Afleet Alex sizzles five furlongs
“He went on his own, very willingly,” Cabrera said. “He
Afleet Alex won his first three starts, including the Sanford
Regular rider Jeremy Rose retains the mount.
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Two probables for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) — DOMESTIC
DISPUTE (Unbridled’s Song) and ROYAL REGALIA
(Cozzene) — each breezed five furlongs over a good turf course
at Lone Star Park
Strub S. (G2) winner Domestic Dispute, who has second
preference in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), covered the distance
in 1:02 1/5. In his only start on turf, the four-year-old set the
pace before finishing a close fourth in last year’s Oak Tree
Derby (G2). The Patrick Gallagher trainee exits a last-place
effort in the Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1).
Royal Regalia, who finished a close third in the Atto Mile S.
In California:
Another contender for the Mile, SPECIAL RING (Nureyev), who won his second
“He looked super,” Canani said following the work. “He went
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Victor Espinoza will ride the gelding for Texas owners Prestonwood
Farm. Special Ring will be flown to Texas on Wednesday.
In Kentucky:
Grade 1 juvenile winner CUVEE (Carson City),
runner-up in the Kentucky Cup Sprint S. (G2) at Turfway Park in
his last start, breezed four furlongs in :47 4/5 over a fast
track at Churchill Downs. The Steve Asmussen-trained sophomore is
pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
RUNWAY MODEL (Petionville), who won the
Grade 2 winner SILVER TREE (Hennessy), who exits a third-place finish in the Shadwell Turf
“Kenny got her in roughly 48 and 3 (:48 3/5),” Mott said from New
In New York:
Mongo Queen S. winner SIS CITY (Slew City Slew), third in
“The owners all want to go, and if we can get these things worked out,
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In other Breeders’ Cup news:
Trainer Neil Drysdale announced Monday that Grade 1 victor SARAFAN (Lear
Fan) had injured himself over the weekend and would not run in the Turf (G1).
“He struck into himself at some point on the weekend,” Drysdale
explained. “It doesn’t appear to be anything too serious, but we can’t be
running in a race like this under the circumstances.”
Drysdale also confirmed that MUSICAL CHIMES (In Excess [Ire]), who
defeated males when winning the Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile (G2) on October 9,
will run in the Mile. She’ll ship out of Hollywood Park on Wednesday and be
ridden by Kent Desormeaux on Saturday.
STAY FOREVER (Stack), pre-entered to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1),
will not make the trip from her Florida base for the Breeders’ Cup. The
seven-year-old mare captured the WinStar Galaxy (G2) on October 10.
“It’s too soon,” explained trainer Marty Wolfson. “I could
not, in good conscience, run her back in three weeks.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who had to declare Balto’s Star (Glitterman) from the
Breeders’ Cup last week due to a tendon problem, revealed Monday that Frizette
runner-up READY’S GAL (More Than Ready) will miss the Juvenile Fillies
due to a fractured right hind pastern suffered on Saturday.
“We’re disappointed because she had raced so well and was training
well,” Pletcher said. “But she seems to be comfortable here in her
stall at Belmont.”
An evaluation later this week will determine whether Ready’s Gal needs
surgery.
ENDURING WILL (Arch), a 10-length winner of the Silver Spoon Breeders’
Cup at Lone Star in her last star, is out of the Juvenile Fillies due to a
fever.
Travers (G1) and Belmont S. (G1) hero BIRDSTONE (Grindstone) made his
first trip to the Lone Star track early Monday morning, jogging a mile. The
three-year-old arrived in Texas with a skin rash, but Reynaldo Abreu, assistant
to trainer Nick Zito, said the rash is no concern.
“It’s fine. It’s dry,” Abreu said. “We’re just waiting for the
hair to grow in.”
Defending Mile heroine SIX PERFECTIONS (Fr) (Celtic Swing) and
English (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (G1) winner OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape
Cross [Ire]), who is cross-entered to both the Turf and Filly & Mare
Turf, both arrived at Lone Star Park Monday along with a contingent
of Breeders’ Cup runners from Europe.
Trainer Allen Jerkens arrived with his Breeders’ Cup contenders, SOCIETY
SELECTION (Coronado’s Quest) and BOWMAN’S BAND (Dixieland Band), at
Lone Star on Sunday. “The Chief” has the reputation of not
liking to travel far from his barn at Belmont.
“The owners think their horses run faster if you are with them, so they
made me come,” Jerkens joked.
He was also impressed with the grounds in Grand Prairie, Texas.
“I really like this track,” Jerkens commented. “And I
like the fact that the barns aren’t right on top of one another. You’ve
got room between them, and I really like that.”
Classic contender FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor), who earned his
first Grade 1 victory since taking the 2003 Preakness (G1) when capturing
the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last out, is scheduled to work at Belmont
Park Tuesday and ship to Texas on Wednesday.
“”He’ll have an easy work, just to keep his lungs open and
his respiratory system clear,” assistant trainer Robin Smullen said.
“That will be the last major thing we do with him. We’ll bring
him out on Thursday (at Lone Star) to putz around, look the place over and
hack a little bit, probably paddock him on Thursday, too.”
European champion rider Frankie Dettori has picked up the mount aboard
Juvenile Fillies contender SHARP LISA (Dixieland Band), who
finished second by a head when making only her second career attempt in
the Alciabides S. (G2). Trainer Doug O’Neill, who is due to become a
father this week, will not make the trip to Lone Star.
Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) winner FREEFOURINTERNET (Tabasco Cat),
who is cross-entered to both the Classic and Mile, will definitely contest
the Classic, trainer Mike Maker confirmed Monday.
The outstanding jockey in this year’s Breeders’ Cup World
Thoroughbred Championships will once again be honored with the
Bill Shoemaker Award. The winner, to be selected by members of
the media, will be announced and presented with a trophy at the
Sunday Press Breakfast at Lone Star Park.