Distaff Preview

Sorry guys due to a lack of time there will not be any video previews this year. However to make up for it here is an more closer look at this year's Distaff (will be doing the same thing for the Classic).

9th Race - Keeneland - Friday, October 30th, 2015

STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $2,000,000. Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (Grade 1). FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. Northern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs.; Southern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 116 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. $20,000 to pre-enter, $20,000 to enter, with guaranteed $2 million purse including travel awards of which 55% to the owner of the winner, 18% to second, 10% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth; plus travel awards to starters not based in Kentucky. (05:35 PM) (15)

PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer

1 I'm A Chatterbox 3 F L 121 Geroux Florent Jones J. Larry

2 Frivolous 5 M L 124 Court Jon Kenton Oliver Victoria H.

3 Salama 3 F L 121 Leparoux Julien R. LoPresti Charles

4 Stopchargingmaria 4 F L 124 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.

5 Calamity Kate 3 F L 121 Prado Edgar S. Breen Kelly J.

6 My Sweet Addiction 5 M L 124 Smith Mike E. Jones Martin F.

7 Wedding Toast 5 M L 124 Lezcano Jose McLaughlin Kiaran P.

8 Curalina 3 F L 121 Rosario Joel Pletcher Todd A.

9 Stellar Wind 3 F L 121 Espinoza Victor Sadler John W.

10 Yahilwa 5 M L 124 Graham James Cassidy James M.

11 Untapable 4 F L 124 Velazquez John R. Asmussen Steven M.

12 Got Lucky 4 F L 124 Ortiz, Jr. Irad Pletcher Todd A.

13 Warren's Veneda 5 M L 124 Baze Tyler Lewis Craig Anthony

14 Sheer Drama 5 M L 124 Bravo Joe Fawkes David

15 Peace And War 3 F L 121 Van Dyke Drayden Motion H. Graham

I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings): 2nd in the Alabama and won the Cotillion. Possibly the most consistant 3yo this year with her wins at the Fair Grounds and 3rd in the KY Oaks. Despite being by Munnings, the nine furlongs won't be a problem for her.

Frivolous (Empire Maker): 4th in the Spinster, she won the Locust Grove. Possibly the #4 best Older Female around. Keeneland form has been a little suspect, but she does have a win at the track.

Salama (Desert Party): A G3 winner in Peru, she was second in her US debut in an Allowance/Optional Claimer. Her trainer has had top horses in the past, but this is a monster step up in class for her.

Stopcharginingmaria (Tale of the Cat): 4th in the Personal Ensign and won the Shuvee. Before last had been having a pretty good year and wouldn't be suprised if she where to win. Has had plenty of rest since her last race.

Calmity Kate (Yes It's True): 2nd in the Cotillon and won the Delaware Oaks. Could be a horse to watch for a longshot chance. However, was 9th last year in the Alcibiades on this surface.

My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow): 2nd and 4th in the Zenyatta and Hirsch respectively to Beholder. Won the Vanity earlier this season. Lone start outside of California, 9th in the Flur des Lis. 

Wedding Toast (Street Sense): Won the Beldame and Phipps. 4th in the Madison at Keeneland earlier this year (but that was a sprint). Skipped the Summer races.

Curalina (Curlin): 2nd in the Beldame and 3rd in the Alabama. Was denied the Triple Tiara in the latter. Lone 3yo filly to face older so far in a stakes race.

Stellar Wind (Curlin): Won the Torrey Pines and Summertime Oaks. Also won the SA Oaks earlier this year. Stretches back out to a mile and a eighth.

Yahilwa (Medaliga d' Oro): 3rd in the Spinster and 4th in the Hirsch. With the amount of travel she's had this year, you could say she's the female American Pharoah. Of course the Triple Crown winner's race record is much better.

Untapable scratched

Got Lucky (A.P. Indy): Won the Spinster and was second in the Personal Ensign. 5th in the former last year as a 3yo. Has had only one bad start this year (5th in the Rampart).

Warren's Veneda (Affirmative): 7th in the Zenyatta and 3rd in the Hirsch. Had a 3 win race streak snapped by My Sweet Addiction in the Vanity. Hasn't been the same since.

Sheer Drama (Burning Roma): Won both the Personal Ensign and Delaware Handicap. 1/2 sister to Sprint winner Big Drama. Hasn't finished worse then 2nd this year.

Peace and War (War Front): 3rd in the Cotillion and 2nd in the DE Oaks. Had to wait for a scratch to get into the race. Won the Alcibiades in her US debut on this surface last year.

Picks

Win: Wedding Toast

Place: Sheer Drama

Show: Got Lucky

Dark Horse: Calmity Kate

Fleur de Lis Recap

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Frivolous (Empire Maker) stunned everyone to win the Fleur de Lis. Sheer Drama (Burning Roma) was second and Tiz Windy (Tiznow) finished third. Vicky Oliver, the daughter to the owner, trains and Jon Court rode.



Out of the mare Sixty Rocketts (Belong to Me), the winner has a record of 20 starts with 4 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds with earnings of $456,818.

Frivolous has earned a spot into this year's Distaff.

Fleur de Lis Preview

After an exciting weekend, there are 3 WAYI races this weekend. Up first is the preview for the Distaff WAYI, the Fleur de Lis.

7th Race - Churchill Downs - Saturday, June 13th, 2015 STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $200,000. Fleur de Lis H. (Grade 2). FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. (09:08 PM) (9)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	America	4 F	L	116	Rosario Joel	Mott William I.
2	Tiz Windy	4 F	L	116	Leparoux Julien R.	Nafzger Carl A.
3	Pearl Turn	5 M	L	115	Castanon Jesus Lopez	Van Meter William B.
4	Yahilwa	5 M	L	117	Graham James	Cassidy James M.
5	Glorys Last Chance	5 M	L	113	Santana, Jr. Ricardo	Hall John L.
6	Frivolous	5 M	L	116	Court Jon Kenton	Oliver Victoria H.
7	Sheer Drama	5 M	L	120	Bravo Joe	Fawkes David
8	My Sweet Addiction	5 M	L	121	Smith Mike E.	Jones Martin F.
9	Gold Medal Dancer	5 M	L	118	Quinonez Luis S.	Von Hemel Donnie K.

America (A.P. Indy): 7th in the La Troianne and won the Affectionally. 6th in last graded stakes start last year in the Alabama.

Tiz Windy (Tiznow): 4th in the La Troianne and 5th in the Doubledogdare. Last year's Indiana Oaks winner.

Pearl Turn (Bernardini): 4th in the Apple Blossom and won Allowance/Optional Claimer. Started her career in Europe, but didn't break her maiden until she got to the US.

Yahilwa (Medaglia d' Oro): 2nd in the DuPont and won the Sixty Sails. Was 4th in last year's Zenyatta.

Glorys Last Chance (Stephen Got Even): 3rd in the Wild Rose and 2nd in Allowance/Optional Claimer. 3rd graded stakes start.

Frivolous (Empire Maker): 9th in the La Troianne and 6th in an Allowance/Optional Claimer. 4th in last year's Fleur. 

Sheer Drama (Burning Roma): 2nd in La Troianne and won the Royal Delta. Sister to Sprint champion, Big Drama.

My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow): Won the Vanity and Allowance/Optional Claimer. First start outside of California.

Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d' Oro):3rd in both the La Trioanne and Apple Blossom. Handed Untapable her first loss of the season in the Azeri.

Picks

Win- Sheer Drama
Place- My Sweet Addiction
Show- Pearl Turn

Phipps Recap

Godolphin's Wedding Toast (Street Sense) pulled away from Distaff winner Untapable (Tapit) to win the Ogden Phipps. House Rules (Distorted Humor) was third. Jose Lezcano rode the winner for Kiaran McLaughlin.

 

Out of the mare Golden Sheba (Coronado's Quest), the winner was bred by Darley. Record is 11 starts with 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third with earnings of $1,179,956.

Wedding Toast has earned a spot in the Distaff.

Ogden Phipps Preview

The North American WAYI races start on Saturday with the Phipps and the Met Mile. Here is the preview for the Phipps, a WAYI for the Distaff.

5th Race - Belmont Park - Saturday, June 6th, 2015 STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $1,000,000. Ogden Phipps S. (Grade 1). FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR- YEAR- OLDS AND UPWARD. (01:52 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Rosalind	4 F	L	121	Rosario Joel	Brown Chad C.
2	Wedding Toast	5 M	L	117	Lezcano Jose	McLaughlin Kiaran P.
3	House Rules	4 F	L	119	Alvarado Junior	Jerkens James A.
4	Untapable	4 F	L	123	Velazquez John R.	Asmussen Steven M.
5	Princess Violet	4 F	L	115	Ortiz Jose L.	Rice Linda
6	Shayjolie	4 F	L	115	Maragh Rajiv	Contessa, Gary C.

Video


Written Preview

Rosalind (Broken Vow): Won the Sheepshead Bay and was 5^th in the Santa Ana. First dirt race since last year's KY Oaks.

Wedding Toast (Street Sense): Won the Ruffian and was 4^th in the Madison. Has lost only once at Belmont.

House Rules (Distorted Humor): 3^rd in the Ruffian and won the Top Flight. Hasn't been worse then 3^rd since January of this year.

Untapable (Tapit): Won Apple Blossom and was 2^nd in the Azeri. Might be a little bit too short for her.

Princess Violet (Officer): 2^nd in the Ruffian and won the Madison. Last time out was first loss at Belmont since runner up finish in the Mother Goose.

Shayjolie (Indian Charlie): 4^th in the Ruffian and 3^rd in the Top Flight. Before last had been no worse then 2^nd at Belmont.

Picks

Win- Wedding Toast

Place- Princess Violet

Show- House Rules

Distaff Recap

Winchell Thoroughbred's homebred Untapable (Tapit) powered her way to victor in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She was ridden by Rosie Napravnik (who announced that tomorrow's races will be her final rides in the Breeders' Cup as she is retiring to start her family) and trained by Steve Asmussen. Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree) was second and Iotapa (Afleet Alex) was third.

Race Replay



The winner is out of the mare Fun House (Prized). Her record is 11 starts with 8 wins, 0 seconds and 1 third with earnings of $2,996,725.

Distaff Preview

The final race on Friday for the BC will be the Distaff. Here is this year's field:

2014 Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 31 4:35 PM PDT

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
1	L'Amour de Ma Vie	Maxime Guyon	Pia Brandt
2	Tiz Midnight	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert
3	Iotapa	Joe Talamo	John W. Sadler
4	Belle Gallantey	Jose Ortiz	Rudy Rodriguez
5	Unbridled Forever	John R. Velazquez	Dallas Stewart
6	Stanwyck	Corey Nakatani	John A. Shirreffs
7	Don't Tell Sophia	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	Philip A. Sims
8	Valiant Emilia	Rafael Bejarano	Gary Mandella
9	Ria Antonia	Paco Lopez	Thomas M. Amoss
10	Untapable	Rosie Napravnik	Steven M. Asmussen
11	Close Hatches	Joel Rosario	William I. Mott

L'Amour de Ma Vie (Dansili (GB)): 7^th and 4^th in two G1's in France.

Pros: G2 winner in Dubai and G2 placed in England.

Cons: First US start, has faltered in G1 races overseas.

Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute): 2nd in the Zenyatta which was her stakes debut.

Pros: Sire won the Sprint twice, trainer has many BC race winners.

Cons: Took awhile to break her maiden, dam faltered in the Distaff.

Iotapa (Afleet Alex): 3^rd in the Zenyatta and won the Clement L. Hirsch.

Pros: Held Beholder's top spot well during the Summer with 2 G1 wins.

Cons: Only 2 wins at Santa Anita.

Belle Gallantey (After Market): Won the Beldame and 6^th in the Personal Ensign.

Pros: Speed will be a monster factor, if she gets to get lead easily don't be surprised if she goes gate to wire.

Cons: Since entering stakes company she has run good, poor races in every other race.

Unbridled Forever (Unbridled's Song): 2^nd in the Indiana Oaks and 8^th in the Alabama.

Pros: Has shown good form in most of her races against her own age group, mom upset the Kentucky Oaks.

Cons: Tough class test may cost her in the end.

Stanwyck (Empire Maker): 4^th in the Beldame and 3^rd in the Personal Ensign.

Pros: ½ brother Tiago won the Santa Anita Derby and another ½ brother Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby both surprise wins.

Cons: Not in the same category as Life is Sweet and Zenyatta, both Distaff winners who had the same trainer as she yet.

Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree): Won the Locust Grove and Spinster.

Pros: At 6 looks to put it together with only 1 lost on the year.

Cons: Will be only her 3^rd G1 start of her career.

Valiant Emilia (Pegasus Wind): Won the Cesar del Rio Suito to earn her spot into this year's Distaff.

Pros: South American horses have had success winning the Distaff.

Cons: Hasn't faced the class that she will be in the US.

Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor): 2^nd in the Spinster and 4^th in the Locust Grove.

Pros: Defending champ of the Juvenile Fillies (via DQ)

Cons: Only one solid start this year, mismanagement.

Untapable (Tapit): Won the Cotillion and 5^th in the Haskell.

Pros: Rebounded nicely against own sex.

Cons: Older Females are better, three years fillies really haven't shown enough for 2 turn races.

Close Hatches (First Defence): 4^th in the Spinster, won the Personal Ensign.

Pros: Best Older Female in the race.

Cons: Spinster form carry over.

Picks

Win- My Miss Sophia

Place- Close Hatches

Show- Tiz Midnight

Dark Horse- Stanwyck

Video Preview

(not sure why there's no sound for the intro, but for the field there is)

Beholder out of the Breeders' Cup

Spendthrift Farm's Beholder (Henny Hughes) will not be defending her Distaff title due to an elevated temperature according to the DRF. She is scheduled to be sold at Fasig-Tipton the week after the Breeders' Cup.

This is the second major defection in two weeks with the injury to Wise Dan forcing him to miss his try of three peating the Mile.

Bourbon and Spinster Recap

Turf Stable's Lawn Ranger (US Ranger) sat just off the pace and held off Danny Boy (Harlan's Holiday) to win the Bourbon at Keeneland. Can't Happen Here (Desert Party) was third. The winner was ridden by Chris Landeros and trained by Kenny McPeek.

Out of the mare Lalka (Dynaformer), Lawn Ranger was bred by Scott and Carol Ricker. His record is 3 starts with 2 wins, 1 second and 0 thirds and earnings of $209,700.

 Replay coming soon

Lawn Ranger has earned his spot into this year's Juvenile Turf


Phil Sims and Jerry Namy's Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree) went from last to first to upset the Spinster. Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor) was second and Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper) was third. The favorite Close Hatches (First Defense) could only manage 4th. Joe Rocco Jr. rode for her trainer/co-owner Phil Sims.

Bred by Stonerside Stable, Sophia is out of the mare Lost Expectations (Valid Expectations). Her record is 22 starts with 11 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds with earnings of $979,295.

Replay



Don't Tell Sophia has earned her spot into this year's Distaff.

Bourbon and Spinster Preview

We are getting down the homestretch for WAYI races! Keeneland's big weekend ends on Sunday with  two more WAYI races. This time the Bourbon (Juvenile Turf) and the Spinster (Distaff). Here are the fields:

8th Race - Keeneland - Sunday, October 5th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Turf. Purse $250,000. Dixiana Bourbon S. (Grade 3). FOR TWO YEAR OLDS. (05:08 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Majestico	2 C	L	118	Saez Juan C.	Lukas D. Wayne
2	Lawn Ranger	2 C		118	Landeros Chris	McPeek Kenneth G.
3	Can't Happen Here	2 C	L	118	Ortiz, Jr. Irad	Brown Chad C.
4	Danny Boy	2 C	L	118	Lanerie Corey J.	Romans Dale L.
5	Thirtysilverpieces	2 G	L	118	Albarado Robby	Ward Wesley A.
6	Less Than Perfect	2 C	L	118	Martinez Willie	Rice Kevin
7	Conquest Tsunami	2 C	L	118	Leparoux Julien R.	Casse Mark E.
8	Croninthebarbarian	2 C	L	118	Goncalves Leandro R.	Simms Garry W.
9	Chief Kitten	2 C	L	118	Rosario Joel	Brown Chad C.

Majestico (Majesticperfection): 2nd and 3rd in his two starts.

Lawn Ranger (U S Ranger): Broke maiden in his last.

Can't Happen Here (Desert Party): 1 for 1 in his career.

Danny Boy (Harlan's Holiday): 4th in the Iroquois and broke his maiden.

Thirtysilverpieces (Badge of Silver): Won an allowance/optional claimer and maiden claimer in his last two starts.

Less Than Perfect (Pleasantly Perfect): Has turf experience, but last race was on synth, won the Fitz Dixon Jr and 4th in the Summer.

Conquest Tsunami (Stormy Atlantic): Won an Allowance and the Colin. (Cross entered into the Breeders' Futurity)

Croninthebarbarian (Stroll): Won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile and broke his maiden

Chief Kitten (Kitten's Joy): Broke maiden and 2n in his lone two starts.

Picks


Win- Conquest Tsunami (if he goes)/Croninthebarbarian (if he doesn't)
Place- Croninthebarbarian (if Conquest Tsunami goes)/Danny Boy (if he doesn't)
Show- Less Than Perfect

9th Race - Keeneland - Sunday, October 5th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $500,000. Juddmonte Spinster S. (Grade 1). FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. (05:45 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Ria Antonia	3 F	L b	121	Lopez Paco	Amoss Thomas M.
2	Close Hatches	4 F	L	124	Rosario Joel	Mott William I.
3	Got Lucky	3 F	L	121	Napravnik Rosie	Pletcher Todd A.
4	Shuruq	4 F	L v	124	Leparoux Julien R.	bin Suroor Saeed
5	Don't Tell Sophia	6 M	L	124	Rocco, Jr. Joseph	Sims Philip A.
6	Molly Morgan	5 M	L	124	Lanerie Corey J.	Romans Dale L.

Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor): 4th in her last two races, Locust Grove and Monmouth Oaks. Sadly it looks like she is looking more of a fluke with every passing race.

Close Hatches (First Defense): Personal Ensign and Phipps winner. Is a different filly this year then she was last year as the runner up in the Distaff.

Got Lucky (A.P. Indy): 5th in the Alabama and won an allowance race. Had shown promise earlier this year.

Shuruq (Elusive Quality): Won the International Istanbul Trophy and was 8th in the Godolphin Mile. This will be her first dirt and US start.

Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree): Won the Locust Grove and 3rd in the Azeri. Is finally coming into her own at the age of 6.

Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper): 2nd in the Locust Grove and won the Gardenia. 2nd in lone start at Keeneland, but that was on turf.

Picks

Win- Close Hatches
Place- Don't Tell Sophia
Show- Shuruq

Due to the size of the field there is no dark horse.

Video (Spinster only):

Top Horses List: Week 10

Amazing how 4 races can change everything. Here are this weeks Top Horses Lists.

Distaff

Rank	Horse (Sire)	Trainer	Profile
1	Close Hatches (First Defense)	Mott	The horse to beat as she will try to give her trainer his third Distaff win in 4 years. Keeneland next for her, the race? The Spinster.
2	Beholder (Henny Hughes)	Mandella	The Queen of Santa Anita reigned once again with a win in the Zenyatta. Would not be suprising if she gets the win again.
3	Belle Gallantey (After Market)	Rodriguez	I thought I had placed her on the list after her Del Cap win, but I hadn't. Still a smashing win in the Beldame. Not sure she'll get away with a loose lead though.
4	Untapable (Tapit)	Asmussen	The three year olds are bad. However, with Stopchargingmaria's loss in the Beldame, she is the likely 3yo champ.
5	Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat)	Pletcher	Belmont is a speed bias track... hopefully Santa Anita is not one too.
6	Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree)	Sims	Needs to run the race of her life at Santa Anita... should she go.
7	Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute)	Baffert	Running second to Beholder is not bad. A filly with a future.
8	Iotapa (Afleet Alex)	Sadler	Did a great job to holding down the fort while Beholder was out. Drops due to a 3rd in the Zenyatta.
9	Stanwyck (Empire Maker)	Shirreffs	Really wished that she had done better in the Beldame. Hoping the return home will be helpful.
10	Endless Chatter (First Samurai)	Brown	3rd in her graded stakes debut is not bad. Trainer tends to be more conservative, but he did pre-enter a horse into last year's Dirt Mile who while didn't make it into the race, did finish 3rd in the Clark.
11	Broken Sword (Broken Vow)	Hollendorfer	Spinster bound? Hopefully... maybe?
12	Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper)	Romans	Really interested how she does against Close Hatches. Could be a suprise result.

Removed: Sweet Reason (Street Sense)- She's F/M Sprint bound.

Antipathy (A.P. Indy)- No works since her PE disaster.

Fiftyshadesofhay (Pulpit)- Could only finish 5^th in the Beldame.

Others considered: Fiftyshadesofhay, Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile), Parranda (English Channel), Stopshoppingdebbie (Curlin)

Classic

Rank	Horse (Sire)	Trainer	Profile
1	Shared Belief (Candy Ride (ARG))	Hollendorfer	That Awesome Again was a dog fight. Floated wide, had to deal with a pacesetter at the end and still won. This horse is amazing and will be very difficult to beat on the 1st of November.
2	Tonalist (Tapit)	Clement	Look whose back in the top 5? He really needs to prove though that he can travel with his track.
3	Bayern (Offlee Wild)	Baffert	Looks like his stablemate Fed Biz could give him a bit of a fit on the front end. However wouldn't be now with Game On Dude retired, his trainer has options. As long as he's not pressured then he'll air. However, I expect him to be pressured in someway.
4	Zivo (True Direction)	Brown	The first non 3yo on the list. Like Tonalist he needs to prove that he can travel with his track.
5	Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway)	Baffert	Not 100% sure he really wants a mile and a quarter... but he's by a Classic runner up and out of a mare's whose sire won the Classic. 2nd in the Awesome Again, but gave Shared Belief all he could handle.
6	Toast of New York (Thewayyouare)	Osbourne	Honestly he should be higher... but the dirt right now is a question mark.
7	Long River (A.P Indy)	McLaughlin	Hi there Round Pond's son! The 2006 Distaff winner's boy finished third in the JCGC ahead of the Travers winner. So proud and honestly would not discount him in the Classic should he go.
8	California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)	Sherman	The wild weekend caused him to move up a spot... but still don't think he has a good chance.
9	Cigar Street (Street Sense)	Mott	Forget the fact that his sire is a BC Juvenile and KY Derby winner (the first one to do that double). His dam is a ½ sister to the one and only legendary 1995 Classic winner. If that's not enough pressure on the Homecoming winner, then I don't know what is. Other then the fact that he has the same trainer as Cigar.
10	Footbridge (Street Cry (IRE))	Harty	By a Dubai World Cup winner and whose broodmare sire is also a Dubai World Cup winner. Doesn't get more a mile and a quarter then that. 3rd in the Awesome Again.
11	Tapiture (Tapit)	Asmussen	Almost had to remove him due to a numbers game, but was able to keep him on.
12	Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor)	McCarthy	I am not giving up on him... but he looks like he needs at least 10 furlongs.

Removed: Wicked Strong (Hard Spun)- My heart breaks for him. He looked like was going to make a big move on the turn and then clips heels. Sadly his jockey Rajiv Maragh has broken his arm.

Moreno (Ghostzapper)- I'm not angry at Moreno himself. Who I am angry at is Junior Alvarado. A deserved DQ.

Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron)- Going to Kelso... bad idea. He's not BC nominated anyway so maybe they just saved money.

V.E. Day (English Channel)- 5^th in the JCGC wasn't too bad... but looks like Jimmy Jerkins has said both him and WS are done for the year. Which is fine as they will hopefully be back better then ever next year.

Others Considered: Candy Boy (Candy Ride (ARG)), Departing (War Front), Stephenoatsee (A.P Indy)

Even though the Spinster is next week, I am not expecting major changes for the Distaff division. Thus this is the final top horses list for the year. I'm very happy with these lists and now we wait for pre-entries which will be released later this month and then the draws.

Zenyatta recap

The queen of Santa Anita showed that an injury will not slow her down. Spendthrift Farm's Beholder (Henny Hughes) defending her Zenyatta title after a layoff caused by an injury suffered in the Ogden Phipps. Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute) was second and Iotapa (Afleet Alex) was third. Ridden by Mike Smith, Richard Mandella trains.

Replay:



Bred by Clarkland Farm, Beholder is out of the mare Lesile's Lady (Tricky Creek). Her record is 15 starts with 10 wins, 3 seconds and 0 thirds with earnings of $3,368,300.

Beholder now has a spot in this year's Distaff where she is the defending champion.

Super Saturday Part 3

These are three of the four big races of the day (only the Beldame which is not a WAYI race is not listed). The Jockey Club Gold Cup (Classic), Zenyatta (Distaff) and Awesome Again (Classic). Here are the fields:

10th Race - Belmont Park - Saturday, September 27th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/4 Mile Dirt. Purse $1,000,000. Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. (05:50 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Micromanage	4 C	L	126	Saez Luis	Pletcher Todd A.
2	Last Gunfighter	5 H	L	126	Bravo Joe	Brown Chad C.
3	Wicked Strong	3 C	L	122	Maragh Rajiv	Jerkens James A.
4	Zivo	5 H	L	126	Lezcano Jose	Brown Chad C.
5	Prayer For Relief	6 H	L	126	Velazquez John R.	Romans Dale L.
6	Long River	4 C	L	126	Velasquez Cornelio H.	McLaughlin Kiaran P.
7	Speak Logistics	4 C	L	126	Lopez Paco	Contessa Gary C.
8	Tonalist	3 C	L o	122	Rosario Joel	Clement Christophe
9	Stephanoatsee	5 R	L	126	Ortiz Jose L.	Zito Nicholas P.
10	V. E. Day	3 C	L	122	Castellano Javier	Jerkens James A.
11	Moreno	4 G	L	126	Alvarado Junior	Guillot Eric J.
12	Big Cazanova (ARG)	5 R	L	126	Ortiz, Jr. Irad	Miller Peter

Mircomanage (Medaglia d' Oro): 3^rd in the Greenwood Cup and won the Birdstone. Was 2^nd in the Brooklyn earlier this year and finished 3^rd in last year's Haskell.

Last Gunfighter (First Samurai): 6^th in the Woodward and 5^th in the Whitney. Won last year's Iselin and was 5^th in both the Gold Cup and Classic last year as well.

Wicked Strong (Hard Spun): 2^nd in the Travers and won the Jim Dandy. Speed has been added with the addition of blinkers and did break his maiden here last year.

Zivo (True Direction): 4^th in the Woodward and won the Suburban. Has finished no worse then 3^rd at Belmont.

Prayer for Relief (Jump Start): 3^rd in the Woodward and 4^th in the Whitney. Has shown promise in the past in graded stakes, but not always at the Grade 1 level.

Long River (A.P. Indy): 7^th in the Woodward and 5^th in the Monmouth Cup. Never has run in a stakes race at Belmont.

Speak Logistics (High Cotton): 5^th in an Allowance/Optional Claimer and 7^th in the same type of race in his last two. Last graded stakes race last year 7^th in the PA Derby.

Tonalist (Tapit): 3^rd in the Travers and 2^nd in the Jim Dandy. Should enjoy the return to Belmont where he won the Peter Pan and Belmont.

Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy): 5^th in the Woodward and 2^nd in Allowance/Optional Claimer. Hasn't finished on the board in a graded stakes race since the Strub last February.

V.E. Day (English Channel): Won the Travers and the Curlin. 2 for 2 at Belmont.

Moreno (Ghostzapper): 2^nd in the Woodward and won the Whitney. Only one poor performance at the track.

Big Cazanova (Giant's Causeway): Won his last two at Del Mar, so he is going synth to dirt. Stakes placed in his native Argentina.

Picks

Win- Zivo

Place- Wicked Strong/V.E. Day

Show- Moreno

Dark Horse- Tonalist

5th Race - Santa Anita Park - Saturday, September 27th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $300,000. Zenyatta S. (Grade 1). FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE-YEARS-OLD AND UPWARD. (02:30 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Tiz Midnight	4 F	L	119	Espinoza Victor	Baffert Bob
2	Iotapa	4 F	L	124	Talamo Joseph	Sadler John W.
3	Yahilwa	4 F	L	119	Bejarano Rafael	Cassidy James M.
4	Beholder	4 F	L	121	Smith Mike E.	Mandella Richard E.
5	Wittgenstein (IRE)	4 F	L	119	Gutierrez Mario	O'Neill Doug F.
6	Tiz The Key	3 F	L	116	Baze Tyler	Mandella Richard E

Tiz Midnight (Midnight Lute): Won last 3 races including two Allowance/Optional Claimers. Stakes debut, but her dam won this race when it was the Lady's Secret in 2007.

Iotapa (Afleet Alex): Winner of the Clement L. Hirsch and Vanity. Kept the seat warm for Beholder while she was out with injury, could this be the race that she takes it away outright?

Yahilwa (Medaglia d'Oro): 2^nd in an Allowance and 7^th in the Osunitas. Did finish second in the Adoration in three back.

Beholder (Henny Hughes): Defending champ of this race was 4^th in the Phipps and won the Santa Lucia. How she rebounds from her injury will be a key factor.

Wittgenstein (Shamardal): 7^th in her last two races, both Allowance/Optional Claimers. Has been up and down in the US.

Tiz the Key (Tiznow): 11^th in the San Clemente and 4^th in the American Oaks. Turf to dirt, but did break her maiden on the dirt.

Picks

Win- Beholder

Place- Iotapa

Show- Tiz the Key

Dark Horse- Tiz Midnight

8th Race - Santa Anita Park - Saturday, September 27th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $300,000. Awesome Again S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. (04:00 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Fed Biz	5 H	L	119	Garcia Martin	Baffert Bob
2	Sky Kingdom	5 H	L	119	Espinoza Victor	Baffert Bob
3	Bird E House	3 G	L	116	Talamo Joseph	Sadler John W.
4	Shared Belief	3 G	L	121	Smith Mike E.	Hollendorfer Jerry
5	Footbridge	4 C	L	119	Bejarano Rafael	Harty Eoin G.
6	Majestic Harbor	6 H	L	124	Baze Tyler	McCarthy Sean
7	Mystery Train (ARG)	4 R	L	124	Blanc Brice	Vienna Darrell
8	Imperative	4 G	L	119	Desormeaux Kent J.	Papaprodromou George

Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway): 2^nd in the Pat O'Brien and won the San Diego. He was 6^th in last year's Dirt Mile.

Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker): 4^th in the Los Alamitos Mile and 2^nd in the Cougar II. 3^rd in last year's Hollywood Gold Cup and won the Tokyo City.

Bird E House (Birdstone): First start on the west coast. Won an Allowance/Optional Claimer in his last start, this is also his first stakes start.

Shared Belief (Candy Ride (ARG)): Undefeated in his career and defeated older last time out in the Pacific Classic. Could take the 3yo Championship away from California Chrome with a win in this race.

Footbridge (Street Cry (IRE)): 2^nd in the San Diego and Oak Tree Handicap. Has never been worse then 5^th at Santa Anita.

Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor): 6^th in the Pacific Classic and won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Should enjoy the return to a dirt surface.

Mystery Train (Not For Sale (ARG)): 9^th in his US debut, the Pacific Classic. Will be interesting how he does on a US dirt surface.

Imperative (Bernardini): 3^rd in the Pacific Classic and 8^th in the San Diego. If form holds... he should be in for another good finish.

Picks

Win- Majestic Harbor

Place- Shared Belief

Show- Imperative

 Dark Horse- Sky Kingdom

Video

I appoligize for the coughing. I really wanted to this video as quickly as possible (since it's up much later then expected) and didn't have time to edit it out :( Also sorry for the slight interruption at the end.

Top Horses List: Week 9

Super Saturday won't be for one more and the Classic picture has changed dramatically. Lets take a look at the new list for both the Distaff and Classic.

Distaff

Rank	Horse (Sire)	Trainer	Profile
1	Close Hatches (First Defense)	Mott	With her main nemesis retired, should air in the Breeders' Cup, unless the real Beholder shows up.
2	Beholder (Into Mischief)	Mandella	She loves Santa Anita and the next two starts are there. Wouldn't be any bit surprised if she wins her third Breeders' Cup race.
3	Iotapa (Afleet Alex)	Sadler	If Beholder is not the same horse... she will be your likely Zenyatta winner.
4	Untapable (Tapit)	Asmussen	Her Cotillion win very likely wrapped up 3yo honors for her... but don't be surprised if Stopchargingmaria beats her on Holloween.
5	Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat)	Pletcher	Even though the winner of the Cotillion overcame the track bias... maybe it was a good thing she scratched. Beldame is next.
6	Broken Sword (Broken Vow)	Hollendorfer	Under the radar... hopefully she can stay that way for the BC.
7	Sweet Reason (Street Sense)	Gyarmati	More likely for the F/M Sprint... but ran pretty well in the Cotillion. Ran okay in the Juvenile Fillies last year.
8	Fiftyshadesofhey (Pulpit)	Baffert	Did she well on the slop for a reason? Hopefully she can duplicate that onto a fast track.
9	Don't Tell Sophia (Congaree)	Sims	Churchill and Oaklawn specialist. The biggest question is can she travel outside that comfort zone.
10	Stanwyck (Empire Maker)	Shirreffs	For purposes of this list, I'm assuming she is still in New York. Really think she could be following in her big brothers footsteps in the leadup to the Distaff.
11	Antipathy (A.P Indy)	McLaughlin	Could be the X factor when this is all said and done.
12	Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper)	Romans	I really was debating on leaving her on the list or not... and I realized that who she was going to be replaced with is untested.

 Horses Removed: Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior)- Retired, which isn't too surprising considering how she ran this year. However, would have fun to see her try the Beldame again.

Joint Return (Include): Two horses overcame the track bias... she couldn't.

Others Considered: Stopshoppingdebbie (Curlin), Parranda (English Channel), Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile)

Classic

Rank	Horse (Sire)	Trainer	Profile
1	Shared Belief (Candy Ride (ARG))	Hollendorfer	Extended his lead with California Chrome's loss in the PA Derby.
2	Wicked Strong (Hard Spun)	Jerkins	There is a chance that the Jockey Club Gold Cup will in all likelihood be his final start at the age of 3. For now though, going to keep him on here until we officially know.
3	V.E. Day (English Channel)	Jerkins	Would be interesting if he could pull of a Tiznow like second half of the year and win the JCGC and BC to end the year. That certainly would throw a wrench into things. However, he has to prove that the Travers was no fluke.
4	Moreno (Ghostzapper)	Guillot	Returns to his preferred distance next week. He has turned it on since the Whitney.
5	Tonalist (Tapit)	Clement	Return to Belmont hopefully will be helpful... but I think I'm starting to lose a little bit of faith in him.
6	Bayern (Offlee Wild)	Baffert	Loose lead means that he is gone. Should get pressure in the Classic. The only reason I have him this low, is the fact the last time he went a mile and a quarter... he finished last.
7	Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron)	Plesa	Skipping the JCGC for the Kelso. Interesting move. Why so? Uncle Mo did that as a 3yo... and it failed at the end.
8	Toast of New York (Theywayyouare)	Osbourne	Is officially Classic bound. Dirt is a question mark, but Europeans have shown that they can run well on it.
9	Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor)	McCarthy	If anyone is going to stop the Shared Belief express... this could be the guy to do so.
10	California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)	Sherman	How the mighty have fallen... He might have needed a race, but that PA Derby didn't look good at all.
11	Zivo (True Direction)	Brown	The older horses on the East Coast took a major hit with Palace Malice's retirement and the possible retirement of Will Take Charge (as of this writing I'm not sure what to believe). The good news? He has a G2 at this distance and track where he is running next.
12	Tapiture (Tapit)	Asmussen	A mile and a quarter likely a little bit longer then he really wants to go. However, if a fast pace comes... watch out.

Removed: Palace Malice (Curlin)- Bone bruise found on a scan a few weeks ago ended not only his season, but his career. A shame really because of a rebound in the JCGC was very possibly.

Moonshine Mullin (Albert the Great)- Season over, Oaklawn next for him.

Other's Considered: Candy Boy (Candy Ride (ARG)), Imperative (Bernardini), Departing (War Front)

 Honorable Mention goes to Game On Dude (Awesome Again) who retired this week. Best Breeders' Cup Classic finish was 2^nd to Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) and ahead of that year's Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam).