Week In Review 10/25 - 11/1/11 and Notable Performers

The Thoroughbred world is rightfully focused on the Breeders Cup events taking place Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs.  As for Derby implications, there are three events for Juvenile colts and geldings.  While the main Juvenile dirt contest has gotten a bad rap for only producing one dual Breeders Cup/Derby winner, finishing in the top three shows a few more positive signs.  In 29 Breeders’ Cup runnings, 3 have ended up winning the Derby, 2 were runners up, and 5 received show money.  

Past Performances, race videos, and articles for all Juvenile races can be found in the Breeders’ Cup section// All of the contenders have put in their final works, which can be viewed below// Our own selections will be posted later this week.

In non-Breeders Cup news, there was a graded race at Churchill Sunday.  Motor City was the victor of the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and showed he prefers dirt over synthetic// Churchill had an interesting all 2-year-old card that day which led to some promising maiden and allowance winners… 

Graded Stakes Review

Iroquois S. (G3)

Winner: Motor City CTD NP

Jockey: Calvin Borel

Trainer: Ian Wilkes

Chart: Equibase

Video: Bloodhorse Replay

Beyer/BRIS: 81/89

Wrap-up Articles: Courier Journal / Bloodhorse / DRF / Thoroughbred Times / Brisnet

Non-Graded Stakes:

10/29/11 Norman Hall S.- SUF- Winner: Dreamed A Dream chart

10/29/11 Jersey Juvenile S. - MTH- Winner: Deliburnsky chart

10/29/11 Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile- Winner: Rousing Sermon chart

10/29/11 Royal Glint S.- HAW- Winner: No Spin chart

10/30 11 NM Classic Cup Juvenile- ZIA- That’s Who chart

Notable Performers:

Basmati

10/28/11 Santa Anita Park Maiden Special Weight

Jockey: Garrett Gomez

Trainer: Doug O’Neill

Chart: Equibase

Video: Bloodhorse Replay

Beyer/BRIS: 86/92

Basmati finally broke his maiden after five previous tries (two in graded company).  He’s a son of Borrego, a grade one winner at 10 furlongs.  A mere $35,000 purchase at the OBS 2-year-old in training sale, Basmati’s dam is a half sister to a graded stakes winner at 8.5 furlongs. His catalog page can be viewed here

Works:

10/26/11 Trinniberg CD- 3F- 37:60- B- 7/12

10/26/11 Fort Loudon CRC- 5F- 1.02:60- B- 1/2

10/27/11 Sweet Swap SA- 4F- 47:80- H- 5/27

10/27/11 Creative Cause HOL- 5F- 1.00:00- H- 2/23

10/28/11 Lucky Chappy KEE- 4F- 48:00- B- 5/30

10/28/11 Union Rags FH- 5F- 1.00:80- B- 1/5

10/29/11 Majestic City SA- 5F- 1.03:40- B- 4/8 (Turf)

10/29/11 Alpha BEL- 5F- 1.00:84- B- 6/44 (Good)

10/29/11 Vexor BEL- 4F- 50:85- B- 64/105 (Good)

10/29/11 Liquidity Trap BEL- 4F- 49:64- B- 25/107 (Good)

10/29/11 Speightscity- BEL- 6F- 1.14:12- B- 2/7 (Good)

10/29/11 Two Months Rent BEL- 4F- 50:42- B- 58/107 

10/29/11 State of Play KEE- 6F- 1.13:80- B- 1/3

10/29/11 Jack's in the Deck LRL- 5F- 1.05:60- B- 3/3 (Sloppy)

10/29/11 Burning Time CRC- 5F- 1.02:40- B- 5/25 (Good)

10/29/11 Holdin’ Bullets CD- 4F- 48:00- B- 3/62

10/29/11 Dullahan CD- 5F- 1.00:80- B- 6/49

10/29/11 Jake Mo CD- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 17/49

10/29/11 Tequila Factor CD 4F- 54:60- B- 3/4 (Turf)

10/30/11 Coalport CD- 5F- 1.02:20- B- 1/2 (Turf)

10/30/11 Daddy Nose Best CD- 4F- 50:20- B- 44/58

10/30/11 Excaper WO- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 2/61

10/30/11 Gung Ho CDt- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 1/23

10/30/11 Secret Circle SA- 5F- 58:40 H- 2/67

10/30/11 Prospective CD- 5F- 1.01:20- B- 8/33

10/30/11 Take Charge Indy CD- 4F- 48:20- B- 9/58

10/30/11 Exfactor CD- 3F- 37:60- B- 6/12

10/30/11 Finale CD- 4F- 49:80- B- 1/5 (Turf)

10/31/11 Drill SA- 5F- 59:20- H- 3/24

10/31/11 Shkspeare Shaliyah CD- 4F- 51:00- B- 3/4 (Turf)

10/31/11 Animal Spirits CD- 4F- 49:20- B- 18/52

10/31/11 Seeker CD- 4F- 50:40- B- 39/52

10/31/11 Sum of the Parts CD- 4F- 49:60- B- 27/52

10/31/11 Hansen CD- 4F- 48:60- B- 2/10

Articles

Take Charge Indy gives trainer Pat Byrne early case of Derby fever (Courier Journal)

Gold surprised to be back with pair of juveniles (DRF)

Creative Cause rewards owner’s risk (DRF)

Matz looking forward to weekend and beyond with top juveniles (Thoroughbred Times)

Iowa-led horse [Dullahan] is soaring to the top (Des Moines Register)

Motor City, On Fire Baby to aim for Churchill juvenile highlights (Brisnet)

A Rags to riches story for Union Rags (Courier Journal)\

Union Rags helps preserve family legacy (Brisnet)

Dullahan’s connections opt for Juvenile (DRF)

Dullahan owner feels a few frights in Breeders’ Cup work (Lexington-Herald Leader)

Excaper tunes up on polytrack for Juvenile Turf (DRF)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Contenders switching to the dirt (The Derby Post)

2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Preview (Horseracing Nation)

Speed Figures

Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last week: El Padrino - 95; Wharton - 93; Eye Witness - 92; Unbridled's Note - 92; Basmati - 92.

Winning Beyers last week: El Padrino - 75; Wharton - 76; Eye Witness - 68; Unbridled's Note - 77; Basmati - 86.

*Source: DerbyContenders Twitter

Week In Review and Notable Performers: 9/12- 9/18

A relatively quiet week with one graded turf contest for Juveniles and lackluster speed figure results from all maiden, allowance, and stakes winners// Margano, a full brother to 2006 Kentucky winner Barbaro, trailed the field most of the way in his debut at Belmont Saturday but eventually made a mild move for a 7th place finish// A half-brother to Preakness winner Shackleford made his debut at Laurel on Friday. Unlike his front-running sibling, Stephanoatsee started in the back of the pack and showed an impressive turn of foot to almost catch the winner// A majority stake in impressive maiden winner and CTD NP Fire On Ice was sold to Magna Entertainment founder Frank Stronach// No Juvenile graded contests this weekend, although things will start to heat up as the calendar to turns to October…

Graded Stakes Review

Summer Stakes (G3)

Winner: Finale NP

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

Chart: Equibase

Video: YouTube

Beyer/BRIS: 80/96

Wrap-Up Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Through the eyes of Trackus (And Down The Stretch They Come Blog)

In a matter of eight days, freshman sire Scat Daddy has skyrocketed up the leading sire list for 2-year-olds.  He was represented in last week’s Arlington-Wasington Futurity (G3) with Shared Property and most recently in Woodbine’s Summer Stakes (G3) with winner Finale.

Since switching to turf, Finale is undefeated with wins in a maiden, listed stakes, and now graded stakes.  He was sent off as the short-priced favorite in the Summer Stakes (G3) on Saturday and flattered his backers with a professional effort.

Sitting just off the pacesetters Excaper and Maritimer, John Velazquez guided Finale along the outside to meet them head-on in the turn for home.  With urging, Finale quickly dispatched Maritimer before engaging Excaper in a spirited stretch duel. It should be noted Excaper fought gallantly and was even bullied slightly towards the rail by the winner.

Velazquez indicated that Finale never really liked the soft turf and also hit the gate at the start which makes the win even more impressive.  The final margin was just 3/4 of a length and final time for the 1 mile was 1:35.51.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) seems to be the likely year-end target, but even considering his struggles on dirt, you can’t rule out a Derby campaign completely.  His pedigree suggests he could excel on dirt and there have been plenty of recent Derby winners that showed promise on grass-- either through performance or bloodlines.

As we stated last week, sire Scat Daddy was a successful juvenile and 3-year-old along the Derby trail with wins in the Florida Derby and Fountain Of Youth, among other graded stakes victories.  Finale is a half brother to West Virginia Derby winner Bright One (9 furlongs). He was a $175,000 purchase and his catalog page can be viewed here

Notable Performers

Burning Time

9/17/11 Foolish Pleasure Stakes- Calder Race Course

Trainer: David Fawkes

Jockey: Luis Saez

Chart: Equibase

Video: Bloodhorse Replay

Beyer/BRIS: 84/91

Wrap-up articles: Calder

Burning Time took the Foolish Pleasure Stakes at Calder by surprise when he sprung to action heading into the far turn. He only had the pacesetter Personal Interest to catch, but it was initially a 6-length difference to make up.  Burning Time seemed to switch leads and swerve several times down the stretch but still extended his winning margin to 2 1/2 lengths in the end.

The favorite was CTD NP Midnight Serenade, who never fired when asked in the stretch.  Personal Interest and Bartolome completed the trifecta. According to trainer David Fawkes, Burning Time is headed to the Florida Stallion Stakes on October 15.

Burning Time’s sire Burning Roma was a multiple graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf and at distances up to 9 furlongs.  Burning Time is out of an unraced mare who is by Gilded Time who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

2YO Non-Graded Stakes Results:

9/14/11 C. B. Afflerbaugh S.- FPX- Winner: Runstevierun chart 

9/16/11 Buffalo S.- ASD- Winner: Jon’s Golden Run chart

9/17/11 Foolish Pleasure S.- CRC- Winner: Burning Time chart

9/17/11 Alberta Premier's Futurity- NP- Winner: Silver Baubles chart

9/17/11 Henry Mercer Memorial S.- CT- Winner: Lucy’s Bob Boy chart

9/17/11 Charles Town Juvenile S.- CT- Winner: Lemon Juice chart

9/18/11 Barretts Juvenile S.- FPX- Winner: Unhitchthetrailer chart

Works

9/12/11 She Digs Me MTH- 4F- 51:20- B- 18/22

9/12/11 Sweet Swap SA- 4F- 47:40- H- 3/40

9/13/11 Canigotoo HOO- 4F- 48:00- B- 2/7

9/14/11 Sum of the Parts CD- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 4/13

9/15/11 Power World BEL- 4F- 48:87- B- 2/17

9/17/11 Bay Park Boy BEL- 4F- 51:62- B- 63/73

9/17/11 Brown Eyed Jozi LA- 5F- 1.04:40- B- 14/23

917/11 Tarpy's Goal BEL- 4F- 50:46- B- 56/78

9/17/11 Jack's in the Deck LRL- 5F- 1.01:00- H- 1/32

9/18/11 Union Rags FH- 4F- 49:40- B- 2/2

9/19/11 Seeker SAR- 5F- 1.04:35- B- 6/8

9/19/11 She Digs Me BEL- 5F- 1.01:90- B- 3/3

9/19/11 Shared Property CD- 4F- 50:60- B- 35/47

9/19/11 Optimizer CD- 4F- 48:40- B- 2/47

9/19/11 Worthington RP- 4F- 50:76- B-15/28

9/19/11 Twelve Hundred AP- 5F- 59:20- B- 1/14

9/19/11 Drill SA- 6F- 1.12:60- H- 5/17

9/19/11 Sweet Swap SA- 5F- 59:00- H- 3/38

Articles

Rising Stars: A look at promising 2-year-olds who competed at Saratoga (Sartogian)

Stronach buys majority stake in Fire On Ice (DRF)

John Quinn eyes up American trip for Red Duke (The Press)

Caspar Netcher pointed to BC Juvenile [Midway down under Tussle] (Gulf News)

Keeneland raises purses for two turf races (Lexington Herald Leader)

No specific plan for Excaper [midway down] (DRF)

2-year-olds to watch 9/20 (In The Money Blog)

Stephanoatsee rallying 2^nd in his debut (Courier Journal Blog)

Speed Figures

Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last wk: Finale-96; Balidor Desol-94; Burning Time-91; Right to Vote-88; Shkspeare Shaliyah & Forest Souvenir-87

Winning 2yo Beyers last week: Finale-80; Balidor Desol-76; Burning Time-84; Right to Vote-80; Shkspeare Shaliyah-78; Forest Souvenir-69

Futures:

2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Wynn Las Vegas / Scores and Odds

2012 Kentucky Derby: Wynn Las Vegas / GoHorseBetting