Keeneland Barn Notes — Wednesday, Oct. 2

By Amy Owens —-

Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet opens Friday and concludes Saturday, Oct. 26, with racing Wednesdays through Sundays. Post time for the first race each day is 1:05 p.m. ET.

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• GRADE 1 WINNERS SPICED PERFECTION AND MIA MISCHIEF HEADLINE THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA
• IMPRIMIS TOPS FIELD OF 10 FOR WOODFORD PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT
• NEWLY MINTED GRADE 1-WINNING TRAINER JOSEPH TO MAKE KEENELAND DEBUT FRIDAY
• MICHELINE GETS DIRT TEST IN FRIDAY’S DARLEY ALCIBIADES
• CHAD BROWN TRIO TOPS ROSTER OF 12 INVITEES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END
• FALL STARS SUNDAY PROBABLE FIELDS
• FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

GRADE 1 WINNERS SPICED PERFECTION AND MIA MISCHIEF
HEADLINE THOROUGHBRED CLUB OF AMERICA

Spiced Perfection, winner of this spring’s Madison (G1) here, and Mia Mischief, winner of the Humana Distaff (G1) in May, top a field of nine fillies and mares entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 39th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).
Run at 6 furlongs, the Thoroughbred Club of America is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that awards the victor a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run at 7 furlongs at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
The Thoroughbred Club of America will go as the afternoon’s seventh race with a 4:29 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1:05 p.m.
Owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch and trained by Peter Miller, Spiced Perfection will be making her first start since finishing fourth behind Mia Mischief in the Humana Distaff. Javier Castellano has the mount Saturday and will break from post position three.
Mia Mischief, whose lone Keeneland start resulted in a 16¼-length maiden-breaking victory in 2017, comes into Saturday’s race off two off-the-board finishes at Saratoga. Owned by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Heider Family Stables and Madaket Stables, Mia Mischief is trained by Steve Asmussen. She will be ridden by Joel Rosario and break from post position six.
The field for the Thoroughbred Club of America, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Ours to Run (Gabriel Saez, 120 pounds), Razorback Lady (Julien Leparoux, 120), Spiced Perfection (Castellano, 124), Danuska’s My Girl (Flavien Prat, 122), Dawn the Destroyer (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Mia Mischief (Rosario, 124), Talk Veuve to Me (Jose Ortiz, 120), Chalon (Paco Lopez, 120), Pretty Greeley (Florent Geroux, 120).

IMPRIMIS TOPS FIELD OF 10 FOR WOODFORD
PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT

Breeze Easy’s Imprimis, winner of April’s Shakertown (G2) here, headlines a field of 10 horses entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 23rd running of the $200,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.
The 5½-furlong grass sprint will go as the sixth race on Saturday’s 11-race program with a 3:54 p.m. post time. First post is 1:05 p.m.
Following the Shakertown with Imprimis finished sixth in the King’s Stand (G1) at Royal Ascot in England on June 18. Trained by Joe Orseno, Imprimis returned to the races Sept. 7, finishing fourth in the Turf Sprint (G3) at Kentucky Downs. Paco Lopez has the mount Saturday and will break from post position three.

The field for the Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Seven Trumpets (Robby Albarado, 120 pounds), Extravagant Kid (Jose Ortiz, 120), Imprimis (Lopez, 122), Stubbins (Joel Rosario, 118), Win Lion Win (James Graham, 120), Smart Remark (Javier Castellano, 120), Fareeq (Florent Geroux, 120), Satellite Storm (Leandro Goncalves, 120), Leinster (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Royal Commish (Chris Emigh, 120).

NEWLY MINTED GRADE 1-WINNING TRAINER JOSEPH
TO MAKE KEENELAND DEBUT FRIDAY

Saffie Joseph Jr., who earned his first Grade 1 victory Sept. 21 when 31-1 longshot Math Wizard won the Pennsylvania Derby, will send out his first Keeneland runner on Friday when e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Sound Machine starts in the sixth race. The 2-year-old Into Mischief filly was an early candidate for the afternoon’s featured Darley Alcibiades (G1), but those plans changed when there was no suitable prep race for her at Joseph’s Gulfstream base.
“She came to our barn in April with high expectations,” he said about Sound Machine, a $500,000 purchase at Keeneland’s 2018 September Yearling Sale who won her career debut at Gulfstream in July by 8¼ lengths. “Her wake-up call when we realized she is legit was her workout just before her first start. It was dynamite, just spectacular. The Keeneland (allowance) race is a good steppingstone to see how good she is.
“She has settled in and is doing well and hopefully she will give a good performance for us,” Joseph said. “It is special to be at Keeneland, and we are thankful to be here.”
Sound Machine is the second horse Joseph has trained for Bob Edwards’ e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, whose bloodstock adviser, Mike Ryan, recommended Joseph.
Joseph first came to the Keeneland races about a decade ago and returned when Math Wizard trained here after his second-place finish in the Ohio Derby (G3) in June.
“After the Ohio Derby, there were other derbies coming up and we thought Keeneland would be a nice temporary base,” Joseph said.
Math Wizard was third in the Indiana Derby (G3) in July and sixth in the West Virginia Derby (G3) in August. During his time at Keeneland, the colt had two timed works.
After the West Virginia Derby, Math Wizard returned to Gulfstream. Now with his win in the Pennsylvania Derby, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita is being considered for his next start.
Thanks to Math Wizard, 2019 has been a breakthrough year for Joseph. The son of a trainer, he left his native Barbados to attend preparatory school in Florida and soon began to pursue a Thoroughbred training career. In 2009 at age 22, after returning home, he won the Barbados Triple Crown with Areutalkintome. In 2011, he began his North American training career in Florida.
“Growing up, I dreamed of having these opportunities and I am thankful to my owners for giving me these opportunities,” he said. “Trainers need good support from owners, and we have good horses.”

MICHELINE GETS DIRT TEST IN FRIDAY’S DARLEY ALCIBIADES

Godolphin’s homebred Micheline already has answered one question that has not been posed to her 10 rivals in Friday’s Darley Alcibiades (G1): She has won racing around two turns.
In fact, Micheline is the only filly entered in the 1 1/16-mile race to have tried two turns.
“She is a true two-turn horse; the farther the better for her,” trainer Mike Stidham said of the Bernardini filly, who finished third going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga and then won the 1-mile Sorority at Monmouth.
What question has not been answered by Micheline is how well she will perform on dirt after beginning her career on the grass.
“She has worked well on the dirt at Fair Hill (Training Center in Maryland),” Stidham said. “That is why we are giving her the opportunity here.”
Micheline is a daughter of 2007 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Panty Raid and is that mare’s first stakes winner from four foals to race.

CHAD BROWN TRIO TOPS ROSTER OF 12 INVITEES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY LANE’S END

Three fillies trained by Chad Brown are among 12 3-year-olds invited to next Saturday’s 36th running of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End (G1). The race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland turf course.
Headlining the Brown invitees is OXO Equine’s Cambier Parc, winner of the Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1) in her most recent start and also a two-time Grade 3 winner this year. Brown, who won this race last year with Rushing Fall and in 2012 with Dayatthespa, also has Paul Pompa Jr.’s Regal Glory and Peter Brant’s Café Americano among the invitees.
Regal Glory, second in this spring’s Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association here, has compiled a 7-5-2-0 mark and in her past two starts won the Lake George (G3) and dead-heated for the win in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga. Café Americano, a winner of three of four starts, won the Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington in her most recent start.
The other Grade/Group 1 winner among the invitees is Godolphin’s Castle Lady (IRE). Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, Castle Lady has won three of four starts, including the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in May at Longchamp in France.
Also invading from Europe is Her Majesty, The Queen’s Magnetic Charm (GB). Trained by William Haggas, Magnetic Charm came to Keeneland from Woodbine, where she finished second in the Canadian Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2) on Sept. 14.
Other invitees are Augustin Stable’s Varenka, who dead-heated with Regal Glory in the Lake Placid; Three Chimneys Farm’s Princesa Carolina, Slam Dunk Racing’s Maxim Rate, Godolphin’s Carnival Colors (GB), George Krikorian’s Mucho Unusual, Jules and Michael Iavarone and Jerry McClanahan’s Lady Prancealot (IRE) and Sanford Bacon and Patrick Biancone Racing’s Kelsey’s Cross.
Entries for the QE II Presented by Lane’s End will be taken next Wednesday.

FALL STARS SUNDAY PROBABLE FIELDS

The following is a list of probable starters for Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend stakes on Sunday compiled by Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Allison De Luca. Entries will be taken Thursday.
*$500,000 JUDDMONTE SPINSTER-G1 – Blue Prize (ARG) (Ignacio Correas IV), Dunbar Road (Chad Brown), Elate (Bill Mott), Lady Suebee (John Sadler), She’s a Julie (Steve Asmussen), Vexatious (Jack Sisterson). Possible: Sally’s Curlin (Dale Romans).
*$250,000 DIXIANA BOURBON-G3 – Bama Breeze (Rusty Arnold), Cadet Connelly (Teresa Connelly), Deviant (Danny Pish), Ete Indien (Patrick Biancone), Field Pass (Mike Maker), Fighting Seabee (Kenny McPeek), Gear Jockey (Rusty Arnold), Invader (Wesley Ward), Kid Mercury (Graham Motion), Peace Achieved (Mark Casse), Peruvian Boy (Ignacio Correas IV), Vitalogy (GB) (Brendan Walsh).
*$200,000 INDIAN SUMMER – Chimney Rock (Mike Maker), Fast Scene (Tim Hamm), Johnny Unleashed (Eric Foster), Kimari (Wesley Ward), Mystic Lancelot (Todd Pletcher), Old Chestnut (Mark Casse), Rockcrest (Nigel Burke), Song River (Mark Casse).
*Breeders’ Cup Challenge race

FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

All Year
Official Keeneland Tours – A variety of guided walking tours showcase Keeneland’s Thoroughbred racing and sales operations. Click here for more information.
Friday, Oct. 4 – Opening Day – Fall Stars Weekend
The Hill – Keeneland’s official tailgate lot features a jumbo screen to watch live racing and football, wagering booths, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand.

The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore and Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore.

$200,000-guaranteed Friday Pick Four Presented by TVG.

Saturday, Oct. 5 – Fall Stars Weekend

Sunrise Trackside – Families, out-of-town guests, longtime Keeneland fans and others will enjoy spending a morning at the track before the races begin. Watch horses train over the track and enjoy Breakfast With the Works and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); free guided tours of the grounds (7:30-10 a.m.) and a demonstration with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope in the Paddock (9 a.m.).

The Hill – Keeneland’s official tailgate lot features a jumbo screen to watch live racing and football, wagering booths, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand. Saturdays include live Bluegrass music.

Jockey Autograph Signing – Fans will meet active and retired jockeys – including Hall of Famers, history makers and Keeneland favorites – in this fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore and Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore.

$300,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five and $400,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four.

Sunday, Oct. 6 – Fall Stars Weekend
The Keeneland Shop presents a trunk show with Darren K. Moore and Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore.