Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

The outside draw was no problem for Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who came flying late to award trainer Aidan O'Brien another win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The only O'Brien runner in the race, the son of Wootton Bassett likely would have been a shorter price if not for his last-out fifth as the beaten favorite in the G1 Prix JeanLuc Lagardere at Longchamp, a race in which he wore blinkers for the first time over soft turf. Otherwise sporting a nearly unblemished record including a...

Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Chasing Liberty (Constitution) was among the pre-entries to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but was three deep on the list of horses that were not selected by the Breeders' Cup seeding panel. The homebred was instead re-routed for Friday's Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, heretofore a race for dirt marathoners, but switched to something of a consolation event for the Juvenile Turf. Sent off at odds of 34-5 and trying two turns for the first time off a troubled fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Indian Summer...

From a young age, Jeramie Fennell was certain that he was born to be a jockey. Addicted to the thrill of riding, becoming a jockey was the only thing he really cared about, the only thing he knew for certain. So when, as he continued growing taller throughout his teenage years and maintaining weight became increasingly difficult, Fennell did what he thought he had to do in order to live out his dream. He turned to a different kind of addiction, but this time the consequences would lead him to...

New Century (GB), the full-brother to the colt who topped Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when selling to Godolphin for 1,000,000gns, is said to be "flying at home" following his success in the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine, with a trip to the Breeders' Cup next on the agenda for the son of first-season sire Kameko. Like Kameko, New Century is trained for owners Qatar Racing by Andrew Balding, who said "He's got a great constitution and has taken everything in his stride, from travelling to Canada...

It was hard to see Minaret Station (Instilled Regard) winning the GII Castle and Key Bourbon Stakes last week at Keeneland. He was 38-1 and coming off a narrow win in a maiden at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Yet, he beat his rivals that day, punching his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. But that was only one part of this story, one that is about being on the bottom, digging your way out of trouble and then thriving. For trainer Will Walden, this will be his first Breeders' Cup...

Courtesy of years in the sport of horse racing, Team Coolmore is as well versed as anyone with many of racing's highs and lows. Hitting one of those lulls when GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf morning-line favorite River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was a vet scratch earlier Friday, the team--in concert with Al Shaqab Racing--ended Day 1 of the World Championships with a rousing coup, taking the final Breeders' Cup race of the day with Unquestionable (Fr), a colt by Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett {GB}). Coolmore completed the Exacta...

If ever there was a horse whose CV matches his pedigree, it is Mendelssohn. He topped the Keeneland September sale on a bid of $3 million from Coolmore in 2016, the year before he captured the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. And that pedigree? When he won the Breeders' Cup, he pushed his dam, the reigning Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady, into rare territory: she became what was then one of five mares to produce two Breeders' Cup winners. The year prior, her multiple champion daughter Beholder had captured...

Celebrating 40 Years of the Breeders' Cup with Living Legends It wasn't so long ago that the magnificent sire Gone West held court at Mill Ridge Farm near Lexington. From 22 crops, all while at Mill Ridge, he netted a mouth-watering 9% black-type winners from starters, including Breeders' Cup winners Da Hoss (twice), Johar, and Speightstown, all back in the days when the Breeders' Cup was still a single day and there were far fewer races. The son of Mr. Prospector passed away in 2009, but his influence on the...

Amerman homebred Endlessly (Oscar Performance) upped his perfect record to three-for-three as he made 4-5 odds look like a gift in Sunday's GIII Zuma Beach S. at Santa Anita. The bay donned cap and gown over a mile at Del Mar July 30, and returned over the same course and distance Sept. 10 to annex the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. by another daylight margin. Getting a spin around the same trip as the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 3 this time, Endlessly settled into a midpack spot...

Longshot Can Group rallied from last to first at 27-1 in Sunday's GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. at Keeneland to narrowly stamp his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Last-out Sapling S. scorer Noted came out on the wrong end of a tight photo, while Pepsi Juvenile Sprint S. winner Vote No rounded out the lucrative trifecta. Sandwiched at the start and back to last as the full field scrambled for position into the first bend, Can Group was still patiently handled by Francisco Arrieta as they...

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road) saved his best for last, as he found his best stride inside the final furlong and edged away to take Wednesday's GII Pilgrim S., earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Santa Anita for the Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in the process. Favored at a shade under 5-2 the $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase--carrying the St. Elias colors this time--was content to sit one from the tail as the outposted Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince)--a latest third...

It took every inch of the stretch for Just F Y I (Justify) to get past the well-regarded Shop Lifting (Into Mischief) in Saturday's sixth race at Saratoga, but a jump before the wire she poked her head in front, earning a victory that had her connections bullish on her future. The six-furlong maiden special weight race with a purse of $136,000 went in 1:11.06 and Just F Y I, who is trained by Bill Mott, paid $9.50. The winning margin was a head. "As her training progressed Bill became...