After arriving on the grounds at 8:30 p.m. (PDT) on Tuesday
night following the van ride from Colts Neck, New Jersey, to Newark
International airport and the six-hour transcontinental plane ride, Laughing
walked on Wednesday morning to familiarize herself with her new surroundings at
Santa Anita ahead of Saturday’s Filly & Mare Turf.
“She’ll go out to the track and jog tomorrow,” said Beth
Cumberland, a former jockey who was given her start by trainer Alan Goldberg in
1989 and now is his assistant and the five-year-old Laughing’s exercise rider.
“She had a long day yesterday.”
The Irish-bred mare, who has reeled off an impressive
streak of four graded stakes wins in four starts this year, raced in Europe
until Richard Santulli purchased her during her sophomore season. However, she never
enjoyed flying the friendly skies until Goldberg found a friend for her.
Dr. Allan Wise — Colts Neck Stables’ chief veterinarian,
farm manager and stable manager — said that Laughing used to be extremely nervous
and did not ship well, but one of their retired race mares named Funzionaire has
helped her mellow and calm down this season. The proof is in the pudding, as two
of her 2013 wins carry Grade 1 status.
“‘Funzi’ goes everywhere with her,” said Cumberland, who
was tending to the Filly & Mare Turf hopeful and Funzi in the adjacent stall.
“They are best buddies who travel together, go out to the track together, jog
together, and get turned out in the paddock every day together. They are totally
bonded, so Alan had to ship them together.
“They told us when Laughing came to us that she was sulky
and wouldn’t eat. Look at her now. Having Funzi around
definitely boosted her self-confidence. She’s blossomed and this year has been a
big turnaround for her.”
Laughing will be Goldberg’s first Breeders’ Cup starter
since Navesink finished fifth in the 2001 Mile. He won the 1990 Sprint with the
Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Safely Kept, who finished second in the 1989
edition of the race.
Another new arrival at Santa Anita for Saturday’s race was Tiz Flirtatious,
who trainer Marty Jones reported shipped from Hollywood Park at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday following a 1 3/8-miles gallop under exercise rider Andy Durnin.
Martin Schwartz’s Garden City winner Alterite
galloped on the main track at Santa Anita Wednesday morning for trainer Chad
Brown. Schwartz purchased the French-bred during her two-year-old season in
France and moved her to the United States and into Brown’s care this summer. Under
similar circumstances, Brown and Schwartz combined to win the Filly & Mare Turf
in 2012 with champion Zagora, a French-bred.
Alterite, twice Group 1 stakes-placed in France,
was scheduled to run in the Garden City at Belmont in September and the Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October before being given a break prior to a 2014
campaign. However, following the win in the Garden City and a second by a neck
at Keeneland, Schwartz and Brown elected to enter her in the Breeders’ Cup.
“We were lucky enough to make both races and she ran well
in both races,” Brown said. “This is kind of an extra bonus to get to run in
this race. She came out of her last race so well we thought we’d try it.”
Through the years Schwartz has shopped in Europe for
fillies and mares who will eventually race in North America and then be sold as
broodmare prospects.
“He purchased her with Grade 1s in mind. Fortunately, we
got it done for him,” Brown said. “She’s a horse that I think has a ton of
talent, a lot of upside and a bright future.”
Lady of Shamrock galloped 1 1/2 miles Wednesday morning at Santa Anita. The
Scat Daddy four-year-old’s lone 2013 win in six starts was via disqualification,
but trainer John Sadler contends
there could have been more with slightly different circumstances.
“She needs some pace to run at and, as it turned out, there
hasn’t been much in her races this year,” Sadler asserted. “It could still be a
problem, but at this level and with a big field the pace could be a lot more
legitimate.
“She’s been right there all year long. She did really well in this
race last year (fifth beaten 2 1/2 lengths) and she’s doing very well right now,
so we’re very optimistic about her chances.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com