Michael Campbell), Valentine Candy (Asmussen). Possibles: Maycocks Bay (Stidham), Normandy Hero (Brisset), Royal Slipper (Ward).

GALLOPING OUT

Friday, Oct. 20 is “TRF Cheers to 40 Years Day” at Keeneland in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), a pioneer in the aftercare of retired racehorses. Keeneland will present a check for $4,000 to the TRF, a nonprofit that operates three farms in Kentucky and cares for 70 horses. …

Two jockeys won their first Keeneland races on Oct. 15.

Jaime Torres took the first race aboard Joseph Imbesi’s 3-year-old gelding Airborne Elite in a maiden claiming race for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza. The triumph was the 100th of his career, which began in 2022.

In the sixth race, apprentice Andres Calleja guided Twin Oaks Bloodstock’s first-time starter and 88-1 longshot Cozee Rags to a 3-length victory in a maiden special weight race. The 2-year-old filly is trained by Brian D. Michael. The win was the fourth of Calleja’s career, which began at Keeneland exactly two years earlier when he finished fourth on Bryan Waldridge’s War Eagle’s Love. A graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Calleja now has four wins from 82 mounts.

WEEK 3 SPECIAL EVENTS

Year-round

Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase.

Now through Dec. 8

Keeneland Library Presents the Exhibit The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers. This fascinating exhibit highlights the lives and careers of 80 African Americans working in the Thoroughbred industry from the mid-1800s to the present. Located on Keeneland’s campus, Keeneland Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To reach the Library, enter Keeneland at Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd. and take the first right on Entertainment Ct. The Library is to the left of the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center. The exhibit is free.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday

The Hill. No ticket or reservation is required for Keeneland’s free official tailgating area, which offers a unique way to experience the races. Watch and wager on Keeneland’s live races shown on a jumbo TV screen. Have a question about handicapping? BETologists, Keeneland’s wagering experts, are there to answer questions. Meanwhile, enjoy food trucks along with live music presented by The Burl and take complimentary shuttles to the track. The Hill is located adjacent to the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center and is accessible via Gate 4. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For additional details, visit Keeneland.com/tailgating.

Saturday, Oct. 21

Sunrise Trackside. This free morning program is geared toward families with a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Coffee and light breakfast offerings will be available at The Starting Gate concession stand while watching racehorses train. Children’s activities, which will take place from 8-10 a.m. underneath the Grandstand, will include a visit with Keeneland mascot Buckles, face painting, games, jockey silks photos and more. From 8:30-9 a.m., families can pet a horse in the Paddock and visit the track apron to watch the John Deere Tractor Break as tractors groom the track. Guests can learn more about the workings of Keeneland by joining a complimentary mini tour. Visit the Tours Podium located near the Paddock for more information. This event is open to the public and does not require a ticket to attend.

On Saturday, Keeneland will spotlight Cheryl White’s historic career as a jockey during Sunrise Trackside. Children will learn what it takes to ride a racehorse, and Keeneland will donA toy horse and jockey in a box Description automatically generatedate new Breyer sets featuring a figure of White, model horse Jetolara (her first winning mount) and a copy of the new book The Jockey and Her Horse, co-written by her brother Raymond White Jr., to a few lucky winners.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation also will host a table on the track apron for anyone interested in learning more about its operations to promote the welfare of Thoroughbreds.

The Keeneland Shop and Keeneland Library host a book signing with Raymond White Jr., co-author of The Jockey & Her Horse. Cheryl White Breyer sets and copies of The Jockey & Her Horse will be available to purchase. Signing will take place outside The Keeneland Shop from 1-3 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 22

Heroes Day. Event honors members of the military (active duty and veterans), first responders, law enforcement, EMTs and healthcare workers and their families. Heroes and their families will receive free general admission, reserved Grandstand seating and access to the Family Zone in the North Terrace with activities and a complimentary meal provided by City Barbeque. The day will include a flag rollout on the main track, and local heroes will be recognized in the Winner’s Circle. A POW-MIA Chair of Honor will be displayed outside The Keeneland Shop to bring awareness to past and current POW-MIA military members through a partnership with The Rolling Thunder Kentucky Chapter 5. Each hero is eligible to receive up to six complimentary tickets. Click here for more information and to reserve tickets.