Goodnight Olive

Breeders' Cup Saturday was off to a good start for chalk players, as First Row Partners and Team Hanley's Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) gave those that backed her into 9-5 favoritism a few anxious moments when in tight quarters for a few strides, but she launched a well-timed bid three wide into the Keeneland stretch and drew clear as much the best in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Away to an almost too-sharp beginning from her middle gate, the $170,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling purchase raced in the...

TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack reveals his selections for Breeders' Cup Saturday. Race 3: GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint--#8 Goodnight Olive (3-1) This is definitely one of my stronger opinions of the weekend. I love Goodnight Olive in this spot. Her win in the GI Ballerina this summer was as good as it gets and she's tactical enough to work out that same kind of trip right off the speed. Have good memories cashing on the Chad Brown-trained Wavell Avenue in this same race at Keeneland in 2015....

Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva. "I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did," trainer John Sadler said. "Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today." Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday...

Unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) headed a bevy of Breeders' Cup workers across the country Saturday. The likely favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic covered six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:11.80 (1/3). Flightline entered the main track via the quarter-mile chute with John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva aboard just prior to 6:35 a.m. Accompanied by a stable pony, he galloped under the wire and around the clubhouse turn and was set down approaching the five-furlong pole. From there, he clicked off splits of :23.60, :35.40, :47.80 and :59.40 en...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 1,594 yearlings for its Kentucky October Yearlings Sale to be held Oct. 24-27 at Newtown Paddocks. Each of the four sessions will begin at 10 a.m. "This is our strongest Kentucky October catalogue to date," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "We have outstanding representation from all current top 20 ranked sires, and quality yearlings at all price levels. With 200 stakes wins or placings so far this year, sale graduates continue to achieve tremendous success on the racetrack at the highest levels." Recent Fasig October graduates include...

In a field which included three Grade I winners, it was first-time stakes starter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) who came away with the victory--and an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint--in the GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga Sunday. Sent off at 5-1, the dark bay filly was hustled out of the gate before settling into third as Travel Column (Frosted) assumed command through a quarter in :22.09. Goodnight Olive rushed up to press the pacestter after a half in :44.50 and powered past that rival at midstretch before...

7th-Keeneland, $83,921, Msw, 10-22, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.85, ft, 8 1/2 lengths. GOODNIGHT OLIVE (f, 3, Ghostzapper--Salty Strike {MGSW, $485,266}, by Smart Strike) was second as 11-5 chalk at Keeneland back at Gulfstream in March, and proved worth the wait Friday with an impressive belated maiden breaker. Backed as the 2-5 chalk facing mostly firsters and a couple who had had plenty of chances, the FTKOCT grad showed good speed to vie for early command before being taken back adeptly by Tyler Gaffalione to let the top two go at...