A well-matched field of nine is set for Friday night’s $500,000 Meadowlands
Breeders’ Cup (G2) at the “Big M.” Grade 3 hero ALUMNI HALL (A.P. Indy) exits a
7 1/4-length romp over optional claiming/allowance rivals at Saratoga and looms
as one of the top contenders for the 1 1/8-mile event, but he faces a multitude
of capable opponents.
Multiple Grade 2 winner PURGE (Pulpit) has been entered by trainer Todd
Pletcher. Grade 1 winner REQUEST FOR PAROLE (Judge T C) will be switching to the
main track for conditioner Stanley Hough. ROYAL ASSAULT (Kris S.) recorded a
stakes win two starts back and exits a runner-up finish in the Saratoga
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). TAP DAY (Pleasant Tap) finished second in the Suburban H.
(G1) two starts ago and third in the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup most recently. ICE
WYNND FIRE (Northern Afleet) brings a two-race winning skein into the race and
is trained by Bobby Frankel. ZOFFINGER (Unbridled) finished second in the Philip
H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) last out.
ITSAWONDERFULIFE (Skip Away) has the rail with jockey Rafael Medina Jr. To
their immediate outside are Purge, John Velazquez; Tap Day, Eibar Coa;
UNFORGETTABLE MAX (Northern Afleet), Chris DeCarlo; Alumni Hall, Robby Albarado;
Request for Parole, Joe Bravo; Ice Wynnd Fire, Jerry Bailey; Royal Assault,
Channing Hill; and Zoffinger, Edwin King Jr.
Alumni Hall will carry 121 pounds, the rest 119.