Breeders' Cup Classic

Continuing a trend of favorites and short prices drawing outside at Monday's Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post Position Draw, the potent trio of Bob Baffert contenders in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic drew next door to each other in the three widest posts in a loaded field for the 1 1/4-mile test. Given a slight nod on the morning line at 5-2, Improbable (City Zip) was parked in the eight-hole when pills were pulled. The 'TDN Rising Star', who had an up-and-down 3-year-old season, has come into his...

Two years since Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) won the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and after a lost 2019, the 5-year-old mare is apparently doing so well that trainer Brad Cox said she is better now than she was in 2018 when she crossed the wire first in all seven of her races. That could mean a second Distaff win. Could it also mean that she will be back for a third try in 2021? Monomoy Girl has been entered in the Fasig-Tipton November sale and it was widely believed that she...

Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security (New Year's Day), GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), GI Belmont S. victor Tiz the Law (Constitution), Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who beat the boys in the GI Preakness S. and European star mare Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among the over 200 horses entered for the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held at Keeneland Race Course Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7. Maximum Security makes his first appearance at the Breeders' Cup and is one of an imposing trio in the $6-million...

Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro-Alternate, by Seattle Slew) will retire to Darby Dan Farm at the conclusion of his racing career and stand in partnership with Matt Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced Tuesday. The Hronis Racing colorbearer, trained by John Sadler, is pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7. His 2021 fee will be $10,000 S&N for nominations completed prior to the Breeders' Cup. A 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Higher Power recorded a career-best 107 Beyer in the 10-furlong...

So long, old big head. Most who fit that description are good; just not quite as good as they think. But you showed an indomitability rooted, not in arrogance, but in an awareness that the odds of life are seldom easy; that the crown must be earned, not just ceremonially conferred. In your case, it just needed a little extra by way of circumference. The retirement from stud of Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy), announced this week, is poignantly timed. In a few days' time, a fresh name will be carved on...

MGISW Tiz the Law (Constitution) continued his preparations for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a six-furlong breeze in 1:13.20 over a fast track at Keeneland Friday. With regular rider Heather Smullen aboard, the NY-bred colt worked in fractions of :26, :49.60, 1:13.20 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.80. "I wanted to get him used to the track, and I think he gets over any track better than Churchill," trainer Barclay Tagg said in reference to Churchill Downs, where Tiz the Law suffered the only two losses of his...

Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy-Cee's Song, by Seatle Song), the only horse to have won back-to-back runnings of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has been pensioned from stud duty, it was announced Oct. 21 by WinStar Farm. Owned by Cees Racing Stable and trained by Jay Robbins, Tiznow developed rapidly after breaking his maiden in his third career start. Six months later and after wins in the GI Super Derby and the GII Goodwood Breeders' Cup H., he won his first Breeders' Cup, edging Giant's Causeway by a neck. Thanks largely to...

MGISW Tiz the Law (Constitution) breezed six furlongs in 1:12.26 (1/1) over the Belmont main track Friday morning in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7. The Empire-bred will be vanned to Kentucky Sunday to continue his preparations for the World Championships. Under exercise rider Heather Smullen, Tiz the Law went in company with stablemate Niko's Dream (Central Banker) (five furlongs in 1:01.05) before drawing away at the top of the lane. He recorded splits of :13.07, :24.84, :36.43, and :47.63 before galloping out seven furlongs...

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team (Tapiture), who finished third in Saturday's GI Preakness S. at Pimlico, will make his next start in either the GI Breeders' Cup Classic or GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. "He will run in the Breeders' Cup, 100%," said trainer Jose D'Angelo. "We just don't know what race--maybe the [Dirt] Mile or maybe the Classic. I will wait for the decision from the owners." Jesus' Team is currently getting some down time at Kenny McPeek's Magdalena Farm in Lexington and will head to Keeneland Friday...

While putting off a final decision regarding which Breeders' Cup race GI Preakness S. winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will run in, trainer Ken McPeek said Sunday morning that he prefers running his filly at a mile-and-a-quarter, the distance of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. His other option is the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, which is run at a mile-and-an-eighth. "It's a little early and we don't have to make a decision right now but I do like her at the mile-and-a-quarter," he said. "The further, the better. She gets to...

Sackatoga Stable's top sophomore Tiz the Law (Constitution) breezed a speedy, best-of-six five furlongs in :57.87 at Belmont Park Friday morning under regular breeze rider Heather Smullen. "I didn't want to see him go that fast, but he came out of the work well," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "He scoped well and everything is going good with him." Upset when second in the GI Kentucky Derby Sept. 5, the four-time Grade I winner is skipping Saturday's GI Preakness S. and training up to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland...

The lesser-fancied of the Bob Baffert-trained duo, 'TDN Rising Star' Improbable (City Zip) was uncustomarily taken well off a fast early pace, began to hit his best stride while wide on the second turn, inhaled the leading group in upper stretch and rolled home to defeat odds-on Maximum Security (New Year's Day) by 4 1/2 lengths in the GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita. Though he hadn't been more than two lengths off the early pace in any of his last four races, Improbable was taken back to last...