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Albertrani, Sadler runners doing well following BC efforts Trainer Tom Albertrani returned to his New York base Saturday night and his two Breeders' Cup runners -- Better Lucky, who was second in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and Twilight Eclipse, third in the Breeders' Cup Turf -- were slated for quick exits as well. "Better Lucky is going to Kentucky this afternoon and Twilight Eclipse leaves for Florida on Monday night," Albertrani explained. "Better Lucky, that was probably her last race and for Twilight Eclipse, the (Grade 3, $100,000) W.L. McKnight (on December 27 at Gulfstream Park) is a possibility or we may just freshen him up." A two-time Grade 1 winner on turf, Better Lucky was also Grade 1-placed on Polytrack and now on dirt. "I have been saying all along that she can run on anything -- grass, Poly, dirt," Albertrani said. "I was delighted to see her run so well." In finishing just a head behind Judy the Beauty, Better Lucky boosted her record to 20-6-5-5 with earnings of nearly $1.3 million. "She will be hard to replace," Albertrani stated. "She was only off the board once (in the past two years) and that is when she stumbled at the start. She would definitely be right there with a few others (as an all-time favorite). She was a pleasure to have in the barn and she thrived on racing." Trainer John Sadler went 0-for-four over the two-day Championships, but his runners did manage to record a couple of placings. "They all came back healthy," chief assistant trainer Larry Benavidez said. "We didn't win a race but they all tried. All were reaching out at the wire." Candy Boy wound up sixth in the Classic and Sweet Swap was fifth by only a length in the Turf Sprint on Saturday, but on Friday Iotapa finished third in the Distaff and Daddy D T got third in the Juvenile Turf. "Candy Boy had a good trip and could have used a little more pace to run at," Benavidez said of the three-year-old colt for whom there were no immediate plans. Iotapa was flown to Kentucky for the Keeneland Select Sale Tuesday. "I gave her a big hug and lots of carrots," stated Benavidez, who said the four-year-old miss should remain in the conversation for divisional honors. "She ran a great race." Benavidez was encouraged by the strong finish of Daddy D T, who could resurface in the Grade 3, $150,000 Cecil B. DeMille (formerly the Generous) at Del Mar on November 30 or the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot in Louisiana on November 22. "What a late surge the last 50 yards," Benavidez remarked. "He has a bright future." Sweet Swap continued his love affair with the hillside turf course. "He got wiped out at the start and only got beat a length," Benavidez said of the five-year-old's first start in seven months. He added stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita this winter are a likely goal. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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